Well, all, I finally did it. I took the SL 500 to No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, LA for their Test 'n' Tune night yesterday. It was a blast -- even with the baby engine!

The results first:

Now on to the details...

I've never been to the drag races before, so this was quite an experience for me. I was almost completely unprepared! Even down to the dress -- I went straight from work and I was wearing button-down shirt, dress pants & loafers. The Tech guy said I looked like I went with the car... The women all wanted a look inside. Had I given them a look at the BabySmart seat in the trunk, I probably could have closed the deal. This here guy is marrying material

In fact, there were all kinds of cars. Everything from a Geo Metro to lots of Hondas to pickup trucks and SUVs to ATVs & motorcycles to Corvettes and Mustangs to highly modified Camaros and Firebirds to real dragsters. I had brought the only German car.

Anyway, everyone was very friendly and helped me get through all of the procedures without a problem. The Tech inspection was a complete non-event -- the guy didn't even look at the car. He just made sure I signed the waiver and he painted a number on the left rear window.

I got into the lane with the other street cars and waited only a few minutes before I got my chance. The marshall and I spoke for awhile while I was waiting and he said there were usually a few BMWs and Porsches, but since this was the first night of the season, it was mostly locals.

He paired me up with a Camaro of some sort. All I know is that is was blue and purple, had no muffler and had a huge air intake in the hood. I rolled up my windows to muffle the sound.

As for the race, I had a slow start while he shot ahead of me. Despite the fact that I was going at a good clip and doing 95mph at the 1/4 mile, he made me look like I was driving through molasses. He crossed the line almost 5 seconds ahead of me doing 121mph!

I got my results and the bad news: I was going so fast I needed a helmet to drive again.... Instead of a requiring a helmet at 14 seconds like I expected, they require it at 15 for Test n Tune.

Oh well, I'll pick up a helmet and try again later in the month.

The one question I have, though, is how to get off the line the fastest. I assume you want to load up the torque converter while holding a foot on the brake. Anyone tried this? And advice for best RPMs?

 

Ah, no worries about that Camaro, you still got the Benz! But what where your times, I can't see them.

 

The 1/4 mile was 15.009 seconds & the MPH was 95.23, which I think is a little slower than the published spec.

 

I rolled up my windows to muffle the sound.


Bollar- I can't stop laughing, thinking of you in the Cole-Haans, "rolling" up that SL window!

 

Bollar,

Can you rent out a helmet?

 

No, they didn't offer that. I think most of the guys are regulars -- not too many tourists like me. :p

 

I hope I can convince the executive console of the local MBCA club next week to rent out the track one weekend. If not I will be drag racing at StarFest 2006.

 

Yeah, I think next time I'll dress down a little. Perhaps I'll ask PR_Chris for some advice. I'm sure he'll know exactly what to wear to such a soiree!

If I do invest in a helmet, I'm looking forward to making a few runs with & with out ESP as well as with the top down to get a good baseline. I was thinking about getting an ECU upgrade and want to make sure I can measure the improvement!

 

As a novice to these kind of things (and from a different country), I can't make out your 60mph time from the sheet. I'm sure it's not the 2.340

Is it given there?

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons, AMG facelift to 2002 style.
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver/black leather, CD, immaculate

 

No, all of the measurements are either seconds to cross a specific distance (60 feet, 330 ft., 1/8 mile, 1000 ft., and 1/4 mile) or MPH at a specific distance. I don't think they have a way to know how long it takes the car to get to a specific speed.

 

To get a good launch with an Automatic, rev your engine to around 2500 RPM with your RT foot and hold the brake with the LT foot.
When the light turns green, release the brake and hit the gas with a steady but strong foot (not too strong, otherwise you will be spinning your tires!).

Try this when you are at stoplights on an everyday basis and you will get the hang of it.