1/4 mile Gurus...
1/4 mile Gurus...
Hey guys, I plan to try drag racing this weekend. I NEED HELP! Richard & Jon have given me some tips on launching/shifting. Anybody else have advice? How fast should I be going with only Blitz SUS intake, an uppipe and my fat *** (260 lbs.
)? I'm sure I will go away from this endeavor as the "slowest WRX in Hawaii"... 
Thanks!
)? I'm sure I will go away from this endeavor as the "slowest WRX in Hawaii"... Thanks!
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From: 2006 Streetcar Showoff Hot Dog Eating Champion
Car Info: heavy, stock power, slow, perfect
i got some good tips
get a boost controller (permanent) and turn up the boost. then inflate your tires so you get a touch of wheel spin and launch it!! a sti scoop will help your mph!!!
have fun. your fellow ESP'er ..b
nah. i have no idea. i got my stock GSX down to a 14.7 or .8? back in 96 with the OG hypers folks. crazy limiter dropping though. sadly, i'm not allowing myself to drag my work car.
have fun. your fellow ESP'er ..b
nah. i have no idea. i got my stock GSX down to a 14.7 or .8? back in 96 with the OG hypers folks. crazy limiter dropping though. sadly, i'm not allowing myself to drag my work car.
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From: G35 Coupe (FOR SALE)
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Good tips from hotrod Larry
Just the basics
The staging process is important, so here are a couple thoughts.
Watch the cars in front of you, they will probably wave the last car in line forward to the water box before the cars that are running have completed their pass.
When they wave you forward to the water box, pull forward and _around_ the water. Take a moment to be sure you are in Low gear, take a look at the track surface and see if you can see the rubber marks left by the last couple cars. When they wave you forward to stage, pull forward to be in line with these rubber marks.
The staging lights are in small enclosures a couple car lengths infront of the christmas tree. It is good practice to roll forward slowly until the first staging light comes on. pause and wait for the other car to also light the prestage light. Then you both creep forward until the second stage light is lit up. Stage as shallow as you can, you want the light to just come on as you inch into the beam. Stage too deep and you kill your short time.
Pay attention the christmas tree will come down very shortly after your both staged. Bring your rpm up to your staging rpm, and watch the top amber light, when it comes on wait just a fraction of a second then floor the throttle, when the second light comes on, start releasing the clutch, and shift your focus to the tachometer. Forget the other car, your whole attention should be to what you are doing.
As soon as you feel the clutch start to engage, try to balance the clutch release so the rpm drops and holds about 5000 rpm. As soon as you feel solid acceleration, fully release the clutch. All this happens in just a little over one second. Watch the tach and focus on your red line rpm. when the tach reads just short of 7000 rpm, shift as quickly as you can into second. You will be in low gear for only about 2 seconds.
Your object is to shift quickly but not violently. Your not trying to break the gear shift lever off. Just move the lever quickly and positively. Grasp the gear shift **** with your fingers not your whole hand.
The staging process is important, so here are a couple thoughts.
Watch the cars in front of you, they will probably wave the last car in line forward to the water box before the cars that are running have completed their pass.
When they wave you forward to the water box, pull forward and _around_ the water. Take a moment to be sure you are in Low gear, take a look at the track surface and see if you can see the rubber marks left by the last couple cars. When they wave you forward to stage, pull forward to be in line with these rubber marks.
The staging lights are in small enclosures a couple car lengths infront of the christmas tree. It is good practice to roll forward slowly until the first staging light comes on. pause and wait for the other car to also light the prestage light. Then you both creep forward until the second stage light is lit up. Stage as shallow as you can, you want the light to just come on as you inch into the beam. Stage too deep and you kill your short time.
Pay attention the christmas tree will come down very shortly after your both staged. Bring your rpm up to your staging rpm, and watch the top amber light, when it comes on wait just a fraction of a second then floor the throttle, when the second light comes on, start releasing the clutch, and shift your focus to the tachometer. Forget the other car, your whole attention should be to what you are doing.
As soon as you feel the clutch start to engage, try to balance the clutch release so the rpm drops and holds about 5000 rpm. As soon as you feel solid acceleration, fully release the clutch. All this happens in just a little over one second. Watch the tach and focus on your red line rpm. when the tach reads just short of 7000 rpm, shift as quickly as you can into second. You will be in low gear for only about 2 seconds.
Your object is to shift quickly but not violently. Your not trying to break the gear shift lever off. Just move the lever quickly and positively. Grasp the gear shift **** with your fingers not your whole hand.
Re: 1/4 mile Gurus...
Originally posted by russ
Hey guys, I plan to try drag racing this weekend. I NEED HELP! Richard & Jon have given me some tips on launching/shifting. Anybody else have advice? How fast should I be going with only Blitz SUS intake, an uppipe and my fat *** (260 lbs. )? I'm sure I will go away from this endeavor as the "slowest WRX in Hawaii"...
Thanks!
Hey guys, I plan to try drag racing this weekend. I NEED HELP! Richard & Jon have given me some tips on launching/shifting. Anybody else have advice? How fast should I be going with only Blitz SUS intake, an uppipe and my fat *** (260 lbs.
)? I'm sure I will go away from this endeavor as the "slowest WRX in Hawaii"... Thanks!
yeah, a boost controller definitely makes your trip down the 1320 quicker 
, ... plus the launch is so much more fun! 
your first time up (or however long it takes to get comfortable), don't worry about your reaction time, just concentrate on a good launch. Your reaction time doesn't affect your 1/4 time anyway.
high tire pressure always worked for me, and seems to work for everyone else too (it just seems it took some people longer to really figure that one out)
the whole "slip the clutch an den drop it" routine may take a little while to perfect, but you'll get the hang of it, ... and will be able to tell what works best for you after a few runs.
as far as the water box, ... with almost stock setup, you may want to drive around it, ... but sometimes it seems like rolling through the water helped make a smooth launch, ... but that may end up giving you too much wheel spin and a suckier 60'.
and last, but most important, ... learn how to change gears faster than anyone else and you'll beat 'an equal car' everytime.
, ... plus the launch is so much more fun! your first time up (or however long it takes to get comfortable), don't worry about your reaction time, just concentrate on a good launch. Your reaction time doesn't affect your 1/4 time anyway.
high tire pressure always worked for me, and seems to work for everyone else too (it just seems it took some people longer to really figure that one out
)the whole "slip the clutch an den drop it" routine may take a little while to perfect, but you'll get the hang of it, ... and will be able to tell what works best for you after a few runs.
as far as the water box, ... with almost stock setup, you may want to drive around it, ... but sometimes it seems like rolling through the water helped make a smooth launch, ... but that may end up giving you too much wheel spin and a suckier 60'.
and last, but most important, ... learn how to change gears faster than anyone else and you'll beat 'an equal car' everytime.
Originally posted by Nolimit
and last, but most important, ... learn how to change gears faster than anyone else and you'll beat 'an equal car' everytime.
and last, but most important, ... learn how to change gears faster than anyone else and you'll beat 'an equal car' everytime.
Thanks for the tips and support guys! Sean, I'll try and take everything in stride...I hope my clutch will last as long as it takes for an "old dog" to learn a new trick!
Anything I should NOT do? I'm deathly afraid of getting yelled at by that starter guy.
Anything I should NOT do? I'm deathly afraid of getting yelled at by that starter guy.
Originally posted by russ
Anything I should NOT do? I'm deathly afraid of getting yelled at by that starter guy.
Anything I should NOT do? I'm deathly afraid of getting yelled at by that starter guy.
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From: Plymouth, MN
Car Info: 94 T-Leg Sedan and a 00 M5
Originally posted by islandx
Amen to that !!...I think thats the only reason I can pull my 14.6's 'course I ain't ever get the opourtunity to beat 'an equal car' cause everbody else has mad boost
Amen to that !!...I think thats the only reason I can pull my 14.6's 'course I ain't ever get the opourtunity to beat 'an equal car' cause everbody else has mad boost
I have sToCk BoOsT, yO!
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From: The Land of Rocks
Car Info: Turncoat Turbo
1. Wait until the ready light turns green to move up to the starting line area.
2. Wait until the small white light on the Christmas tree is illuminated by the tower before moving into the staging beams.
3. If you're in the spectator lane and you beat the other car, you have to WAIT until he exits the track before crossing over and getting off yourself. Tower lane ALWAYS goes off the track first, spectator lane ALWAYS exits after tower lane...
That's about all I can think of...
Oh yeah, you can't drive in line with your hood up. You can have it up while the car isn't moving, but you must drop the hood if your line starts moving...
Oh yeah yeah, don't have your A/C or defrost on - you'll drip water and you'll get scolded...
Of course you need your windows up and headlights (at least parking lights) on when you make a pass...
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2. Wait until the small white light on the Christmas tree is illuminated by the tower before moving into the staging beams.
3. If you're in the spectator lane and you beat the other car, you have to WAIT until he exits the track before crossing over and getting off yourself. Tower lane ALWAYS goes off the track first, spectator lane ALWAYS exits after tower lane...
That's about all I can think of...
Oh yeah, you can't drive in line with your hood up. You can have it up while the car isn't moving, but you must drop the hood if your line starts moving...
Oh yeah yeah, don't have your A/C or defrost on - you'll drip water and you'll get scolded...
Of course you need your windows up and headlights (at least parking lights) on when you make a pass...
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Thanks for the additional info Gurus!
Steven, I'm gonna do my best to get there at opening time on Friday night. I think the Sonic crew are going later that night. If I'm gonna make *** (and I know I will!) I want to do it in front of as little people as possible! I did about 10 practice launches at the Sonic "test track" last night...that's some difficult shizzzz! I think I'll be lucky to do 15's!
Steven, I'm gonna do my best to get there at opening time on Friday night. I think the Sonic crew are going later that night. If I'm gonna make *** (and I know I will!) I want to do it in front of as little people as possible! I did about 10 practice launches at the Sonic "test track" last night...that's some difficult shizzzz! I think I'll be lucky to do 15's!
Originally posted by BoOm
Don't worry Russ. You can't be slower than me.
Don't worry Russ. You can't be slower than me.
Last week a 19 year old girl friend of ours ran her Integra for the first time...she was terrified on her first run. 10 passes later she's hooked! She ran 15.4 best...she wants to race me...now I'M terrified!