1/2 mile thread!

[PTM5.0]

For the Texas Mile we have to use tires with load, heat, and speed ratings greater than OEM requirements. So that rules out MT and all bias ply tires :(

Hoosier A7/R7 are allowed though so I plan on getting some 315/40/18 R7s to slap on the rear. Toyo R888s were another consideration if I can find the right size.

That's my dilemma right now on whether to get R888R's due to Texas Mile rules or drag radials because I do more half mile events.

I'm pretty sure I'll be there - look out for the bright yellow '15!

170 is hard. I was only able to get 172 last year at Ocala - traction just wouldn't let me get momentum for the first 1/8 mile of the track and I couldn't get to redline (and peak boost) until 3rd. Generally I recommend staying out of the rubber at the line and try to find some bare runway. The street tire rubber people leave at the line is very slick - feels like the parking lot of a car wash even just walking on it.

172 was good enough for 2nd place in the manual class on Saturday and I think 3rd or 4th on Sunday. I think I was under 2mph away from 1st on Saturday. Just to give you guys some idea as to the competition and traction issues everyone had. Humidity can be an issue in the mornings there - your car and the ground will be covered with dew. The track dries out quickly but keep that in mind for your first run.

Skinnies are fine up to a certain speed...hard to tell exactly what that will be until you need a chute as it depends on the car. I plan on 180 but I also have 275s up front and Baer brakes since I don't use a chute. Ocala has a good 2500ft of brake zone - Dallas was similar - so there's space. But you also want to give your car a chance if the back end sticks out at speed that you have enough grip up front to get it back in line.

For my manual trans brothers out there - stay out of 6th gear. Most people have the gearing in 5th but I used to have 3.73s which limited me to 171. I switched to 3.31 when I did my max effort build and ran 176 in Dallas.

I have something like 200 half mile passes at 7 events. Happy to give advice and help where I can. And finally I wanna plug safety. I watched a guy lose his life in New Orleans going over 200mph- if you've got a fast car, have fast-car safety on board!

I think i saw ya last spring in Dallas when i raced my Mustang and i think I talked to ya at Heaven's Landing the fall before that when I raced my built '16 SHO.
What kind of tires are you on? Dallas hooked decent but I'm worried about the pea gravel surface at Ocala.

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[baevid]

That's my dilemma right now on whether to get R888R's due to Texas Mile rules or drag radials because I do more half mile events

Yeah not going to lie, I'm pretty intimidated by it all since it'll be my first time. It's nice peeking into this thread to see what you guys are up to in prepping.

 

[Torinate]

I agree. Intimidating!

Any issues with heat building up in th blower cars and popping a motor? I’ve read long pulls aren’t nice to the motor...

 

[Boduke0220]

I agree. Intimidating!

Any issues with heat building up in th blower cars and popping a motor? I’ve read long pulls aren’t nice to the motor...

E85 and an ice tank in the trunk for us PD blwoer guys helps out a ton. Several Stock motor guys running 200 in the mile so 1/2 isn't quite as stressful as that.

 

[Barrel]

That's my dilemma right now on whether to get R888R's due to Texas Mile rules or drag radials because I do more half mile events.

I think i saw ya last spring in Dallas when i raced my Mustang and i think I talked to ya at Heaven's Landing the fall before that when I raced my built '16 SHO.
What kind of tires are you on? Dallas hooked decent but I'm worried about the pea gravel surface at Ocala.

I run MPSS up front and Nitto NT05R out back. I see a lot of R888Rs and ET Street Rs as well. I run about 38 PSI up front and about 20 PSI in the rear.

Yeah not going to lie, I'm pretty intimidated by it all since it'll be my first time. It's nice peeking into this thread to see what you guys are up to in prepping.

It's a lot to take in. Really you just need to get out there and race. Best thing about half mile events is how chill everyone is and people are really exceedingly friendly. You're going to have the opportunity to run 20 times or more if you want to at a WannaGoFast event. No need to be hasty on your first run, just take it at like 7/10ths to get a feel for the speed and the track and then go out the next run for all out speed. I think most 1/4 miles strips are way more stressful. Go through tech, staging lanes are usually a mess, track staff are usually unfriendly (guess I'm not friends with them?), rules are pretty strict, and after all of that you might only get 2 or 3 runs in. And when each run is only 10 seconds that totally blows lol.

E85 and an ice tank in the trunk for us PD blwoer guys helps out a ton. Several Stock motor guys running 200 in the mile so 1/2 isn't quite as stressful as that.

Another pro-tip for manual guys: keep the car in gear when braking and assuming your tune is setup for fuel shutoff you'll bring down your CHT and coolant temps dramatically by the time you get to the turnoff. I pick up around 40* of coolant temp on a run and can shed most of that by the time I get back to the staging lanes. Mishimoto radiator and lower t-stat helps along with E85.

On stock rotating assembly, the heat can cause the issues with ring gap being too little and you could lose a piston that way.

 

[Torinate]

I run MPSS up front and Nitto NT05R out back. I see a lot of R888Rs and ET Street Rs as well. I run about 38 PSI up front and about 20 PSI in the rear.



It's a lot to take in. Really you just need to get out there and race. Best thing about half mile events is how chill everyone is and people are really exceedingly friendly. You're going to have the opportunity to run 20 times or more if you want to at a WannaGoFast event. No need to be hasty on your first run, just take it at like 7/10ths to get a feel for the speed and the track and then go out the next run for all out speed. I think most 1/4 miles strips are way more stressful. Go through tech, staging lanes are usually a mess, track staff are usually unfriendly (guess I'm not friends with them?), rules are pretty strict, and after all of that you might only get 2 or 3 runs in. And when each run is only 10 seconds that totally blows lol.



Another pro-tip for manual guys: keep the car in gear when braking and assuming your tune is setup for fuel shutoff you'll bring down your CHT and coolant temps dramatically by the time you get to the turnoff. I pick up around 40* of coolant temp on a run and can shed most of that by the time I get back to the staging lanes. Mishimoto radiator and lower t-stat helps along with E85.

On stock rotating assembly, the heat can cause the issues with ring gap being too little and you could lose a piston that way.

Good tips!

200 MPH is crazy!

Where’s the closest 1/2 mile or 1 mile event closest to Ontario? I’d love to watch!!

 

[PTM5.0]

Good tips!

200 MPH is crazy!

Where’s the closest 1/2 mile or 1 mile event closest to Ontario? I’d love to watch!!

Probably NoFlyZone Midwest or Shift Sector Indy Airstrip Attack. Both are 1/2 mile races.

 

[Torinate]

Probably NoFlyZone Midwest or Shift Sector Indy Airstrip Attack. Both are 1/2 mile races.

Thanks!

I’ll look them up!

 

[PTM5.0]

Registration opened for the Ocala race this morning and I got a weekend pass. My engineer co-worker at Ford and I got our vacation days approved, truck/trailer reserved, and house rented. Just have to drop the car off for a few things and we'll be ready. Who else is going?

 

[Barrel]

I'm in. A couple of buddies of mine and their cars are also in for the weekend. Both of their cars are >900rwhp too so this should be a great weekend of racing.

 

[Boduke0220]

My car wont be ready, may ride down and watch/ help you guys out if ya need it

 

[Barrel]

Only a few spots left for Saturday if people are waiting to jump in at the Ocala race. Always good to see Mustangs out there.

 

[PTM5.0]

Ended up ordering 305/35R20 R888R's which are 28.4" tall. Should help out on the top end and help kill some power down low. Car is headed back to HPJ Performance to get prepped next week.

 

[baevid]

So just got back from Texas Mile over the weekend.. very cool event. I was able to hit 137mph in the 1/4 and 174mph in the 1/2mi... but I let off to meet the under 165mph speed bracket to get the next license. Definitely going back to shoot for 200mph+ but I need to get a 4-point roll bar and fire extinguisher in before I'm qualified.

I know some of you guys are pretty quick and are shooting for 200mph 1/2mi. What do you guys do about monitoring actual speed during a run? I feel like you're going in blind since the speedometer maxes at 160mph.

 

[Boduke0220]

So just got back from Texas Mile over the weekend.. very cool event. I was able to hit 137mph in the 1/4 and 174mph in the 1/2mi... but I let off to meet the under 165mph speed bracket to get the next license. Definitely going back to shoot for 200mph+ but I need to get a 4-point roll bar and fire extinguisher in before I'm qualified.

I know some of you guys are pretty quick and are shooting for 200mph 1/2mi. What do you guys do about monitoring actual speed during a run? I feel like you're going in blind since the speedometer maxes at 160mph.

Nice! What are your mods?

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