Lost to an '04 Vette, HELP!

[99FiveOh]

I don't have too much experience and I had alot going against me: Stock size 245/45 17's that are pretty worn, My car had just gotten back into town from a 150 mile trip, so it was kinda warm.

The Vette belongs to my brother's boss so I can run him again when I get my
##### together! They're all Chevy fans and ragging on me hard core! I don't want to break my car, but I need to win next time.

Here's how the races went: We lined up on a private road which wasn't very wide. I spun the hell out of my tires and the Vette just hooked and took off. But when I got traction I started catching up. Problem is, by 1/4 mile mark he was still out front. With my mods and HP, should I be able to take an 04 base Vette?

Will drag radials make that big of a difference? Don't want to sound like an idiot but I just want to make sure DR's will get me where I need to be before plunking down the cash.

 

[Bosko5.0]

for one he has traction control, and wider tires so DR will help alot.

 

[S/CBlack95GT]

When racing side by side it is all about the ET, so traction means everything. The vette is about 150 lbs lighter, but you are putting at least 50 more hp to the ground than the vette is making at the crank. Hook up properly and you should be the one way out in front.

I raced my friend's modified 1998 Z28 after I added the blower and I didnt even have to drop the clutch or bang gears to beat him. I just dogged it off the line which let him pull on me throughout first gear. Once in second I knew I could get traction so I went to near WOT and my car just pulled past his Z28 like he hit the brakes.

 

[cbarr300]

join the club....I have decent tires out back and a decent suspension setup and still break traction at the middle of second.

DR will definitely help...just don't get greedy on the stock rearend

 

[Pokageek]

You need Traction. Then go blow his doors off.

 

[5spd GT]

Those things trap in the 108-110 range in the quarter.

You have the power/weight to beat them quite well.

Your supercharger adds weight. Your car probably weighs 250lbs more than his.

Get some sticky drag radials, it will definatly help if you don't have them!

 

[99FiveOh]

Thanks for the replies. No, I'm on lousy stock sized tires right now. I'll be moving to a 18x9 / 18x10 setup soon. Not sure what type of wheel I'll run, but I should be able to mount a pretty wide tire on a 10" rim.

Should I set that 10 inch rim up for traction or run a street tire and have some DR's or ET Streets mounted to a set of waffles?

I very much would like to go back and blow his doors off! They're ragging on me pretty hard lately because I was kinda talking smack before about my car being able to take the vette!

 

[stprorolla49]

Thanks for the replies. No, I'm on lousy stock sized tires right now. I'll be moving to a 18x9 / 18x10 setup soon. Not sure what type of wheel I'll run, but I should be able to mount a pretty wide tire on a 10" rim.

Should I set that 10 inch rim up for traction or run a street tire and have some DR's or ET Streets mounted to a set of waffles?

I very much would like to go back and blow his doors off! They're ragging on me pretty hard lately because I was kinda talking smack before about my car being able to take the vette!

18" drag radials aren't going to hep you as much as a set of 16" drag radials will because the smaller sidewall doesnt allow the tire to wrinkle, and absorb the shock of the launch. If i was you I'd get some waffles and some ET streets...then you will HOOK!

 

[cbarr300]

waffles and radials

 

[final5-0]

18" drag radials aren't going to hep you as much as a set of 16" drag radials will because the smaller sidewall doesnt allow the tire to wrinkle, and absorb the shock of the launch. If i was you I'd get some waffles and some ET streets...then you will HOOK!

I agree about the taller side walled tire.

The only thing about the waffles is they are really heavy

Everybody likes the way wide tires look on the rear of our Stangs
but
When talking about traction

Softer compound is way more effective than tire width

If you go to a good bit wider tire with the same compound as your
original tire ... YES ... you will find more traction ... but ... not as
much of an improvement as you would think.

Grady

 

[Pokageek]

250# = roughly 25HP OR .25 in the QM. So subtract 25HP from your car and that will tell you where you are.