How come the yanks get their cars much quicker than ours?

[RAPID_BA]

In australia we all mod our cars for a bit more starch down the quarter mile. Its very rare that we see true 10 second street cars, plenty of 11 & 12 second cars but thats about it.

But the yanks with minimal mods seem to run 10s no worries, even 9s and 8s. Street cars in full street trim.

You even see those big trucks (f series) running 10s and 4wd cherokees too running 10s and 9s.

Do they have better hardware? Is the quarter mile shorter? Are we behind? Do they have more interest in this street performance scene?

I know we are getting much quicker (introduction of xr6t, boss, ls series) but the yanks are still have much much faster street cars.

[Nikked]

America's liberal rego laws.

[kypez]

probably cost of modding mate. the same coin takes you a lot further in the States than it does in Australia so people would get their cars faster for less thus quicker sooner.

[mik]

Originally Posted by kypez

probably cost of modding mate. the same coin takes you a lot further in the States than it does in Australia so people would get their cars faster for less thus quicker sooner.

you hit the nail on the head i think, even the cars are cheaper, even the fuel is cheaper, come to think of it................

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by mik

you hit the nail on the head i think, even the cars are cheaper, even the fuel is cheaper, come to think of it................

and they earn a lot less..

[krypto71]

Originally Posted by HULK_BA

Is the quarter mile shorter?

Was that a serious question mate?

[mike_nofx]

Well their 1/4 mile is longer than 400m!

[raised by monkeys]

they go in straight lines, not round bends.

[dylancox]

Must be a lot of Mexican tuning places there, those blokes work hard for very little money.

[Shonky.]

Generally up to 98 at the pump

I think the air quality at our stips is very good

Originally Posted by dylancox

Must be a lot of Mexican tuning places there, those blokes work hard for very little money.

ha ha, you funny redneck

[meatbag]

Originally Posted by shonkymofo

Generally up to 98 at the pump

What we call 98 is not the same as american 98. Someone did the maths for me once, from memory our 98 = 91 in america.

Economies of scale have to play a part. The price of everything we buy here is just plain ridiculous. Labour? lol, we paty more for an oil change than they would for a engine rebuild. *slight exageration* and yeah, they can get away with it. It's hard enough just to get away with an exhaust here without unwanted attention

[Moby Vic]

What's the altitude of most Australian dragstrips? If you're at high altitude with hot, humid air your engine won't make much power.

I'm at sea level, but the air is typically hot and humid here, so my quarter-mile times aren't as quick as those of people up north.

(That won't account for a difference of seconds, but it certainly makes a difference in tenths.)

[mik]

not really sure on the sea level question , depending on where you go and the time of year the temp can be from cool to moderate to stinking hot.

[Moby Vic]

And maybe our gas is different. What's your octane level?

[jpd80]

GT Mustang, knocking on low 12s at $30K + ORC

[Moby Vic]

Yeah, the highest we have at the pump (non-race gas) is 94, but apparently it's a different rating system.

[rancidpunx]

I think the defect laws come into play a lot here. If you drive a nice looking car your targeted as a hoon and there must be something defect-able on your car.

They love cars in the states and you can get away with a lot of mods.

[Moby Vic]

Originally Posted by rancidpunx

I think the defect laws come into play a lot here. If you drive a nice looking car your targeted as a hoon and there must be something defect-able on your car.

They love cars in the states and you can get away with a lot of mods.

The laws regarding modifications vary significantly by state. California has the most restrictive laws. Florida has no mandatory vehicle inspections, so whatever laws we have don't matter.

[mik]

Originally Posted by Moby Vic

The laws regarding modifications vary significantly by state. California has the most restrictive laws. Florida has no mandatory vehicle inspections, so whatever laws we have don't matter.

a canadian bloke came over here and tested our performance falcon and liked it , but he made an interesting assessment of the general car scene here, i think he was pretty much on the money................... "car whipped" was the term he used.
the car owner is an easy target here.

[Nikked]

America also have been running the 10.5 inch tire class for ages, so more "streetable" cars have been the focus.

[prasac]

the nail was hit on the head, cost of modifying. also the yanks thrive on 1/4 mile action. the cars there running 9's-10's etc the mods are no different to what they are here or what you can do, the Mustangs etc are a couple hundred lbs lighter. the mods they do are the same, tyres are the same etc. another factor is knowledge, alot of guys here can tune your car etc but they haven't got a clue when it comes to taking it down the track what is needed, for instance, you might be running times of a 500hp car but your using 600hp to do it.

blower/turbo kits costing $7k and you can make 500hp+, they are DYO. people can tune their own cars, SCT tuner costs $300, they come with a base tune and you tweak it from there. the track elevation heights etc make bugger all difference. you might pick up 1/10th.

[trippytaka]

Man their laws are so much more liberal!

You'd be amazed what you can register as a modified vehicle over there too!

[EFFalcon]

Originally Posted by trippytaka

Man their laws are so much more liberal!

You'd be amazed what you can register as a modified vehicle over there too!

and how cheap cars that we dream of are :(

[prasac]

if your comparing say a Falcon and a Mustang the laws don't come into play. if u were throwing say a 500ci twin turbo motor into a Falcon then different story that would be illegal here. but, ur talking about the same engines here, they do the same mods as we can turbo, blown etc. the Mustang is better setup for drag racing, but look at XFT they have run 9.4@150 in a Falcon ute. many Commodores here running 9's even 8's on IRS.

in regards to mods, there is nothing stopping anyone here doing a twin turbo Falcon and going out and running 7-sec passes. you need to only look at the factory IRS suspensioned Supra's they are running 7-sec passes with a 3L engine and they are cmpletely legal. the cars would even pass rego here.

you can't use rego rules as an excuse, nothing stopping anyone following the laws and running quick numbers.

[ratter]

They set their cars up for the 1/4, most aussies think you just need power to run the numbers.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by ratter

They set their cars up for the 1/4, most aussies think you just need power to run the numbers.

This is very true. The yanks have so much suspension bits available to aide traction its not funny, we have nothing bar softer shocks and cal tracs.

Just buy something like Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords and see how much stuff you can buy for the Mustangs rear end. Incredible.

And Mustangs are way lighter than our cars.

[KPCresta]

In the USA they use the MON rather than RON rating for their fuel. Their 'premium' 93 MON is closer to having around 100 RON. So boosted cars can run around 30psi and a bit more timing then the 'safe' limit of around 25psi for our 98 RON fuel. (They make good use of 50/50 water meth injection as well)

Also the modifying community is massive compared to Australia's population wise so you see a lot more 10 second cars then you do here.

[pottery beige]

they have dyno steve.......

[My32Doors]

15 times more people means 15 times more cars means 15 times more mods!

[blue sleeper]

Because they weigh more, it gives them better traction...