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Yellow Oval Drag Car Progress (2)
HS618 - September 5th, 2009 at 09:35 PM

The final Test / Tune prior to Warwick netted poor results. One of those meetings that if you knew the outcome, you would have stayed at home.

The Beetle's handling was less than ordinary at its first meeting last month, so some serious modifications were done yesterday to try at the T/T. This comprised of a second steering box on the passenger's side along with short tie rods on both sides mounted under the control arms and a connecting link between the two pitman arms (one of which was a LHD). This was done to even out the bump steer (didn't work!!) The car still does at least an extra 20 feet in the quarter mile weaving all over the track and severe movement upon backing off at the end of the run.
Still have some ideas to try but this will be tested at Warwick.
The run data is abbreviated as they were ALL CRAP RUNS

1st Run - 12.754 @ 105.12 mph (1380 ft Drag Strip)

2nd Run - 13.53 @102.7 mph (lots of wheelspin
everywhere - was just out of the groove on the track and missed 2nd gear (about 1400ft drag strip)

3rd Run - 12.41 @107.04 weather getting warmer - resisted jet change (almost 1320 ft) - corrected altitude was over 2000 feet as compare to 300-400 earlier)

4th run - 13.479 @105.41 mph (a run that shouldn't have happened as everything went wrong (too big wheelstand, bogged before 50 ft., missed 2nd gear again, backing off to control handling

Factor in a red light (-133) on the 1st run and reaction times where .070 was the best was icing on the cake of a less than impressive outing

Hopefully, I'm getting all the bad runs out my system early


matberry - September 5th, 2009 at 10:20 PM

Not bad numbers for crap runs Henry. Well done
Should be in the 7's at Warwick


LIFE IN THE LOW LANE - September 5th, 2009 at 11:59 PM

Get them all out of your system now Henry before Warwick!! Look forward to seeing you back in the seat again!!


vw54 - September 6th, 2009 at 08:53 AM

HS at least you had 4 runs without any major breakage well done


polak - September 6th, 2009 at 06:09 PM

still pretty decent considering its a brand new setup..... there are always teething issues..... once all the little gremlins are sorted i can see this being a very quick car as its already more consistent then alot of the cars out there... plus there is getting used to driving it, more bum in seat time at warwick will be good, cant wait to see it in person!!..... good work Henry :tu:


trickysimon - September 6th, 2009 at 06:26 PM

Was this at WSID?
A local Wagga DC5 Intergra said there was a "beigeish" beetle running pretty quick times.
He had a best of 12.48 @ 108mph, so you didn't go too bad :tu: