As one of the first performance tests to take place on the second day of competition, the acceleration tests at California Speedway are always closely watched by USCC competitors. Aside from the day's first runner, who is rewarded with five runs for clearing the dust from the dragstrip, all cars receive three back-to-back runs with which to run their fastest time. Within each run are actually two tests, a very familiar quarter-mile run and a 20-100mph test. Even if the launch is botched, each car's driver was advised to keep their foot in it, to at least save the 20-100mph numbers.
Clearing the dust and receiving a few extra runs was the 034 Motorsport team and the Audi Coupe Quattro. With driver Javad Shadzi behind the wheel, the naturally aspirated V-8 ripped through the all-wheel-drive system to a time of 13.5 seconds in the quarter. Unfortunately, the Audi was simply outgunned as the times began to fall with each successive competitor, even with the noon sun blaring above 100 degrees.
Much has been made in the press about the R35 GT-R's impressive launch control and all-wheel-drive systems, and most of the field was concerned with how Nissan's new rocket would fare. With all the switches flipped and the car turned up to 11, the GT-R didn't disappoint. Its 11.5 second at 120mph run is blisteringly quick and this car sports the bare minimum of modifications.
In the end, only the two Lancer Evolutions could take the fight to the R35 GT-R. AMS brought out Eric Jones, driver of their 9-second drag Evo VIII, to pilot the Evo X down the strip. Their 11.4-second run was just squeezed out by Tuning Technologies' Evo VIII, which laid down an 11.3 second at 124 mph for the fastest time of the day. But one of the keys to the success of the Evo VIII was driver Mike Hood, who isn't a pro drag racer by any means but has lots of experience with his 10-second Audi A4. With the turbo spooling off the line and just enough wheel spin out of the all-wheel-drive system, Hood put on an Evo drag racing clinic for all the USCC competitors to see.
Further down the list, the 350Z and R32 Skyline GT-R came up short on the dragstrip. With a sticky shifter causing problems, the Z missed a combination of Second and Third gear on every run. Still, it's 20-100mph time hints at the fact that the twin-turbo VQ35 was perhaps succumbing to the heat and was not putting out as much power as it had made on the dyno. The R32 Skyline GT-R's owner, Joe Rigonan, chose to turn down the boost, and thus power, from the dyno to prevent any possible drivetrain damage on the dragstrip. Having never drag raced his GT-R before, Rigonan was understandably worried that he would be rewarded with metal bits and broken axles for attempting any high-rpm clutch drops in his Skyline.
But the biggest news on the dragstrip was the near destruction of the Mazda3. With pro front-wheel-drive drag racer Ed Bergenholtz behind the wheel, there were high hopes in the BR Tuning camp that the little Mazda would open the eyes of more than a few naysayers. Unfortunately, after the first run, the results weren't good. The Mazda returned to the pits chugging and stumbling, with the engine unable to idle smoothly. Bergenholtz immediately jumped out of the driver's seat and stuck himself underhood, but the damage was done. The Mazda3 squeezed out one braking run before it was parked. It looked like the Mazda might not finish the USCC.-Joey Leh