Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Dyno and Drag track #'s

I went to california speedway and this was my best time

r/t 1.217

60' 2.378

330 6.553

1/8 10.039

mph 72.13

1000 13.012

1/4 15.564

mph 87.09

it was my first time and I was nervous but I gess Im happy for being my first time at the track this was my best run can some one explain the numbers for me please thanks here's some pictures of my car at the track that day web page

The reaction time has nothing to do with your ET, so it does not really matter that much. Your 60' time could be better. If you could get that down to a 2.2x, you would be into the low 15's, and that is pretty respectable for an SVT with minor mods. Your MPH seems a bit low, not sure why that is.

Work on that 60' time, and your ET will drop.

Man. Your car fell on it's face after half track.

That is definitely a very low trap speed.

Launch - okay (2.2's are great, 2.3's are good)

330' - okay

1/8 mile - starting to taper off - should be high 9's - trap speed decent

1000' - should be high 12's

1/4 mile - more falling off - ET okay - trap speed very low


What shift points?
Slow shifting?
What elevation?
Did you run with your sub box?
Any other mods that added weight?


For reference - Here is a bone stock (with K&N drop-in) run I dug up. (spring 00)

Crappy track at around 1100-1200'

2.386
6.531
9.966 @ 72.27
12.896
15.400 @ 89.83

Versus my best run last September (same track just many mods down the road)

2.298
6.305
9.573 @ 75.47
12.351
14.680 @ 95.93


Comparing times from different tracks is definitely not ideal, but it can help.

Not bad for a first time. Just for comparison, the first time I went to the track I couldn't muster better than 15.4.

1) GO ON THE LAST YELLOW. You are obviously waiting for the green light. Not that it matters when running time-only, but that'll hurt you if you decide to go through some eliminations.

2) Focus on your 60' time. There is a little to be shaved off that - set a goal to put down a 2.2x in the future. It takes some practice. Try different launches and see what gives you the best 60s. As the 60' goes down, so does your 1/4. Rule of thumb is every tenth in the 60 is worth 2 at the end.

3) It might just be me, but the trap speed seems a bit low at the top end, especially with the 1/8 ET and trap I see. Make sure you are shifting as close to redline as possible without hitting the fuel shutoff. Especially when you wind out 3rd gear.

Don't worry - a little practice will show up on your slips right away. It's like golf: You make great improvements early on as you learn the game, then smaller ones as you hone the skill.

One last tip: No spare tire, minimal fuel load, no extra ballast at all in the car.

I consider a day at the strip a success if I set a new personal best in at least one of the timing intervals. And a huge success if I set bests in the 1/4 OR the 60' (and one usually means the other).

EDIT: Too funny, seeing which three of us were all replying at the same time, and with pretty consistent advice. Drag strip junkies, you have been identified.

my car fell on its face after half the track what could couse that I took my subbox sparetire and how can I better my 60' times
I was almost red ligthing on shifts
whats the best way to take off
can you guys gime some more pointers

what do you mean by trap speed sorry kind of new at this
I was happy with my time for being the first time but I sure was nervous

Trap speed is the speed your car is going as you exit the traps (end of the track - 1/4 mile end, not exit end).
Nervousness can play a big role. I went to Cecil county one night and waited two hours to race. I saw a guy in a bike lining up (sounded insane) and said to my girl I can't wait to see what this guy runs. Goes to light the tires and it just walks from under him. Then I proceed to run an 18.7xxxsomething b/c the clutch was going and I was too nervous to take the time to make sure I was in gear (missed 2nd - dropped it in the second time*missed 3rd and dropped it in 1st - so on). Just barely fast enough to beat the guy next to me. Yes, I still beat someone with an 18+sec 1/4 mile time (of course it was a conversion van) but attitude makes a BIG difference. Just try to relaxe and keep practicing until you can get out there and pay attention to the car - not what you're feeling.
Oh, I just take the RPM's as high as I can and dump the clutch so as not to get wheel hop. Forget what RPM that is b/c I haven't dragged since September or so. But then again I am replacing my clutch so I might not be the one to ask for technique...

I can add that trap speed is the best indicator of hp while the 1.4 time relys more on the driver. Chances are for whatever reason (elevation, engine troubles, etc.) your low trap speed was the result of less hp than you probably should be running.

Also trap speed is the average speed it takes you to cover a distance at the end of the 1/4. I think it is like the last 60' or something. Therefore you are actually travelling faster at the end of the 1/4 than the trap speed suggests. Just a FYI

Could a bad air/fuel ratio have anything to do with his trap speed? My car traps 84-86mph and that was a suggestion. Could this one problem make the car that SLOW ?

-R-