I finally broke into the 11's with my SRT-10

[Black SRT]

I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

It was the first time out this year with the Viper and New England Dragway's track conditions were above average. A nice sunny day and lots of rubber put down by a few drag racing clubs running elimination tournaments. Thanks to The Viper Wizard's magic with a factory reflash of the CPM, and JonB's delivery of the new K&N filter kit, I smashed my previous best of 12.16 with an 11.78. The car is completely stock except for the K&N kit. I ran a 12.00 before noon and then, because of all the competition, had to wait another 4 hours to make my last run. I'm on the right on both slip:

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[Black SRT]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

Oh yea, I forgot to mention my new lucky vanity plate "VCA" also helped out.

 

[garolittle]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

Awesome. Great times!

 

[KaiPL]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

So . . . What's the secret for running 11s in a stock Viper?

I'm going to the drag strip for the first time ever in a couple of weeks.

What is your "launch sequence?" Once the car gets moving, I figure I just floor it and shift at the redline (I assume it's that simple, but I could be wrong.) However, I'm curious what works for you on launching from a standstill.

Any tips would be appreciated.

 

[Ooomph]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

So . . . What's the secret for running 11s in a stock Viper?

I'm going to the drag strip for the first time ever in a couple of weeks.

What is your "launch sequence?" Once the car gets moving, I figure I just floor it and shift at the redline (I assume it's that simple, but I could be wrong.) However, I'm curious what works for you on launching from a standstill.

Any tips would be appreciated.

I'm with Kai on this one. I'm a newb that needs some learnings on the track, specifically, what rpm you guys are launching from. BTW, awesome runs on both slips . I'd be happy to ever see 12's but 11's would be like Christmas!

 

[Skip White]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

I'm looking at the 60 foot time and it's ok at best. That's what's incredible about this run, this guy must really know how and when to shift the car. The 1/8 mile time is great and the 1/4 mile time he has are seldom acheived on a stock SRT. I would love to know when your shifting and how, because that's where the success of this run is. I would also say your car is running much better than the average. Track conditions will make good on the 60 foot time but the rest is car and driver.


Skip W.

 

[Joseph Houss]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

Way to go Rick!!!!

 

[Viperfreak2]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

Great times! mph seem a little low for an 11.7? I can't say what my SRT will do in the 1/4 (except for what the G-tech tells me) but I run the 1/8th all the time and my best is 7.9 at 93. I can only dream about an 7.7!!!

Questions: Stock Michelin Pilots?
What were you running against?
Ever had the bead of the tire come off the rim?

The last one happened to me Thursday at the strip. Right after the run, the Lo Tire light starts flashing and TURNS THE MUTE ON THE RADIO! It wouldn't let me turn the radio back up (I like to crank it up during the run) I park the car and look for the low tire and the right rear is way down. I checked it with the gauge, zero. I figured since they are run-craps I can make it 5 miles to the station. I filled it, listened for hissing, and felt for nails. Nothing. Next morning, flat again. This time I plugged in the 12V compressor and went in the house, knowing how long it takes to fill with these things. An hour later I remembered! Ok, so now it has 50+ lbs of air in it (high as the gauge goes) No more leak. It has stayed up since Friday. The only thing I can guess is that I broke the bead during the run, then re-sealed it with the high pressure. Any other guesses?

 

[VIPER D]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

hey rick congrats


what tire pressure where you running?


vd..

 

[Black SRT]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

Thanks for the compliments!

I’ll be back later with some follow-up.

 

[VIPER D]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

Rick

Did they give you a hard time at the track b/c of no roll bar and no harness belts?


vd..

 

[Black SRT]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

Ok, time to try and answer some questions:

Yes, I am running stock Michelin Pilots and my tire pressure was at 26 lbs. (cold). The car is completely stock except for the K&N filters. All the cars I ran against that day were street rods, so no telling what they were packing. On the 11.78 time slip I launched at about 2,500 rpm’s with a quick release of the clutch. Normally, anything over 2,000 rpm’s needs to be feathered but the track was sticky and I probably could have gone out at 3,000 rpm’s, which has previously gotten me into the .187 range for 60’ time.

I “do” Power-shift (WOT while shifting) but I do “not” recommend this for you new guys that are inquiring. After awhile, power-shifting will come naturally when you have been in enough close races that you refuse to lose. It really comes down to practice and having enough confidence your going to hit your gears. Also, for you newbies, remember to roll your hand over the shifter so your palm is facing straight down for the 3rd to 4th shift. This will help prevent you from going back into 2nd and becoming a laughingstock, while you walk around the track picking up pieces of your differential. I “do” use the shift light and that’s where I have had my best results. I did leave the track during the 4-hour wait but the car had a good cool-down period before the run. Roll bars are not required at NED until you break 11.50. My car dyno'ed at 438.6hp and 465.9tq with 1,100 miles. It now has 4,400 miles and has not been dyno'ed with the K&N's. Viperfreak2 mentioned cranking up the radio during a run. This is not a good idea since you want to conserve as much spark as you can for ignition. I’ve read articles that confirm this.

Keep in mind, the above is like receiving Grandma’s spaghetti sauce recipe: there’s enough there to make a good gravy, but she always leaves out that secret ingredient that makes it extra special.

 

[treynor]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

Nice runs!

Whose shift light do you use?

 

[Skip White]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

A master at shifting, no doubt about it. I really am practicing this a lot lately. Sometimes I will accidently have one of those perfect shifts, feels like an automatic trans, and I can't remember what I did, as it happend so quick. They are the kind that don't even seem to hurt the car, the timing is just perfect. Tell us more Rick...

I just knew this guy had to have something going on, and perfect shifting is it.

Skip

 

[LIRacer]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

I run a 1970 442 and powershifting is natural for a 4 speed. In a six speed I am always hitting the 6 gate by accident. How do you power shift 2-3 and hit 3?

BAD

 

[Viperfreak2]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

I guess I could argue the 'turn down the radio!' point, but it's only fun for me, not car abuse. I'd like better times....I'd also like better gas mileage, but I'm not gonna turn down the tunes just to get .01 mpg better or .1 sec in the 1/8. Plus, the music motivates me and pumps the adrenaline. That's what the race is about (for me). I can't beat the street rods anyway, some can run 4.9 in the 1/8 @ 150+ mph.

 

[Black SRT]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

Skip,

Thanks, but I'm no master. I've only got about 60 runs under my belt but that's enough to learn a little about shifting. You are also correct in that there is no sweeter sound than a well executed power-shift. It's like being in perfect harmony with the car and probably the least stressful of any high-rpm shift.

It seems like your getting close so the 1st to 2nd should come soon. There was a period where I only power-shifted 1st to 2nd and quick-shifted 2nd to 3rd. From there it only takes a few close races to go to the next step. Good luck!

 

[Black SRT]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

treynor,

Thanks! All SRT-10's come with a shift light on the tach that trips at 5,600 rpm's.

 

[Black SRT]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

LIRacer,

All I can tell you is it's a lot easier to hit 3rd gear than it is to hit a golf ball straight.

Just keep practicing.

 

[treynor]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

> Thanks! All SRT-10's come with a shift light on the tach that trips at 5,600 rpm's

Err, yes - but you don't mean you're shifting when THAT light comes on, do you? SRTs tend to make peak power just below redline...

 

[Skip White]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

I'd say by the time you let off the accell, your at 6000 or so, especially in first and second. R's are rising fast.

Skip

 

[Black SRT]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

Treynor,

My dyno sheet shows maximum power occurring at 5,500 rpm's and then it starts to dip. When the light comes on at 5,600 I shift, but keep in mind that I don't lift from the throttle, so I'm probably hitting the gear at about 5,700 rpms.

 

[Black SRT]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

Here's a copy of last year's dyno on the SRT before the factory reflash of the PCM and the K&N's:

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[Viper Wizard]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

Rick, Nice run!!
A little tuning never hurts!

 

[VIPER D]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

Rick

One more question (tire pressure)

why 26 psi?? and not 22-24 psi??

just wanted your feedback


thanks

vd..

 

[Black SRT]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

Chuck,

Thanks again for the reflash! I definitely noticed a difference in hesitation & high-end performance even prior to the K&N’s. Have any of your NY/NJ customers reported a faster time for a predominately stock SRT? That’s the best time I’ve seen since John Myrick’s 11.89 in his bone stocker.

Viper D,

There was no need to go lower since the track was ideal, and she was grabbing good in all gears and off the line.

 

[VIPER D]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

Rick

Thanks for info.

 

[MannyC]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

This was a good read. My 1st time out with the SRT-10 and I ran a 13.1 @109. My next run was a 12.9, then a 12.7, and my final run was a 12.6.

I had to launch at 1,500 RPM if I was going to drop the clutch or I would just spin, so the track was pretty crappy.

I also broke the car loose EVERY time I shifted from 1st to 2nd, and broke it loose bad (got sidways) the only time I power shifted 1st to 2nd.

I have video of some of the runs which show how run down the place is. Only local place though. I'd love to go to a good track.

 

[AllBlack]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

For powershifting – do you just keep the revs steady at the point where you are going to shift, then just ram it down into the gear? Don’t the revs go up a lot when youre briefly in neutral if you don’t take your foot off the accel? I’m a little apprehensive about practicing, I don’t want to mess up my clutch…Any help?

 

[Black SRT]

Re: I finally broke into the 11\'s with my SRT-10

AllBlack,

I stated it earlier in this thread and I'll mention it again. Power-shifting is not something you practice. When you're at the drags just focus on speed-shifting and you will gradually advance to power-shifting as your timing gets better and better. It comes naturally when you've been to the drag strip enough. If you try to practice power-shifting your only going to mess up your car or potentially lose control if you don't know what to expect.