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What Track/Air Temperature is Too Cold for Your Car?
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DRR Sportsman
posted
Probably depends on a lot of factors .........
 
Posts: 1177 | Location: Elgin,IL | Registered: February 08, 2010Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR Top Comp
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Like maybe the door froze shut and your hands are to cold to get it open......I have raced when it was snowing!!!!!
 
Posts: 6271 | Location: everywhere | Registered: March 15, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR Sportsman
Picture of Bob Nichols
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Realistically if the track temp (not air temp) can get /stay 50 deg or above, you have a raceable surface. In the Fall, the air temp can cool off quite low, but the ground temp is still up. In the Spring, the air temp can get up but without sunshine on the track to warm it up, it can be dicey.
 
Posts: 157 | Location: Charlestown, IN U.S.A | Registered: October 30, 2000Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR Sportsman
Picture of TomR
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Was racing a dragster at VMP (4.90's) and they were using torches to thaw the waterbox for the final.

My doorcar will work in anything but I will stay home due to the cold before the car has a problem with it.


72 Nova "Hooptie"
 
Posts: 789 | Location: Hanover, MD | Registered: June 20, 2016Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR S/Pro
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Most bracket cars are fine but faster cars?
My pers motto; Dew on the car? Do not race the car. I've seen too many go on their lid.


California Screaming!
Raceless in California!
 
Posts: 4630 | Location: Vacaville  | Registered: January 07, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Picture of Curly1
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From my experience with my car I would say 60 with the Hoosier tires was real iffy. With the MT tires it was down around 50 degrees but I believe humidity and the dew point are a big factor there. I have seen the track wet a little before it reaches the dew point.

Anyway I think the temp, dew point and tire selection are a part of how cold is too cold. There are other things to like how well your chassis work, how much horsepower etc.


https://postimg.cc/gallery/np3zpruo/
"Dunning-Kruger Effect"
-a type of Cognitive bias where people with little expertise or ability assume they have superior expertise or ability. This overestimation occurs as a result of the fact that they do not have enough knowledge to know they don't have enough knowledge.

Before you argue with someone ask yourself, "Is this person mentally mature enough to grasp the concept of a different perspective?" If not there is no point to argue.

4X NE2 CHAMPION. 2020 TDRA NE2 Champion
 
Posts: 4250 | Location: United States of Texas | Registered: April 02, 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR Sportsman
Picture of novaX522
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I was doing 2' plus wheelies at Byron last weekend. Temps in the 40s, cloud cover and old azz Hoosiers.


Rob Livingston
 
Posts: 176 | Location: Waterloo, Iowa | Registered: July 03, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post



DRR S/Pro
Picture of Lenny5160
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quote:
Originally posted by novaX522:
I was doing 2' plus wheelies at Byron last weekend. Temps in the 40s, cloud cover and old azz Hoosiers.


I saw a pic of that! Looks like a lot of fun!


Tony Leonard
 
Posts: 3231 | Location: Inver Grove Heights, MN | Registered: March 18, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR S/Pro
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What we have found on a track with a transition from cement to asphalt is usually 10 or more deg lower. So if the start line was 50 then the rest of the track is 40. U can launch but if you have big power hang on! She’s headin fer the barn!


California Screaming!
Raceless in California!
 
Posts: 4630 | Location: Vacaville  | Registered: January 07, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR Pro
Picture of Mike Beck
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Below 50 with no sun or bad wind, I'm sitting it out.
 
Posts: 1444 | Location: South River, NJ | Registered: June 19, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR Elite
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quote:
Originally posted by stk 758 BP!:
Most bracket cars are fine but faster cars?
My pers motto; Dew on the car? Do not race the car. I've seen too many go on their lid.


We would never finish a race here! We get dew late in the rounds just about every weekend.

Humidity obviously plays a role. So does the sun. Byron on a sunny day? 40's. Cordova on a humid night? 50's at least.


Foxtrot Juliet Bravo
 
Posts: 6449 | Location: Illinois | Registered: July 08, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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At Norwalk for Halloween Classic today temp never got much above 50 but sunny ran 5.21 right straight down the middle in my doorcar and there were cars running a lot faster without issues.
 
Posts: 2595 | Location: at the track | Registered: May 09, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR S/Pro
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And I just saw post where Ohiomafiawiregire went 4.38 today. Guess it depends on track prep.
 
Posts: 2595 | Location: at the track | Registered: May 09, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR Pro
Picture of HS professor
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I think at Piedmont last year or the year before there were two 5 second cars in the final, one a 5.30 car. I think the temps were in the high 30's. They went right down broadway !!!!! Had a few 6.20 cars wreck earlier ............
 
Posts: 1422 | Location: Monroe twp nj | Registered: December 05, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post



DRR Trophy
Picture of bradsc1954
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I think it depends on the track. I have been to Atco NJ where the temp never got out of the low 30's and I painted a dial-in on the car. If I had those same conditions at New England Dragway, I would stay home.
 
Posts: 134 | Location: Weare NH USA | Registered: July 15, 2000Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR Sportsman
Picture of TD3550
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quote:
Originally posted by Bucky:
quote:
Originally posted by stk 758 BP!:
Most bracket cars are fine but faster cars?
My pers motto; Dew on the car? Do not race the car. I've seen too many go on their lid.


We would never finish a race here! We get dew late in the rounds just about every weekend.

Humidity obviously plays a role. So does the sun. Byron on a sunny day? 40's. Cordova on a humid night? 50's at least.


Same here at 66. Temp drops and the dew arrives.
The one year at about the 800 or so, water was actually seeping up due to a heavy rain from the prior days. Only thing i can think of is water table high or poor drainage. I don't dare to go out when the sun goes down between 50-60. I have seen too many wrecks at night there when the dew rolls in.
 
Posts: 1417 | Location: Under a Truck | Registered: August 23, 2013Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Picture of Curly1
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I agree track prep may make a big difference in cold weather but I do not know of anyone here in Texas that has mastered it.


https://postimg.cc/gallery/np3zpruo/
"Dunning-Kruger Effect"
-a type of Cognitive bias where people with little expertise or ability assume they have superior expertise or ability. This overestimation occurs as a result of the fact that they do not have enough knowledge to know they don't have enough knowledge.

Before you argue with someone ask yourself, "Is this person mentally mature enough to grasp the concept of a different perspective?" If not there is no point to argue.

4X NE2 CHAMPION. 2020 TDRA NE2 Champion
 
Posts: 4250 | Location: United States of Texas | Registered: April 02, 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Never got much above 55 today and several sub 4 passes for the quick race.
 
Posts: 2595 | Location: at the track | Registered: May 09, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Picture of Michael Beard
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At the St. Patrick's Classic in March, we were racing on 10-day old concrete at Virginia Motorsports Park. We were the first event on the new surface. Friday, temps had gotten into the mid 30's, and the manager told us the round of 16 in Top was going to be it for the night... then he watched them. Not a wiggle, 4.50 cars printing tickets. He changed his mind and said "Run 'em!" It was 29 degrees in the finals, and the cars were stuck. The incredibly smooth track surface (and low humidity) make all the difference in the world.


Personally, I've scraped ice off the windshield more than once, and with different cars. Frigid temperatures are harder on me than they are the car. Wink Never had an issue with the cars.


__
Michael Beard - staginglight@gmail.com
Staging Light Graphic Design, Printing & Event Marketing

 
Posts: 5770 | Location: Columbus, OH | Registered: December 15, 1999Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR S/Pro
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quote:
Originally posted by Michael Beard:
At the St. Patrick's Classic in March, we were racing on 10-day old concrete at Virginia Motorsports Park. We were the first event on the new surface. Friday, temps had gotten into the mid 30's, and the manager told us the round of 16 in Top was going to be it for the night... then he watched them. Not a wiggle, 4.50 cars printing tickets. He changed his mind and said "Run 'em!" It was 29 degrees in the finals, and the cars were stuck. The incredibly smooth track surface (and low humidity) make all the difference in the world.


Personally, I've scraped ice off the windshield more than once, and with different cars. Frigid temperatures are harder on me than they are the car. Wink Never had an issue with the cars.


How fast was the car you were scraping ice off Mike? Dead stuck combo? There are a few areas I don’t play with going fast. One is track temp; high and low. Almost never the starting line, it’s down track. We can run 4.20’s but the car is deadly consistent in 4.30’s.
It’s my job to keep my partner safe in a six second door car. Can’t replace my partner and really don’t want to do costly car repairs for a no brainer. I’m not trying to change your mind or others. I have my data and that’s it. Good luck, be safe and have fun.


California Screaming!
Raceless in California!
 
Posts: 4630 | Location: Vacaville  | Registered: January 07, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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