[s-cars] Flashlight drag races - results

[Paul Dooley]

S-nuts,

I took my 95 S6 to the local Saturday night flashlight drag races.  This 
was my first drag racing adventure.  They hold it at the local airport 
on the runway.  What fun it is to have the runway to open the S-car up!  
Fun Fun night.

The down side is they are only 1/8 mile races - runway is not long 
enough for 1/4 mile race and safe stopping area.  And since this is an 
airport, not a real drag strip, no christmas tree lights - just a girl 
between the cars with a flashlight.  Light goes on - GO.  And there 
isn't a timer either.  They line you up best they can, the light goes 
on, you race down the runway, and there is an electronic light at the 
end to determine the winner - no times, just winer and loser.  (and to 
make it friendly, each driver received 6 pink slips of paper, if you 
lose, you hand the winner one of your pink slips).

Car is a 95 S6 - stock drive train.  Upgrades include ECS Stage III 
brakes, 2Bennett coilovers all around, 17" wheels, and samco hoses.  
Hope to RS2 the car by this time next year, so this will give me 
something to compare it to.

1st Run - me against a 98 Corvette.  Guess who won.  Not me.  I was 
trying to figure out the launch - didn't want to rev to 4,000 or higher 
and dump the clutch (remember, 95 S6, no wide 1st gear, already have a 
little ticking noise for the past 2 years, don't want to make it worse 
before I can afford a 6-speed replacement).

2nd Run - Acura Integra.  did better off the line, but miss piggy just 
took too long to get moving - still need to do better.  But the 
officials started using a radar gun at the finish line to tell you your 
speed - I was at 75.8mph at the 1/8 mark.  Had no idea going into the 
night what I would actually do speed wise, but I had hoped to get into 
the 70s and have my time below 10 seconds.

3rd run - another Integra.  This time, I spanked him.  Had RPMs at about 
2,500.  Didn't dump the clutch, but let it up evenly as the gas went 
down.  I beat him off the line (I think he was spinning the front wheels 
a little).  He was getting close until 3rd gear, then it was over - 79.3 
on the gun.

4th run - 78 Malibu.  Pretty funny in the burn-out pit.  I just stroll 
through it, he lights them up to the point of him disappearing in the 
smoke.  Not your normal Malibu - 396ci with blower and slicks.  He beat 
me by a car length, but I increased my speed to 79.9.

5th run - 2005 GTO.  Lost this one by a fender.  I could hear him 
chirping every shift next to me, but I couldn't catch him.  My speed on 
the gun was 80.2.

6th run - Mustang SVT.  Can't remember his ci, but I know it was 
supercharged.  This was my last race of the night, and the guys at the 
start line were telling me I had better win since it was a female 
driver.  I had a good start, was close to even.  Started to fall behind 
in 2nd gear, then in 3rd I pulled ahead and won by about a car length.  
Speed was 81.4.

Temperature was 67F with a 10MPH breeze out of the north (head wind 
according to the wind sock).    I would do 2 runs, then wait 30 minutes 
for cool down.  No mechanical problems at all.  The only other Audi 
there was a TT.  Didn't get to talk to him so I don't know how he did.  
Of course, most cars there were either American muscle or ricers.  Can't 
wait until it is RS2ed and I can go back and beat some of that muscle.

Next month, I might go back with my significant other and her BMW 328i.  
Might have to do some head to head racing with her.

Paul Dooley
95 S6 fresh off the suedo dragstrip