Thinking about racing in Tucson AZ

[A.J.]

Speed World in Wittmann AZ where I normally race is temporarily closed due to disagreements between the owner and the county. Firebird is usually too crowded and they don't have any racing according to their schedule this month and they too are closing in April. I looked up SIR in Tucson and they have test & tune starting at 8 a.m. this Saturday the 16th. That would work out great for me because I won't have to get a motel because I can get 4-5 hours of racing in during the day and still make it home at a decent hour. So I've got some questions for those that have raced there because I don't want to drive 2.5 hours (one way) to not be able to race.

1) I can pass NHRA regulations and SIR goes by IHRA. The IRHA online rule book sucks. I am currently in the 14's but have a SNELL 2010 helmet (for when I get into the 13's) and a fire jacket because of my non-stock power adder. I'll be using slicks. Are IRNA rules any more strict or that different than NHRA?

2) Has anybody raced there during the day? How busy is it?

3) How is the place laid out? I tow my van with my Dodge Dakota on a tow dolly and I have tools in the back for any problems that might come up. Is there a place to park when towing a trailer? I can't back-up with a tow dolly.

4) Speed World opened at 7 p.m. and racing started between 8-9 p.m. With SIR opening at 8 a.m., I'm guessing during the day is practice and at night is when spectators show up. Can anybody fill me in how the day plays out?

5) During test & tune, do they give out time slips? I'll be going by myself so I won't have anybody in the stands reading the board to tell me my times.

Thanks for any info anybody can give me on this.

A.J.

[Vigo]

Hope you find the info you need. I always look forward to your new track times.

[turbovanman²]

That blows man, another track shutting down,

That's weird they consider your power adder non stock? For my track, they are NHRA, as long as it came turbo, it doesn't matter how big it is, as long as I don't go faster than 10.99 or go over 130 mph I think without a cage.

[A.J.]

That blows man, another track shutting down,

That's weird they consider your power adder non stock? For my track, they are NHRA, as long as it came turbo, it doesn't matter how big it is, as long as I don't go faster than 10.99 or go over 130 mph I think without a cage.

I only got questioned on it after I installed the 2.4. My van came with a 3.0 so ANYTHING isn't stock. The last time I barely skated by. After that I didn't want to take any chances and just bought the fire jacket. Little pricey but it's a cool jacket.

[turbovanman²]

I only got questioned on it after I installed the 2.4. My van came with a 3.0 so ANYTHING isn't stock. The last time I barely skated by. After that I didn't want to take any chances and just bought the fire jacket. Little pricey but it's a cool jacket.

Oh, didn't realize yours used to be a 3.0L.

[RoadWarrior222]

I noes, he ruinzed it

[A.J.]

SIR is a really nice track. I'm glad I made the drive. I started racing about 11:00 and quit around 4:00. They had an event going on. I got twelve runs in and they were all less than stellar. I think I need to upgrade my torque converter. I can't stage worth a crap. I did great burn-outs but I couldn't build any boost to launch and took off like a dog. Once I got about 50'-100' out it came alive. My best run was 1/10th slower than my fastest run at Speed World. I need to hit a dyno, get my torque curve, and get a converter made.

My number is on the right, the blue Neon SRT-4 in the picture below was on the left. It's cool that my fastest run was against an SRT-4 so I had his time also. Later in the day he had "13.9" written on his window.


There was an SRT-4 there. I went to look at it and talk to the owner. The hood was open so I could look underneath. It looked stock. The owner wasn't around for me to talk with him.


A.J.

[Vigo]

Well you have to be building some boost because otherwise you'd be power limited to way less than a 2.2 60'. I could launch my TBI 5spd van like a mofo and only get a 2.5 60' on a 'perfect' launch because the 45 feet after the clutch was out were slow. hehe.

How low is your converter stall?

[bill2]

Sorry I didn't see this thread sooner, but it looks like you made it and had a good outing! I just started "unmodding" my omni in preparation for sale to a friend, but once i find a replacement toy i'd love to make it out while you're there.

[A.J.]

Well you have to be building some boost because otherwise you'd be power limited to way less than a 2.2 60'. I could launch my TBI 5spd van like a mofo and only get a 2.5 60' on a 'perfect' launch because the 45 feet after the clutch was out were slow. hehe.

How low is your converter stall?

I can build some boost but not enough in time for the tree to drop. If I power brake I can build 10 psi but it takes a while and my trans temps are 260*+. Maybe I've got some other issues too. On my 14.7 run when the ambient temp was in the 30's my 60 ft was 2.14. I do want to upgrade to an air to water intercooler. I think the 2" pipes, five 90* bends, and 3 psi pressure drop that I'm running now are killing me.

I don't know the stall of my converter. It's a stock lock-up, '98 2.4 N/A 31TH Caravan converter. I tried looking it up but couldn't find anything.

Sorry I didn't see this thread sooner, but it looks like you made it and had a good outing! I just started "unmodding" my omni in preparation for sale to a friend, but once i find a replacement toy i'd love to make it out while you're there.

Subscribe to this thread. I'll post in here when I race in Tucson and I have another thread for when I race in Phoenix.

A.J.

[Vigo]

Yeah, your intercooler setup was probably borderline for a mild 8v. With a 2.4 it could definitely use an upgrade.

So you dont have a tach in your instrument cluster? Do you have the 4" fuel gauge like i originally had? Heh

[A.J.]

So you dont have a tach in your instrument cluster? Do you have the 4" fuel gauge like i originally had? Heh

Nigga please. I'm rollin' in an ES.

My tach is off as much as 200, depending on what kind of mood it's in. When I did my brake stand to try to figure out my stall and see how much boost I could build, the tires started to break loose around 3000. If that's what you were gettin' at.

A.J.

[Vigo]

Yeah, thats pretty much what i was wondering. Seems a little strange you cant build enough boost at 3000, as i thought your turbo wasnt that big. Im confused on that one right now. : /

[A.J.]

Yeah, thats pretty much what i was wondering. Seems a little strange you cant build enough boost at 3000, as i thought your turbo wasnt that big. Im confused on that one right now. : /

I'm running a Super 60 stage 1 turbo if you didn't know. I'm wondering if I can adjust the timing in my tune. When I first started my 2.4 with the 2.5 tune it was a dog to drive. Once I put Sean's CSX 2.4 cal it in it really woke it up. I wonder if it needs to be tweaked a little more for take-offs.

A.J.

[Vigo]

Yeah, if a stock 2.5 spools a super60 pretty fast, a 2.4 should spool it even faster. I would think you should be able to hit your full boost setting by 3000. Tuning will probably get you there i would think.

[GLHNSLHT2]

I would think that thing should be like a diesel on a 2.4, boost at idle. My 8v spooled a S60 by 1700rpms with it's ported +1mm head. with a stock head 2500rpms was full spool.

[AzShadow]

I hope the whole speedworld/firebird thing gets figured out....I really don't wanna drive to Tucson to race.

nice times btw

[T1 woodywagon]

Don't forget the elevation in Tucson is about 2700', phoenix is only around 1200'.

[Keito]

I was wondering
That sounds about right for a stock SRT-4 @ 2700

Edit
Looks like he has a bigger exhaust on it

[A.J.]

I was wondering
That sounds about right for a stock SRT-4 @ 2700

Edit
Looks like he has a bigger exhaust on it

Are you talking about my van or the blue SRT-4 I raced?