Topic: 2012 Romanian Drag Racing Championship

[Kelu]

Yes, is prepped but not at the level from US.

If you check the videos you can see that inside lanes are black and outside lanes are not prepped for 4x4 or street tires.

Some results on 60ft to understand the level of prep:
- 1.84s Honda Civic 200hp NA FWD
- 1.92s Golf GTI who won my group with Hoosier DR
- 2.2s for me with Michelins PS2 on unprepped area, with street tires is worse on prepped surface.

[Gentleman Jack]

Kelu,

What are you referring to as unprepped?  Sometimes it looks like simply sweeping the rocks and sand would be a big help.  Or get a big blower to clean the areas?  Or is it more that the asphalt is just crappy?  No layer of rubber from years of use?  Would a burn out competition the day before the races be of any help?

[miller11386]

Do you guys use PJ1 trackbite to prep or something else?

I have always noticed that even street tires benefit from the PJ1 being put down, and with you saying the flat concrete is better than your prepped surface makes me wonder if you use something different. PJ1 was known as VHT trackbite a few years back. Here is the wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PJ1_TrackBite

That being said a simple track walk of you and your fellow racers would probably help as well. common leaf blowers as GJ suggests could help clear debris as well. (big with the auto X guys & air force guys)

GJ, a burnout competition would benefit, but just guessing from the difficulty to get slicks in Romania in the first place, would probably be cost prohibitive. That is why most drag strips let the slick tire cars go before the street tire cars. (slicks have to be warmed up and leave more rubber on the track due to their softer compounds.)

[1LILNDN]

Maybe sweep the track and let some of the Guys that like Burn-outs put some rubber in the starting box ,Just to get a good Launch off the line.also a water box to heat up the tires would help

[Kelu]

Kelu,

What are you referring to as unprepped?  Sometimes it looks like simply sweeping the rocks and sand would be a big help.  Or get a big blower to clean the areas?  Or is it more that the asphalt is just crappy?  No layer of rubber from years of use?  Would a burn out competition the day before the races be of any help?

We have a sweeper to clean the starting area before each race but being in open field and the never ending wind from that area brings dust back on the track.

The asphalt is actually concrete of big blocks installed when the airfield was build in the 50-60', we can't do too many things on surface because the airfield is open all the time, we just rent it for 2-4 weekends per year, we are lucky they allowed us to preppe an area.

miller11386 yes, we use VHT to prep the track BUT the concrete is not a perfect surface to lay down VHT, a good perfect condition asphalt as base would have a lot more benefit, but this is what we have.

1 LIL NDN We have an water-burnout area but is about 20 yards behind the starting line to avoid getting water into the staging area

VHT helps only for soft compound tires (at least semi-slicks or drag radials), for street tires is a lot worse that unprepped pavement.

Here are some pictures for a better view of the surface:

[elff]

I love how relaxed everyone is over there.

This would never happen in the US [Legally that is]

[miller11386]

interesting. That is identical to an IHRA track that I go to. They just put in all new sections of concrete.

Not sure about the science behind the VHT/PJ1, but everyone over here mixes it with methanol to make it "work properly" Not sure if you guys throw methanol in yours or not.

IMO its a pretty decent surface! I have raced on worse here in the states.

[Gentleman Jack]

I love how relaxed everyone is over there.

This would never happen in the US [Legally that is]

While I agree with Elff, the regulations will grow and adapt as the speed, frequency and injuries increase. Once the event becomes really profitable, the government will step in and dictate everything.  Unless Romania doesn't have lawyers, it will gravitate towards what we have here. Not all of that is bad certainly, but it will become less relaxed.

These are my thoughts and opinions, they are not law. 

[Kelu]

miller11386: we mix VHT with ethanol also and we played last year with different combination until we got it right. Getting right means a 800hp 4x4 with best 8.8s on this surface to bog off the starting line 

elff: dunno what you about everybody being relax here, you should see the argues between pilots especially on street category where are the biggest ambitious when finals starts 

GJ: god thank we didn't had any injuries and we are pretty much strict when is about safety regarding public or funny cars and we try to do strict in a nice and pleased manner making them to realize that we do it for their own good.

By affiliating to the Romanian Automotive Federation means we are getting under the government because the federation is regulated by the Sports Minister so ... we are getting there. But in this way we can name our championship as official national and we hope we can attract sponsors far easier.

This races can't be profitable in next 2-4 years if we want to make more progress in organization part, we need a dedicated strip which costs at least 1 million without the land, we need equipment worth of 100 grand on top of what we have. Hard to make profit in this case in next 5 years.

[1LILNDN]

interesting. That is identical to an IHRA track that I go to. They just put in all new sections of concrete.

Not sure about the science behind the VHT/PJ1, but everyone over here mixes it with methanol to make it "work properly" Not sure if you guys throw methanol in yours or not.

IMO its a pretty decent surface! I have raced on worse here in the states.

Only Differance is like Kelu said They have a constant Wind that coats the Track Also.

[Kelu]

Yeah, the traction is not bad as it was some years ago thanks to VHT but you need soft compound tires which a pair costs same price as a new turbo around here

For those with facebook  you can see about 600 nice pictures from this race here:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.409194532436015.93122.172428856112585&type=1

[miller11386]

Kelu, Im going to pickup my slicks on monday So I will let you know how they react to the VHT when I get my car going

[elff]

Kelu

I meant from a legal point of view.  I am sure the competition is insane!

[elff]

Kelu, Im going to pickup my slicks on monday So I will let you know how they react to the VHT when I get my car going

At the moment you and Sky888 are incredibly competitive.   

[Kelu]

Second stage of Romanian Drag Racing National Championship took place last weekend, I wasn't there because I had to take care of some personal things and attending to a good old friend's wedding.

I'm on 4th place overall still, the Golf GTI tuned by APR won both races in my class and he will be present to all races, 1st place is almost gone already.

Next race in June and I will attend, I hope with better performance as last race.

Here is the official video of the 2nd race:
DragRacingEvents ARAD 2012

[elff]

Killer Video

[ihawk95]

Nice Video!  The racing clips were cool and the scenery wasn't bad either! 

[miller11386]

wow looks like you guys are attracting quite the cool cars over there. Love the lambo, gtr and esp that old Z28! nice to see a proper american car showing up to show you romanians how to make some power...


However i dont even want to know what he pays in tax for that car over there!

[Arabas]

nice video!!! too bad your GT wasn't in it ...

[Arabas]

apparently you don't need him anymore, but no harm in informing you.
that greek tuner you once waited for, will be dismissed from the army in 4 days

[elff]

What do you know that we don't know?

[Kelu]

Miller: that Z28 came from hungary is not from Romania  I loved to see it racing in our country, about 1500hp 

Arabas: thanks for the info but we dropped that guy we are working with a different one, please let's keep this topic about races, tuning my car on a different topic

Elff: nothing important, last year I used a greek ecu tuner which got into the army when he was supposed to finish my tune, not important info

[Kelu]

3rd stage took place on 22 of June.

Trailer Tulcea Iunie 2012 DragRacingEvents

Some highlights:
- New full street national record for gas engine: 9.77s by the grey Nissan GTR - AMS Alpha 12
- New diesel national record: 1.9 tdi Seat Ibiza - 12.1s
- Another 2-3 cars reached 10s
- New record in my group (under 2L Turbo or 3.8L NA - FWD or RWD): 12.3s

I raced only 2 runs because I had problems with the tune, still on 6th place on championship in my group.

[elff]

I immediately recognized the seats from your shops GTR before they panned back to show the whole car.

Awesome video

[Critterman]

I can't get over how close the spectators are to the racers.