Any Houstonians want to go to Texas Mile?

[rhipsher]

Id leave Katy to join you Robin to run the mile. Unfortunately my water pump went out and I wont have the new one installed in time. I to wonder what my 90 with top end porting/Fidanza/Spec stage 3+ clutch and stiff poly bushings would do in the mile.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by rhipsher

Id leave Katy to join you Robin to run the mile. Unfortunately my water pump went out and I wont have the new one installed in time. I to wonder what my 90 with top end porting/Fidanza/Spec stage 3+ clutch and stiff poly bushings would do in the mile.

mid to high 150s

[rhipsher]

Originally Posted by Kevin

mid to high 150s

That sounds about right.

[mgbrv8]

176.4 was his best run!!

Dave

[rhipsher]

Damn! That car must have more serious mods than I have to run that kinda mph in the mile. Sanjays 415 did 185mph. Your not far behind that. Or im just seriously under estimating what mine would do.

[Kevin]

is that a Siamesed plenum i see?

[Demps]

LPE 385

[rhipsher]

I knew there was a catch. Lol!

[PhillipsLT5]

176 will not be a 350 and probably not a 368
looks siamese

[ZR1dogan]

Well guys.

First I would like to thank you guys for the posts and help and mainly to my buddy Stacy as well as Dave (mgbrv8) for their help at The Mile. Stacy drove down from Port Lavaca and Dave came up from McAllen with his family to watch and spent most of the day helping me - The Brotherhood in action.


Executive summary:
First time to do this. First time to take the car out. Wasn't as prepped as I would have liked, but I was as ready as I could get.
First pass: 168 but got our of it due to loud noise at the end
Second pass: 176.4 170+ Club - Met my goal
Starter problems and already meeting my goal, I called it an event after the two passes.
Successful event, I'll be back, better educated and better prepared. This time looking for 180.


Details (if you want to read my blabbing):
As I stated in my original post this was my first attempt at the mile. In fact it was the first time I had done any kind of competition with the car and it was the first time I had hauled the car in my new trailer (which took prep of its own). I work out of town so I can't get prepped during the week. So I was wore out pushing to get ready, and there were a number of details I just didn't have time to get to (like draining some gas, cleaning the air filter, etc). Heck I didn't even have time to wash it and it was covered in pine pollen. But this trip was just to quit watching and reading and start participating, so the fact that I made it there at all was half the battle.

As Ted said - the car is an LPE-385 which Corey did a tune on 2 years ago. So I knew if I could get on the track and I didn't do anything stupid, the car would make a good showing. I was going to be real disappointed if it didn't go over 160 (would have meant I was the problem), but was hoping to get into the 170 club.

The first run almost didn't happen as I stopped the car for a few minutes to cool it off while waiting to get on the starting grid. The good ole LT-5 starter has given me trouble maybe 4 times in the last 2 years - whines at first and then cranks on the second or third try. Well, as Murphy would have it, the starter wouldn't pull in and this time for about a dozen tries. Finally it caught and I was up on the grid (whew - got past that dumb mistake).

I took off medium hard till I got on a roll and then hammered it. I didn't speed shift since this was my first try, my driving skills aren't what the used to be, and speed shifting never was my strong point. I'm in 5th gear and pulling strong and almost at the lights I hear a LOUD WHISHING sound. Kinda like the exhaust from a relief valve popping. I'm thinking - Holy Cow! What is that? Am I dropping stuff on the track? It was essentially too late to pull off the track as I was almost at the end and sudden turns at that speed are not an option. Past the end, as I am decelerating, the noise goes away, oil pressure is good, temperature is good, idle rpm is good, I can tell tires are up. I literally look back to try to see if I'm smoking - none. Hmmmm?? I get my ticket - 168. Well, 160+ club - met my first goal.

Got back in line to get a spot while we check out the car. Tires are good. No fluids escaped. We can't find anything wrong, but Dave keeps looking and feeling. "I found it", he says. At top speed, the rt rear wheel well plastic had apparently been pushed back up against the tire and there was an oblong wear spot. We checked the tire - no problem. So, lets go again, and hmmmmm, did I let off before the end, and I was already at 170 if I had just stayed in it? The loud rub definitely happened before the end.

So in line, at the end of the 5 lines across, as I was being called to get in the single file line, I try to crank and the starter acted up again. This time it caught after about 4 or 5 tries - I'm not killing again until after the run - I'll have to live with whatever the Ron Davis radiator will cool to, from now till the run.

I took off a little harder this time, still no speed shifting, but it is pulling pretty good. This time there is no loud noise and the shift light came on near the end (I think it is set for 6800). Pull around get my ticket - 176.4 - I'll take it!

With the starter problems, and already making it to the 170 club, and odds of getting to the 180 club pretty low-without additional prep, I decide to call it an event and drive back home. That was probably a good decision as I needed the rest - I've been a zombie all day today after the adrenalin wore off. Didn't even get the car off the trailer till about 5 this afternoon. Thank goodness I have a vacation day tomorrow.

So, I am happy with the speed, especially considering a minor head wind, warm motor, 3/4 tank of pump gas, no speed shifting and no special aerodynamic attention. I'll be back and I'll be going for the 180 club next time.


Robin
94 Dark Red - Almost Stock
94 Adm Blue - Not Stock