The Vitz is in the 14s!

[ChinoCharles]

trackslip.jpg

Lesson learned: its half about the car and half about the driver.

What a night! There was a good turnout... probably 30-40 cars running, so the track wasn't too full which was nice. Here's how it went...

First run, I take off and miss second gear. (This would be a recurring theme) Still managed a 15.8, but at this point I knew the predicted 14.5 was going to be tough.

Second run I finally get one off. 15.4 @ 92 MPH. Now I'm flat out worried. The bald tires were more problematic than I was hoping, but even worse was the shifter. Second was becoming a 50/50 shot.

Anyway, Akron Horsepower tuned 5.0 Mustang? TOAST. Now it started getting fun.

Subaru WRX... TOAST.

S/C Bonneville... bye.

I didn't lose a race all night without missing second gear. Problem is that happened 3 times. We came to the conclusion that the reason for this was the excess movement in the engine bay knocking things out of alignment. In other words, torque damper and/or motor mounts VERY soon.

By the fouth run I tore the NST short shifter out. That'll be for sale soon. It wasn't making the prospect of shifting an already cranky gearbox any easier. So I keep running and running and by the 8th run I still just can't break the 15.3 mark. Best trap was 93.75. I come back and Doug from Forced4's starts talking about how he would love to drive it. I toss him the keys.

First time down the track he is rocking and grinding down the track. It was pretty funny. I forget what he ran though. He comes back and I was going to take it for the last run. He said he thought he had it down now. I said go for it.

He pulls up to the line, launches and does what essentially amounted to a 60' burnout. Slaps second and BOOM. The five of us F4's guys left are standing near the staging area saying "dude, I think he just got it." Sure enough, 14.9 @ 96 MPH.

We went crazy. It was the funniest thing ever. Driver mod FTW. I need to learn to drive.

Best thing was he ran a 2.4 60'. My best of the night was a 2.2-something, so there is still a tenth or two in there somewhere.

Pictures to come. I didn't bother taking any because we brought a photographer. Got some NICE rolling shots on the way there.