A recent drag racing event, captured by the Tesla Plaid Channel, showcased a clash of known automotive models. A Tesla Plaid vs. COPO Camaro. The event highlighted the contrast between modern electric performance and classic American muscle. The competition faced challenges but offered a glimpse into the pursuit of speed.

First look at the two cars before the race

The Tesla Model S Plaid, a production electric car modified for drag racing, had some impressive performance figures. It recorded a best quarter-mile time of 9.22 seconds at nearly 150 mph, with a best half-track time of 5.95 seconds at 120 mph. Its fastest 60-foot time was 1.43 seconds.

The Tesla’s performance was affected by the temperature. The speaker from the video added, “My battery always runs fastest in the 90-degree weather. Better in the hot.” The car retains its original features, including “OEM front seats, all airbags, 20 stereo speakers, and a seat. All are intact in this car. It’s got all door panels.”

First round of the race

The COPO Camaro, a factory-built drag racer, presented a different approach to speed. This Camaro is not street legal. As stated by the speaker “These cars don’t even have titles. They have no title.” Instead, it operates with “a serial number… This says Copo 42. That’s it,” and comes with “a bill of sale. That’s all they come with.”

The Camaro uses an intercooler, with the driver adding ice for enhanced cooling. While the NHRA rates the car at 580 horsepower, the owner estimated it closer to 955 based on previous runs.

Initial runs were hampered by track conditions. Drivers described the track as having “dirt” and being “on ice,” impacting traction. The Camaro “couldn’t hook for nothing. Nothing,” preventing a clean run. The temperature also dropped from 70 to 60 degrees, affecting both cars.

As noted in the video, “Weather’s cooling off in a hurry. That’s going to benefit him. More than us, we run faster in warmer weather.” A third car, a 1967 Camaro with large slicks, ran an eighth mile in around 6 seconds, offering another point of comparison.

Despite the challenges from the track, the Tesla Plaid vs. COPO Camaro drag race clearly displayed how these models perform on the track and showed the drivers’ dedication to racing. The organizers intend to hold a rematch under better conditions to have better results.