imyy4u

Question: lower elevation = denser air = faster car, right?

So what if I were to race my car in death valley, elevation like -282 ft or something, at night, when the temp is in the 40's...do you think in 100% stock form I could crack into the 12's?

Right now in Chicago (elevation:580 ft or so) I can get a 13.498 in the 1/4 in 100% stock form. The difference of 900 feet should make quite a difference, right?

And if that wouldn't do it, what if I raced at the Dead Sea in Israel, elevation -1350 ft? Think I could do 12's in stock form?

I don't know why, but I have an obsession with trying to get my car in the 12's in 100% stock form, no mods, no tunes, nothing. I do lower rear tire pressure and raise front tire pressure, but that's it. I even left the spare tire and all carpets etc. in my car. So, any input on how I can get in the 12's in stock form would be helpful - even if it means racing next to the Dead Sea in Israel :-)

RedStang06

I don't think it's gonna make that big of a difference, but we'll see if others agree.

fullboogie

Don't forget that it's temp, barometric pressure, and humidity that all play a part. As far as your Q about how much ET you would gain, maybe we have a Stock racer on the board who can do the math on this. I would think without more gear it would be awfully hard to do, even in optimal weather.

Lifter583

The biggest factor is air temp. The colder the air, the denser the oxygen molecules in a cubic foot of air. SO you must calculate the O2 concentration in a cubic foot of the atmosphere you are intaking, and the cubic foot/sec of your intake. Elevation is not the major factor, it is one variable in the equation. Then on the other side, with denser air, there is more resistance against the car in motion.

fullboogie

The density altitude (DA) factors all the things I mentioned above. You don't need to calculate the atmospheric O2 or cubic ft/min of the intake system. As I said, someone who races Stock or SS will have the formulas to account for all this.