This is neat thread and something I have wondered about too.My friend has a 64 vette with I SWEAR !! a napa 400 short block,some kind of cam he picked out at advance auto,hasnt changed the
oil in 2 years or ever ran an air cleaner.The motor looks like it is in a dump truck since its never been cleaned and still has the oem points dist.NO race equipment what so ever,no traction assist or line lock,factory 4 spd with a comp plus shifter with 355 gears.I told him he was nuts when he said it ran 11.60's 2 years ago and said i would have to see it,then he ask me to drive it.The thing launches like a rocket even with street tires,I finally got to see him run it with 8x25 {I think} mickey thompsons,11.80 the first pass and 11.74 the next ! Im not making this up.Guys at the track couldnt believe it ,I popped the hood for fun to watch the faces when everyone came to look at this hot engine,it was a hoot.
Then I am thinking,,my bad ass car 500+ will run 11 to 12's ?sometimes it is hard to see .
It goes without saying traction and weight transfer play a big part ,as well as the skills of the driver.I think the biggest factor is this :He drives the HELL out of his vette,I mean more brutal than most of us could imagine if we were mad and tried,you cant be afraid of breaking stuff and still go really fast I think thats why we'll all be a second off the potential.
do i tend to embellish or is it just my imagination ?
Tim