Track Grip vs Street Grip

[Dominic]

Which is supposed to grip better, a good 1/4 mile track or the common highway?

I actually took my car to the track, I am too embarrassed to publish the times I got because of how bad they are. I went to my local 1/8 mile, the track was slick as cow snot on a cold pole. I saw many a mustang fly into the rail. All the way down the track I was half sideways in between gears, I couldnt make her bite 1st gear at launch unless I superbabied it.

Upon leaving the track I gunned it on Hwy 90 - sure enough she bit hard and took off like a rocket.

Im really disappointed in the track - and I wanted to know if tracks were supposed to be slick like this... this particular one is the only one Ive ever been to and its consistently slick as hell like they don't clean it off or anything. :(

[NBMA4V6]

its not uncommon for an unprepped track to suck for worse than the street, however the compound used on the street is far more coarse and destroys the tires when you spin.. however get yourself some BFG Drag radials or Nittos and learn to properly heat them up and traction problems will go away..

dont be discouraged..at least post the MPH's

[IronMan]

The track should not be that slick. Your first problem is that you live in Florida, where the whether is hot and humid. A hot track is a slick one. Do you know if the people that run the track, prep it with an adhesive substance (prepping the track). Other factors are a busy track day, which can create a lot of debris on the track. A busy track day can also heat up the track. I live in Indy and run @ Indianapolis Raceway Park. At IRP, they do not prep the track on test and tune nights, but they do on any race night. Prepping the track makes a HUGE difference. That is why I want to know about tire adhesives Like Track Bite. I am going out to IRP on a test and tune night the next time that I go. My biggest concern is traction right now. The last time I went to the track was in July. Indy in July might as well be haitis (hot and humid). I know exactly how that track felt.

[Dominic]

Well it was a sorry 10.6 @ 67mph on the 1/8th.

I could not get grip worth a damn, the track was not prepped, and nobody was doing well. It was hot, muggy, and the track was hellaciously wet from previous rain (they lied to me at the gate, bastards.)

Just popping the 2-3 would send my car hurling sideways and I had to backoff everytime or else I wouldve caught traction in the middle and hit the wall.

The only thing that amazed me was I had 0.520 lights many times, in a 5spd nonetheless, which was encouraging. Spinning through the whole 60' was not cool though, 2.4 60' times and worse...

I know I could hit 9.6, the car feels just like my firebird did if not stronger, but that precious second was lost in traction I am sure.

---Need a good track---

[LTNone]

From your second description, it sounds like the track was wet. Especially when it is humid, paved surfaces take longer to dry. The reason the highway was fine was because cars are driving on it all the time and it dries out faster.

At an unprepped track the starting line will almost always be slicker than the street, but the rest should not have traction problems ever for any 12.50 and slower street car.

It is unfortunate that the track let you race in those conditions. The biggest problem I have at dragstrips is off the start line. I have never had the kinds of problems you are describing, including with my 13-second T/A. I have had other problems - like deer in the shut down area - but that is another story!

Try again on a non-rainy day when the humidity is lower. I would try to race as late in the year as possible - maybe the temps and humidity will be a little lower.

[Dominic]

THanks LTNone, I was surprised the track was the way it was also. With my previous 3.8 A4 I never had this issue, but it wasn't just me complaining about the track this time...

I'm going to have a go at a much better track in the future, probably gainesville, when it gets cooler (its starting to cool off already whee). I left after 3 runs due to safety - it wasn't worth my efforts to try and get a good run on a literally wet track.

The track appeared, as always, to be coated in a complete slick of rubber. I have never seen them scrub the rubber off the starting line, and I was able to burnout like I was on ice... too bad the starting line was just as slick... and it wasn't much better 300' down the track either!

Holt, FL if you're all wondering which track this was... www.emeraldcoastdragway.com

They were fun when it was new, but whoever runs that track should be shot. Its not only unsafe, its poorly maintained too, and I can't believe what it has become in only 3 years.

[12secondv6]

There are sooo many factors with traction at the track:
Tire psi
Street vs drag radial vs slick
outside temp
track temp
tire temp
traction, temp and treadwear ratings of tires
track prep
water box (how far it extends)
humidity
VHT or lack there of
amount of rubber at the line (rubber is good)
staging in the groove (were you in it or out?)
newbies at the track (spinning through the water box and allowing water to get flipped up into the wheel wells and then as they stage it drips down and moistens the launch pad

I could make this list go on and on.
Also it is driver and know ing your car.
My home track is englishtown
I hear all my buddies with various cars constantly complaining about traction.
I seem to not have any problems with the right burn out, staging in the groove, tire psi etc.
Drag radials I pull 1.9's
ET streets I pull 1.6's

Practice practice practice

[Dominic]

Well when it isn't just me I know it isn't me [img]smile.gif[/img] I am not a shotty driver, nor am I John Force, but this track was the worst condition wise track I've been to!

I hope you all are implying I should be able to launch harder on the track than on the street.

[12secondv6]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Dominic:


I hope you all are implying I should be able to launch harder on the track than on the street.<hr></blockquote>

Um, yes :D
There is no way I could ever pull a low 1.6 60 foot on the street :(

[LTNone]

With the glue down you should always be able to launch harder at the track. If the glue is not down it's a toss up. Keeping the track clear of oil and radiator fluid is a tough task. Having so many cars launching from the same place make it very difficult to match street level grip (especially on concrete) if there is no glue.

Anyway, go to a real track and let us know what happens.

[Amped96]

Try going to the track near the time they have a big event. I have been to the track sometimes and it is SLICK, but last time i went was right in between two big events going on and it was hooking GREAT!

[camaro_zach]

dominic, you gotta come up to us-41 with magnus and i. that track bites hard. my 1-2 shift almost rips my car apart, i dont chirp it, the tires GRIP. they spray the track with VHT. Look at keiths 60's if that helps you get an idea of how well the track grips.

[Magnus]

At US41 my car dead hooks launching WOT... on the street I spin through second gear.. I NEVER hook on the street..

NIGHT AND DAY difference from street to strip.

[ravenp]

That's weird because I couldn't spin my tires to save my life on the street, but at at least one of my local tracks, a simple foot to the floor and i'm spinning...

Canada must have different rules of gravity than the USA :D