[Judd]

I know this is a autoX/road course site but I though some of you might have some insight on this question so I decided to throw this out. I'm thinking about running my car at Maxton N.C. at the E.C.T.A. 1 mile event. I'm putting down around 540RWHP and right now I'm running a 4.10 gear which should max out somewhere around 165 or so. I should get to that which is cool by me since my tech speed should be 175mph. To go over that, I will need a real cage which I'm not willing to do right now.

Later, I would like to replace the gear so I can get some more mph but I'm a bit confused. I've heard that you really should do your best to run 4th gear {1:1} for top speed events because that is the most efficient but my my set-up would really be doggy with something like a 2.73 in the rear. I'm really thinking of running a good dose of nitrous in an effort to get to 200mph {one of my goals} and I think I should have the power to do it but just how much will running 5th gear hurt me? Sure would like to run a 3.42 or 3.73 so I wouldn't have to swap out axles all the time.

Also, I will be carrying a trailer with extra wheels, tools and possibly a bike so I really would like to keep a low gear.

[02midevil]

Don't worry about 5th gear at Maxton, use it. Your rate of excelleration may fall off most noticable by not being pressed back in the seat.

A pair of TN brothers run a sbc first in a volvo and now in an older RX7 with enough nitrous to push it to 200mph everytime. My guess is a 450-550 hp motor and 200-250 plate, if you ask em they may tell you. A bbc 4th generation has enough juice to send it to the moon and runs 200 all day too.

One of the problems is getting traction at Maxton on the line, the 200 mph cycle guys need a perfect launch to pull 200+ mph every time or else they fall short. So in short Maxton is a 1 mile drag strip.

One car that speed inc did showed up at Maxton and went 190+ with a turbo LT1 (he posted on here once or twice). The video may still be on speed inc's website. That car did not even whisper when it idled.

One other thing people do is run to the 3/4 mile and slow down, listen and you will hear revs and then fall off somewhere down the track. An LS2 GTO goes 150mph at the 3/4 mile and a Cobalt SS was doing the same 150mph with a belly pan.

Also like stated if you can get more aero.