Getting closer........

[Jim Nilsen]

Jim, I was thinking - It was so many years ago you and I "met" in this forum. I'm so glad you are out enjoying your Cormaro! A big pat on the back from Mary and I!
David

Thanks Dave, I always thought I would be done "next year" for a lot of years. The car is a lot of fun and is finally coming together the way it was meant to be. I really wish you would have made it to the Motorstate Challenge to go for a ride with me. I hope you will be able to get the chance someday.

Thanks again

[Jim Nilsen]

I am still smiling from the day at the strip. I was thinking I would only go the one time but it is so close for me and the cost was under $50 for the entry and my fuel for the day. That's less than the cost of a ticket leaving no room ever doing it on the street. I am now considering going back to get a few more videos and see if I can get the long reaction time down and put it toward the E.T. and maybe get it to do a 12.99. If you take my best time of the day and move the time from me sleeping and take it away from the total it is possible to do.

I have posted the vidoes up on youtube under the title:
The Cormaro at the Rockford Dragway.......

If you search for "Cormaro" it should come up.

[Van B]

I am still smiling from the day at the strip. I was thinking I would only go the one time but it is so close for me and the cost was under $50 for the entry and my fuel for the day. That's less than the cost of a ticket leaving no room ever doing it on the street. I am now considering going back to get a few more videos and see if I can get the long reaction time down and put it toward the E.T. and maybe get it to do a 12.99. If you take my best time of the day and move the time from me sleeping and take it away from the total it is possible to do.

I have posted the vidoes up on youtube under the title:
The Cormaro at the Rockford Dragway.......

If you search for "Cormaro" it should come up.

Don't worry about reaction time unless you are really racing someone else. Remember, the clocks don't start until you roll out of the beams. Worry about getting a good clean launch to improve your E.T.

Most of all, I too am glad you are finally having fun with it.

[Jim Nilsen]

Here are the videos of my good runs at the Dragway

[Jim Nilsen]

Don't worry about reaction time unless you are really racing someone else. Remember, the clocks don't start until you roll out of the beams. Worry about getting a good clean launch to improve your E.T.

Most of all, I too am glad you are finally having fun with it.

Well, so much for losing the 4 tenths off my time with a better reaction time. I think if I work at it a bit I can still get down a couple and maybe make it to the 12 sec bracket? Watch the video and let me know what you think?

I couldn't believe the difference at the launch when you have all that trackbite and rubber down. The 1st time out I actually got wheel hop for the 1st time in the car and fortunately it was the only time. The car felt good just letting the clutch out smoothly and squeezing the pedal down.

Maybe next week will be better if I make it out there?

[Motown 454]

Sweet, sounds like you had a fun day.

[Jim Nilsen]

Roadcourse, PT events, cruises, hot girls, dragstrip.... You're having a great summer!!!!!

I'm doing the best I can to live life to the fullest after what I have been through the last couple of years. I have always dreamed of a summer like this since I was a kid and it took years to get here. My doctors would have rather I died and gave them all my insurance, so much for their intelligence.

Life is leading me down a path that is unfamiliar to me at times these days but I refuse to get swallowed up in the negative and am keeping things going until it proves to be impossible to surmount what is in front of me. I have learned there are more people who care about us in life and lots of them we will never meet or know who they are.

I want to thank all of you for being there in thoughts and prayers and most of all these threads !!!

[NOT A TA]

Been there with the doctors too Jim. Then I spent a lot more time going to all kinds of track events. LOL

After watching the videos I think you should try bringing the engine up to launch RPM after you've both got the cars staged, before the lights start dropping. Sounds like you're coming off idle when the light turns green. Your 60' times will drop and that makes a huge difference on ET. Try moving up a hundred RPM for the launch each time you run.

[bonecrrusher]

I spy Byron Dragway there.... the cooling towers for the Nuclear plant give it away....

That announcer guys is annoying as hell..... LOL!
I'd say I have at least 100+ passes there from over the years...

Now I'm stuck down south and no good redneck 1/4 mile dragstrips around. Yes I know Zmax is just up the road - but its NEVER open! I was just up in Rockford 2 weeks ago visiting my folks.

[bonecrrusher]

BTW - you going to RTTH?

[Joey_H]

Cool video! Car sounds mean too. Is that a tornado way off in the distance in the first video? Or maybe a fire?

[wmhjr]

Jim, AWESOME! Car sounds great!

I think NOT A TA is right. Bring up the rpms after both cars are staged. I think you'll see a pretty big difference if you're not fighting from idle off the line.

[bonecrrusher]

Cool video! Car sounds mean too. Is that a tornado way off in the distance in the first video? Or maybe a fire?

Steam coming from the cooling towers @ Byron IL Nuclear Station...

[Jim Nilsen]

Jim, AWESOME! Car sounds great!

I think NOT A TA is right. Bring up the rpms after both cars are staged. I think you'll see a pretty big difference if you're not fighting from idle off the line.

I tried several different types of launches and when I brought the revs up before the launch I would just light them up, I got wheel hop on the 1st launch with the r's up too high. The car leaves strong from an idle if I get the squeeze just right on the gas. The biggest problem is not enough traction with the old Comp T/A's, they just don't hook up with the power planted in them. I do agree that if I could get the revs up and hook it would be a lot better of a launch and take a lot of time off. I am looking into better tires and wheels, 315's keep coming up in the choices but they are a close fit and most tire makers don't make 295's. Kumho and Sumitomo do make them, the Kumho are a 180 tw and that doesn't fit our rules. Nitto NT05's are my 1st choice but they only come in 315's for the rear and that really sucks if I decide to go with the 10 in wheels I am looking at because they won't fit. I really wish the tire makers would make more sizes to choose from like they used to for 17" wheels. I don't think I am going to go with 18" wheels although it keeps coming to them for better choices in some brands.

All in all I am happy with my results at the dragway and I don't think I am going to set the car up to do both track and drag racing. I really need stiffer spings and softer shocks to drag race well and that just isn't going to happen anytime soon. The way I sleep at the lights I might as well open christmas presents,lol. I need corners to keep my attention on the track.

I keep telling myself to go again next saturday to just have more fun and see if I can figure the whole launch thing out better so when I auto-x I can get bit of an edge over what I do now. The whole idea of the low 1st gear was to be able to have more control off of the line in poor traction situations. The car effortlessly spins if I over pedal it in the launch at any rpm.

It just might be fun to try some drag radials to see how well they work and I think I have a friend that is going to let me use some. It could and should make all the differencr in the world.

I also think the tune could get better too. According to the mph I should be in the twelves when you look at the horsepower calculator. The calculator says I have 300 hp to get there and I think I can get more with a better tune. The car runs strong the way it is but the timing might be able to get me more and the A/F ratio might be set a bit too high for drag racing, I am trying to let the computer adjust for now and am still learning how to program it.

Keep the suggestions coming because I can use all of the knowledge I can get to sort it out.

[Jim Nilsen]

It has been an interesting weekend. I went to another car show and discovered I must not have filled out the form for the entry right. I thought I had a good chance to get something in the modified class but was beat out by a Chevelle that had minimal mods other than wheels and a big block. I always go figuring I won't win anything so I'm not too disappointed but it sure makes me wonder what people see, especially when it is just the car owners that get to vote. Several people just thought it was a Camaro with Corvette wheels, so the stealth look is working ,lol. With the hood opening the way it does and the engine set back you would think people would look further but they don't?

I am moving from the stock Corvette wheels to some O.Z. Racing wheels I am buying from Brownz-Brandon Slater that he posted up in the for sale section if you want to see them. I think they will help change the image of the car to something a bit more PT looking and will be a lot more functional since they are lighter by a few pounds. You will also be able to see the brakes and being wider might help too. I'm looking forward to more grip for the most part since the Comp T/A's just don't do it.

So it will be interesting to hear what people think when I get them on the car in a few weeks. I plan on putting them on with the gold centers to start but may paint them black, either way they will be a lot better look than I have and a lot more wheel than I can afford new.

I have been tuning some more and making a bit more progress but still think there is 50 or more horsepower to find. The calculator is telling me I have 300 hp at the rear wheels and that is a bit shy unless I am losing over 30% in the drivetrain which I doubt. I wasn't looking for just a bit more but the 104 mph speed puts me where it puts me. I know I can get better at driving at the strip with no problem and more traction should really help.

So thats the update for now and hopefully soon I will have some pics to show the new look.

[Jim Nilsen]

The new wheels are on and they fit without spacers by 1/4 of an inch, so a 1/2" spacer will put my clearance with plenty of room. With a custom offset I think I could fit a 315 with no problems in the back and up front I think 295's will go easily.

I went with 285 40-17 Kumho's for a few reasons that should have not been a factor, but tire sizes is a messed up thing in 17's from one tire maker to another. The Kumho's came in the best choices for the money.

So far the new tires feel a lot stickier like they should.

Here are a couple of pics.

I keep wondering what it would look like black?

For now they work well and look great to everyone so far.

Thanks Brandon, I hope you like them on my car !!!

[Tucks69]

I spy Byron Dragway there.... the cooling towers for the Nuclear plant give it away....

That announcer guys is annoying as hell..... LOL!
I'd say I have at least 100+ passes there from over the years...

Now I'm stuck down south and no good redneck 1/4 mile dragstrips around. Yes I know Zmax is just up the road - but its NEVER open! I was just up in Rockford 2 weeks ago visiting my folks.

Have you checked Rockingham Dragway out??

[Tucks69]

The new wheels are on and they fit without spacers by 1/4 of an inch, so a 1/2" spacer will put my with plenty of room. With a custom offset I think I could fit a 315 with no problems in the back and up front I think 295's will go easily.

I went with 285 40-17 Kumho's for a few reasons that should have not been a factor, but tire sizes is a messed up thing in 17's from one tire maker to another. The Kumho's came in the best choices for the money.

So far the new tires feel a lot stickier like they should.

Here are a couple of pics.

I keep wondering what it would look like black?

For now they work well and look great to everyone so far.

Thanks Brandon, I hope you like them on my car !!!

The Camaro looks great Jim. The wheels look great! You coming down to RTTH6? I would like to check your Camaro out. I remember Payton letting you drive his yellow Camaro at RTTH5!

[srh3trinity]

I like the wheels, I am trying to envision what they may look like in a charcoal?

[Bryce]

the wheels are sick!