Quarter mile/drag strip question...

[Vicky.]

Took the Clio to North Weald airfield yesterday to see what 1/4 mile times I could get. I started out getting early 15s then played around with getting the launch right until I got my best time which was 14.8. Pretty chuffed with that as my aim for the day was to get into the 14s....

A few people have told me that doing the 1/4 mile at Santa pod is worth quite a bit off your time at a place like north weald due to the conditions being solely for drag racing. However some have told me times suffer a little at Santa pod.

Has anyone been to Santa pod and N. Weald or somewhere similar where the road isn't exactly perfect for racing and had an improved time at the pod?

I'd like to take my car to S.Pod and whilst I know it depends on conditions I

want to know if anyone had been to another drag strip and then got better times at the pod?

Cheers!

 

[Matthew]

Not sure about Santa Pod mate, but the best my 182 would do at York was 15.30 @ 94mph.

But I am nearly 15 stone... lol

 

[Gorms]

From seeing a lot of drag racing at santa pod last year i noticed a lot of people seem to get bogged down when they go into second. Dont know if its bad driving but worth a go none the less.

Paul

 

[Chris n nic]

From seeing a lot of drag racing at santa pod last year i noticed a lot of people seem to get bogged down when they go into second. Dont know if its bad driving but worth a go none the less.

Paul

You see this at York a fair bit...people set off spinning the wheels and think that because the revs are high you are going fast enough to change up lol

Chris

 

[mat-nos]

at santa pod your 60 foot times will be better, its very sticky beacuse of the layers of rubber left on the start line.

as above if you just let the cltuch out too fast and floor it you just spin up and bog down in 2nd.

my advise would be to hold revs at 4k and ride the cluch slighly until the front grips a little before using full throttle in first.
it also pays to play around with tyre pressures and try not to hit the rev limiter.

if you want to get uber competative you cann play around with suspension set ups and get some 2nd hand slicks.
mattblack is a good person to chat too.....

 

[Soot1e]

Seems strange to me why car enthusiasts spend lots of dosh on making their car go faster over a 1/4mile, only to find the quicker they go the less time you can enjoy yourself behind the wheel. Bit of a conundrum to me. Each their own I guess but I'll rather go on track days and enjoy the whole day driving.

 

[Brett]

14.8 isn't bad for a 1.4

What engine mounts are you using out of interest? My 1*2 did not like to even be driven hard in 1st on the standard (new) mounts. I didn't ever launch it because I felt there was too much engine movement and it would damage it.

 

[Vicky.]

Lol special 1.4s FTW

You'd be surprised at how many people asked me if it was a 1.4 lol! The person handing out the timing slips said he'd never seen a 1.4 beat an s3 before and what had I done to it. Donut lol!

I've got the ktec group N uprated mounts and couldn't recommend them higher. I too wasn't too keen on launching the he'll out the car and when I wasn't I was getting 15.3s then I decided I'd give it a little more and started getting 14s so without giving it too much you need a bit of a launch to get a good time.

Matt - I did lower the tyre pressures but did that on the first run and left it for the day so not sure if it made a difference, I never hit the limiter as i don't want to damage the car but it is difficult as mine revs off the clock so I pretty much guess where the limit is!

I understand what you mean about track days but there is a real adrenaline rush when you drag race another car and there are nerves in the mix aswell as you're being watched and the commentator talks about your car etc. I had a great day, bettered my time each run and won 10/11 races. The only thing that beat me was a clk55 amg but only by 1/2 second. He messed his start up though so that's why, makes me feel good though :approve:

 

[Soot1e]

It's good fun at North Weald, I have been to a couple events there myself. May give the Dragging bit a go one day. What car do you have?

 

[Brett]

I think i'd go for uprated mounts if I was to get another 1*2. Can't stand engine movement.

Get yourself back down to ktec for a SC conversion and go beating the AMG's!

 

[Vicky.]

Soot1e - you'll have to get along to the next one in september. I have a converted 1.4, now has a 182 engine inside

Definitely a good idea to get them Brett makes you feel better when you're giving it the beans! Lol I wish! I'm considering upgrading this again instead of getting a new car when the time comes, it wouldn't sell well being a conversion and nothing puts a smile on my face like this car so I reckon I might do something more exciting next time.

I have nos going on in a few weeks so that'll set me up for Septembers drag day

 

[Brett]

Nos - nice!

Yeah a 2.0 SC with the full 182 running gear you've got in a car that looks like a 1.4 would be pretty epic tbh.

 

[Ali]

Pretty impressed as a female you didn't get lost on the way down!

 

[Matthew]

My jaw dropped reading your car was a 1.4, untill I saw that you had a 1*2 engine in it....

LOL

 

[sideways danny]

that's a good time!! almost never see 172s get into 14s without pretty major work. standard cars doing high 15s most of the time.

 

[Matthew]

that's a good time!! almost never see 172s get into 14s without pretty major work. standard cars doing high 15s most of the time.

This.

Mine was making 15.3's all day and Ste's off here was doing 16's (although he had abit of weight in the car lol)

 

[Kneel]

A converted 1.4 will be lighter than a 1*2 though wont it?

 

[widdo]

I went to santa pod and York drag way within 10 days of each other, same weather conditions. Santa pod I ran 14.56 @ 94.45. And York I ran 14.52 @ 94.68. So there is minimal time difference there.

 

[Vicky.]

Pretty impressed as a female you didn't get lost on the way down!

Made me chuckle

A converted 1.4 will be lighter than a 1*2 though wont it?

I believe it is slightly lighter, but I'm not 100% sure.

I went to santa pod and York drag way within 10 days of each other, same weather conditions. Santa pod I ran 14.56 @ 94.45. And York I ran 14.52 @ 94.68. So there is minimal time difference there.

It's good to see the comparison. I think i'll wait until the NOS is fitted for Santa Pod just so when the times are displayed I feel better lol!

that's a good time!! almost never see 172s get into 14s without pretty major work. standard cars doing high 15s most of the time.

Glad to hear it's a good time, I wasn't too sure as I had nothing to compare it with in terms of other RS clio times.

 

[Chris n nic]

There have been a few std 172's getting less than 15's over the years...doesn't take too much to get into the low 14's but after that you will be looking at more expensive mods and/or mega strippage.

Mine went from 15 dead standard to 14.17 with just rears out, rsport ecu and exhaust/decat/open ik.

 

[Inferno]

Has anyone been to Santa pod and N. Weald or somewhere similar where the road isn't exactly perfect for racing and had an improved time at the pod?

Yes, I've done both. 15 dead at the Pod, 15.2 at North Weald.

 

[Soot1e]

Vicky, your definitely a PETROLHEAD then, nos? you crazy girl!. I can go if the meet is on 5th. Sept? Perhaps an entry in the Track Day Forum might encourage other Cliosport members to come along and have a go.

 

[Vicky.]

Damn! Just realised n.w is on the same day as Trax so I guess I won't be going then. Will have to get to a RWYB at Santa pod instead I guess.

Inferno - thanks for the comparison not many have been to north Weald but it's good to see the difference, hopefully I'll be able to improve my time at S.P. then

 

[Kliorsi]

Hi Vicky xx

Wow another Petrol Head "Clio Mad" Lady.....

I havent made my 1/4 debut yet but hope to at Kirkbride in September if not before.... no idea what time to expect though.... Will be on a major diet the week before so as to not add weight lol

Keep up the good work for the CS Ladies...........

Becca

 

[mat-nos]

what nos system you thinking of getting vicky???

 

[Vicky.]

Lol will do becca good luck when you do yours!

what nos system you thinking of getting vicky???

I already have it in my room it's just got to be fitted. I've got a wizards of nos kit with a 12lb polished bottle and a minimax progressive controller. I'm hoping to get it all strapped on in the next few weeks

 

[cander08]

gd times a did 14.9 at crail in scotland not the best surface, stripped the rear for next visit and couldnt better a 15.2 . depends on what mood the cups in

 

[Mr R.]

I was at the Pod on saturday it was a Mopar event, there was a mk1 escort with a cossy turbo running mid 10`s and some other stuff with V8s and twin turbos running 8`s.
Then the Fire Force jet car came out and ran a mid 5 sec at 170 odd mph, now that was fast.....

 

[st3ve]

I'd like to do a 1/4 mile but I just couldn't bear to put that much strain on the clutch over and over.

Nice job gettin 14.8 though.

 

[Vicky.]

That's what I thought Steve so I started out without launching the car but then when I got my timing slip in the 15s I was determined to get into the 14s... From there I got a little addicted because it was fun

Besides I've come to the conclusion that my car loves it lol.

 

[mat-nos]

nice kit ive always used won in the past, what size jets have you got??

got a pic??

 

[Russ_16v]

I was at the Pod on saturday it was a Mopar event, there was a mk1 escort with a cossy turbo running mid 10`s and some other stuff with V8s and twin turbos running 8`s.
Then the Fire Force jet car came out and ran a mid 5 sec at 170 odd mph, now that was fast.....

even when letting off it should have been over 200 easy!

10 second cars do over 140 past the line, I know the fireforce lads shut off before crossing the line but its faster than 170...

 

[Vicky.]

Cheers matt!

Not got any pics of the kit atm (on iPhone skiving at work) it's on the site though and is the streetblaster kit.

The kit comes with 25bhp jets but I'm going to ask active nitrous (where Im getting it fitted) if they'll put some 50 jets in straight away :approve:...Got nos on your car I gather then?

 

[JamesBryan]

Ye 170 is definately not right, it runs 250-270 all the time. It has been restricted though after their 360mph run a few years back, they actually get fined if they go above 280 i think it is

 

[Mr R.]

even when letting off it should have been over 200 easy!

10 second cars do over 140 past the line, I know the fireforce lads shut off before crossing the line but its faster than 170...

My bad should have been 270mph.....Tbh not all the 10 sec cars where doing that sort of speeds some must have been getting off the line alot better than others i guess.

 

[jamier27]

Most Clio rs's I have seen running the 1/4 mile have all been low to mid 15's I ran a 14.3 in the vee and that was with hardly any traction issues 60ft time of 2.1 which I guess could be improved.

 

[mat-nos]

not on my current car put had it on previous cars and used to do quite alot of rwyb days....
it gets pretty adictive to use, i ended up running twin 20lbs bottles as a 12lb doesnt last long but depends on how you have the controller set up!!

see how you get on but imo the manifold on an rs clio suits direct port ;-)

 

[Vicky.]

Funny you should say that, the kit I bought is direct port but i'm not getting that fitted from the off as it's a little pricey (300 to fit standard kit and extra 300 for direct port). I've also been told that I wouldn't see a huge benefit from it with 50 jets and direct port is more suited to 100+?

 

[Vicky.]

LOL ... Just found this via google...A guy I raced twice in his mk4 GTI has been bragging to his mates ...

Other member: Were you impressed with the Mk4?

Person I raced:

i was hoping for low 15s. id have been over the moon with anything starting 14.

the best i got was 15.03. it was all over a stripped 182 clio though, she beat me TWICE by a few hundreths on both occassions

admiral tyres on a concrete strip prolly didnt help but happy none the less

Lol, I got my 14.8 in one of those races. They were close races but it was hardly "all over" me, especially as I won.

 

[Šįk]

haha nice one.. i really want to get into 14's!!

best iv had out of the LY182 is 15.2 @ 95mph.. standard barr a BMC filter. going to try beat it this sept by fidling with tyre pressure which iv herd is a major factor in getting good times. got a decat in my room might get that fitted.. we will c.

PSJ.