Big power + slicks = new header

[GT40FIED]

Ok...I must say I'm officially retarded. Here at school we've got a school-sponsored drag club (just a bunch of guys bench racing and occassionally having track events. We also have to design a rail car that a local racing team will use) and the school isn't too far from a local strip that the club can rent out during the off season to just have some fun. Traction sucks ass cuz it's in the 40s but we just wanted to have a few grudge matches for shits and giggles. Well, I've always raced with my car on street tires so I wasn't expecting much out of the runs other than a few good times. Then one of the guys approaches me after my second run and starts telling me he's got a pair of slicks that I should try on my next run. Dreaming of a 9 second slip, I said sure and bolted them on. Huge mistake. I warmed them up and staged. As soon as the tree dropped I nailed the throttle. Next thing I know my front wheels are up and they're still going. One of the guys in the club said I got the edge of the rear bumper about 3" from dragging on the ground. When I finally let up the front end slammed down and all of the guys were cheering and yelling. I got out and popped the hood...nothing looked out of place. Then I got under the front end to check out the suspension when I noticed the header had nailed the ground and bent up, also bending the H-pipe and breaking the bolts connecting the two. I swear...if I ever use slicks again like that, just shoot me...or steal my keys.

[C's 94 InTeGrA]

thats messed up.. atleast u can get some more new parts in the end.

[GT40FIED]

Already got the parts...had to drive a good ways to get them though. I should have it back together by this weekend but damn I'm pissed at myself.

[sohc_vtec 2NR]

that sux, i guess there's such a thing as too much of a good thing..

[GT40FIED]

perhaps...but the sad thing is that I'm starting to think that if I tune the suspension a little and launch a bit softer I can get the job done.

<------glutton for punishment

Damn dude, that really does suck. Hey at least your drivetrain didn't turn into soup like it would on some cars.

b

[94_AcCoRd_EX]

It sucks that you did some damage, but its great knowing that you have the power. Hopefully with a little more tweaking and practice you can get lower ETs

[GT40FIED]

Well everything is getting put back together before work. We've already planned another outting at the track scheduled in about 3 weeks or a month...just depends when we can get in and get enough money for another whole day. So I'm thinking I'll swap out the rear coil-overs for drag springs (which I bought thinking I'd hardly ever use...and to this day haven't) and dial up the shocks to kidney-jarring (this will be done the day of or the night before, of course). My previous best is low 10s and the track owner says I need a cage for that. I say f@ck it...if I can rip off just one run I'm confident I'll run a super high 9 so look out for an update.

[nonovurbizniz]

Careful you don't get banned from the track... a LOT of tracks DO NOT mess around with people breaking the rules...

A similar thing happened to my friend in his stang... first day at the track with slicks he lifted the front end up... He had been having slight flex in the chassis before that... With the slicks on I'm pretty sure it bent his frame a little... I know he put in those frame rail ties after that... the frame was flexing in the middle.