Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

Is it just me, but I have noticed at most race tracks this year that the traction issue has gotten worse < Have any other tracks of racers seen this traction issue< I believe? Something has changed this year either the traction compound has been changed, or the manufacturers have changed, or the track are diluting the glue more, or whatever they are doing this year, it is not working.

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

Hi Don,

I can't say that I am having traction problems, but with the current version of AHFS I am not hitting the tire very hard. Several sessions of Top Fuel and Funny Car at Sonoma had nearly every car spin. I heard from numerous fans at the race, Friday night and Saturday qualifying was a joke. Several felt they spent way to much money to not be able to see cars get down the track on full runs. They also complained about not having Pro Stock compete. The stands were only 60% full, so having the paying fans that were there, feel like they wasted their money is not a good thing.

Darin Grossi

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

Ya know Don, IMHO (no not IMHO but in my big loud mouthed opinion) if NHRA went back to track-prep that existed of a mop and a broom Sportsman Drag Racing wouldn't be in the position that it's in with 8 second, 160 MPH "Stockers" and 5-10-20 K cylinder heads.
If we actually had to still "hook" what the track would take without having to spray glue on it things would be much different.

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

After we were done with our last passes in Super Gas and Top Dragster on Friday night we went to the stands to watch the fuel cars. Qualifying sucked. The Fans were literally booing the cars. As for traction, my S/G car was good in Sonoma. However the starting line was pretty tore up.

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

Ok this question is to all Track owners,Track Personnel, and Starting line prep People
I have the best Rear tires on the car, the best, most efficient converter, the best 4 link adjustments, the latest and fresh rear shocks and the best fresh front struts.I have lowered the leave chip many times ,I have taken timing out many times,I have adjusted the tire pressure many times > In Stock and Super we are not allowed Traction control < I have one of the top chassis Guru here yesterday Phil Mandella looking over the car nothing is wrong with it. So My question how Can I get my car to hook up On your Track??

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

Well, if you brought in Phil Mandella from California we can all see that you are serious about this. Phil is one great guy …

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

Don please take good notes! Thanks

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

My N and O/SA Aspen Wagon 318 has blown away the tires at a couple
National Races this year. It has never spun like that in 15 years of racing
and will usually hook in the rain.

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

Lower your kickoff speed!

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

Larry I went back to My notes from the 70s until now and I have never spun as much as I have this year Just saying the tracks are not being Prepped correctly this year or being prepped different

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

Have you made some recent converter changes?
Sent your best back to be freshened?

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

This reminded me of a post that I've been going to make concerning Stock and it's future.
Don's post is kind of related.. Going to try to do it tonight.

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

Im not saying the track is perfect, but have you made physical adjustments.? Move weight, loosen front shock, more travel in front. Because you have the best of everything, I have to ask. Optimum to what? If the car has been great with 53.6582% up front, 3 clicks from full loose, 4.5681 inches in front end travel it may not be optimum for the track your at. Im not busting on you Im sure the tracks have been crap, making adjustments is a norm at every track. Having the track come to you is backwards thinking. You need to come to the track. Hope family and you are doing good. Jeff

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

The tracks have not been the best this year.

I'm not sure what's going on but we notice our cars will hook then they let go a few feet out. My low horsepower car spins and our high horsepower car spins.

I walk out and check the starting line and it is not even sticky.

But with the new rules, you might as well kill the launch. You can't win if you spin.

Mike

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

Did you have any problems at Indy last weekend? I had no issues in the car I was driving there and none of the other cars in our camp had traction issues. Mostly I race in D2 and have not had any problems this year in my car.

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

Why do some cars hook in a car wash and others dig a hole at the same race? Must be the track.

Paul

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

To much low gear in the transmission? Happens a lot.

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/L2O7ftKOyIE" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

NOT ALL TRACKS!!

Hats off to the Koretsky's, Maple Grove and NHRA crew. Track was prepped beautifully even for the test & tune on Thursday!

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

I have made many adjustments big time here of course for each track

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

I do not run a low gear in trans or rear end I run a puny Pontiac Engine

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

No change with the converter

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

I have been preaching this for 2 years. I believe there are several reasons the tracks are not hooking like they used too. First is the lack of people that really know the tracks they are working at and how to really prep them. These guys are dying off or just retiring. Now the new guys are doing the best they can but nothing beats experience. Also what is throwing a monkey wrench into the mix are companies changing the traction compounds, then changing back, then they are hard to get then there seems to be an ample supply. So, bottom line, we need to have our cars working as best as they can. Because a good hooking track covers up a car that has problems. Believe me I have personally found that out and hopefully have made progress on my stuff. Also throw in the cost of traction compounds, are tracks cutting down the mix, probably.

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

Track Owners should visit Napierville Dragway (Nick Brunet) to learn how to prepare a track!

We were there for the National Open last month, and had the BE$T 60ft. times ever with our car. I was all over both lanes guiding cars in the path, and never once saw a bald spot on the starting line.

Nick & his crew have a "unique way" of drying & preparing a track, nothing that I've ever seen before!

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

Don it appears no track people or NHRA people are going to respond. I would talk to your SCRA rep

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

Yes I spun I also watched Stock and Super Stock making runs and saw with my own eyes spinning many times

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

Don, you complain about every track you go to. Ever think it's your car?

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

When the last time you had you shocks recalibrated? The ride in the trailers is very hard on them!

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

Wasn't there a shortage of traction compound a couple of years ago then didn't the price skyrocket?

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

fresh rear shocks first of the year just took off the front struts no issues

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

see my first post about all I have done I had three 1.17 60 fts and one 1.16 60 ft on a well prepped track this year fyi

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

Try a fin change in the converter.
A little work there can take the violence of the hit out.
A little work there won't hurt stall and can improve TQ multiplication.
You could even put a pressure dump valve to control converter pressure at the hit. ( effective, soften)
IMHO This track prep is only going to get worse as prices for the glue increase.
With a combination that is adjustable you can bring the car to all the track will hold instead of wasting time doing a second burn out.
I like the 1.26's that some tracks let my little V-6 lay out, but I'm happy with 1.32's and a clean run at other tracks.
Good Luck Don... I'm betting you get a handle on it.

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

https://www.nmradigital.com/blog/the...mra-event/1491

I used to work the starting line years ago. This article is titled The science of stick. Not about stick shifts.

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

I thought the traction was a little better than I expected with the number of cars, and the heat. I slipped the tire Friday afternoon, but did not blow them away. It was expected, and traction Saturday morning was more than I expected. I run a clutch car in super gas. When the heat is in the track, it not like St Louis in the fall...

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

Ya know, Jim Beatty was playing with this stuff before he passed.

You could also take the radials off and put rag tires on it.

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

TVC and Kurt Johnson do great work at every race we have been to. We look forward to racing with them, NMCA

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

Correct

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

Well it appears the traction issues have now escalated to the Pro ranks too:

https://autos.yahoo.com/nhra-mutiny-...RpZAMEc2VjA3Ny

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

Well we will see how Div.3 does with the starting line this weekend at B Green.It is suppose to be 95 degrees in the shade for a couple of days.

Re: Spinng on The Line at all NHRA Tracks lately
 

I watched most of stock, SS and Comp at Brainerd on nhratv. I saw one car blow the tires off, and the cars prior and after had no issues.

Our local track tried renegade one weekend and it was horrible for the small tire cars on the line, and loose in the middle for any cars with above avg hp. Went back to PJ1 and the issues went away.