09-28-2019, 08:54 PM | #1 |
GPI Sales Consultant
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Wild ride at the drag strip (drifting the 1/8th mile)
If you wanna skip the long read just watch the video here:
https://vimeo.com/362985300 Last night's trip to the drag strip was unlike any other time I've ever been. I'm made few hundred drag strip passes in my life, and at least 50-60 in this car alone, and never has anything remotely like this happened. This was my 5th pass of the evening, and I was really starting to get my new Hoosier's and 2-step launch control dialed in. The 60' was the best I've ever cut with this car, and it was on what surely was going to be it's best pass ever. Unfortunately, at about the 500' mark I ran through a large puddle of coolant the truck in front of me put down. I didn't see it at all, and apparently neither did the track crew (although several spectators confirmed they saw the truck let out a large cloud of smoke at about that point). The car instantly made a quick right and headed for the wall at about 85mph. It's just not a place you expect to suddenly be fighting with a car violently out of shape. I stomped on the clutch immediately, steered into the slide, and amazing it just kept sliding for a bit - coolant is slippery stuff. Finally, the car found some grip and started to respond to my inputs, and then the fight with extremely soft and flexible drag radial tires with very low air pressure was on. To add complexity, I was about 3 car lengths ahead of the car in the left lane. I was rapidly losing speed while sliding, and was very concerned about coming across the track right in front of him. I did my very best to catch the slide, almost kept it off the wall completely as the other car passed by, and then let it (let it? I think it was going regardless) run back towards the middle and loop out. Then, I limped off on the first return road, and spent a few seconds letting my heart rate start to come back down before hoping out and looking at the damage. The damage is a a little worse than it looks. Yes the bumper needs paint, but it actually shoved the lower corner of the rear quarter in. Fortunately I know a good body guy, but of course it will all be out of pocket as insurance isn't going to do anything at the track. Amazingly I didn't hurt the wheel at all, just rubbed the tire ever so slightly. I'm upset the track crew didn't go take a look after the truck before me clearly had issues. I understand they have a tough job to do, trying to get cars down as quickly as possible, and stay safe, but I would gladly spend a little extra time waiting to make sure the track is safe. The issue was so severe from the coolant that was put down that they closed that lane for the rest of the night and just ran singles in the left lane. Ultimately, I'm pretty happy with my driving, and especially that I kept it off the car in the other lane. I'm not hurt, I was still able to drive the car on the trailer at the end of the night, I'm counting my blessings because that could have been so much worse. Stay safe and stay ready all my drag racing buddies - anything can happen out there.
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GPI Max Package 2.0: Brodix BR7 heads/GPI porting, MAX3 cam, ST2116LSR, BSR Max Lift rockers, LS7 LSXR with 103mm TB, Vararam OTR, Mcleod RXT, G-Force/Strange 9" IRS setup with 4.63 gear. 551whp, 11.1@124mph.
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09-28-2019, 09:21 PM | #2 |
Drives: 2013 zl1 vert Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Rochester, New york
Posts: 956
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that sucks man. glad you made it out ok. looks like a easy fix though
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09-28-2019, 10:15 PM | #3 |
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It’s a little rougher than the pictures show. Pretty deep gouges and stuff. I’m just happy he was ok because we can always fix and replace car parts and cars. I was staging right behind him in the same lane and it happened so fast to him I didn’t even realize what was going on down the end of the track. It happened just as I was rolling out of my burn out of water box. I had to watch my camera of it a few times that was recording but he was far up the track you can only see his tail lights going right left right very quick. He certainly did one hell of a good job driving that one out.
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Car mods: never enough!
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09-28-2019, 10:20 PM | #4 |
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Dang bro , you were definitely on your way to a new PB if that didn’t happen.
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Car mods: never enough!
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09-28-2019, 11:11 PM | #5 |
Drives: Never just fly under the radar Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Kansas
Posts: 1,531
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That really sucks. Nice driving recovering it though looked like you did everything right. Glad to hear your alright and certain you'll have that beautiful car back to like new in no time.
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1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
Old Skool |
09-29-2019, 12:59 AM | #6 |
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Glad you’re alright and there’s relatively minor damage to the car. I would be livid with the track crew. We’re all human and things happen but they’d still be catching flak. In the end, great job with the save. Luckily you were able to keep it off the other racer, this could have went much worst.
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09-29-2019, 02:35 AM | #7 |
Drives: 2011 2SS Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Arlington, Texas
Posts: 1,333
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That was a great save, that could’ve been so much worse. Glad you’re alright and the car isn’t too badly damaged. You’ll get that PB next time!
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2011 SS L99
LSA Supercharger, BTR Stage 3 PDS Cam, Yank 3200SS, Weapon X Stage 2 intake, LSA Heads, Flex Fuel, Ported throttle body, Speed Engineering Headers, NOWEEDS, ZL1 fuel pump, DSX AUX Pump, ID-1050X injectors, 3” pipe to NPP mufflers, 3.91 gears |
09-29-2019, 04:03 AM | #8 |
Drives: 2010 SS L99 Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Missouri
Posts: 1,634
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Glad you're ok!
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Previous PB:11.079 @ 122.99mph.. New setup time: TBD
The 11.079 pass: https://youtu.be/pz27Zq54t_E Build thread - www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=555371 |
09-29-2019, 01:19 PM | #9 |
Drives: 2010 2SS LS3, 2013 duramax Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Dover, De
Posts: 1,451
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Whoa that is what im scared of at the track. Could of been a lot worse. Thats an easy fix, i work in a body shop.
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ECS Ysi-B, cam, Tsp 2" longtubes, Squash dual pumps, Id1300s, meth, 4L80e, FTI 3600, ZL1 3.73 diff, BMR suspension, 15" conversion, weld rts mt 275 et street R. 9.6@147mph
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09-29-2019, 02:59 PM | #10 |
Drives: 12 2SS/RS L99,11 2SS/RS LS3totaled Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: mooresville nc
Posts: 1,048
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i just paid 500 to get a bumper fixed with similar damage,and i brought them the bumper.i i think i got ripped.
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09-30-2019, 08:08 AM | #11 |
Drives: 2010 SS L99 Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Missouri
Posts: 1,634
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Side note though, that thing sounds freaking awesome
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Previous PB:11.079 @ 122.99mph.. New setup time: TBD
The 11.079 pass: https://youtu.be/pz27Zq54t_E Build thread - www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=555371 |
09-30-2019, 08:30 AM | #12 |
GPI Sales Consultant
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Thanks guys. Still sorting my emotions out on this one. It's a freak thing, and I could probably go make another 500 passes and not having anything like that happen again. On the other hand, I can't help thinking how lucky I am to not have had much damage, and no injuries. I'm not sure I want to keep risking such a nice car. Lots to think about, most likely outcome is I'll park it for the winter, get it fixed up, and then have the itch by the spring and put it back out there.
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GPI Max Package 2.0: Brodix BR7 heads/GPI porting, MAX3 cam, ST2116LSR, BSR Max Lift rockers, LS7 LSXR with 103mm TB, Vararam OTR, Mcleod RXT, G-Force/Strange 9" IRS setup with 4.63 gear. 551whp, 11.1@124mph.
Got a question about a GPI product? Feel free to shoot me a message! |
09-30-2019, 08:46 AM | #13 | |
Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS M6 Join Date: May 2009
Location: Idaho
Posts: 726
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Quote:
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GPI SS2; EE E2 catch can; SP 1 7/8" LT Headers w/ hfc; FM AT 3" cat-back; CAI Cold Air Intake; AEM Wideband
Tuned by GPI McCleod RXT; MGW flat stick; Ram Clutch slave cylinder & hydraulic adjuster BMR cradle & diff bushings, trailing arms, toe rods & upper control arm bushings Hotchkis sub-frame brace Stop Tech Z-23 brakes 4.10 gears, Eaton Truetrac, LPW diff cover Best 1/4 mile 12.073 @ 115.68 mph 3,300 ft DA |
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09-30-2019, 09:32 AM | #14 |
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Wow.Glad you are OK and with Lt. Damage. That I guess will be a wakeup call to the Safety Crew for sure. Best wishes on getting it back to 100%.
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'11 IBM 2SS/RS Built and Tuned by Vengeance Racing Vengeance PCM
Vengeance Racing Mast Black Label LS7 Headed 416 ProCharger Stage II D1X Race ,Monster Triple,Alky Control Meth Inj, Forgestar F14 Drag Version and a bunch of other blah blah blah.838/688 at 12lbs Street Friendly |
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