Topic: Second 2010 Romanian Drag Race

[Kelu]

This is the second romanian drag race which I attended in 2010. Same organizers as in previous race ( http://www.kappaperformance.com/forum/index.php?topic=4481.0 ) but closer to my city, decided to give it another try because only 50 miles from my home even the previous one was a fiasco.

This time was semi-crap race.

It was better as previous edition on security (no more people on the strip), there were something to drink and eat and the atmosphere. Still HUGE problems with results, time (ridiculous times), the line not being respected, regulation etc. I'm so tired and angry on those guys that I don't feel comfortable to remember about that race but I did an effort to share it with you.

Here is a 6 minutes presentation movie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwb_w3ESooQ

I raced 5 times in qualification, trying to get used with the WOT Box ("launch control" and nls) and end up qualified in the final, but the final was messed up. There were 2 BMW turbo which were clearly on top just because the organizers can't respect simple things about groups (even they borrow it from our neighbors) and there was my buddy Fiat Coupe (yellow) and than I was after them, based on the races from qualification. Because their ed up times the places in the final were different, I raced a VW Golf Turbo and end up meeting the winner of the group (BMW E36 2.5i turboed which is a low 12s car) and I lost. I end up on position 5-6, so because of the organizers I lost well deserved 4th place but I don't care about result in a such crappy race. I will not attend races organized by these monkeys until they don't have a decent race.

I'm actually proud to loose to that car, I launched same with him even I raced on street factory tires and he was running Toyos R888, stayed next to him 1st, 2nd and half of 3rd gear when he started to push. His car makes over 400whp and he has a nos bottle in the trunk but he says he is spraying only the IC, I don't care I respect this guy for what he did with his car and went and shake his hand after each race. Is not his fault he is racing in this group, the organizers are just dumb. You can see a part of the race in the above movie at the end.
Here is the race filmed from start:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmdAmrE5moM


I have logged all races and WOT Box makes my logs so sweet, launching from a steady rpm, no more closing throttle body, boost and airflow is dipping a little between shifts and ALL my races were in 0.5s, i can't tell if I gained anything on my ET because I dodn't have timeslips.

Some other movies:
WOT Shift impressive backfire, everybody though i blew my engine 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O58pUaSzPaE

First race, launching for ET (fooled, i thought they will have good timeslips) and taking care of launch control:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AjOLF0dHxw

First race in finals, you can hear my rpm steady before launch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLVBd-Iph5Q

Qualifying race, the guy jumpstarted and because the system doesn't detect that he braked to allow me to win in fairplay, how dumb is not to have a system to detects jumpstart in drag racing 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRJZIQ8TzrM

I raced the red Opel GT too which was stock and put huge space between us, don't have a video 

Here is the playlist with all my videos:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=AFCC2CC453B846D7

Some pictures (uploaded them in my gallery in bigger dimensions):

The kappa:
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Me, the bald one of course, in my right a great buddy which is build a 9s steet Nissan 300ZX and in front of me another great buddy, representative of Revo (strong tuner for Audi/VW/Skoda, Seat), no I'm not small the guy in front of me is 6.6 ft and 308 pounds:
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Me racing my buddy with Fiat Coupe (GT28 turbo and some other bold ons) one of the fastest FWD in this country (top 3)
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Opel GT, no I didn't race it with this driver 
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My friend with Opel Speedster upgraded turbo, still testing:
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BMW E30 with an M3 engine turboed doing over 600hp, he races with 2 large stone blocks in the trunk for better traction  one of the fastest cars probably 10s
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BMW M6, no traction for this car even he was racing with street slicks:
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Stock Nissan GTR:
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[Kelu]

Two more:

Another top fastest romanian car, Audi RS6 with cat-back and tune making over 600hp, probably 10s car too, will confirm the official time this weekend:
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Showoff car came to the drag racing with 22" bling bling rims, EVERYBODY whooped his ass, including my friend with 350hp Fiat, I could win against him but I have respect for that car and didn't challenge him. The owner destroyed the imagine of that car, now everybody thinks american cars suck, but it isn't, just the owner of these cars around here do suck
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[Uranium-238]

Kelu, you might be surprised to see just how many challengers have 20+ inch wheels over here.

The Challenger is the slowest of the bunch, unless you count the 2010 and prior mustangs instead of the 2011 ones. The SRT8 Challengers have really big engines, weighted down by a 4000 lb car.

[NormSky]

Constancy with a manual is tough for most. Throw in the elastic nature of a turbo and I'd say you did excellent!


Norm

[Kelu]

Uranium: i don't have a problem with +20" rims, they look gorgeous on american muscle cars, i have a problem with:
- guys coming with those wheels at the dragstrip
- not staying in the line because they think they are VIPs
- doing tons of useless burnouts on street tires
- challenge most powerful vehicles (many of them 10s maximum 11s cars) with most skilled drivers
- when launching doing rolling burnouts
- loose in ALL races including vs 5 grand cars with just a little over 300hp and FWD!!!

That is the definition of dumb showoffer for me, you embarrass yourself and make your car look like slowest from the race

NormSky: thank you sir, there is always room from improvement. If I would have some traction (launching from 3000rpm and still spinning) and that would be a closer to real drag strip with a correct and constant timeslip would help me see where I can work more, but I was racing almost blindly and still felt almost 90% of the facts from the logs.

[Uranium-238]

Ah, now I get it.

Thankfully over here most people with too much money and not enough skill end up in European cars.

[Critterman]

Kelu,
That track scares me, looks bumpy and dirty, I see a lot of dust being raised as the cars go down the track.  For the conditions you did and excellent job.

[JimmyBaja]

Kelu, excellent post, video & pics my friend. You put the pressure on me to get videos now, I will have to do better for pics & video. Next round will be with the new SC on.
Keep up the good work! 

[Gentleman Jack]

Kelu,
As always, great posts.  I love the pics and vids. 

About the race itself, all I got to say is there is no way in hell that would be allowed here in the USA.  The only thing separating the cars from the people is a portalble metal baracade?  Wow.  Here, its concrete K rail, fences and probably twice as much space. 

Also, if there is that much interest in Drag Racing, why don't you and your buddies build a proper race track?  It's only money right?  Ok, so maybe you can't, but is sure seems like there is a lot of interest and someone could invest some $$ into a decent track and timing equipment.  I am sure someone has tried, but I'd do it if I had a spare billion.  I'd keep the dancers too.  They make it feel more Romanian 

Gentleman Jack

[Kelu]

Critterman: yes, full of dust and rocks, in the final race the fast BMW threw me a rock in my windshield, hopefully just a crack by the size of a nickel, didn't got worse 

JimmyBaja: the power of the example, heh? Looking forward to see your improvements, notice I could shoot the blonde driver 

Gentleman Jack aka Bubble Gum: think this race security is considered good, look how was about 2 years ago at drag racing  :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tId2gJPN2tw

Yes, you are right, it's only money, around 2 millions as we calculated, because is money nobody wants to give it away. There is a big interest around here and the numbers are big but nobody wants a business and to gain back the investment in 5-10 years, around here everybody wants their investment back in maximum 2 years (eh, convergent market).
My friend from the picture which is building 9s Nissan has ordered a timing system, he can afford that and hopefully he will organize a race this year.

Next race is on 3rd-4th July (2 days of race  ), this is mecca of drag racing in Romania in last 2 years, I was there in 2009 and I got second place in my group, there is time system and professional organizers, the pita is 400 miles - 8h driving away, but because the organizers are professionals they offer (based on invitation) trailer transportation for drag cars (the race cars have priority, maybe I will get invited too to drop the prices of attending to this event even I'm on street category). Last year there where 200 cars and 8000 visitors (on an airfield 30 miles away of the city), I expect more this year. Looking forward to the next race.

[DickW]

Kelu you re making the Kappa lok good. Keep up the good work. We are all pulling for you.

[LatinVenom]

Good show Kelu, you are doing good.
You seem to be pretty consistent every time you race.
Hope you get invited to the big race.

[Kelu]

Until big race, something even more interesting appeared from nowhere. I will report soon, sunday or monday.

Dang I think the accommodation period with this car starts to fade, is time for more power. Common tuners get me to the next level.

[chuckdoc]

Gosh, I really enjoy you videos, I really do not have anything intelligent to add but I did want you to know how much I enjoy your racing posts.

I sure wish we could get you over here to participate in some of our tracks.  If I win the lottery, you are getting a free ride with the car included.  I do buy a ticket every week so who knows.

If there is anything you need from the states, let us know and I am sure we can get it sent to you.

Chuck

PS, My wife and I ate in a restaurant at the beach in Ocean City, MD.  The waiter was a great guy and it turned out he is from Romania, I played several of your videos for him and he was really impressed as he is into cars as well.

[Kelu]

chuckdoc: why would you have to add something intelligent?

I'm really happy to see people reading and watching my reports, as stated in the beginning of my posts, I'm trying to share the experiences, feelings and what happens in this part of the world. Even I have same car as yours and I'm a username around here like everybody else I'm trying to show the differences of this part of the world.

Nice to see you aware of Romania because of me

Go Lottery hit Chuck, hit him hard.

[pantherqs]

Dang I think the accommodation period with this car starts to fade, is time for more power. Common tuners get me to the next level.

I'm tellin' ya, spray it.  Get the wotbox nitrous control window switch cable and you're good to go since you already got the hardware.  It's so ridiculously easy on our cars to tap the fuel line for a wet kit, you just de-core the shrader valve, plug a hose in, and you're good to go.

[Gentleman Jack]

Go Lottery hit Chuck, hit him hard.

That is freakin hysterical.  Yes Lottery, please hit Chuck REALLY REALLY HARD!    

[Kelu]

pantherqs: That sounds easy, I don't know what should I expect from it. Happens to have something to show the difference?
Spray is an issue in my legal races as long I get in the Street category, using this will put me in the Race category 

Gentleman Jack aka Bubble Gum: Uh oh, sounds so terrible  ? I was trying to say "good luck" in a different manner 

[pantherqs]

Just hide the install, problem solved. ^_^
You can easily drop a 10 pound bottle in our trunk and make a fake front wall for it.  55hp is nothing to scoff at, real solid boost at higher speed when our cars start falling on their face, especially since it's so cheap to do comparatively.  That, and you can probably run a bigger shot if you wanted to. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YdCLM0arDs

Low bottle pressure, was pretty much out and didn't stay in it.  On BFG 265 KDW's and a solid cement stretch.  This was before GMS.  Probably the only thing I really have of it, don't really have anything difference-ey...  I spray at 4500.

[Kelu]

Just hide the install, problem solved. ^_^

I will not do that from respect of my competitors.

What are you describing is nice, our engine with stock turbo is dieing above 6000rpm.

[kennysabarese]

I would love to see an HPT log taken while spraying NOS

[Brad Kenny]

That was a ridonculous run through the RPM's with NOS... I LOVE IT!!! I would never personally do it, but man it looks great!!!