Finally got a 9 second ET slip!

[Rory428]

Just in case you guys haven`t been to the older FE Forum, I finally got a 9 second time slip (2 actually) out of my Fairmont this past Sunday. Although my regular race season ended the weekend before, with a string of 10.04 ETs, a favourable weather forecast and the fact that DaleP was bringing his 67  Mustang out for one last shot, I loaded up the Fairmont after work on Saturday. Since on the previous weekend, almost everybody except me picked up in the cooler air, I figured I was lean on carb jetting, so I bumped up 3 sizes front & rear. The first pass was quite a dissapointment, only netting a 10.14@  130 MPH. The 60 foot was crap, but even the MPH was down. I was almost tempted to put the origional jetting back in, but decided to give it 1 more shot. I normally do my burnouts in 2nd gear, to make life easier on the clutch, but did a 3rd gear this time in an attempt to get more wheelspeed and heat, due to the cold track. The car left much better (1.36 60 foot), and pulled good thru the traps. I rushed up to the ET shack, and the first thing I noticed was the ET number was shorter, a 9.982@132.5 MPH. Finally!!  The next pass was 1rst round of eliminations in Pro bracket, I get paired up with the reigning track champ, who was currently sitting in 2nd place, 1 point behind #1. I was kinda suprised when he offered me $100.00 to not stage, but I told him I was only there to run a 9, and had to leave before 2nd or 3rd round anyhow, I wouldn`t  just lay down, but I did say I was not going to lift if I was ahead, I was was shooting for another 9, regardless of the 10.00 dial in on the window. My car left better this time (1.34 60 foot), and I was rewarded with a 9.972@131.94MPH. So I lost the round, which I didn`t care about anyhow, this was my first race in Pro Bracket in a few years, my opponent took out the #1 guy in points the next round, won the entire race, and the track championship, so we were both pretty happy with the results. I realize that using my Tunnel Wege and/or a better pair of heads would have got me in the 9`s much sooner, but  was determined to do it with my stock CJ heads, Sidewinder, and 780 vac Holley. So nice to finally accomplish that!

[Joe-jdc]

Congratulations!  Saw it on the FE Forum, but here is great news, too.  Now for that upgrade?  Joe-JDC.

[e philpott]

Good job Rory , you get a lot out of a little , I read your delima on FE about certification , double layer suit , neck collar ect ..... kinda looks like you need to build a 390 so you can try your tunnel wedge with out a re-certify ...lol.... maybe see who can get into the 9's first with a 390 , Dale P is a little ahead of you but I'm sure you can catch him ...lol

[jayb]

Attaboy Rory!  It's been a long time coming, and I'm glad to see you got there.  The track guys didn't give you a hard time, did they?  Are you thinking about more power, plus cage and window net, etc.?

[machoneman]

Congrats Rory on the great news!

[Rory428]

Thanks guys, at this point I`m leaning towards leaving the car as is, and stay in running low 10`s. Since my car currently has a roll bar, not a full cage, adding the extra tubing would probably add just enough weight that the car would never go another 9 unless I added more power. Then theres all the added expense for more saftey equipment, having to wear a triple layer fire jacket in the hot summer weather, along with gloves and a neck collar brace. As it is now, with the swing out side bar, I can get in & out of the car, put on the 5 point harness myself, and close the door fairly easily. Having to add a window net to the equation would make that more of a chore. I figure the cost of having the roll bar replaced with a full cage, and all the extra saftey gear required would be over $2000. This year I bought a new SA2010 open face helmet, running 9s mandates a full face helmet, which I hate. If I was running, say 9.50s or so, it would be different, but for the occasional 9.9 in good air, I don`t think so. Plus to run comsistent mid 9s year round, I`d probably need another 75-100HP, and thats another bucket of money. If I keep things as they are, I don`t need to spend 3-4 grand on aftermarket or heavily reworked stock heads, a pricey roller cam or maybe an aftermarket block. I may try my Victor intake with a bigger carb, and the Tunnel Wedge setup, and see what it`ll run at a different track, but at this point, I think I`ll stand pat. Of course a good deal on some "step me up" parts, or cabin fever during the winter could change my mind!

[jayb]

I have to laugh, Rory.  You are absolutely correct about how much easier it is to race a 10.0 car than a 9.90 car.  I hate the damned window nets, and I really need help in most cases getting all set up in the car with all the extra gear.  Swing out side bars are still legal down to 8.50 though; without the swing out side bar I think I'd be detuning...

I'm laughing because I knew all that going in, but the cabin fever over the Minnesota winter back in 2005 got me LOL!

[e philpott]

cabin fever's a bitch !! ...lol.... and you guy's got   l o n g   w i n t e r s