Gentlemen,

I finally got my beast to the drag strip to get some solid base line #s before I embark on the modification journey.

I visited Byron Dragway in Byron, IL - about 15 miles west of Rockford, 60 miles west of Chicago. It's NHRA certified and overall an INCREDIBLE track - it really is. A lot of cars were running very fast times out there and when I head out there it's almost a given you are going to get the most out of your car. Any of you guys in the general area who are looking for a good place to drag your car but who aren't going to boot you out for ridiculous NHRA rules, Byron is the place.

The trackside temp was high 60s/low 70s. Crystal clear skies with no humidity and a slight breeze.

Car is an '03 E55, 20k miles, with around 3-4 gallons of 93 octane in the tank.

Pass # 1 - 12:34pm
This pass was a total "off the street" pass. Full pressure in the rear tires (38psi), ESP ON, just pull her up and let her rip. I know to turn off ESP for dragging but I just wanted to see what would happen.

60'---------2.263
ET---------12.73
MPH-------113.30

Pass # 2 - 1:47pm
This pass was still at full rear tire pressure (38psi) but with ESP OFF. For launching I held my left foot on the brake, and my right foot on the gas (but did not brake torque at all) - I just kept it that way so I could get on the throttle right after letting go of the brake.

60'---------2.158
ET---------12.69
MPH-------114.72 <-- Highest Trap Speed of The Day

Pass # 3 - 2:27pm
38psi rear tire pressure, ESP OFF. This time I tried using just my right foot and easing into the throttle.

60'---------2.147
ET---------12.64
MPH-------111.97

Pass # 4 - 3:20pm
Lowered rear tire pressure to 28psi, ESP OFF. Two foot swap technique.

60'---------2.145
ET---------12.75
MPH-------112.64

Pass #5 - 4:08pm
Lowered rear tire pressure to 25psi, ESP OFF. I also now was running in the 2nd lane, rather than the first lane as I had been earlier. People were complaining about tracion issues in lane #1 - and they were right, no one was hooking. This time I use the two foot release, but instead of stomping on the throttle I eased into it.

60'---------1.871 <-- Best 60' of The Day
ET---------12.27 <-- Best ET of The Day
MPH-------113.89

Pass #6 - 5:02pm
Lowered rear tire pressure to 23psi, ESP OFF. Same everything as the previous run. The car liked 25psi more.

60'---------1.937
ET---------12.39
MPH-------113.89

Pass #7 - 5:37pm
Same setup/launch: 23psi rear tire pressure, ESP OFF. Once again, I felt the car liked 25psi in the rears more than 23psi.

60'---------1.929
ET---------12.41
MPH-------113.66

This car, bone stock, with me driving and BFG drag radials is a high 11 second car. No question about it. My next steps are going to be 18" BFG Drags, S55/S500 intake tube, K&Ns, some heat wrapping, and running on 100 octane. All perfect warranty friendly mods and I am gunning for 11.70s or better.

-m

 

Nice, very nice. Ran a 12.51 last night which is my best so far. Great runs!

 

good job. I can see with the mods listed a 11.99 in your future.

 

what will you be targeting with the heat wrap marcus?

 

Nice runs, great weather conditions!

FYI, the Weather Channel says the conditions in zip 61010 Byron, IL at 3:54PM yesterday - shortly before your 12.27 run - were fair skies, 56°F, dewpoint 25°F, 30% humidity, barometer 30.28 & falling, winds from WNW @ 15mph. Elevation (according a search on the track msg board) is reportedly 700 feet.

Thanks for posting the actual time of each run - I was interested to see if there was any heat soak effect on performance. Seems you were spacing things about an hour apart. Did you note water temps and were you icing anything down between runs? Also, were you on the oem Conti's?

Depending on where you live, from now to mid-November is a great time to take advantage of the cooler temps and put down some impressive numbers.

 

Nice runs. I am curious how other are launching. Car and Driver got their best times with ESP on but you did better with it off. I think the key is not flooring the gas right away but giving part throttle at first then stomping it.

 

Way to go Marcus!

 

Marcus:
Great times , but to get down to the 11sec I think you might need the ECU and pulley upgrade. With the BF's you will get down to the 12sec flat for sure, just my two cents.

Regards,
Manuel

 

This is true, however trackside temp and ambient temp are two different things. Trackside temps are usually 10+ degrees if not more due to the heat absorption and consequent release from the track itself, amongst other factors.

I didn't space things out, that was just how quickly I could get in runs... the track was pretty packed and they had other events going on. Water temps were all around normal, usually around the 80 mark. No ice was used at all, I just popped my hood between runs until it was time to go again. I had the OEM conti's upfront, but had my '02 E55's Dunlops in the rear.

This is pretty true for almost every car, forced inducted ones especially. I am probably going to take a slightly different route with this car when it comes to modifying in that I'm going to make the car more efficient with what is has first. Details to come...

-m

 

what were your 330' and 1/8th mile mph and et?

 

For my best trap speed run:

330-----5.630
1/8-----8.373
mph----90.19

For my best ET/60' run:

330-----5.193
1/8-----7.923
mph-----90.20

-m

 

Marcus:

You need to take both your vehicles to the track. I'm interested to see how the E55 does against your SupraTT. BTW, I am working on some serious mods for my Infiniti G35 coupe and looking to get it up to about 500hp. Going with a supercharger setup and internal engine mods. Once I am done with the mods on my G35 then it is on to the E55.

 

Very Nice....I just saw the video of you running 12.27. Chris's Lexus running 10.18
Lexus SC

 

post your slips here with the rest:


http://www.dragtimes.com/Mercedes-Be...ag-Racing.html




.