Good day at Great Lakes Dragaway

[slow lane]

Last Friday night at Great Lakes Dragaway (Union Grove, WI) was awesome.

Prior to Friday night, my best runs have been 12.523 / 114.76 with several 12.6s and 12.7s to back up the 12.5.

Friday night with a 45 minute cool down after a 45 mile drive.

1st run - 12.470 @ 113.92 (1.974 60')
2nd run - 12.411 @ 113.67 (1.892 60') - 4 min later 3000 RPM launch
3rd run - 12.362 @ 113.89 (1.855 60') - 5 min later, 3500 RPM launch
4th run - 12.362 @ 113.89 (1.862 60') - 10 min later, same launch - holy consistency batman
5th run - 12.159 @ 115.03 (1.790 60') - 1 hr cool down, 4000 RPM launch


Last run (6th) was following a 1991 or 92 Galant VR4 with way too much boost, he blew his fluids all over the starting line during his burnout. I spun like crazy in the mess that was left after the crew mopped up and figured my run was ruined, so I just cruised at 60mph through the rest of the run. When I picked up my slip, the 60' was 1.990.

The 4th run was against a 1967 GTO with a mild 455 and slicks whose owner also has a new edge GT, he jumped me with a 1.644 60' and stayed ahead of me by about 20-30 feet to the end of the track. He pulled his 1st 11 that night. I was lined up to race him again that 6th run, but the suicidal Galant ruined it.


That track had never held a 3000 RPM launch on the drag radials before.

 

[CobraBob]

You had a very good night, for the most part. LOL! Nice times.

 

[ShelbyGuy]

i havent been up there since broadway bob sold out. did the new owners put ANY money into the facilities?

when you went through tech, what all did they look for? do you have a roll bar? driveshaft loop?

nice times.

 

[cdh027]

John, those are some nice times for a "stock" Cobra. Is that with the stock pulley ?

btw, what suburb are you from ? I live in Batlett and have only seen one other 03 since we picked ours up in May.

 

[slow lane]

The new owners did just about nothing last year, but they paved the staging lanes this year, they're keeping the scoreboard and timing lights in working order this year, and have more people on hand to keep the place clean.

cdh027,

I'm in Ingleside, Northwest Lake County (IL). There are a lot of '03 owners up here, but not much interest in Cobra oriented events. There are a pile of '03 Cobra owners in the South suburbs that are very active and participate on this board.


The 430 RWHP / 460 RWTQ, low to mid 12 ETs (finally) and 113-115 MPH trap speeds are from;

2.93" pulley and gates belt - $170 installed.
UPR Cold Air Intake - $199 + $8 shipping (it's cheaper now)
Diablo Chip - $399 installed and warranted (not a warranty, but they corrected original tuning free o' charge)

^
||

Stock (more or less)
Dyno pulls to validate power improvement and a safe tune - $200
The above mods were good for 12.6 - 12.9 on Goodyear F1s (both stock and F1 GS-D3s)

The 12.1s - 12.5s have been on drag radials. The wheels, spacers, tires and mounting were more expensive than the power mods.

 

[slow lane]

For tech inspections at GLD (IHRA track), the only thing they check me on is an approved Snell 2000 helmet.

At 11.499 ETs, I would need a roll-bar at GLD.

I think according to the rules, we would all be required to get driveshaft safety loops, but I have yet to see the tech guys get underneath a car that was driven to the track. They don't seem to open the hoods on late model cars that were driven to the track for timed runs. I guess checking for fluid catch cans is irrelevant for cars that come with overflow tanks, it's especially irrelevant if you have over stressed 4 bangers blowing themselves apart half the nights wetting down the track.

 

[03CobraCCC]

GLD is actually not too bad, much better than Byron Raceway.....my first run ever with my 03 was at GLD, 13.01 @109.7 with a 2.2 60ft, completely bone, stone stock.

Now i have a K&N Aircharger, and a 2.90 RR pulley on the way, and a few other goodies over this winter, hopin to hit low low 12's in the spring.

BTW, im in wheaton, IL.

 

[slow lane]

On "fun racing" nights GLD can get pretty horrible, but clearly other places may be as bad or worse more often.

The track conditions Friday were the best I've seen, and probably were as good for the first 60' as Joliet / Route 66. On the big plus side, it's less expensive, closer for me, has a lot of available timed run availability and is generally friendlier to the weekend goof off racer like myself. Also on the plus side they are fixing the place up or at least maintaining it better than they did last year.

GLD is a great place for "fun racing" but on a consistant basis it fall way short of any NHRA track and most IHRA tracks in terms of track prep and amenities.