Well, my local track is DONE!! Soon to be another Industrial Park, Carlsbad Raceway had its' last Sat. Grudge & Sunday Brackets I had to go, I've been racing "something" there since 1993. The "BadBuick" lived up to its' name, car has gone faster & quicker than ever, 10.33@132mph, on motor, then that 10lb bottle of "laughing gas" was calling me.......Took out the 200hp jets, and put in the 100's, just to be safe and see what happens, let me tell ya, a nitrous/trans brake launch is pretty fun! Car went a 1.46 60ft. it was a pretty hot day, 6.3 @ 111mph in the 1/8th, 9.85@138 at the 1/4!!!!!! I also ran 2 other 9 second passes, 9.86@138 and 9.96@ 137. I know at a good track, the car will "hook" harder, so there's more there, also that was just the 100 hp shot! Gary G.
Gary, Wow, you really got that ragtop flyin. What size slicks and wheels are you running? Stock wheel wells? Sorry to hear about your local strip. It is a very sad day everytime we lose one. Thanks,
On the front I have Bogart "super fly lites", 15 x 3s' with MT 29in race tires, the rears are 15 x 10 (6 1/2 bs) Cragar super lites with 29.5 x 11.5 MT slicks. I did a mini tub on the car, cut the rear frame in half and rewelded plates to get more tire under there, outer wheel well is the inner quarter, and it has been "rolled' with a baseball bat. I used to run 28 x 10 MTs on an 8 inch rim, but "trimming" the frame gave me around 1 1/2 inches. Yes, the rag top almost did go flying....as I crossed the finishline, there was a 2 inch gap between the windshield and the front of the top, "hey, where's that light coming from....." Didn't brake the latches, next pass we put tape over the area and it did help, but the top really "balloons" up, really freaks people out at the track, the announcer said " watch this, the top is about to come off...." I guess that Buick didn't take their wind tunnel testing on the '65 lark convert. up to 140mph... Gary G.
Gary, Thanks for the info. When you ran the 28x10 MT what backspacing did you use? Sounds like a real wild ride. If you ever get a pic of the top balloned up please post it. Regards,
Gary, Good job with the car and engine. That is flying. You've worked a long time to get there. I just drove by that track today. It's an island in a sea of industrial parks. I'd imagine you have to get on the brakes pretty hard to stop in time. Bruce Kent
That will work you should go some 9.50 or faster when you put the 200 shot in it.But I think you will need some ballistic restaints for the top.
How are SSM bars working on the nitrous? It's always good to see those better et's. Keeping working at it and those times will keep coming down. I'll be a little more aggresive and say at least 9.30's with a tuned 200 shot. You can always tune it running the 1/8mi until you get that top secured.
My car has a 8 point cage, 1 3/4 steel tubing, I need to have it sonic tested and certified, since it has gone quicker than a 9.90. I'm pretty sure it will "pass" if not, I'll be looking into a chrome moly cage. Gary Giessen
I read in a magazine a few years back that if you crack your windows 1/2 an inch it will not balloon the top. I always did this when I raced my old convert. It was NO WHERE near as fast as yours, but it never balloned. Mike
Hey Mike, thanks for the tip, I've tried that, and many others. Even with the back window unzipped and open, it still 'balloons". I've got a few new ideas, straps and thin metal strips, and some other latch "tabs", that's next. I've stopped the top from pulling away from the top of the windshield, but going to different race tracks, the officials may think my car is unsafe "ballooning", so I have to limit this, goin racing in Sept. we'll see how it goes then. Gary G.
Why not just put the top down? uzzled: Have you tried this? How does it affect your ET. It seems that at your speed, it would be a lot easier to just put the top down and not have to worry about it. Just curios. My cousin has a convertible that might get some track time.
That is something I want to try, but haven't done it yet, I have the required safety equipment to do it, so it will happen, I'll have to look into some SFI sunglasses.... Gary G.
Nice to see a Convert. Flying !!! I think your balooning is not necessarily coming from the top / windshield junction, but instead from fresh air ramming in through vents and creating a positive pressure when the cabin is sealed / closed-up. ....just a thought o No: Maybe try sealing off the air inlets at the cowl ??? Also....You might want to try laying a piece of thin foam insulation on the header panel - the kind they sell for for insulating doors / windows at home depot - right along the line where the top comes down to lessen the air rush through the top junction. Im nowhere near as fast as you, and yet it still scares me that those convert. top latches are the only thing holding it down - years ago I used to reach up and hold the center section until I realized that if the top blows.....I'd get ripped out of the seat with it !! I also *think* both NHRA and IHRA require converts. to run with the top up no matter what the speed......but its OK to run an open bucket rail ?? ou:
If you run an open bodied car, in addition to the required safety equipment for your ETs, you need arm restraints.
