Drag Racing Tech - Fans on or off when racing?

I've been thinking of ways to get a bit more air to my engine off the line. Since I have FRA, do you guys think leaving the fans on during a race would help? I was thinking it might draw some of the hot air through the radiator and help get fresh colder air near the FRA opening. Does anyone race with the fans on?

I did this last spring (not on purpose)

Car ran 12.17@111 (1.62) with fans off, then 12.22@111 (1.62) fans on.

12.18@111 (1.62) Fans off.

12.23@111 (1.63) Fans on.

got about 15 runs that day (hehe gotta love MIR <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> ) .. all runs with the fans on were slower.

Not sure if was electrical of air related...

That's interesting. Since I'm running the Meziere now, I've been thinking about electrical draws lately as well. I noticed friday night that the headlights were on (DRL) and I'm going to disable that feature. Who knows if it will help, but it can't hurt.

When I had my 95 ram air Formula I tried an alternator kill switch. Alot of local mustang owners claimed to pick up a tenth and a mph with this trick. But, when I tried it on my Formula the car would just cut out (read: it didnt work). I think the computer and ignition system just wasnt getting enough juice.

On my 2000 Z28 I do as much as possible to lighten the load on the electrical system. Such things as: radio off, fog lights off, fans off (hopefully), and unplugging the headlights. I've seen some people just lift the emergency brake a little to kill the headlights, but I would rather just unplug them <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

With my headlight covers on, my headlights are worthless at night anyways. I should just remove them completely. The foglights have always been enough to get around on. I wonder what they weigh? The covers are illegal, so it wouldn't be any different than not having headlights at all. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

I would think that in addition to the added electrical draw that it might make getting the air "through" the car more difficult. Like stacking up more air in front that the car has to push through instead of slice through.

I'm sure there is some fancy engineering terms that would sound better but this works at least in my head <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

LAter <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

I have a fan switch, when i forget to turn them off, I usually run a tenth slower
and 1 mph slower.I assume it's because of the electrical draw.Those fans use alot of juice.

I say you want them off because of the draw on the cars electrical system. You know the altinator kill switch trick? Well running the fans should be opposite this, and in that, be BAD!