Just curios. I'm taking a road trip back home over the Memorial Day weekend and was looking for somewhere to race while I'm out there. As not very people are aware of the Lightning in the El Paso area, I though I'd go out there and give them a few lessons while I search for 12s (don't know how I'll do with desert heat in May, though!). I'm just curious to see if anyone on this board has raced or is racing out there on Friday nights. Track conditions/prep? Traction?

Thanks,
Tom

 

Guess not. The person I have been e-mailing over there is a real smart a$$. I asked about traction and track prep and he gave a BS answer that traction was all in my vehicle (apparently it has nothing to do with the surface you are racing on) and asked if I had ever seen any other track prep special for one racer (so that tells me they basically have a strip of concrete that a call a track, which they do nothing but look at). I can't wait to get out there and blow him and the rest of the punks that hang out there with my monster! I figure I'll be there with a bunch of rice burners, as that is all that seems to run around out there. I may just have to go up to Arroyo Seco in Las Cruces, NM, instead.

Tom

 

Tom, unbeliveably Im here in El Paso visiting my parents and will be running my truck at Thunder Alley (whatever that is) this Friday. I have very little info on the track. I hear it is not very good and is at 5000 ft. I will let you know after Friday or you can email me.

Steve
California
12.3/110
99L
dsc@attbi.com

 

Thanks. I've been back and forth with the guy and they are pretty proud of their track and changed their attitude when I started going biblical on their buttockssss! They are sanctioned by the IHRA, so they can't be all that bad, but considering it is in the desert, who knows. Anyway, e-mail me with your ETs (I presume you took your L) and 60' and let me know your opinion. My e-mail is thomas.liss@att.net.

Thanks,
Tom

 

The track is close to town and the people are nice. They run from 8pm til Midnight. Elevation is 4000 feet. It is hot and frequently windy. Only recently went to 1/4 mile. Lighting is bad. They have a generator and light like are used at a construction site lighting the starting line. There is no 100 octane unleaded anywhere in town. The track does not hook up. People running ET's and drag radials where getting 2.2-2.5 60 ft times. I ran 14.02 where I run 12's in California. I noticed Camaro SS and Firebirds that would run say mid 13's in CA were running high 14's and 15's. There were only 30 cars although people were saying that was unusual. I made five runs against Mustang GT's, a Camaro SS twice and a Dodge Duster. I won each time. A city this size should have a nicer and better supported drag strip. Tucson for example, which is half the size of El Paso, has a much nicer strip. I had the impression that they are doing the best they can do with what they have. They are to commended, but it did make me appreciate the stips we have at Sears Point and Sacramento.

 

Thanks for the insight. No 12s to be had there, huh? Makes me not want to go. Maybe I'll give it a shot, but we'll see.

Tom

 

I think I saw that black L (99). Were you on drag radials?

The best I have gotten out of mine on street tires is 14.0 with the stock pulley, TB and a chip. I have yet to take it down the track with the drag radials, chip, pulley and TB. I will tell you though track conditions are bad unless you are on full slicks. I have better luck hooking up on a regualr road than on the track.

If you need anymore info, I'd be glad to help. I'm out there every Friday night.

 

So there is some Lightning life in west Texas!!! I'll be driving out there tomorrow and will probably head to Thunder Alley Friday night. Shoot me an e-mail and I'll try to get together with you while I'm there. I feel the need to show some El Paso ricers the rules of the road...

thomas.liss@att.net

Later