8/24/05 Drag times

[95mushroom]

Here's my report from Wed. Somewhat dissapointing. Best time was a 16.2. We got there a lil bit late (me and my friend with his SVO mustang), only got 3 runs in. My car's number is 0721 That's about all I wanted to do anyway so it worked out. First run was against a GP GTP 2-door. He ran a 15.4, that was my 16.2 Put it in 2nd with trac off and powerbroke it. Second run was against a modded S2000, straight D, with traction on and not powerbraking but traction control didn't go active. And the last was against a WS6 T/A, with trac off in 1st with powerbraking. That run was fun. I had him for a little bit. I was thinking oooh it's a fake V6. But, I guess he was just babying it, then floored it and took off. Still ran only 15.2.

I had some fun. I wanted to get a Tornado to get some hard numbers, but there was no way I was paying $64.99 for that piece of stamped sheetmetal. I took everything out but the radio stuff. That about 75lbs of stuff. And I'm about 215'ish. So about 100lbs heavier then your typical Aurora w/driver. That's only half a tenth though. Car ran a lot cooler/kept it cooler. I pretty much pushed it to the line and then started it. I'm sure everyone was like, "wow, look at this a-hole, pushing his car to the line to only run a 16, ahahaha." But whatever.

If anything, it was more of an eye-opener. I guess my car's just not that fast. I was hoping at least a 15 something. I guess it's just tired/wounded from the previous owner. Also, got me thinking about mods and stuff. I'm probably not going to anymore performance mods. I'll just do mods for looks and keeping it running right.. I'll probably just get some mufflers for sound. That Bonne burnout vid got me somewhat interested in them. I guess I could live with the interior, as I think, with a black one, the ext. looks super-awesome. That get out of my way or I'll eat you up look. Though that would be at least a year or two away.

I guess I'm just a little sore from knowing a V6 malibu is faster, but whatever, mine looks cooler.

[TJM]

the torque limiter is gonna dog you if you powerbrake. better off easing into it and then punch it at about 15-20 mph. traction off of course and max pressure in your tires

Usually what i do (stop light drags) is put the tranny in 1st and leave it there for the entire run; once i get the pedal to the floor i just hold it there and the tranny upshifts to every gear at the redline all by itself. I often get a chirp going into 2nd. (non-autobahn)

i have no idea what my times would be but i know i've surprised a few people and i have also been surprised by some. it's the hi-way entrance ramps i love the most and those who try to keep up on the curves rarely stand a chance.

Aurora: a fine balance of style, comfort, handling an power

that's good enough for me

[oldsauroraman1]

Interesting advice. I've noticed that when you step down on it at the beginning it doesn't seem as quick as when you step down on it after you are going, like you say, 10-15.

[Aurora40]

95mushroom said:

Car ran a lot cooler/kept it cooler. I pretty much pushed it to the line and then started it. I'm sure everyone was like, "wow, look at this a-hole, pushing his car to the line to only run a 16, ahahaha." But whatever.
...
If anything, it was more of an eye-opener. I guess my car's just not that fast. I was hoping at least a 15 something.
...
I guess I'm just a little sore from knowing a V6 malibu is faster, but whatever, mine looks cooler.

I doubt people were saying that. You want the best times from your car, no matter what those times are. I would coast my car just about to the line, at least until I was the next person. Thankfully there was a slight slope so I didn't have to push it. I'd roll the car with the hood up, looking out under it.

The 16 isn't too bad. You'd be surprised what cars run. A buddy of mine never did better than about 15.7 in his 1988 IROC 350. Another guy with a '94 Impala SS couldn't do better than about 15.2. 16 secs isn't as slow as you think.

What were the temps like? Go back when it's cooler and you'll do better.

tjm said:

the torque limiter is gonna dog you if you powerbrake. better off easing into it and then punch it at about 15-20 mph. traction off of course and max pressure in your tires

It's up to you, and if this seems best go for it. But the only torque limiter comes into play no matter what. Preloading the tranny will help you get going sooner. I'd powerbrake the car if you want the best 60' time. Not a ton, but enough to load it up. I'd launch at 1500 rpm, trac off 2nd gear. I had some 2.2 second 60' times, which is about as good as I did in the 'vette.

That said, judging by your trap, the time seems in line for a heavy car. If you trapped closer to 90mph, I'd say maybe you are launching it poorly. If you had fun, that's all that matters. Maybe you just need to go again and line up against some slower cars. Mustangs and Firebirds aren't competition for an Aurora.

[oldsauroraman1]

For sure, and to boot, 215 is not heavy!

[stevensolds]

Well how tall are you mushroom?


Im 6'1 and weight 170. Interesting enough though, the 16.2 is exactly what the C&D numbers published, about the same MPH. Did you have a clean air filter and you turned off the motor, popped the hood before the run correct?

I also notice if you floor it off the line, it is slower than pushing 50% throttle to 15-20, then flooring it. I think its because WOT from a stop shocks the stock aurora system.

[kobalt]

Just like Steven stated, your times are right on target with C&D numbers. I suspect something was amiss, however as a friend from work just ran a 16.3 with his accord lx coupe (2.3l auto ~3300lbs)

Further analysis indicates that your reaction time was on target but the 60' could use some improvement. What altitude was the track at? Are you running stock wheels or aftermarket?

[95mushroom]

Yea, I'm definitely headed back during winter. Temps were, air ~89 and car was between 185 fo the first run (16.2) and 205 for the middle run (16.5). I pushed it was the hood up to the prestage. The strip has 7 lanes in total 2 for 13 and under cars, 4 for street cars and 1 for bikes. And there was at least 100 street cars so they running theM off as fast as possible.

I'm not sure powerbraking hurt. Ran the 16.5 w/o powerbraking. I personally don't notice a difference between punching from a stop and that 50% till 15mph. I didn't try it, but next time I will.

Well isn't the C&D numbers the non-Autobahn? I'd think autobahn would at least be 2 tenths maybe? I know TaylorD's exhaust/intake/TB modded non-autobahn ran 15.7. I also remember someone (maybe you kobalt) say their friend's Autobahn could light'em up at anything under 15mph? I just had a little bit of spin off the initial launch, but no means traction problems or worrying about breaking them loose at 10mph.

Steven, I'm 6'3"-6'4" depending on how strong gravity is that day. I used to workout in high-school, then senior year came and I got lazy and haven't workout out since. I definitely could stand to lose a few pounds. I remember your pic from the member's album and I really didn't remember looking 6'1". Your shoulders barely cleared the Aurora roof, right? Not starting anything, just seems like everyone "is" six feet these day or if they're obviously not, 5'11".

Kobalt, yea, the R/T could use some work (perfect is .000 or .001 dunno which). I just don't wanna red light for some reason. The altitude, (care to guess Bucsfan??) was about 25 ft. above sea level. With stock wheels and 235/16/60 Goodyear Integriy's (best tire ever!!! actually Dan would atest to how hard and bad these tires are, which I think I should have some serious traction problems but nothing.

[Aurora40]

95mushroom said:

Well isn't the C&D numbers the non-Autobahn? I'd think autobahn would at least be 2 tenths maybe? I know TaylorD's exhaust/intake/TB modded non-autobahn ran 15.7. I also remember someone (maybe you kobalt) say their friend's Autobahn could light'em up at anything under 15mph? I just had a little bit of spin off the initial launch, but no means traction problems or worrying about breaking them loose at 10mph.

I'm quite sure the Car and Driver test was with an Autobahn car, as I have the magazine. I don't understand why that is perpetuated that all the mags tested a regular car. What kind of dumb manufacturer would submit their slowest version as a press fleet vehicle when trying to make a big splash with a sport/lux car?

I also only have traction problems for a second. It'll chirpy a fair bit from a stop depending on the surface and atmosphere, but it doesn't break loose at will or sit and spin or anything. Traction could be optimized a tad more with stickier tires and lower pressures, but it's not like the car needs drag radials or something. Traction was a pretty small issue. The car did pull to the side on the 1-2 shift which was cool, but no real loud chirp or anything.

The 60' time seems ok to me, not awesome but not bad. It's a 4,000 lbs car... My 60' times were about 2.3 seconds.

You and Taylor didn't run on the same track on the same day. So you can't really compare that. What mods do you have done to your car?

Edit: Just to be clear, the R/T doesn't affect your ET. It just affects your ability to get in front of the guy next to you. According to your slip, you'd have been in front of the Firebird at 60' and 330', even though his ET to 60' was less.

[Aurora40]

Oh, also, another thing to cheer you up is that very few people even take their cars to the track, and most that do aren't taking stock cars. So for all you know, your car would smoke most of the Auroras on the board here, and most of the stock cars out there. At least you can say you went out there and did it, and hopefully had some fun!

[95mushroom]

I had fun. Just hoping the new tranny and it running in a better state would result in a faster time, but not by .1 of a second. I'm dissapointed but not too much. I'm starting to realize 16 secs from my car is actually good, considering it's at a maximum of 250hp, probably less and the running weight is over 4100lbs plus the shading history and being almost 11 years old.

Yea, I'm comparing apples to oranges. If like a 95 Legend or 95 GS400 was out there I'm probably could keep up. There was more then a couple cars there I was faster then (Civics, Integras, S-10, Scions, and a couple VWs, but those aren't Aurora level cars making much less power).

I understand what you mean by differenet day different track. Hopefully we're all still together next June and can do some runs at Carlisle to get competitive numbers.

[stevensolds]

Yeah shrooms I am 6'1. Technically 6.011", but I was just weighed and height checked when i had to draw blood last week, so it's accurate. I am not sure if that was level ground or not where the Aurora's were. You are really tall though, I would like to be 6'3 like my dad is.

[oldsauroraman1]

6' here too, but fit nicely in the Aurora.

[95mushroom]

6' is about perfect, too much more and you run out of head room and your knees start hit the kick panel and the seat's all the way back all the time.

[oldsauroraman1]

Yes, esp. with the sunroof.

[scottydl]

Cool times... maybe not what you expected, but not many of us have even *tried* our Auroras at the track.

And I'm 5'8 with no problems fitting in my Aurora, hehe. Plenty of extra head/leg room too.

[JimW]

scottydl said:

Cool times... maybe not what you expected, but not many of us have even *tried* our Auroras at the track.

And I'm 5'8 with no problems fitting in my Aurora, hehe. Plenty of extra head/leg room too.

x2, same here, and I highly doubt I will every track my car.

Respectable times tho schroom

[oldsauroraman1]

Yeah, the only track we have here is the one at the High school and I don't think they would want my Aurora on it. :-)

[95mushroom]

Jim, if you ever get the chance, its quite fun. Cool seeing what cars do what. My track is just down the street from me. If anyone watches "Pinks" on Speed, they have 2 espisodes there (Orlando Speedway in Bithlo, FL). Its definitely more fun then I show and worth a decent drive.

I guess the times are respectable considering the heat and the humdity but my sea level should have out-weight that. I'm definitely headed back in the winter. Hopefully 25 degrees cooler brings 3 tenths off. Also, I might just put a cone filter right on the TB too.

[oldsauroraman1]

That would be great. Let us know the results!

[stevensolds]

I wish i lived that close to a track. The closest one to me is Atco and they need parental co-sign for under 18 racers. How lame. Not like i have a car with so much power i could ditch it anyway.

[oldsauroraman1]

That's NJ for ya Steven.