joelster

What is the elevation of your local tracks?

I race at Dunn Tire Raceway (1/8th mile) which is 583ft and at Empire Dragway (1/4) which is 910ft.

Our tracks typically close the first or second week in November. The stars have to be aligned just right and everything has to be perfect and we can enjoy MAYBE 1 or 2 track days with negative DA. The best I raced in this year was 869ft iirc. Usually over the summer we are at 1500-2500ft DA which sucks.

How about you guys? I hear that Maryland is the place to go.

AChotrod

iTrader: (17)

Seems about the same around here.

zracer323

iTrader: (12)

We very rarely get under 1000' here. We are at about 900' and most tracks around here close at the end of October. My best run last year was in about 1900' DA

Villain281H

iTrader: (5)

I've heard Texas stories of -2000 DA before.
Personal best I raced in -1200 DA here in Gainesville about 5 years ago. During NHRA Unleashed in November 2010 I did a pass in the morning with -650 DA. Car is a whole nother animal in negative air!

Derek

BlackScreaminMachine

iTrader: (17)

-151 @ Lebenon Valley Dragway in LV NY. A Saturday in October. Started at about 200-300 and as the day progressed it dropped and you could feel it. I will mention the average DA during the season is around 1500.

Atco and E town get some real Negative DA and thats when most people go beat their PM or set records.

5.3LJimmy

iTrader: (10)

The DA at no problem raceway is currently -1955! I am planning on going to the track tonight and conditions should be similar . link: http://www.dragtimes.com/da-density-...time=8:16%20AM

jmm98LS1

iTrader: (28)

About the same here. We're at 950' and the humidity kills us. Ive never seen better than 1200' DA, and that was with 45* temps in mid October. If it gets below 1500' I get excited. I'd have to re-gear my turd to run in the negative air some of you lucky bastards get!

skeeter99

iTrader: (16)

Someone explain DA to me i dont hear it mentioned in texas at all and im curious how it effects performance

dschmittie1

iTrader: (64)

DA= Density Altitude. Basicly it takes elevation and weather conditions to determin the quality/condition of the air. Cars make more power in Lower DA's

I have raced in DAs damn near -2500 to -3000 gotta love track that are very close to sea level and nice cold days

joelster

It effects naturally aspirated cars quite a bit. For an example, let's say you have a bolt-on car that runs low 12's, say 12.20-12.30's all summer long. The DA during all of those summer months hovers between 2500-3500feet, which means it's hot and humid or the track is way above sea level. You decide to take a road trip to NJ in October and you head to the track on a particular saturday when it's 45 degrees outside with low humidity. The DA is -1500feet that day. Your car would pick up a ton of power and rip off some 11.85's yanking the wheels.

355z28

iTrader: (8)

1400 for me. Here in iowa Most days during the summer are 3000+ if I get ever get in a good negative DA id be closer to tens on motor!

bgblockelcamino

iTrader: (9)

my personal best was at MIR think DA that day was -1600? have to look at race results but off top my head. have heard it going mroe negative than that some days there.

94FBIRD

iTrader: (5)

Best DA I've raced in has been 6100 at a physical 5830 ft above sea level. The worst was 8800. Gotta love racing in Denver, CO. LOL

Bill00Formula

iTrader: (4)

Yeah, high altitude tracks must suck. Our track is maybe 15 feet above sea level but most of the year we have hot/warm and humid air. The last couple of years we have had more cooler and dryer days which has been great.

LS1Stocker

I was in Houton in 99 and the air was in the negative numbers, with a slight tailwind. One guy drove almost 2000 miles just to try and set the A/SA record at the time (he didnt). Barometer plays a big part, the higher it is, the more your motor will consume the air. I knew when I hit the throttle on the first pass that it was FAST.

joblo1978

iTrader: (14)

Tell me about it.

SS MPSTR

iTrader: (1)

Best DA I've run in was 1800'.

joelster

I checked my local tracks today. It was damn cold out today but the sun was shining all day.

Dunn Tire Raceway at 9:54am was at -4058 feet,lol.
Empire Dragway was at -3953 feet.

Too bad there is a little snow on the track (maybe 3-4 inches). Get the snowblowers and the VHT and set some records!