Need help on decision

Discussion in 'Drag Racing' started by CentralTexHemi, Oct 24, 2008.

  1. CentralTexHemi

    CentralTexHemi PUNISHER

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    Given the breakdown of toinghts weather at what time would you decide to run, it's a catch as it cools down the Humidity raises. Should I pay closer attention to the temps or the Humidity or does one negate the other:cry2: I'm thinking about 8:30pm??



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  2. 1bad4dr

    1bad4dr Mr. Meany

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    You would be better off running with hotter temps and lower humidity, but looking at that chart, it might not make much of a difference.
     
  3. CentralTexHemi

    CentralTexHemi PUNISHER

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    so running at 7pm could possibly be better than 11pm? This sucks it was in the low 50's last night with only 23% humidity and ZERO freakin wind
     
  4. StevoSRT

    StevoSRT Moderator

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    The clear answer is 9:30pm
     
  5. srt-4chick

    srt-4chick Silver Supporting Members

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    I say between 6 and 7
     
  6. EricG

    EricG Full Access Member

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    The cooler the better, no question. Here's a link to a density altitude calculator:

    http://www.pilotfriend.com/calcs/calculators/density.htm

    Play around with it a little, you'll clearly see that the temperature is what moves it around the most, barometer is second and then humidity is last.

    At the extreme, a lot of humidity is bad...but you are no where near that.

    Keep in mind, the actual amount of water in the air is represented by the dew point, the relative humidity is a measure of how saturated the air is...which is also a function of temperature. The relative humidity also controls the rate of evaporation - which is obvious if you think about it.

    Think of it this way, imagine a Ram with a 30 gallon tank of gas, and then a Civic with a 10 gallon gas tank. If both tanks have three gallons, the Ram's gas tank is 10% full, but the Civic's is 30% full...but both have the same amount of gas in them.

    Warmer air has a larger "gas tank" than cold air does. That changes through the day...but the dew point(how many gallons of gas) doesn't - at least it doesn't really on a day when the weather is quiet.

    Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

    Eric
     
  7. CentralTexHemi

    CentralTexHemi PUNISHER

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    I'm shootin for about 9pm my 12.70 pass was 73 degrees and 47 percent humidity
     
  8. EricG

    EricG Full Access Member

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    The later you go, the faster/cooler the air will be.

    Eric
     
  9. CentralTexHemi

    CentralTexHemi PUNISHER

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    yeah but the humidity doubles
     
  10. OMSRT8

    OMSRT8 Full Access Member

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    Assuming the track is 1500' elevation and the pressure is steady at 29.90, here are the DAs:

    5pm: 3060
    6pm: 2877
    7pm: 2694
    8pm: 2507
    9pm: 2314
    10pm: 2121
    11pm: 1990
    Midnight: 1860

    Give me the elevation (or even just the name) of your track and pressure (if they forecast that) and I can give you more exact DAs. Messing around with the calculator shows that changes in humidity do not affect the DA as much as temperature and/or pressure.
     
  11. EricG

    EricG Full Access Member

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    No it does not, the air becomes more saturated as it cools at the end of the day, losing some of it's ability to hold water, therefore driving the RH up...but the amount of water in the air only changes a very small amount. It would not affect your car's performance.

    Relative humidity does not equal dew point...and dew point is by far the most important number. Notice that the RH isn't even in that DA calculator I linked, but the dew point is.

    Eric
     
  12. OMSRT8

    OMSRT8 Full Access Member

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    Eric:

    The Modular Depot calculator does use humidity and not dew point. I have used others that ask for dew point. Do you think that the ones that ask for dew point would be more accurate?

    Sam
     
  13. 8yourM5

    8yourM5 Full Access Member

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    who cares just race all night man!!!!
     
  14. CentralTexHemi

    CentralTexHemi PUNISHER

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    Apparently I do that is why I am asking:thongue2:
     
  15. EricG

    EricG Full Access Member

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    Well the dew point can be calculated by knowing the RH and air temperature, so I'm sure their program just cranks that out when it is calculating the DA. The RH is a function of the dew point though, not the other way around.

    Eric
     
  16. EricG

    EricG Full Access Member

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    So how did it go?

    Eric
     
  17. JMatt

    JMatt Platinum Supporting Member

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    Do you guys all realize EricG is the on air weatherman for a major network in a major city?

    I'd probably not argue with him on how the atmosphere works.

    :grin:

    (And shame on you EricG - why no call for the Muncie trip? I found out about it too late from CPLDaugherty, preventing me from going up.)
     
  18. CentralTexHemi

    CentralTexHemi PUNISHER

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    Eric I ran my PB I posted a thread on here with the info long story short with a B&G CMR tune and BWoody intake only mods I ran a 12.58 at 8:11pm check the Jeep section for detials. Between your help and Jim383 updating me on conditions it went well
     
  19. LegMaker

    LegMaker LMI - LegMakerIntakes

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    nice going wade!!!! i was going to put in my two cents on the weather, but looks like ericg handled it "decently"..........hahahahahahaha never knew that eric was a tv celeb!!! lol
     
  20. EricG

    EricG Full Access Member

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    Hey - we make it all up anyway :)

    Sorry about the no call Matt, I feel bad. As I look at the map I see it's only about an hour for you - I know Chris lives right by Muncie. It was a total spur of the moment thing, had to ask to get out of work early and then make it back up the family for the past few days so I can only post about it now :)

    Eric

    Well more like one of those people everybody curses... :)

    Eric