'01 RT/10 first time to the track. 12.16 @ 112mph

[RT10Paul]

\'01 RT/10 first time to the track. 12.16 @ 112mph

I took the Viper to Englishtown last Friday to see what I can manage out of a bone stock RT/10. It was 70 degrees, 56% humidity, and barometer at 29 inches, track prep was ok. Not the greatest air but I was shocked to run 12.168 @ 112 mph with a 1.877 60' on my first run. The trap speed is low because I missed 4th and coasted through the traps. I also wheel hopped badly when I banged 2nd. Street tires are not your friend at the track. Had I controlled the shift to 2nd better, it would have been an 11 second pass. Rest of the passes ranged between 12.20 and 12.35 as the 2 Fast and the 2 Furious crowd began to do a job on the track. Air got better but the track got a lot worse. Virtually no guys running slicks to put rubber down the track.

This car is incredible. I retract my statements in the "Viper vs. Z06" thread fully. It felt like I could run a better 1/4 in the Z06 than the Viper. Not a chance. There are pros and cons to each car but I have never managed a 1.87 60' in the Z nor did I ever break 12.3s bone stock. The shifter in the Viper is terrible. I didn't notice it until I had to speed shift at the track. I also like the way a hardtop Z06 feels at the top of the track vs. the RT/10.

I'm going to race the car again in cooler October or November air. This is an 11 second car off the showroom floor for sure!

Here's the time slip:

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Paul

 

[98MODMTR]

Re: \'01 RT/10 first time to the track. 12.16 @ 112mph

Good times!

 

[Dave T (BADVENM)]

Re: \'01 RT/10 first time to the track. 12.16 @ 112mph

wow!! I could muster a 13.017 my first time racing at the V10 nationals in Topeka. Air was a bit different but I dont think I could have had what you had. Gary S. from Macedo drove mine twice and was able to hit a 12.649 so I know driver experience makes a difference. He could have gone faster I believe with a few more runs, getting used to Pilots vs drags. Great times!!

 

[Dave T (BADVENM)]

Re: \'01 RT/10 first time to the track. 12.16 @ 112mph

by the way, how many miles did you have for that run? I'm around 1170 on mine.

 

[Russ M]

Re: \'01 RT/10 first time to the track. 12.16 @ 112mph

Paul,

Given some more practice and the obviously great track you have available to you, I bet you see an 11.6 or so at 120mph.

Did you drop your tire pressure to 22-24 psi in the rear?

PS. Get the Autoform or Mopar wing for the back of that thing and it will make it feel solid at speeds over 120. Amazing what such a little wing will do, especialy if you plan on tracking the car.

 

[Snakester]

Re: \'01 RT/10 first time to the track. 12.16 @ 112mph

I'm not sure about 11.6@120MPH bone stock, but with good track prep and some more practice high-11s are within your reach. The 1.187 60' is quite good, as is the 12.17 for a first try!

 

[RT10Paul]

Re: \'01 RT/10 first time to the track. 12.16 @ 112mph

Thanks, guys.

My Viper has a little over 9,000 miles on the clock so I think it's pretty much broken in by now. I lowered the pressure to 25 lbs in the rear. I was going to increase the front tire pressure but I didn't feel like dealing with the track's crappy air hose.

Track prep was ok. I've never raced at Englishtown and felt that track prep was exceptional. Atco is THE place for record runs. I can't wait for my next rental. I'm planning to bring my Z06 and the Viper. I don't plan to race this car regularly so I'm not going to go through the process of adding a wing.

I'm with Snakester, I don't think this car has 11.60s in her bone stock even in cool air. However, I don't think 11.80s @ 120 are out of reach. That's certainly a number that I'll be shooting for in the future.

BTW, does anyone know what the best known e.t. for a bone stock Gen II GTS or RT/10 is? I'm very curious what the record is, who has done it, where it was done, and what the air quality was like?

Paul

P.S. I enjoyed racing this car so much that I'm thinking it'd be nice if I could pick up a '96 or '97 GTS for track duty.

 

[Russ M]

Re: \'01 RT/10 first time to the track. 12.16 @ 112mph

Dont know what the record is, but Mike Burnton from these forums has run 11.61's in a stock GTS at Englishtown.

Your RT is lighter but probably down 5-7 hp because Mikes was a 98.

Anyways keep us posted.

 

[RT10Paul]

Re: \'01 RT/10 first time to the track. 12.16 @ 112mph

Dont know what the record is, but Mike Burnton from these forums has run 11.61's in a stock GTS at Englishtown.

Your RT is lighter but probably down 5-7 hp because Mikes was a 98.

Anyways keep us posted.

11.61 bone stock on street tires? Holy smokes! That's good driving. I could see myself hitting 11.60s with drag radials but never with stret tires. I gotta talk to him. Do you know what his forum user ID is?

Paul

 

[Russ M]

Re: \'01 RT/10 first time to the track. 12.16 @ 112mph

Just do a search for Mike Burnton.

I did a quck search on the subject, here is one thread.

http://vca2.viperclub.org/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB14&Number=79554&Forum=All_Forums&Words=mike%20burton&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=1&Limit=25&Old=allposts&Main=79544&Search=true#Post79554

It seems some have gone into the 11.50's range.

Now please go back to the track and run a 60' for us .

 

[RT10Paul]

Re: \'01 RT/10 first time to the track. 12.16 @ 112mph

Man, what a ***-*** contest of a thread. Geez, I couldn't finish reading it. Well, at least I know what to shoot for. 11.58 will be tough for me to achieve. I have to shave 6/10 of a second. God forbid I beat 11.58, though, 'cause it'll start World War III. I caught the same bunch of b/s from some Corvette folk when I ran 11.37 in the Z06.

Paul

 

[v10kingsnake]

Re: \'01 RT/10 first time to the track. 12.16 @ 112mph

i think the record pass is one that will stand for awhile. my feeling is that the gts has been out since 96 and if nobody touched the number in 8 years of these cars being on the road they probably won't. I am sorry to say that i know i will never touch that record, being i no longer qualify for the merit. i do however will have faster fish to fry come next year

 

[RT10Paul]

Re: \'01 RT/10 first time to the track. 12.16 @ 112mph

Got an Atco rental coming up November 1st. Bringing the snake and the Z. Kingsnake, you want in on the rental? There may still be a spot or two available.

 

[Russ M]

Re: \'01 RT/10 first time to the track. 12.16 @ 112mph

Paul,

At what rpm are you switching into 4th? Vipers like to be shifted at 5400 or so, perhaps try that at your next outing.

Your mph seems really low for your time, especialy at Englishtown.

 

[RT10Paul]

Re: \'01 RT/10 first time to the track. 12.16 @ 112mph

Russ,

I was shifting too high then. I decided to shift lower (around 5500 rpm) at MIR in 95 degree July heat and my mph jumped to almost 117. I bet I can get her to trap around 120 in November.

Paul

 

[Dave T (BADVENM)]

Re: \'01 RT/10 first time to the track. 12.16 @ 112mph

not sure what this would melt down to at sea level but a month or so ago a friend of mine drove my bone stock snake to a 13.2 at *** mph (cant remember) at an elevation of 5960' (bandimere speedway, denver). Checking the NHRA reduction formula says take about a full second off so perhaps mine ran a 12.2? This would be consistent with topeka V10 where the car ran a 12.64x.

Anyway, mine wont be stock for too much longer.

 

[RT10Paul]

Re: \'01 RT/10 first time to the track. 12.16 @ 112mph

I think the rule of thumb is 1/10 sec for every 1000'. But remember, just because the track is at or near sea level elevation doesn't necessarily mean that DA is 0. Depending on humidity and atmospheric pressure, the DA can be higher or lower than the track elevation. I've raced in -3000 DA conditions at Atco which is barely above sea level.

 

[Gerald]

Re: \'01 RT/10 first time to the track. 12.16 @ 112mph

Paul...

we told you so..