MadaboutKitcars

On Sunday, as weather was good, decided to go to North Weald airfield. Been there before, but did not manage to get on due to car limits.

This time I was also in a rush. Did not find out until Sunday morning early, that the drag racing was on. So quickly fixed the electrical problem I had the previous week.

Never been drag racing. So will get my excuses in first!

1st run
I was up against this

An Escort only in body. Fully blown dragster with a Ranger Rover 4.6 V8 and 200 shot of NOS, full drag tyres and locked rear diff. 11 Second 1/4 mile car.
Got to near line and asked guy what I need to do! So he said pull up until first white light shows. The pull up until second white light shows. While explaining, I'm pulling slowly forward as he is leaning in car. He then said once second light shows, I will see the yellow then green for go. Did not say yellow straight after second white! Needless to say I was left at the line while the other one shot off! Lost this one but gave it some stick to get a feel for the car squirming under acceleration.
Managed 1/4 14.65 going 83 over the line. 83 you might ask. I eased off a lot before the end line looking for the exit! Did see 110 on the clock before easing off.
2nd run
Up against a zooped up Capri. Again, he had the usually tyre burn out before the start. Thinking am I ever going to win a race!
Now knowing how the lights work at the beginning, thought I would give it a good race anyway. Off the line, car still squirming a little trying for traction. But again not knowing where the end line was, eased off way too early. Absolutely slaughtered the Capri though. Comment after. That thing went like a bat out of hell this time!
2nd run 1/4 13.87 89MPH easing off again! Told this is a Porsche 911 turbo time even after easing off!
3rd run
Marlin V BMW M3
Pulled up to the line. Revved to the red line. Car felt like it wanted this as well. Could feel it's soul. Engine sounding perfect. This time car did a little squirm but then gripped off the line and felt the acceleration like nothing before. BMW was already dust. Into second foot to floor and gear change. massive surge again the "pop" and no drive! Driveshaft had popped out!

Will be an easy fix hopefully. But what a day and car's real first brutal run unlimited. With more practice. Car will be a 12 second car. Together with some track experience, will be quick around the track as well. Limiting factor at the minute though is me!

This sounds a real hoot!!

Perhaps we should have a Marlin Sportster v. 5exi shoot-out??

But I'm not sure if i'd be brave enough to drop the clutch on my Sportster with the engine at full chat?

Would be good to see what the Sportster would do on a 1/4 mile run.

John - sounds like good fun.

You want to get yourself dialled in properly and then see what the car will do!

I had a first ever punt at Santa Pod a few months ago - low temps meant very limited grip, but my VW Golf managed ~14 sec dead, so your Marlin ought to be capable of getting into the 12s with practice.

I always thought "how hard can a 1/4 be?", but now realise the reaction element is quite a challenge!

Any video?

I had the same thoughts of drag racing. Just a straight line and floor it. But a bit more technical than that!

It was a good bit of experience that could never be really achieved on the road. Found the cars limits and mine at full throttle.

Car had a very good terminal off the line and in the mid secion. Shows with the times. But me just bottling it and not knowing where the finish line was meant of eased off way to early. Did recall seeing 110 on the clock. And in the open air of the airfiled, was quite windy, especially as my head goes over the windscreen!

No video as it was very spur of the moment thing

Here is my attempt in the "boring" car. I concluded it's okay for an occasional laugh, but not a regular thing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqjwhbsOC1E&list=UUBEzJVOHXMboxy_Z26JScsg&index=1&feature=plcp

Pod looks so much better than North Weald. Very easy to know when your getting to the finish line. Next port of call. Was that one of the RWYB days? Looked quite empty. Did you have to wait long between runs?

Car looks like it went well and far from boring!

Yes it was a RWYB day. Didn't have to wait long - about the right sort of gap to avoid thrashing the car relentlessly. That said it was very early in the season and I suspect the cold weather - it was barely above freezing, and there was snow on the roads near Silverstone - put many people off.

Found problem. Driveshaft too short! So was a problem waiting to surface. Knuckle was ok during engine fitments and fabrication. Can only think due to suspension changes etc. These things are here to test us.

Knuckle bearings took a little scrape. So ordered another driveshaft of the same for £18. But ordered a zt v6 one as well for £18 which is 1.5" longer so hope between the two, can make a correct length one. Else it's custom.

Did you take a video of your drag race?

Steve

Unfortunatly not due to very last minute and rushing to get car fixed to go on the Sunday morning. 7am with car up in the air fixing it. Dodgy spark plug coil earth.

Hoping car will be fixed and weather ok for 17/6/12 and have another go. Driveshaft this time