Well, my first weekend at the track & what a blast! I had a great time, except my runs sucked!! Here's the questions:

I've been told by a few on here to launch around 5K RPMs, slipping the clutch until I get moving, then let it out faster as I put the gas to the floor.....my problem is, I think I'm doing that, but the fastest 60' time I'm getting is 2.2...

The other question I have......what RPMs does everyone shift at? I've been shifting right before redline going down the track, but I hadn't asked anyone about it. I'm wondering if shifting more around 6-6500 would result in a better time. Currently, the best I've pushed out was 15.119 @ 91.47mph with a 2.274 60ft. time. The only mod I've installed is the TXS Stealth-back, but the times still seem slow to me. Any suggestions???

 

The instructions you were given are perfect. It's probable that you're not really doing what you think you're doing. The WRX is a HARD car to launch! Keep at it. It'll all "click" one run and you'll never forget after that.

When I ran the stock turbo shifting at 7k rpm (or a hair over) always gave me the best times.
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P.S. Here's my best time when the car was bone stock with the exceptions of TXS stealth back and rims/tires (Falken Azenis):

60' 2.051
1/8 e.t. 9.497
1/8 mph 72.03
1/4 e.t. 14.887
1/4 mph 91.05

You're making the power - you just need to get the launch down.
Slip the clutch or spin the tires - that's the key.

P.S. Oh yeah, hold third gear until it's bouncing off the rev limiter. You'll like the decrease in E.T.! Your mph suffers a bit (as is evidenced by my 91.05 run) but e.t. is where it's at for bragging rights.
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Thanks for the info!!! I've never held it out all the way to the rev limiter. I came close last night, but got scared & shifted into 4th at around 7100. Maybe, if I'd only held out a little longer!

My whole goal last night was to hit the 14's....maybe next weekend, and then from there..........

I'm DEFINITELY glad the problem is me, & not the car!

 

cool. i was by myself on saturday night and left at 8:15 because I had plans but boy was it empty. the announcer kept saying that I get slower and slower every run and I did.

1st run
15.590 @ 91mph

2nd run
15.8 @ 89 mph

3rd run
16.03 @ 88mph

My first run was right when I got into HRP. Didn't cool anything down, rest of them were cooled down runs. Looks like a relatively stock auto wrx can get very decent runs without cooling down of the tranny. Also, what I noticed is that the WRX strays from the norm where AUTO's are more consistient. Ask Jon, he knows how unconsistient my car is. Looked like most of my faster runs were on the spectator lane also.

 

Funkdrmr,

Try adding some more tire pressure also, like 42-43. I know this go's against any rules when drag racing a WRX, but i used to come really close to pratically droping the clutch when i launched. When ever i launched i had some wheel spin. Wheel spin in drag recing is a wrx trannies friend. I think the only thing left for you to do is just to get out there some more and practice. Cya out there

 

Did you smell clutch after any of your launches? When launching do you get wheelspin or do you bog off the line then start pulling? I think a stock 5 spd should be pulling a 1.9 - 2.0 60 ft. with a decent launch. Like Richard said, it's difficult to launch a WRX! One guy I know of (intake & turbo back exhaust) used to launch at 6k by "lifting" off the clutch...he had a 1.5 "best" 60 ft...(averaged 1.9 60 ft.) and eventually a lot of broken stuff in the tranny region. I think he'll try to learn the "proper" launch technique next time. Good luck...listen to the drag Gurus...

 

On the best runs (2.2-2.5 60' times), I did smell the clutch a little, but not too much. It was usually gone by the time I had picked up my ticket & parked.

I've only bogged down once (nervous against bike bracket racing), and I don't get any wheelspin. The rest of the time, I've slipped as I was told. I think the problem is, I've been slipping the clutch, but not putting the gas to the floor until the clutch is completely out. I'm not meaning to, I just don't think I've been paying enough attention to my right foot to tell it go hit it! Hopefully this weekend will go a little better.

 

Mario's got the formula for best launch...as long as it's on RE92's! haha! Just for your info, the local WRX stock boost/stock turbo record is 13.49 with a 1.7 60 ft (I believe)! That WRX is a "freak", but it's something to shoot for...

Also, the 1-2 shift needs to be "banged" to get the best ET. Good for times, bad for tranny.

 

Just keep at it, you'll get it. I've had the best 60' times side stepping the clutch... Lucky for me I didn't break anything. A 1.9 60' is very doable, and like Rich said, once it clicks your home free.

 

"Banged"....As in shifting quickly with the clutch, where it "bangs", or are you saying to "power shift", where you just pull the shifter down into 2nd with no clutch??

Oh ya...I'm still on the RE-92s....goin' to 42psi this weekend for sure!

 

"Banged" as I meant it, just means shifting very quickly. Please don't try to drag race without your clutch.

 

does that actually work (power shifting on a rex) just curious.

 

no.

 

i thought so