Thought I would give a quick update on performance since I broke into the 7's a couple months ago.

The month following the 7.81@188mph (5.14@152mph-1/8th) at Milan dragway I fought some suspension issues that made the car very inconsistent in performance (including a part breaking wheelstand unfortunately) but last trip to Milan I still managed 3-7.7x passes with the best of 7.76@188mph. I had also made a change in the converter and advanced the camshaft that I thought would drop the percent of slip and pick up some performance but the slip actually went up, hence the no change MPH with the better ET. I left knowing there was still more in the car but I had to resolve the converter and chassis issues.

Went to two 1/8 mile races after that still fighting suspension issues and no improvements.

Tightened the converter up this week and it all came together at an 1/8th mile race at Ohio Valley Dragway last night. In the second round of eliminations I raced one of the top qualifiers and lost (tough competition down there) but that's the happiest loss I have had in a while, lol. The car went 5.07@150MPH. Best pass of the night prior to that was a 5.23. The tighter converter needed more power off the line but the suspension needed to handle it. It's alot closer to being dialed in now.

As always, thanks again to my crew, it's tough for people to get away from family life and help but one of them always seems to come through and I'm very thankful. Also a little crewing help from my sister team,lol (the Ohio Boys) on the starting line was also much appreciated.

I also want to thank Madman for some technical support on the suspension this week.

I do my own tuning but I also want to thank Mike Brown and Phil Thomas for a few tips getting me to think "outside the box" that has also helped the past few weeks. We are racers and competitors but friends...sharing data/info seems to be taboo but everyone wants to see everyone do well so that makes this giant money pit of a hobby more fun.

Finally thanks again to Kurt Urban at KUP for standing by while I field test and beat up this hydraulic roller motor. For those interested, it's been to 8100RPMs a couple times by accident and seems to not care! I told Kurt I'm gonna just keep raising the rev limiter so I don't hit it again

Mark

 

congrats, can we see some engine bay pics ?

 

Theres a few recent ones at the bottom of this article.

http://www.planetlsx.com/vehicles/Sh...d_Firebird/102

 

Mark, what day did you go 7.76@188mph? I'll post an update at the bottom of the article.

 

I saw your car at last years lsx shootout. Not only does it haul ***, but you have one of the cleanest drag cars I have seen.

 

congrats ,, that is really fast . keep up the good work .

 

John...it was at the last Milan Heads-Up event on 9/4/09....if the weather is good on 10/2/09....hope to have another improvement I just gotta strap another 5.0x or better to the 1/8th and it's there.

Mark

 

Congrats Mark
Maybe I will see you at norwalk on the 9th?

 

I don't think we are going to make it Ray...probably just going to focus on the LSX Shootout, are you going to comedown for that?

I see your numbers are improving nicely...8's before it gets cold...turn it up!

 

very nice my firend hope to see you all next summer at the track

 

I was very stoked to hear your improvements because I know after I saw the data there is a TON of performance left in the combo. I'm glad the converter suggestion worked. One thing Mark left out..Yeah the car went 5.flat but he was out of the throttle for OVER 1 second. Car wasn't WOT until 1.96 seconds into the run. Congrats man, the car has EASY 4.8s in it with a couple more tweaks and the one last addition we talked about. What are the boys up north going to do when you start running consistent 4.76-4.82s....

 

damn you guys make my little 8.662 seem super slow................










and that was in the 1/8th........damn

 

Way to go Mark!

 

Congrats Mark. I didnt hear from you sat. nite so I assumed everything was going good.

 

Congrats Mark!

 

Turley taught me that,lol....besides quit given away our speed secrets Phil....that WAS ALL by design to get thru the concrete/asphalt transition

 

Phil and I were talking about your car last night...its going to haul the mail once you get it all figured out

 

Thanks Todd, you going to make it to Memphis?

Yea, almost called you after a 5.23 pass that I pedaled early beacuse it started to power wheelie but I made an adjustment to the front extension added a little weight and that did the trick on the 5.07.

Appreciate the advice the day before! Hope to fine tune it at Milan in two weeks.

 

Can't make it this year Mark. Trying to save money so I can move back to the world next spring. May be returning to Michigan. I have a few tentative job offers there.

 

I hope, gonna need it for the Shootout. Are you going to make it?

Well that sucks and great at the same time. It would be cool to have ya back in the area!