Challenger hits the track for the first time in 2009

Took the Challenger to 75-80 yesterday; first time out w/ the car in 2009 and the first time at 75-80 since 2000. Got there early enough to get in six time runs before packing up. The track is still a real throw-back to '60s-era drag racing and the big advantage for me is it's the closest 1/4 mile track to my home (48 miles). I'm glad it was re-opened this year after having shut down some time ago.

I made a number of changes to the car outlined here in a recent post and was really curious how the car would run compared to when I ran it at MIR last fall. However, from previous data I had comparing the two tracks, I knew even if it was running on par w/ last year that testing at 75-80 would show results a couple of tenths and 2+ mph off from what it would turn at MIR. FWIW, the results from 2008 could be summed up in the following re-hash of the last day at MIR:

1.463 / 6.698 / 101.45 / 10.582 / 126.18 / 65*, 42%, 30.38"
1.464 / 6.682 / 101.71 / 10.563 / 126.12 / 72*, 33%, 30.35"
1.459 / 6.681 / 101.47 / 10.570 / 125.97 / 73*, 33%, 30.33"

Running the car straight from 75-80's tech w/ nothing but changes to tire pressures got the following results:

1.479 / 6.845 / 99.55 / 10.805 / 123.55 / <No Weather #s>
1.412 / 6.786 / 99.16 / 10.756 / 123.49 / 78*, 47%, 29.35"
1.415 / 6.790 / 99.29 / 10.754 / 123.69 / 74*, 53%, 29.35"
1.491 / 6.833 / 99.95 / 10.786 / 123.83 / 72*, 50%, 29.37"
--- tires lost hook right off the line and aborted run ---
1.363* / 6.906 / 99.86 / 10.860 / 123.76 / <No Weather #s>

I put an "*" by the last run's 60-ft. because I think there must have been something wrong w/ the track's equipment. No way my car's going to run a 1.36 60... and the rest of the run's #s don't "fit" w/ that good of a launch, either. I'm even curious if the two 1.41s are valid, since the only thing I did differently on those passes was raise the launch RPM from 1700 to 2000. And when I tried the same thing on the fourth run, it didn't hook as well, as the 1.49 indicates. The last pass that actually hooked up (since it simply blew the tires off right from the launch on my 5th pass) I'd dropped the launch RPM back down to 1800.

Given the differences in atmospheric conditions, I plugged in the #s into my Compulink ET predictor program and it says that the 10.754 @ 123.69 from Saturday "should" have been a 10.585 @ 125.67 under comparable conditions to that string of 10.5s @ 126 from last year. So... given the carb setup changes, the intake change, having to remove the "Super Sucker" spacer because of hood clearance, etc., it looks at this point as if the car still runs pretty much the same as before. I'll be back to MIR at the end of the month (if not earlier) for their Mopar event, so I'll have some more direct before & after #s.

One ... then I blow it away if nobody else gives a rat's @ss.

Id say its running almost exactly the same as before. The difference in ET IMO is because of the worse air.

You had some Great air on the prior listed ETs.

Your tuning changes and smaller venturi diameter helped your bottom end/60 fts. as witnessed by your better average 60ft. times. With better air they will show even more improvement.

With your listed changes from your prior thread I didnt expect to see much difference in the combos performance. But you did improve the cars drivability, I bet at the lower rpm,s.

So IMO your changes were an improvement, mike


Edit; By the way, I forgot to add, your combo for what it IS does run GREAT!! You pretty much have it at max tune IMO. Is there more?? maybe. But I say your there Dude

Glad you got the car back out to the track! The work you did probably did help driveability, but evidently not so much on performance as you'd hoped. Still a VERY strong running combo! CHIP

Our buddy Fast Orange runs in the 10.4s and he has CNCed BS heads and alotof money in headers etc., so you are almost the same as his Challenger. Thats doing pretty good.

Its still your first time back out, keep foolin with it till ya get what your lookin for,

Brad,sounds like it's running pretty good to me! Nice combo! Randy