1/8 mile racing oppinion
 

Since I cannot post in the Heads Up furum, I'll post my views here. The only strip that we have in Alaska is a 1/4 mile track, but several years ago, a former track manager had purchased a Chrondex timing system, and made it portable to hold some 1/8 mile races, on the street in Anchorage. I bought some deaper gears just for the three events that he had organized. What a kick! I like the challenge, as there is NO margine for error. If you screw up, at all, you're done. For those that say that the 1/8 mile is just as hard on your engine, if you gear for it, you are wrong. In the 1/4, my throttle is matted for about 8 1/2 seconds, in the 1/8, for only about 5 1/4 seconds. So, which do you think is easier on the engine?

Re: 1/8 mile racing oppinion
 

I loved it, once I had to race 1/8th mile....

No gear changing here though, I just let it run what it runs.

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I agree, we use the same for1/8 or 1/4. We race a lot of 1/8 mile here as well as 1/4.
Jeff Ross

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I prefer the 1/4 mile stuff mainly due to the tracks usually being nicer and not having to park in the mud (at least around here and on the east coast where I used to live) Other than that I will do either. I also dont change gears I just let it run what it will run.

Re: 1/8 mile racing oppinion
 

here in the midwest. eighth mile racing usually gets a bigger car count. more experienced racers do better in quarter mile racing. because of the finish line strategies..like you said no room for error, if your deadly on the tree no time for finish line games...there both fun.

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There for sure is a huge difference in how you dial a car that is shaped like a brick on the 1/4 mile.....hitting that wall of wind at 800 ft. at Indy or Tri-State can ruin your day.....big difference between 100 MPH and 125 MPH.
I've seen the flag at the starting line hanging limp and felt like someone slammed the brakes on at 800 feet at Tri-Slide, where the wind gets through the tree line.

Re: 1/8 mile racing oppinion
 

No gear changing here though, I just let it run what it runs.[/QUOTE]

When your running on a dial and not just shoe polish it makes a little difference........Thats part of the reason I posted where I did. Yes, I could take some out of the box and run the 6.95 thats 1/8 time for S/ST but the motor is not really in it's power band like it is on the top end racing 1/4. Plus I don't have any info for 1/8 guess that's my fault but running 1/4 all the time never felt the need to..........................Just my .02

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Bob, I'm glad that you responded here. I started this thread in responce to yours, as I cannot post there. As I said, I prefere 1/8 mile racing, and if I were to have a chance to race it again, I would buy another Ultra third member with 5.29s or 5.43s to replace my 4.29s. I can see why some don't like running the shorter race, if they don't have the gear to mandate a shift. If you were bracket racing, I suppose it doesn't make any difference, but if you want to be on top of the game, you need to gear for it.
Just my $.02

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WD you have a PM

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All my 1/4 mile slips had 1/8 mile times on 'em..... LOL;)

I know, who looks at that when you are focused on the 1/4....:D

Re: 1/8 mile racing oppinion
 

I look at all of the increments and break them down......60ft ---330---1/8--MPH &ET----1000---And 1/4..................I don't store 1/8 mi in the weather station because those times are 7.10 +or - running on a 6.95 dial some thing needs to change. I can take time out of the throttle stop but I have no info and rather than spend 500. to 1000. to go to a div race for test and tune/practice you stay home. Am I getting through, I don't have one of those 150+mph S/ST cars. And as you said Dave, I do have a brick I'm pushing down the track............

Re: 1/8 mile racing oppinion
 

I run Super Pro at a 1/8 mile track in Portland, OR when I bracket race,also at Seattle and Woodburn, OR but they are 1/4 mile. I also run S/ST at all the division races and Natl opens. I really don't have a preference. Portland does it for curfew reasons so they can get the program in. Many of the tracks will switch to 1/8 mile if they have a rain delay that threatens the program. As for running S/ST S/G and S/C on 1/8 mile it isn't a big deal, I run around 7.20's when I am chasing 10.90 in the 1/4. they talked about the Natl Open in Portland being 1/8 mile so I took a stab at in the bracket race, took about 3 passes to hit it consistently. Give it a chance, don't avoid it just because it is 1/8 mile.

2 cents from the West Coast.

Jim

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Changing the gear when you have a large stroke engine like yours won't gain ET. The engine doesn't know it's running 1/8th mile and you run the risk of making the launch unmagaeable. However you will accelerate engine wear. Small blocks are a differnet story altogether, which is where this myth came from.

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You must be talking to Jim. Even though it's stroked mine is still a small block 421 !!!!!!!!!!

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Bruce, You remember Pontiacs, don't you? When I ran the 1/8, I had a gear thet put my shift point and finish line rpm the same. So there should be less engine wear because it saw those rpms for less time. Unimagionable launch? You bet! There's nothing like it. I carry the front wheels for about 400 feet, with the 4.29s now, so what'll it do with 5.43s?

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...003_edited.jpg

By the way, Bruce, my rear bumper is the same one that I ordered from you, years ago.

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For someone that started racing when there was nothing but 1/4 mile tracks, doing the 1/8 mile things just don't cut it. When I returned to racing in the mid 90s about everything around here had gone to 1/8 mile. I raced it and didn't realize much difference. Then in the late 90s I started racing with the NSCA and the NMCA and all this stuff is 1/4 mile. Now, I hate going back to the 1/8 mile. Sure it is easier on equipment but I love the speed and the longer time on the track-10 seconds/to 6 seconds. I well agree that there are some killer 1/8 mile racers out there. It's actually eaiser for me to go to a National event and win than go to a local 1/8 and compete aganist the regulars. Traveling the country and going to different tracks and conditions equalizes it amoung the traveling racers. My 2 cents.
Jim Netherland
2007 NMCA Nostalgia Super Stock World Champion

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Nice GTO Bill.

In all of the testing I've done with strokes of 4.21 or more, trying to short gear them for 1/8th mile wasn't worth the effort of changing gears. If your car hooks well with a short gear, well, that's good. Some guys don't have as good a chassis to work with. And the added stress isn't worth it either. Are you seeing a tenth in 1/8th mile change by short gearing?

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A little more than a tenth, but I have to wait until the track warms up in the early afternoon. It'll spin after I get off of the concrete if I try to make a pass too early, like I did the day before Memorial day. It had rained and they dried the track, but I went out a little too soon. Since the first 300' is heated, I had my best 60' (1.1992), but when I got off of the pad, it was like driving a flat bottom boat.

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goob ! hey i know all about racing a brick! lol.. try a refrigerator box!!!! lol good to see ya again!

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just what do you think you know about that 1/8th mile racing there Senor Felipe?

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olla estabon!!!! hows things up your way? lol . i know that S10 blazer has about areodynamics as a refrigerator box in a in hurricane.... see ya jerky!!