Haven't updated this in awhile, so why not start with a Proving Grounds 2k14.2 Recap?
Having had lackluster results from PG1. I made it out to the track a few times in preparation for PG2. The car STILL wouldn't hit 140mph again in the 1/4 mile. The only time it did this year was the first outing at the track which I ran a 10.6@144 my first pass of the year I believe. Getting frustrated with the car I started driving the piss out of it TRYING to get into the 140's again.
I thought maybe it was something with the Transmission as I just had RS install Josh's old Shep Trans. I gave it everything I could during a few Wednesday Night Drags and managed to scratch back to a 10.4@136 or something. Frustrated with the MPH still I gave up and scheduled some Dyno time with Ron. We strapped it on the Rollers and low and behold, only 617whp (only, lol). We did a boost leak test and everything was tight, so that wasn't it. Ron started narrowing things down and finally we popped of the timing cover and there it was, the Belt somehow skipped a tooth.
We pulled it off the Dyno and I got to work. I pulled out the Hydraulic Tensioner and we tested it, Ron was able to compress it with his hand. Great. I started calling dealerships to see if any of the close ones had one in stock. Nothing. Luckily one of the local parts stores did and they brought it over.
I got everything buttoned back up hoping to get it back on the Dyno to see where we were at now, but Ron had already stayed later than he should have. So I just drove it back home. Got on it and it felt GREAT! I couldn't wait to bring it back to the track again and try it out.
Fast Forward to Saturday Morning, I woke up early and went through Tech with no issues, sat around a little bit just soaking in the nice morning. Finally I decided enough procrastinating, turned the boost down 1.5 turns and strapped in. Pulled up to the line, and it wheel hopped which has never happened before. It felt "ok" though so I got back in it. Ran a 10.301@143.90. I was ecstatic! The MPH was back and I had my new Personal Best in ET on a "so-so" pass. I pulled back to my camp site and let things cool down, checked everything over.
I went back out the next pass and it was still just hopping off the launch, again I got it under control, quicker this time, and got back in it. I managed to run a 10.250@143.08, another new Personal Best! I was a little Frustrated as to why it was hopping so bad and went and talked to Mark Leasure for some tips. We ended up lowering the front tire pressure to 18 and the rears to 15. Went out to test it out and had an "ok" launch but missed 2nd... Darn.
Got right back in line and went for it again. This time I was able to hit 2nd gear, but better yet, no wheel hop! Had another so-so launch but it felt like another decent pass so I kept going. This pass ended up being a 10.204@140.25. I was starting to get excited now as we were going in the right direction, after talking with Mark some more we decided to lower my 2 step from 6400 to 6100 and went back out.
Missed 2nd gear again, I was starting to get frustrated again. Thinking that it may be an early end to trying to hit the ever so elusive 9 second run. I went back out for another one and got on the 2 step and the car started creeping forward... super. Went for it anyways, and yup, you guessed it. Missed 2nd. But at least I knew where to start looking.
Got back to my campsite and started adjusting the clutch pedal. Got it to stay put with like 2 threads left on the rod... and decided to let the car cool down for an hour or so. I was getting a headache and starting to get crabby so I drank a beer and just BS'd with my Friends, Leasure, and Nate (9 sec black civic) some more.
Knowing that I wanted to let the air cool down some I waited until about 5:45 to go do another run. As I was getting ready to leave Nate came over and was asking about what was going a little bit more, he grabbed my seat and scooted it up way further. I felt like I was eating the steering wheel but he told me not to touch it and just trust him. So I did.
Got in line, pulled up, killed it rolling around burnout box due to the new seating arrangement.... talk about embarrassing lol. Got up to the light and went over what I wanted to do in my head. Next thing you know the lights are coming down and I'm off! It spun a bit and the rear end kicked out a bit. I feathered the throttle a little bit and got it under control. I must have gotten out of the groove or something because it was ALL over the place going down the track. It felt like I was on the street fighting for traction just dancing in between the lanes. I honestly didn't think it was going to be as quick as it was. Looked at the slip and it said 10.057@142.46! I flipped the slip over thinking I was looking at the wrong side but I was correct! Holy Shit I was pumped! At that point I KNEW that I had a 9 in me! But didn't want to push my luck so I'd just wait until tomorrow and hope it came in the Eliminations.
I woke up around 8am tired and hungover, sunburnt and sore. Checked the car over and waited around until they started calling everybody out. Got in line. And unfortunately only 2 of us were left in the Class. Nate got booted for going to fast the day before. The S2k that was running 1/8th miles the previous day lifted the head and broke. The NF tuned "Panda" STi was right behind me, And i'm not sure where the other car was that was in our class. I knew I was going home on the podium at least which took some of the stress off.
Our time came and we pulled up, again I picked the Left Lane because it was the one I felt most comfortable in. I knew the STi would be a pretty close race as they ran a 10.4@14x the day before. I knew I had to try and get him on the light and hopefully take him out of his game. I was a little nervous as I haven't really tried to "Drag Race" anybody all year. I ended up cutting an "ok for me" light at .632 and got him out of the hole. Spun a little bit again, peddled it a little bit to much and it nosed over, "NO!" I thought, as I got back in it. Luckily it didn't drop out completely out of boost. I didn't see the STi in my peripheral vision, I knew I could take 2nd a little slower to make sure it went in. At this point I just wanted to win the race and didn't care about the 9. I knew it was gone with that little boost drop. Banged the rest of the gears and finished the pass. Won the race, and pulled around to get my slip.
The Run itself felt very solid minus the little hiccups it had early on. But I knew it was going to be quick. What I saw next was a huge kick in the balls. 10.02@141.58! Are you kidding me!? I screwed up that bad and STILL almost had it! Again, i'm just pumped, I won the race and ran another PB on what felt like it shouldn't have been on that pass.
Unfortunately I wasn't able to get any other runs in due to someone popping a head gasket or something causing a clean up for 30 minutes or so (they were going to do some free runs if the eliminations finished early enough before the Grudge Races). I didn't care though as I know its there. It sucks that I may have all winter to think about it now. But overall it was a FANTASTIC weekend. It wasn't nearly as rowdy this time, the weather was perfect. And I got to sit around and BS with some good friends. I'm already counting down the days until the next one.
I have to give a huge shout out to Mark and Nate for all the tips this weekend. And Ron@RS for getting the car to run so strong. Words can't explain how good it feels to finally be able to drive this car. I still have a bunch of Driver Improvement to do, But I have the bull by the horns now! Thanks for reading my looooong post. I just had to write down how awesome this weekend was! It also shows how some things can be a blessing in disguise, that timing issue, in turn taught me how to drive this car more like how it needs to be driven. I was thinking about selling it and trying out road racing/auto-x next year, but now I don't know if I can make that jump just yet.
^^^ Gotta thank Nate for getting booted and letting me win one
Here's vid Derek got, You can hear the little pause that cost me my 9
haha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNSr7-50XMg
Hybrid Mode
