Willow Springs drags Saturday 10/22/16

[SVTRonDogg]

http://www.willowspringsraceway.com/page.php?id=53

[Tetge]

Bad Ron! We have to give you a time out for this post. Still, it reminded me that Carlos purchased my friend's worn out Lincoln Mark IV and then started to modify it to run at the Willow Drags. He brings it on a trailer as it is not street legal and I know that he did extensive weight reduction and worked on the 4 cam engine and the final gearing and all, and, last I heard he was going low 9's, or, was it high 8's, and almost needed a parachute to stop the thing. Word is that he is still evolving the setup in cutting edge, experimental, Carlos fashion. Perhaps I should call him and see if he is running this coming weekend as one does not see too many Lincoln Mark funny cars?

Personally, although they now have a wireless tree that lets you stage without running over bumps hiding wires, and they have an electronic display that shows the results to the massive crowd in the grandstands, the basic action is still the same. And they still give special treatment to a special line of what they consider real drag racing machines. They also never have invested in 60' timing lights which hinders real attempts to sharpen ET's. But it remains a cheap venue at which one can punch off on a street type surface and see what they have. But, it is too far from real drag racing to interest me, even if I were not completely retired from any types of performance motoring. And, I also suck at getting a car out of the hole on a street surface which hinders the fun factor as well. Give me some VHT and sticky tires please.

[SVTRonDogg]

I'd actually be interested to see the FrankenLincoln sometime. I've heard the orange Cobra is still down, but understand he has some other track toy he has been road racing as well.

The Willow Drags were fun in a group, but I agree on the prep and the traction. Both of my cars are wearing bigger blowers these days, which would make trying to put down a clean run even more worthless. I can recall spinning 1-2-3 in the Shelby while racing Armando on the old setup.

Speaking of which, he is a new father. I would imagine his track days are over.

[Tetge]

I actually considered going tonight, but, Ohio John could not bring his blue Termi out for me to humiliate and I could not decide it my 17" MT rims and tires would clear all the suspension bits, so, I passed. It is no fun to go out there solo without anyone that I know to kill using my mad skills and perfect gearing for Willow, which I determined to be 3.96's. Naturally, using quick change hardware, I just happen to be able to run that exact ratio, although the fitment of the 17" SVT Cobra rims with the MT drag radials did vex me.

I see that there is one last day at Willow near Thanksgiving and I am not ruling this event out as I need to get a trap speed on the new car, to see how it stacks up against the old SVT Cobra and the 2012 auto trans Mustang. The GT350 should be quick, but, drag racing at Willow is not what is really was designed to do at Willow, is it?

The last Willow event is a daytime event, which makes it easier to see the track and all: Saturday, November 26, 2016 @ 10:00am - 4:00pm. But, I suppose that many have a holiday weekend schedule that will preclude getting to Willow. Still, a reunion would be nice and, I always like fresh victims because by then I may even have learned to row the shifter through 4 gear without missing a shift and/or blowing the tires away.

Just saying..............

[jhwalker]

I actually considered going tonight, but, Ohio John could not bring his blue Termi out for me to humiliate and I could not decide it my 17" MT rims and tires would clear all the suspension bits, so, I passed. It is no fun to go out there solo without anyone that I know to kill using my mad skills and perfect gearing for Willow, which I determined to be 3.96's. Naturally, using quick change hardware, I just happen to be able to run that exact ratio, although the fitment of the 17" SVT Cobra rims with the MT drag radials did vex me.

I see that there is one last day at Willow near Thanksgiving and I am not ruling this event out as I need to get a trap speed on the new car, to see how it stacks up against the old SVT Cobra and the 2012 auto trans Mustang. The GT350 should be quick, but, drag racing at Willow is not what is really was designed to do at Willow, is it?

The last Willow event is a daytime event, which makes it easier to see the track and all: Saturday, November 26, 2016 @ 10:00am - 4:00pm. But, I suppose that many have a holiday weekend schedule that will preclude getting to Willow. Still, a reunion would be nice and, I always like fresh victims because by then I may even have learned to row the shifter through 4 gear without missing a shift and/or blowing the tires away.

Just saying..............

learned to row the shifter through 4 gear without missing a shift and/or blowing the tires away.

[Tetge]

Trust me when I say that blowing the tires away, big time, is a very real issue. This is why I broke out the MT DR on the 17" Cobra rims but, I could not be sure that part of the IRS would not hit the inside lip of the rim if the car squatted due to acceleration or hitting some bump. All the way extended, and on the ground with the weight of the car fully on it, there was a wee bit of clearance, but, it was getting closer as the car was lowered and I did not have the time or means to make sure that it would never touch. The rear brakes on the car are bigger than the fronts were on the SVT Cobra but, they clear the 17" rims by a very small amount. But, a small amount for the brakes is fine as they do not move relative to the rim.

I shall have to do some more fitting and observing as having DR's would be a great benefit because summer road racing type tires really do not grip as well as might be expected in a straight line when power shifting and dealing with the insane HP that a Mustang puts out. And, we all know that there is a lot of time to be gained with proper shifting, even at Willow.

[jhwalker]

Trust me when I say that blowing the tires away, big time, is a very real issue. This is why I broke out the MT DR on the 17" Cobra rims but, I could not be sure that part of the IRS would not hit the inside lip of the rim if the car squatted due to acceleration or hitting some bump. All the way extended, and on the ground with the weight of the car fully on it, there was a wee bit of clearance, but, it was getting closer as the car was lowered and I did not have the time or means to make sure that it would never touch. The rear brakes on the car are bigger than the fronts were on the SVT Cobra but, they clear the 17" rims by a very small amount. But, a small amount for the brakes is fine as they do not move relative to the rim.

I shall have to do some more fitting and observing as having DR's would be a great benefit because summer road racing type tires really do not grip as well as might be expected in a straight line when power shifting and dealing with the insane HP that a Mustang puts out. And, we all know that there is a lot of time to be gained with proper shifting, even at Willow.

I always trust you I have been looking everywhere to discover what this 'gear-rowing' thing is... Lordy, things just keep changing

[Tetge]

... I always trust you I have been looking everywhere to discover what this 'gear-rowing' thing is... Lordy, things just keep changing

It is difficult to explain to you that no doubt have automatic transmission, but, back in the day one had to row through what was called a manual gearbox. It had a third pedal, called a clutch pedal that also needed to be worked to effectuate the rowing. These days, as close as most get is paddle shifters, but, there are some throwback vehicles out there that still can be obtained with a manual transmission if one looks long and hard enough. I expect that such cars appeal only to a declining audience of elderly drivers who are into nostalgia and reliving the past. Everyone else just gets an auto trans and many can not even row gears at all. And, in truth, modern auto transmissions, all programmed with as many as 9 or 10 speeds, can deliver better acceleration and also better fuel economy than any manual transmission could hope for in the same vehicle. This is why Ferrari just announced that they will no longer make manual transmission vehicles. The day of the third pedal has now officially passed.

Still, there is a connection to driving when rowing gears that can not be duplicated when computer, no matter how smart, is making the choices. And, of course, motorcycles, for the most part, have not gone to auto transmissions, even if they have no third pedal. If you want an auto trans on two wheels you have to get a scooter, and, we all know the difference between a motorcycle and a scooter.

But, once again, I digress. I need to go take my medication and a nap before the folks here at the home catch on to the fact that I have escaped and am on the internet. There are strict rules about that at the home, since one would not want to over exert themselves typing.

[jhwalker]

Thanks. I think I understand...

[jhwalker]

In fact, I think that is what my SPF has -- a manual transmission.