Worlds First 10 Sec Mercedes Run taking place tomorrow
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 303
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From: Ponte Vedra, FL
'10 E63 AMG
Sorry if I sound stupid, but can a "novice" take his car, stock, out on the track for a run without a bunch of mods, and just for fun? Are there great risks to the engine / wheels / tires? I'm in Jacksonville, FL - is Gainesville the closest track or do you know of one closer?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,092
Likes: 13
From: Salt Lake City (but not Morm)
2003 E55 & 2014 GL550
Not stupid at all for asking.
These cars are so heavy, they track real straight on the 1/4 mile. It's just like punching it at a redlight.
The only thing you really have to be aware of is that if some punk in the lane next to you punches his 55 gal drum of Nitrous and goes outta control, he is coming into your lane for a handshake. Hardly ever happens, HOWEVER, a newer ZL1 Vette 2 cars in front of me, hit the juice and went out of control and nailed the wall. He didn't cross over into the other lane, but just saying accidents do happen at the track.
One last thing...my brother in law is "higher up" for Western Division of Progressive and he told me over and over. You wipe it at the track and there is no way in hell an insurance company will cover it. Something about clauses in the contracts concerning racing the vehicle off the street....he used some term for it, but it was a little scary.
Some punk hits a 250 shot and puts it into you at 90mph.....you fix er outta your own pocket.
Oh yeah,
***Make sure you buy a Snell Approved Helmet....can't tell you how many guys they turn away for buying a cheapy at Target and trying to race*** Snell 90 or better will run ya bout 150-200$ minimum. They have cheaper ones, but they look like *****. Gotta be Snell, or they say "go to"...well you know.
These cars are so heavy, they track real straight on the 1/4 mile. It's just like punching it at a redlight.
The only thing you really have to be aware of is that if some punk in the lane next to you punches his 55 gal drum of Nitrous and goes outta control, he is coming into your lane for a handshake. Hardly ever happens, HOWEVER, a newer ZL1 Vette 2 cars in front of me, hit the juice and went out of control and nailed the wall. He didn't cross over into the other lane, but just saying accidents do happen at the track.
One last thing...my brother in law is "higher up" for Western Division of Progressive and he told me over and over. You wipe it at the track and there is no way in hell an insurance company will cover it. Something about clauses in the contracts concerning racing the vehicle off the street....he used some term for it, but it was a little scary.
Some punk hits a 250 shot and puts it into you at 90mph.....you fix er outta your own pocket.
Oh yeah,
***Make sure you buy a Snell Approved Helmet....can't tell you how many guys they turn away for buying a cheapy at Target and trying to race*** Snell 90 or better will run ya bout 150-200$ minimum. They have cheaper ones, but they look like *****. Gotta be Snell, or they say "go to"...well you know.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 334
Likes: 0
From: So. Cal.
2004 E55 Evosport I & II; VRP H/E
DerekFSU:
I just wanted to say how much I enjoy reading about your endeavors. I find myself "cheering you on" in your quest to get into the 10s.
Thanks for keeping us informed, and continued good luck. You'll get there.
Mark.
I just wanted to say how much I enjoy reading about your endeavors. I find myself "cheering you on" in your quest to get into the 10s.
Thanks for keeping us informed, and continued good luck. You'll get there.
Mark.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 582
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forged internals or no, I have heard from owners that have little pieces of their engine block sitting on their desk from over-boosting. If you have been lucky thus far, then that is great, or if you have modified the stock internals that would improve things too. But even the stock forged internals are no match for 19psi. I think you have a bigger chance of blowing your engine than DerekFSU does. That is all I was getting at, but hey, if I had a mustang I would probably try to blow it up too. There just isn't anything more fun than supercharging a car to within an inch of its life and having the car be affordable enough that when there is a chunk of engine sticking through the front quarter panel it can be economically replaced. I call it the knife edge of power, kind of like the knife edge of handling. To clear it up for DerekFSU, I wasn't talking about his engine, the 55 block can handle the stock setup of the charger and is constructed to take quite a bit more. On that engine, the tranny will go before the engine in most cases. At any rate, I was just having fun, I wasn't really trying to insult anyone, just thought that it was kind of point blank to ask someone what was going to happen when their engine blew up. My answer....get another one! Take care everyone.
Last edited by rguy; May 23, 2005 at 03:27 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2004
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Thanks folks, you guys (and gals) are great. I agree with the tire PSI. I've been experimenting and it seems my best PSI thus far has been 17. I gotta call BF some time. I'd love a sponsor who'll pay nothing more than for the things I break. That would let me get even more aggressive- MT street slicks and a 200 shot.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 588
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From: Gwinnett County, GA
2005 E55 AMG
Originally Posted by DerekFSU
Thanks folks, the support is sweet. Bad news and good news. Bad news is NO 10 SECOND RUN. Good news is new best time of 11.25 @ 129.45 mph with a 1.8 60 ft. Folks were tripping out. The car was mobbed after the first run.
I then let it (had to wait) cool down for 3 hours while they ran all the other classes that exist in the world. Did a sweet 10 second burnout to heat up the DR's which I was running at 13 psi cold. Launch was strong as track was hooking well. I usually hit the spray as soon as I hook so I quickly hit it. Nothing. Turns out that the arming switch has a short in it. 30 minutes after the run it started arming again but it was NOT armed for the final run. Ran a disapointing 11.9 with a 1.9 60ft. BUT ran it at 123 mph without spray. That was the fastest non-spray trap I have ever had. NOS has been adding 8-10 mph to my traps. Had it worked, it would have been a sweet run.
I'm now looking for tracks with Monday or Tuesday runs as I make my way south. In DC for the night and heading out tomorrow. Looks like it's time to up the shot from 100 to something more. Thanks for the love.
I then let it (had to wait) cool down for 3 hours while they ran all the other classes that exist in the world. Did a sweet 10 second burnout to heat up the DR's which I was running at 13 psi cold. Launch was strong as track was hooking well. I usually hit the spray as soon as I hook so I quickly hit it. Nothing. Turns out that the arming switch has a short in it. 30 minutes after the run it started arming again but it was NOT armed for the final run. Ran a disapointing 11.9 with a 1.9 60ft. BUT ran it at 123 mph without spray. That was the fastest non-spray trap I have ever had. NOS has been adding 8-10 mph to my traps. Had it worked, it would have been a sweet run.
I'm now looking for tracks with Monday or Tuesday runs as I make my way south. In DC for the night and heading out tomorrow. Looks like it's time to up the shot from 100 to something more. Thanks for the love.
http://www.mbnz.org/forums/forums/th...&posts=1&fid=7
If it were me, I'd head for Houston Raceway Park (http://www.houstonraceway.com/drag_strip.html), where I've seen more quick runs than anywhere else. Track prep + 10 feet above sea level are factors, but current ambient temps are not the best. Check accuweather.com and assault accordingly.
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