[james schaechter]

Good advice. Make a list and start testing. I am not sure how much you spend to go the track, but I bet it is at least $100.00. (not counting racecar expense) You can waste money going and still have less than desirable results. Skip a few trips to the track until you can get a few of the items mentioned.

Leaf springs are not expensive. If you get the calvert split monos or landrum monos. Sounds like you have a really stiff set up. Sometimes you can find thiis stuff on craigslist, or swap meets too.

Check to make sure you have enough rear shock travel too.

Slicks- make sure that you get a stickshift slick. If you are borrowing a set, more people have automatic cars. I have known many who think it doesn't matter that much.The auto slicks are also a different compound and a softer sidewall. It might be better than what you have, but not enough to learn anything.

The 60 ft improvement could be telling on your stiff suspension. Maybe it took that much to even atytempt to plant the tire. Probably wouldn't do it with those tires and your set up, but it was trying.

I think some of the guys that run those tires also use digital timing control to help. Either a digi 7 or an add on box. If you don't need to run them for any kind of rules, I would bolt a set of MT 3056sts on it as a tire choice on top of the other necessary changes.

Good luck!