I went drag racing at California Speedway with one goal:

To run 11s on the 11th (for the first time)...

did it happen?...

Here is the story....

I got out to the track at 6:45am...went through tech inspection around 7:45am...and quickly prepped my car for racing by 9:30am...

i had to jack up the car to put on my hoosier slicks...and the Bogart skinnys for the front and add 100 octane VP racing fuel. I also removed all my tools and just about everything inside the car and in the trunk, including my 12" subwoofer box (approx 30lbs.)

there was relatively few cars at the track and i actually got there soon enough to be in group A (the first group to race)

racing began at 9:30am and i got my first race at 9:32am

i ran 12.069 at 111.45mph with a 1.720 second 60' time

ALMOST hit 11s....at that instant this became my best race ever for speed and e.t. (my previous best e.t. was Jan. 13, 07 with a 12.199 and my previous best speed was 111.08mph set on June 30, 07)

it was about 80 degrees F and there was very little wind

I got my next race at 10:28am, it heated up to approx 90 degrees F by then and there was very little wind still...

i ran 12.091 at 110.60mph with a 60' of 1.705

VERY Close again...

i knew that if i was going to run 11s...i really needed to come off the line hard

For my last race, i removed the backseat of the car and took the tire pressure down to 11.0psi in the slicks and had 58psi in the skinnys...

I got one more race in...before i left.....100 degrees F outside, sunny no clouds, little wind...

On August 11th at 11:32am with 11psi in the slicks and 4.11 gears i ran...

11.989 at 111.79mph!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

first time ever breaking out of the 12s (notice all the 11s, Aug 11, 11am, 4.11 gears, 11psi slicks, 111mph, 11 seconds)

I did it!!!

i pulled a 1.687 60' time to set my record (my previous best 60' time ever was a 1.694 on Jan 13, 2007 on a 12.226 @ 108.64 race)

What did i do differently to knock off 2 tenths of a second off my previous best e.t.???

well i changed my Autogage tachometer to an AutoMETER Cobalt series 3 3/4" mini monster with shift light

i had skinnys on the front of the car, instead of the heavy 17" chrome cobra wheels

i had a K&N top plate air filter installed instead of just the chrome top plate

and the Big Change!!!......

i got a last minute racing tip from Eric Sunness to remove the endlinks on my sway bar!!

Removing the endlinks on the sway bar...greatly increased the suspension travel for a better hull shot!

Here are some pictures of the timeslips to prove that i really ran 11s!!

My Aunt came out to the track with me to videotape the races...we didnt get the first race on tape, but did get the next two...

This videocamera records to a tape, not digital....but it is a really good camera that can zoom in really close while recording...

so i dont have a digital video right now to post on my myspace page...but i will soon enough...there is a guy who has the equipment to transfer the video from tape to digital...when i get it done...i will let everyone know so they can see the race...

however...the camera has a built in feature that takes digital snapshots off the tape and saves them to a memory card...so what i have are sequential pictures of the burnouts and races....

check out these pictures....look at the lift im gettin!

more sequential pictures

As they say fantastic. what a ride...

Congratulations, David!!! I knew you could do it.

Congratulations. I've been following your progress. Well done!

Way to go, David!

Thanks Doug, Joe, vman, and officer Tucker :)

Here are some pictures of the old tach setup and now the new tachometer setup!

I really recommend this new Tachometer which is the 3 3/4" AutoMeter Mini Monster Cobalt Series with Shift Light 229.99 from Summit Racing. It is mounted on the A-Pillar now, instead of the dash pad...the new mount is much more secure and the location is not so much in the way

Right Oooonnnnn David!!! :-))

Congrats

tell us more about the sway bar Mod - front or rear ? how did you remove the ends
any pics?
great job
shaun

Way to go, David!!! Now that's what I'm talkin' about ... like the Ford commercial says:"More Fun Per Gallon" ...

That is way cool David!!! You da man!!!

Paul

11's !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why do I think 10's are in the future. Love the shot with the tires in the back seat!!! You are hard core!!

And in that heat. Wonder what you would do on a cooler day?? Ever notice any difference before? Do you do any cool down stuff between runs?

Congrats!!! You are the fastest guy on this site!!! And 11's with your setup is awesome!!! Keep having fun!

Rob

Congrats

tell us more about the sway bar Mod - front or rear ? how did you remove the ends
any pics?
great job
shaun

Thanks Tim, shaun, Mustanger, Paul, and Rob

shaun, i never have had a rear sway bar....here is a picture of the "endlinks" for the front sway bar that i removed...i may not be using the correct word for these bushing, but they are really easy to take off and you just leave the sway bar in place without them...and i can drive around on the street fine without them...with them off, the suspension gets really happy haha

i also included a picture of the tach glowing blue with the shift light, it is slightly out of focus

Rob, i wouldnt say im the fastest on this site...i'd be curious to know what this guy LouieG runs...i've heard he can pull his wheels off the ground and his car looks like it could be really fast....

and i do know that Brad Henry, calstang68@aol.com (on page 12 of the old gallery on this website) had a 383 stroker in his CS with nitrous it ran 9.7 @138.5mph and ran 10.9@123.5mph without...one time he sent me the video of his car running the quartermile and it is RACECAR Fast

what i like about my car is that it is streetable fast...i actually drive it to the track and race it...as opposed to a pure race car that is trailored to the track

11's !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why do I think 10's are in the future. Love the shot with the tires in the back seat!!! You are hard core!!

And in that heat. Wonder what you would do on a cooler day?? Ever notice any difference before? Do you do any cool down stuff between runs?

Congrats!!! You are the fastest guy on this site!!! And 11's with your setup is awesome!!! Keep having fun!

Rob

I'm planning to race again, maybe Dec. 1st, hopefully it will be a cooler day and i'll get to run 11s again, its not easy...i got lucky i did it on my 3rd race...

as far as "cool down stuff between runs"...i usually let the car sit with the hood up for at least half an hour...on the 11th it was more like an hour in between races...my water temp gauge was about 130 degrees F before i did my burnout and after making the race it was just below 150 degrees F....i usually push the car into the pit lanes to keep the engine from idling too long to keep the engine temp low

as far as noticing the difference between a hot day and a cold day...

Jan 13 it was 38 degrees F with a head wind and it was freezing cold...the car ran 12.199 @ 108.56mph with a 60' of 1.716 and i backed that up with a 12.226 @108.64mph with a 60' of 1.694

then i raced it june 30th...it was as hot as it was on the 11th of August...about 100 degrees at its hottest...but for the first race when it was about 80 degrees....it ran 12.274 @109.77mph with a 60' of 1.765..then the next race was a 12.303 @ 111.08mph it was about 90 degrees F by then, then a 12.354 @111.03mph then a 12.392 @ 110.74mph....for the last two races it was about 100 degrees F...but there was a little tail wind on June 30th as opposed to the head wind on Jan 13th...

so the difference i noticed...could be close to a tenth of a second...but the wind is a big factor and i think the colder temp...hurts the top end speed because there is more air resistance but it could have just been the direction of the wind...but that is getting pretty technical...but maybe if Dec 1 is pretty cold with a good tail wind...the CS might have a 11.90 in it...if i can come off the line harder...

Whoa David!!! I sure wish I had gone over to the track. I didn't get out of Corona until 9:30, knew I was too late for the first heat, and then I headed to San Berdoo, had some bizniz there...
I should have gotten your cell number!! Damn it was HOT too! I was driving the CS and with vinyl seats and no A/C......

Wow you did a great job dude!!!

~~~~Donna

haha thanks DD it would have been cool to meet you

Hmmmmm. gonna start calling David's CS the California Streaker!

I have the 11 second video on my web page now...check it out

www.myspace.com/gtcs347

I have the 11 second video on my web page now...check it out

www.myspace.com/gtcs347

Wow David! You flat BOOKED!!
Congratulations!!!

YOWZAAA!!

<~~~~~~~Zero to 60 in fifteen minutes. :sad:

Holy Crap! You were fast off the line - amazing. What the heck was that little car next to you? You made that thing look like it was standing still! Congrats!

I want to have my 289 rebuilt this winter and add some power (we do winter projects here in the cold north). Looks like I need some tips from you.

Casey

Holy Crap! You were fast off the line - amazing. What the heck was that little car next to you? You made that thing look like it was standing still! Congrats!

I want to have my 289 rebuilt this winter and add some power (we do winter projects here in the cold north). Looks like I need some tips from you.

Casey

...I went back & read most of David's posts re; what it took to accomplish that.
Incredible example of planning, expense, trial & conquest and steadfast determination!

Congratulations again David!!

So, are you the quickest (street legal) '68 GT/CS in history?

...I went back & read most of David's posts re; what it took to accomplish that.
Incredible example of planning, expense, trial & conquest and steadfast determination!

Congratulations again David!!

So, are you the quickest (street legal) '68 GT/CS in history?

Cool picture Tim!

ya Casey...the process of building this small block ford up to approx 500hp helped me learn from my mistakes for the first 347 motor we had built, when we were running 14 seconds and making 250RWHP...

biggest tip i can give you...Air Flow Research Heads with upgraded spring package, titanium retainers...had the heads milled .012 to drop the combustion chamber volume from 58cc to 56cc for a little more compression (however having such a small combustion chamber on a 289 will give you really high compression...you should really calculate your compression ratio yourself by taking into account the deck height clearance, compressed head gasket thickness, valve relief in the piston, and of course the cc's of the combustion chamber and the displacement volume (borexstroke)...

another good tip is to not be afraid to put in a pretty big cam...the first cam we put in our first 347 was just not big enough and it contributed to the detonation...also go with hydraulic roller...instead of hydraulic flat tappet...

more good advice is to go with forged pistons (spend the extra money)..do not go with hypereutectic pistons!

there is a LOT a LOT a LOT of info about my car...in the old gallery on page 5...

anytime feel free to ask...i will give an honest answer based on my experience and i wont bullshit when i dont know

AS far as fastest street legal CS mustang....like i said...i heard LouieG is fast...but i dont know how fast...i would definitely like to know first hand in a drag race :)

im glad that everyone liked the video! the little car next to me was an import of some type that ran in the 17s

Just in case you guys are wondering how fast an 11.989 second car is...

im an engineering major at Cal State Northridge and i took a class called Numerical Analysis and im pretty good with microsoft excel, my calculator, and Calculus...here is a picture of my calculation of my 0 to 60mph time

i hit 60mph (88ft/s) in 3.486 seconds....it took me about 190.5 ft to hit 60mph

I use microsoft excel to generate a model of the drag race, using the 6 data points that the race track gives me
Time-----Distance
0--------0
1.687-----60'
4.907----330'
7.612----660' (1/8mile)
9.976----1000'
11.989---1320'(1/4mile)

excel allows you to pick a 5th degree polynomial to fit the curves with a smooth line...and it generates the function on the graph...the function it gives you is your position in the race at any time (remember its not perfect, its a model)
here is where the calculus comes in...

you take the derivative of your position with respect to time and that will give you a 4th degree polynomial that is a function representing your velocity (speed) at any time of the race (in feet/second)....then, to find out how fast you did 0 to 60mph..you set the equation equal to 88ft/s (60mph) and solve for the roots of the equation....there will be 4 roots, but 3 of them are imaginary and there is only one real root that makes sense and fits the data..that root...for this race was 3.486 or 0 to 60mph in 3.486 seconds...then you plug that time into your position equation to find out how far down the track you were when you hit 60mph...which it gives as 190.4737ft

David--

We owe you a HUGE thanks for representing our marque out there on the track!

There is no doubt, that your stock rear spoiler is working! Anything over 90mph will pull major air pressure off the rear deck!

Very, very cool accomplishments!
Congratulations!

Paul N.

Cool picture Tim!

ya Casey...the process of building this small block ford up to approx 500hp helped me learn from my mistakes for the first 347 motor we had built, when we were running 14 seconds and making 250RWHP...

biggest tip i can give you...Air Flow Research Heads with upgraded spring package, titanium retainers...had the heads milled .012 to drop the combustion chamber volume from 58cc to 56cc for a little more compression (however having such a small combustion chamber on a 289 will give you really high compression...you should really calculate your compression ratio yourself by taking into account the deck height clearance, compressed head gasket thickness, valve relief in the piston, and of course the cc's of the combustion chamber and the displacement volume (borexstroke)...

another good tip is to not be afraid to put in a pretty big cam...the first cam we put in our first 347 was just not big enough and it contributed to the detonation...also go with hydraulic roller...instead of hydraulic flat tappet...

more good advice is to go with forged pistons (spend the extra money)..do not go with hypereutectic pistons!

there is a LOT a LOT a LOT of info about my car...in the old gallery on page 5...

anytime feel free to ask...i will give an honest answer based on my experience and i wont bullshit when i dont know

AS far as fastest street legal CS mustang....like i said...i heard LouieG is fast...but i dont know how fast...i would definitely like to know first hand in a drag race :)

im glad that everyone liked the video! the little car next to me was an import of some type that ran in the 17s

Just in case you guys are wondering how fast an 11.989 second car is...

im an engineering major at Cal State Northridge and i took a class called Numerical Analysis and im pretty good with microsoft excel, my calculator, and Calculus...here is a picture of my calculation of my 0 to 60mph time

i hit 60mph (88ft/s) in 3.486 seconds....it took me about 190.5 ft to hit 60mph

I use microsoft excel to generate a model of the drag race, using the 6 data points that the race track gives me
Time-----Distance
0--------0
1.687-----60'
4.907----330'
7.612----660' (1/8mile)
9.976----1000'
11.989---1320'(1/4mile)

excel allows you to pick a 5th degree polynomial to fit the curves with a smooth line...and it generates the function on the graph...the function it gives you is your position in the race at any time (remember its not perfect, its a model)
here is where the calculus comes in...

you take the derivative of your position with respect to time and that will give you a 4th degree polynomial that is a function representing your velocity (speed) at any time of the race (in feet/second)....then, to find out how fast you did 0 to 60mph..you set the equation equal to 88ft/s (60mph) and solve for the roots of the equation....there will be 4 roots, but 3 of them are imaginary and there is only one real root that makes sense and fits the data..that root...for this race was 3.486 or 0 to 60mph in 3.486 seconds...then you plug that time into your position equation to find out how far down the track you were when you hit 60mph...which it gives as 190.4737ft

David,

That's some cool stuff you're posting ... just for grins, maybe you should go one step further and take the derivative of the velocity to give you an equation for acceleration (a = dv/dt), and just plug in a few values for "t" and see what it gives you ... yes, I'm an engineer also ...

i've done that before...it basically tells you that your maximum acceleration is the instant you slam the gas pedal..and it falls off from there...but what the hell...here are the calculations:

So i plugged in some numbers....

in 1 thousandth of a second my acceleration is 28.4031ft/s^2 which converts to 8.6573m/s^2 which (based on 9.8m/s^2=1g force) is 0.8834g's

mustanger...please check my math haha

i've done that before...it basically tells you that your maximum acceleration is the instant you slam the gas pedal..and it falls off from there...but what the hell...here are the calculations:

So i plugged in some numbers....

in 1 thousandth of a second my acceleration is 28.4031ft/s^2 which converts to 8.6573m/s^2 which (based on 9.8m/s^2=1g force) is 0.8834g's

mustanger...please check my math haha

I did the math on my own earlier:

v = dx/dt = -0.0025t^4 + 0.1216t^3 - 2.4345t^2 + 28.408t + 13.772 ft/s

a = dv/dt = -0.01t^3 + 0.3648t^2 – 4.869t + 28.408 ft/s^2

... and it matches what you have :-)

Later, I plugged in the first value for "t" that you selected and essentially got the same results ... at first I used g = 9.81m/s^2, and I also carried a few more digits in my calculations, but when I rounded off some the answers and used 9.8, then I got exactly the same answers ...

... you're right about max acceleration ... if you let "t" go to "0", then that's when you achieve max a(t) ...

i've done that before...it basically tells you that your maximum acceleration is the instant you slam the gas pedal..and it falls off from there...but what the hell...here are the calculations:

So i plugged in some numbers....

in 1 thousandth of a second my acceleration is 28.4031ft/s^2 which converts to 8.6573m/s^2 which (based on 9.8m/s^2=1g force) is 0.8834g's

mustanger...please check my math haha

...Seems that no matter how well you prepare or how fast you go...
Someone somewhere somehow will be quicker......
;-))

...Seems that no matter how well you prepare or how fast you go...
Someone somewhere somehow will be quicker......
;-))

very true...

why is that car taking a plunge off an aircraft carrier? haha

very true...

why is that car taking a plunge off an aircraft carrier? haha

Yes, I believe it's a '64 Falcon temporarily powered by high-pressure steam!
That's a form of water-injection that doesn't cause detonation (except on impact) and won't blow out your spark plugs. I was wondering if Joe could use something like that?... ;-)

Yes, I believe it's a '64 Falcon temporarily powered by high-pressure steam!
That's a form of water-injection that doesn't cause detonation (except on impact) and won't blow out your spark plugs. I was wondering if Joe could use something like that?... ;-)

I think I figured out my water/methanol injection problem today. It'll take a few days to get what I need to fix it, but then I have to find someone to tune it.

I think I figured out my water/methanol injection problem today. It'll take a few days to get what I need to fix it, but then I have to find someone to tune it.

Joe,

If you're still looking for a good and reputable speed shop, and don't mind driving to San Dimas, then I highly recommend Performance Associates ... these guys are "top notch" and can really make you "hook up" ... let me know if you're interested, I'll let 'em know you're coming ...

Joe,

If you're still looking for a good and reputable speed shop, and don't mind driving to San Dimas, then I highly recommend Performance Associates ... these guys are "top notch" and can really make you "hook up" ... let me know if you're interested, I'll let 'em know you're coming ...

Do they have a chassis dyno? Do they have experience with water/methanol injection?

Do they have a chassis dyno? Do they have experience with water/methanol injection?

They have a dyno, and I don't know about the water/methanol injection experience ... I do know that they have experience with blowers ... they not only do custom cars, but also some race cars ...

... Joe, I just called them up and the answer is,"YES" they do work on water/methanol injection.

If you're interested, I can put you in touch with them if you would like ...

Joe,
I work "right next door" to San Dimas.....can help you out if you need to drop the car off and need a ride back home.

Thanks Ruben!! I'd really like the contact info so I can set something up. I wouldn't be dropping it off, Donna. I'll be there every step of the way.

Thanks Ruben!! I'd really like the contact info so I can set something up. I wouldn't be dropping it off, Donna. I'll be there every step of the way.

I spoke to their Service Manager about your situation and she said that Randy (the owner, son of Les Ritchey, famous AFX drag racer) has worked on these kind of setups before ... give them a call and tell them I sent you:

909-592-4441

They're just off the 57 fwy and Arrow Hwy exit ... ( http://23432523.usdirectory.com/default.htm?wr=1&afid=1517&tbid=1&gclid=CJT-iIO9h44CFSZhIgoddRVVPw )

Good Luck!!! ...

I spoke to their Service Manager about your situation and she said that Randy (the owner, son of Les Ritchey, famous AFX drag racer) has worked on these kind of setups before ... give them a call and tell them I sent you:

909-592-4441

They're just off the 57 fwy and Arrow Hwy exit ... ( http://23432523.usdirectory.com/default.htm?wr=1&afid=1517&tbid=1&gclid=CJT-iIO9h44CFSZhIgoddRVVPw )

Good Luck!!! ...


Thanks Ruben. I'll give them a call today.