| With the tracks closed in the Chicagoland area until late April, our annual trip down to the TX2K GT-R Nationals events in March offer us the first opportunity to test new vehicles that we've been working on throughout the winter months. This year, initial testing of the AMS Alpha Omega at the TX2K12 was a definitive success. This was the first time the Omega has ever made an appearance at the drag strip and much was accomplished and learned. SATURDAY On Saturday, the Alpha Omega began on a low boost setting around 24lbs. After that, boost was increased to around 35lbs max and our first clean pass was just short of the record ET by three thousandths of a second (8.79@169mph)! At the end of that pass, one of the intercooler pipes popped, shooting downward at the under tray. This, along with the deployment of the parachute (causing the GT-R to dip) was believed the cause of the lip ripping off the vehicle as seen in the video. Ivan Phipps, our mechanic and driver of the Alpha Omega worked quickly to replace the lip, under tray and bumper so that we could make another pass. The last pass of the day was made just before the lanes closed. Ivan launched hard with a 1.47 60ft, and began losing traction badly a little farther out. Most people at the line thought he would abort with the lanes being so narrow, but he stayed in it and straightened out to break the ¼ mile record with an 8.63@172.15mph pass! Again, the lip tore away from the bumper and the cause was finally attributed ... |
