DeTomaso Mailing List: August 97, Message #57
     



From: Andy Poling <andy@realbig.com>

Subject: Drag Racing a Pantera?

Date: Fri, 1 Aug 1997 23:46:35 -0400 (EDT)



I know a few folks here occasionally drag race their Panteras.  I tried it

myself, for the first time ever, last Friday at a local track (75 & 80

Dragway for the Maryland folks).  I've raced with a faster christmas tree

before (at SCCA Pro Solo's) so the start didn't really bother me much

(except waiting for that rail dragster to finish his 1/16 mile burnout and

finally stage).  My start reaction times were pretty poor, but I was

purposely trying not to get too attuned to the tree since I really need to

stay synched to the faster Pro Solo tree.



I'm wondering what a mostly stock-engined Pantera will typically turn in the

1/4 mile?  I know you guys with forced induction are probably capable of

scorching times.  Go ahead... brag about it.  :-)



I was running 14.0 at 98 like clockwork all night long.  Then I finally

managed a 13.9 at 99 mph on my last run of the night.  I really wanted to

break 100 mph but couldn't manage it.  I was pulling third gear through the

traps in the neighborhood of 6000 rpm (the damn tach can't keep up - it

would lag and then surge forward).



The Pantera attracted quite a bit of wander-by attention in the paddock

(though the tech inspector didn't look at it twice).  Lots of "What is that?"

and "Wow... I haven't seen one of these in years!" and a few "That's not the

stock motor, is it?!" comments.  Pantera's are more rare here in the

Mid-Atlantic area... and this particular track is deep in rural redneck

country.



Problems encountered were:



- overheating (to the point of belching steam out of the overflow for the

	first time ever) after two runs because my fans weren't operating.

	I finally tracked this down to (what I *thought* was) the passenger

	power window fuse that I pulled because I was working on the window

	(that plastic gear cracked).  I guess I pulled the wrong fuse.  Even

	after that it was slightly un-nerving to stage with the fan light

	lit (it was quite warm that evening).  No more overheating after I

	got the fans working though.  On a related note, my fan has recently

	been coming on when the engine is stone cold.  It goes off once it

	starts to warm up, and then operates normally after that.  What do

	you suppose is causing this?  A bad thermoswitch?



- too much traction from the 335/35 BFG R1s.  I had to launch at 5500 RPM to

	get wheelspin off the line!  Boy did it feel wierd sitting at the

	line with that big engine turning 5500 rpm under no load...



- a motor that goes soft above 5500 RPM (no signs of distress, just reduced

	output).  I think my soft top end is due to the still totally stock

	ignition.  Does this jibe with the experience of others?  I'm

	thinking Electromotive's crank-fired setup would solve that problem

	nicely. :-) I noticed this at Pocono too, but it was much more

	obvious at the drag strip where I was doing nothing but accelerating

	through the gears.



So what have others turned at a drag strip?  Ge ahead... make me look bad. :-)



-Andy



72 Pantera: wicked fast      91 Miata: easy fast      96 A4Q: surprisingly fast

                             84 RZ350: scary fast





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