No one expected Teslas to be the formidable contenders they are on the strip. You’d have a terrible week if your muscle car got drag raced by a Tesla. It would be like losing to a Prius.
Last year, the Tesla Plaid Channel on YouTube uploaded a video of wheelie popping Pontiac Firebird versus a Tesla Model S. It’s a classic old vs. new competition. The third-generation Firebird packs a 440 cubic-inch V8 engine.
The Tesla Model S Plaid comes with the latest technology in the EV world, including a Drag Strip mode designed for straight-line acceleration from a standstill. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (97 kph) in under 2 seconds.
When it was time to bolt, the highly modified Firebird did what no one expected. With all the power transferred to the reat, it popped a wheelie, pulling out in front. The Tesla couldn’t keep up and learnt a simple lesson from the retired senior - there’s no replacement for displacement.
Last weekend, the Tesla and the Firebird met again at the sold-out Bradenton Motorsports Park, Florida. For the roll race, they both ran low 9 seconds, crossing the starting line 0.01 seconds apart. The Tesla ran at 149.83 mph while the Firebird reached 144.97 mph.
Compared to last time, the Pontiac Firebird was not running on E85 but methanol, on a Holley 1050 cfm carburetor.
They line up for a quarter-mile drag race, and the Tesla is running on Drag Strip Mode. The Tesla driver reckons the Firebird has a better chance of winning, being 60 ft roll out race.
When it’s time to run, the Firebird pops an insane wheelie pulling out fast. It’s an impressive start, but the Tesla comes in hard from behind and crushes the Firebird - what a payback! Tesla wins by a 0.194 margin.
The Tesla ran a 9.31 seconds qt mile at 147 mph while the Firebird ran 9.7 seconds at 139 mph.
Humphrey is a car enthusiast whose love and passion for automobiles extended into collecting, writing, driving, and working on cars. He got his passion for cars from his Dad, who spent thousands of hours working on his old junky 1970 E20 Toyota Corolla. Years later, he would end up doing the same with a series of lemons he’s owned throughout his adult life. Full profile
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