1/4 Mile Times...... Get in here!!!

[djfourmoney]

I wouldn't say easy.

Slicks (23x7x15 M&H)

Pull into the water box, the track assistant will stop you. Put it in 2nd, rev up to about 5K when he tells you to warm your tires.

When you see some smoke (they don't need to get hotter than that), roll forward.

Like this -



Pull up the line not too slowly.

Start building the rev's with the pre-stage on, get the rev's up on stage.

Leave on the last yellow

Results -

.002 R/T
1.74 60ft

2008 Dodge Neon SRT-4 = 12.74@105

The majority of my 60ft times were 1.77-1.80 depending how bad the track surface was prepared. In Southern California; California Speedway is marginal, Famoso is the best and best DA but 100+ miles one way depending where you are.

I live in the western San Fernando Valley, so it takes a bit over 1hr 20min as its outside of Bakersfield.

I don't like 1/8 miles so I've never run at Irwindale. I've run 13.442@106 missing a shift at Pomona.

I went three rounds at the last IDRC event at Palmdale and two rounds at NHRA Sport Compact Nationals Western Final (last NHRA event for Sport Compacts ever).



Until that point I had never run slicks on a FWD car, IT IS EASY. A 2 step would make it even more consistent.

I've had BFG Drag Radials and Slicks on that car and slicks by far were the easiest, no wheel hop and quickest tire.

 

[djfourmoney]

I have figured it up that with my sonic, every tenth I dropped off my sixty foot took about two tenths off my 1/4 et.

Lock out your rear springs with some form of drag bags, and sticky tires in the front. You will at least drop one to two tenths.

Don't you think your car would be worth taking to Badlands or Houston Raceway Park?

Doesn't San Antonio have a lower DA?

I ran 13.03 at Palmdale before they closed it, DA was usually around 3,500-3,800 plus its in the desert. It was 90+ when it ran that time about 3:30 in the afternoon.

Same car no changes ran 12.74@105 (Famoso 542ft above sea level at night, summertime, high 80's)

No changes missed a shift 13.42@106 (Pomona 800ft above sea level during the day, let Sept, 70's)

 

[ripper806]

I know that motor and trans mounts will be a huge help. I think some upgraded control arm bushings would be a massive improvement as well.

This was my first trip to the drag strip with my Sonic. Next time I might try the football trick. My last car that I took to the strip had adjustable struts and I could stiffen the rears up to a very uncomfortable amount. This did help with 2.0 60' on ****ty RS-A tires. If I can get my 60' times under control this car might possible pull off a 16.5, maybe.

With the power I am supposedly making and the weight of the car I was expecting a far better run. I know that more than just weight and power are involved, but when a Cavalier with the same weight and similar power (140hp/145tq vs my supposed 160hp/130tq) can run 15.2@88 I have to wonder if the PID numbers are way off or not.

I think the future may only hold a handful of drag strip trips for this car. It will probably make far more Auto X runs than trips down the strip.

Well good luck, and I bet these cars will do great in autocross.

As far as power vs 1/4 mile ET, powerband and putting the power to the ground are usually that missing link when it comes to a car not performing as well as other similar horse power cars.

Powerband is huge in drag racing. A great example would be the 1.4T sonic vs. a 1.8 NA sonic. The 1.4T sonic makes all of its power in low to mid range RPM, while the 1.8 NA makes all of its power towards the higher RPM range. A 1.4T sonic will 60' much faster than a 1.8 NA simply because it gets into its power range much quicker than the 1.8 NA. This is why so many dragsters us large displacement, high low end power engines.

Power to the ground is the only power that matters. You can put all the horsepower you want into a car, but if you can't get it to the ground it is useless. Say for example you have an engine that makes 500 horse power at the flywheel, after the soft motor mounts flex, the transmission takes it's share, then the flex from your drivetrain, and tires that don't hook well you are left with lets say 400 to the wheels. You have lost "20%" of your horsepower just like that, and if the tires are spinning you are losing even more until they hook.

I may be wrong but from the quarter mile time list on this forum, I belive you are the fastest 1.8 sonic. That's awesome man, and I think that for a 1.8 NA you are running pretty quick by any standard. Keep pushing it, and good luck with the autocross.

 

[ripper806]

Don't you think your car would be worth taking to Badlands or Houston Raceway Park?

Doesn't San Antonio have a lower DA?

I ran 13.03 at Palmdale before they closed it, DA was usually around 3,500-3,800 plus its in the desert. It was 90+ when it ran that time about 3:30 in the afternoon.

Same car no changes ran 12.74@105 (Famoso 542ft above sea level at night, summertime, high 80's)

No changes missed a shift 13.42@106 (Pomona 800ft above sea level during the day, let Sept, 70's)

I have plans to go to Noble, Oklahoma November 23rd (two weeks from now). The elevation is 1,100 and the DA is an average of three to four thousand feet lower than Amarillo.

Plus its only three and a half hours away :banana:

I am just hoping to have a fun trip, and set my fastest time

 

[mitdr774]

I know I have a lot of things working against me. Given the parts installed and the times the cars runs, either the tune is not allowing the parts to perform or in stock form the 1.8 cars are really slow. I am sure there are other 1.8s on the forum that are just as quick if not faster, but have not been to a track yet.

For now, I am a lot slower in auto cross than most of the other cars there. Some of that is tires and suspension, and a lot of it is driver error. Next year I am going to try and get a full season in and should start to do alright. Hopefully by then some control arm bushings will be available and I can find some struts designed to take the abuse.

 

[sx sonic]

I know I have a lot of things working against me. Given the parts installed and the times the cars runs, either the tune is not allowing the parts to perform or in stock form the 1.8 cars are really slow. I am sure there are other 1.8s on the forum that are just as quick if not faster, but have not been to a track yet.

For now, I am a lot slower in auto cross than most of the other cars there. Some of that is tires and suspension, and a lot of it is driver error. Next year I am going to try and get a full season in and should start to do alright. Hopefully by then some control arm bushings will be available and I can find some struts designed to take the abuse.

If coilovers are too expensive the new GM kit may be a decent option, $440 for stiffer/lower than RS springs and stiffer dampening than the other trims. Not a bad cost to benefit ratio.

 

[ripper806]

I know I have a lot of things working against me. Given the parts installed and the times the cars runs, either the tune is not allowing the parts to perform or in stock form the 1.8 cars are really slow. I am sure there are other 1.8s on the forum that are just as quick if not faster, but have not been to a track yet.

For now, I am a lot slower in auto cross than most of the other cars there. Some of that is tires and suspension, and a lot of it is driver error. Next year I am going to try and get a full season in and should start to do alright. Hopefully by then some control arm bushings will be available and I can find some struts designed to take the abuse.

For sure, and good luck.

ZZP has some control arms for the Sonic, as well as some other pretty cool suspension upgrades.

Suspension, Brakes, Handling

Here you go

 

[Stratton_Chevrolet_Sonic]

NEW LIST JUST TO GET YALL ROWD UP
Turbo
Valve springs
Clutch
Intercooler+piping
3" exhaust
Tubular control arms
2 step

 

[mitdr774]

If coilovers are too expensive the new GM kit may be a decent option, $440 for stiffer/lower than RS springs and stiffer dampening than the other trims. Not a bad cost to benefit ratio.

I may end up getting the kit just for the dampers depending on what they are. I am already on Eibach springs. I would prefer something adjustable, but I dont see that happening any time soon. If I go full coilover it will be Pedders, but they seem to be missing from the US market right now.

For sure, and good luck.

ZZP has some control arms for the Sonic, as well as some other pretty cool suspension upgrades.

Suspension, Brakes, Handling

Here you go

My concern with swapping control arms is that I might be moved to a different class in autocross if I do. I have looked at those arms though. If SCCA rules will allow me to stay in my class and use them, I probably will.

Those arms would probably help a bit at the drag strip as well. I prefer the slight give of polyurathane bushings though.

 

[ripper806]

I may end up getting the kit just for the dampers depending on what they are. I am already on Eibach springs. I would prefer something adjustable, but I dont see that happening any time soon. If I go full coilover it will be Pedders, but they seem to be missing from the US market right now.



My concern with swapping control arms is that I might be moved to a different class in autocross if I do. I have looked at those arms though. If SCCA rules will allow me to stay in my class and use them, I probably will.

Those arms would probably help a bit at the drag strip as well. I prefer the slight give of polyurathane bushings though.

I got you

You might check with Preloader, he may have found some bushings that will work.

 

[Preloader]

Sorry I haven't updated the standings in a while. Fastest 1.8 deserves to be displayed!! I'll try to modify the list tonight.

 

[$ub$onic]

I was hopping to get to the 1/4 this year but never made it. One day Clyde. I shall beat your record!

 

[mitdr774]

Please do. I do not want my run to stand as the record for a N/A 1.8. Even I want to beat it. there is no way that a 16.7 can stand as the best for a bolt on 1.8. I want to believe that the 1.8 is capable of at least a high 15 before forced induction is involved.

 

[ripper806]

Please do. I do not want my run to stand as the record for a N/A 1.8. Even I want to beat it. there is no way that a 16.7 can stand as the best for a bolt on 1.8. I want to believe that the 1.8 is capable of at least a high 15 before forced induction is involved.

Better air is the easiest way, try to find a track near you with lower altitude density.

Then weight will be the next easiest.

 

[mitdr774]

US131 MSP (Martin) is about 830'
Milan is about 700'
Ubly is about 780'
Lapeer is about 850'
Mid Michigan Motorplex (Stanton) is about 920'


There really isnt a huge difference in elevation between the tracks I know of in the state. I was expecting more than I should have, unless of course these cars (1.8/5mt) are really slow to begin with. I did not want to go the gutted interior route with this car. I have done that before and it got old after a while.

 

[Preloader]

Updated the standings, finally. I'll have to go back a few pages to find others I have missed, but here is the latest news.

mitdr774 is the fastest 1.8 at 16.71

Added Colin with an impressive 15.05 at 95.32mph, what are your shift secrets. 95mph on a 15 second run? Windy?

Added thebook92 with a 16.52 on a stock 1.4...... not bad.


Also, I'll be putting the top 3 1.8s in bold. There is 3rd place currently unspoken for. I really want to see some competitive 1.8ers soon.opcorn:

If I've missed you in the standings, now would be a good time to repost your info so I can get you in.

ET, MPH, 60', Engine, Trans, Body style, Elev.

 

[mitdr774]

Also, I'll be putting the top 3 1.8s in bold. There is 3rd place currently unspoken for. I really want to see some competitive 1.8ers soon.opcorn:

There really needs to be some more 1.8 numbers for this list. I know that there has to be at least a couple that are just as fast, if not faster than my car. Hopefully faster though.

 

[Preloader]

Went back a little further. Added Xecutionr with 15.95. Also finally move ripper806 to 2nd place with 14.25. Sorry about that ripper, I should have done that a while ago, it's kind of a big deal.

 

[Foxbox]

Ran a 14.60 today. I'll post the slip later.

 

[Foxbox]