Great Lakes Dragaway in Union Grove, WI opened yesterday, and I headed out today, despite the cold temps and wind.
Conditions: ~36 degrees and a steady 15 mph headwind, gusting to about 20.
My car's software was just updated, but I never got the chance to run it before the update. Also, I'm still on my winter tires - Michelin Pilot Alpins in the OEM 235/35/20 size.
Made 10 passes in less than an hour
SOC for my first run was 92%.
SOC for my last run was 79%
First thing I'll comment on is that this car would be the ideal bracket racer - SO consistent and easy.
Second thing is that nobody beat me to the timing lights.
I ran next to a wide variety of cars, including multiple Dodge SRTs (no Hellcats - there was one running, but we just were never lined up together), a tuned Pontiac G8 that sounded AWESOME, a BMW 335xi, an E60 M5 AND an F10 M5 and an LS-something last-gen Camaro that turned out to be all bark and not much bite..
I had multiple thumbs-up from spectators and other drivers after many of my runs - I don't think anybody expected to see 11s out of this car, but that's what it ran, every pass.
Results:
None of the Dodges were close.
The G8 sounded typically "Murrican V-8 bombastic" and was clearly tuned and running drag radials. All for nought - drubbed him by about 1 second both times. Driver was cool though - after the first run we ended up lined up next to each other in the staging lanes and he rolled his window down and said "That was awesome! I had no idea the Model 3 was so fast! Have you done anything to it" When I replied that it was dead stock and on winter tires, he said - "Wow I might have to go get one of those!"
The E60 M5s burnouts and runs sounded absolutely epic - the V10 doing its patented wailing thing all the while. Regardless, with RWD and a 6-speed manual, he never stood a chance. (don't get me wrong - he still ran 12.5xxx, which is fantastic for that car, but he was never close to me)
The F10 M5 driver actually called me out, driving over to where I was parked between runs and shouting out his window: - "Let's go, Tesla! - I'm running about what you've been running, too - should be close!" In typical drag-racing fashion, the run proved that drivers are (mostly) liars. He ran a quicker ET than me, but he left a bit late, meaning I beat him by a bit over a tenth even though he was going 10 mph faster through the lights. Oddly, he didn't call me out again after that...
So then - the $64,000 question -
Wottdidsherun?!?!
Best was 11.756 @ 113.02 - not the 11.5 or 11.6 I was hoping for, but considering the conditions, not bad at all.
60 ft time on that run was 1.763, with the 1/8th mile at 7.449 @ 93.08 mph.
Looking at the timeslips that have been posted at Dragtimes.com,
Fast Tesla Model-3s 1/4 Mile 0-60 Drag Racing - DragTimes.com
...my 60' is easily the quickest of those, and I ran quicker than 1.8 60 foot on 8 of the 10 runs, so the power seems to be there. Take away the headwind and I think it might run a high 11.5 to a mid 11.6, IMO.
Overall, I had a great time, and it was good to have multiple positive gestures and comments even at a classic American dragstrip.
Can't wait to get back there on a warmer day, without the headwind and on my new lighter summer wheels and OEM tires.
