[s-cars] Flashlight drag races - results

[Doug Landaeta]

Wow, sounds like fun, certainly a lot of improvement in the launches and
trap times. Incredible that the brakes and suspension are all set to go, but
you have not really felt the force - it is strong with the UrS.  I'd enjoy
spanking ricers - they don't stand a chance with a nice chipset, bigger
turbo, and lots of boost! And if you're lucky to get a slightly wet surface
the quattro will make them all look quite silly as they search for traction.

Doug L
94 S4 (in my tuner's special care these weeks)

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Dooley [mailto:WeSki at icubed.com] 
Sent: Saturday, June 18, 2005 11:18 PM
To: s-car-list at audifans.com
Subject: [s-cars] Flashlight drag races - results

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