Drag vs. handling

[hobbstc]

Trying to decide what direction to take the Cobra. I've always wanted to do open track and auto-x, but it seems that I never get the chance. Drag racing seems to be much more accessible for me, but I'm jst not sure what direction to go. It seems that DR suspension parts are much cheaper than RR parts. The RR LCAs I'm looking at are about $300. I can get a whole rear drag package from X2C for $350 including LCA, Rear drag shocks, and a coil-over kit. What direction did ya'll decide to go and why?

[Greg Kulbick]

You can only go around a turn as fast as the car in front of you. What good is being able to go around a turn real fast if a worse handling car can get there first?

[pendrgn]

You can only go around a turn as fast as the car in front of you. What good is being able to go around a turn real fast if a worse handling car can get there first?
handling... with alot of power... and the ability to control that power in any situation...

I want my car to have alot of go, I would like 12.5s inthe 1/4... that is all... but I want a complete handling package for the street... I mean, you have all seen me drive, I want to be able to corner and do stupid stuff now and then...

imo

[hobbstc]

You need retractable landing gear and a tail-hook

[T]

IMO dont bother with open tracking right now. Its too expensive. (I am assuming you are in school) AutoX is a cheaper alternative, maybe you should go try it. That way you can compare AutoX to drag racing. Just like in a any type of racing, driver ability has more to do with you performing well, not just the parts on your car.
www.dixiescca.com

[93zm6tally]

You can only go around a turn as fast as the car in front of you. What good is being able to go around a turn real fast if a worse handling car can get there first?
handling... with alot of power... and the ability to control that power in any situation...

I want my car to have alot of go, I would like 12.5s inthe 1/4... that is all... but I want a complete handling package for the street... I mean, you have all seen me drive, I want to be able to corner and do stupid stuff now and then...

imo

My car isn't set up for the drags as much as it for handling. I've got a 35mm front sway bar and all poly bushings. Springs are stock take offs and I've got Koni SA's up front and Bilsteins in the rear. I also have welded SFC's and replaced the front upper and lower ball joints. You know what my car does at the strip. Never really road raced but it handles very tight. Removing the sway bar or even just unbolting it from the front tie rods would probably add maybe a tenth or two at the strip, but I haven't tried that yet. Anyways IMHO I think you can reach a pretty decent happy medium without spending too much.

[T]

"You can always take a car setup for turns drag racing, but taking a drag car to a road course sucks" from our very own 97MattGT

[Slow ET]

speaking of... Matt got a # last night

[Greg Kulbick]

Was it a real one?

[JD]

Mustangs are better suited to drag racing than handling because of their high weight and poor suspension geometry. It is, after all, a 1979 Ford Fairmont chassis with nice bodywork (a point which will undoubtedly draw rebuttal as soon as I click "Submit" for this post :roll: ). It is the embodiment of the phrase "putting lipstick on a pig".

That said, the Fairmont four-link is a good starting point for a fast-as-hell drag car, but SN95's like ours are heavy and you can only remove so much weight.

My suggestion would be to do a couple of mods to the Cobra that you like, then get yourself a beater to do with what you will. Fox parts are cheaper than SN95 (especially 4V) parts, thus allowing you to try either one and change to the other if you decide to do so with a minimum cash outlay, and still not beat up the Cobra.

[hobbstc]

JD, I agree 100% about the crappy Fairmont chassis. Hopefully this new gen Stang will actually be a decent handling car. Matt's saying is definately true, adn so I think that's the route I'm going to go. If we had a track in town, I might go all out drag, but since we don't I'm leaning towards handling.

[Greg Kulbick]

I might go all out drag, but since we don't I'm leaning towards handling.

...because we have a road course at the corner of Monroe and Tennessee.

[hobbstc]

Haha, true. Of course i was hitting close to 80 on Lakeshore last night.

[Greg Kulbick]

Watch out for deer. Just ask Jeffro.

[97MattGT]

Was it a real one?


yep. :3finger:

[Bryan02TA]

I'm going drag. I've had mustangs for years and never had a chance to go around any "twisties", but been to a track quite a few times.

[toofast]

i would have to say i love road racing i plan on doing some events with the mach at road america but if you think drag racing is hard on a car road racing is 10 times worse i would build your suspension with just after market upgrades like steeda they will give you the best bang for the buck for over all traction and stability.

[T]

Realistically unless you have a good amount of funding open tracking is not going to be possible. They dont just let you out there with a bunch of other cars. Schooling gets expensive real quick. Also the amount of tires and brakes you will go through will up the cost even more. If you are serious about getting into road racing be prepared to spend some money. AI and AIX is where I want to be in the next 5-8 years. AI is 10% power to weight ratio with suspension and brakes being unlimited I believe.

AutoX is a cheaper alternative. You arent out competing with cars at the same time either. The courses are shorter and are outlayed by cones. You should take your car to one of these events while its close to stock. Get a feel for it. Then get into a class that you might be competitive in and they will only certain mods. IMO small cars are what dominate this racing, not mustangs still fun though. www.dixiescca.com There are a couple local mustang guys that go to this, though they dont post on here nor have I seen them at any of our meets.

As far modding your car. Its not as easy as just throwing some lowering springs on and getting some struts and shocks. Most of the aftermarket is filled with crap that will end up hurting performance. The 4-link can be made to work ok, but if you ever plan to get serious in to open tracking its gonna take alot more work. Most parts to upgrade the 4-link are just a bandaid hiding the main problems. Frankly Im tired of hearing people claim their car is setup for the "twisties", and all they have are some generic lowering springs and struts/shocks. In all honesty their car would have handled better stock. The majority of serious racers use a 3-link, and now a few have started using the 5-link that steeda sells (no they didnt design, those bastards) with success.

As for the new chassis............ In so many words it should be the shit! We will see though. The chassis is actually designed around an IRS instead of some crappy bolt-in afterthought. Though they might still graft the stick axle into the GTs and V6s. We will have to wait and see.

[97MattGT]

T pretty much hit the nail on the head.....it's all about MONEY.


Attending a single open track event in Florida is gonna cost you at least $250 bucks. (check www.chinmotorsports.com) You go through a set of brake pads every day. You eat up roughly 75% or more of your tires. In all reality, you could easily spend a grand PER EVENT.

plus the cost to set up a mustang for the corners....pretty expensive. You can do it stock, but for that kind of money you'll have no fun watching every car pass you.

Open Tracking is also extremely rough on your car. With drag racing, once you upgrade to a TKO and a spool, you're pretty much set for a long time (depedning on your ET range). With OT'ing, you're much more abusive, and you'll go through parts much quickly.

[93zm6tally]

I'm going drag.

You know I would have thought that you learned your lesson after the "put my pussy ass rear end up against yours" post. :P

[JD]

I'm going drag.

You know I would have thought that you learned your lesson after the "put my pussy ass rear end up against yours" post. :P

:funny: :funny: :funny: :funny: :funny:

[slmdLS1]

I'm going drag.


im with mark on this one...you should know better. does jess know about this? :fluffy:

[hobbstc]

So does this mean that YOU are wearing the wedding dress?

[Signal 12]

once you drag with slicks turns are worthless imo. +, if you want a turn car get AWD.

Mike