So today was my first time ever even going to a track.. it was fun, except according to my times I drove like shit
Just wondering if anyone has any words of advice to make my time a bit better next time. I think the results may be partly due to the fact that I've been driving manual for about a week and a half now, so I'm sure that aspect will get better soon and help improve on times.. But I have a 2003 Spec-V and the only mod I have is an AEM CAI.
I did 5 runs, the first:
(this was only the second time I ever even took my car to full throttle)
R/T.... -.081
60'.... 2.443
330... 6.796
1/8.... 10.338
MPH.. 70.16
1000.. 13.419
1/4.... 16.037
MPH... 86.04
I took some bad advice from another racer there to go on the second yellow instead of the third, so I red lighted it. From that point on I went on the 3rd yellow.
Yeah, that time I missed third gear. Probably happened because I decided to try powershifting. It worked great 1st to 2nd, but I don't know how I missed third, I've never even done that before. Sucked, and it was embarassing.
This time I had power shifted without missing any gears, and I got the best time of the day.. but isn't driving perfect supposed to be 15.0 1/4 time? It was nice and cool out, weather conditions were good, I don't understand it.
That time, I just kept peeling out. I don't know why, I didn't think I was doing anything different then normal. I thought maybe it was because of all the tire shit leading up to the start line from all the muscle cars peeling out like mad and the water they spray on there. How the hell does that help? Seems like it just made me peel out. The way I start out the race, I keep it rev'd around 2.5k rpm, soon as 3rd yellow I floor it and drop the clutch. Is there something wrong with that?
Any advice at all would be appreciated, thanks.
P.S. On a funner note, on the way up there I tested top end speed a bit, was doing 136 or so up a hill past my buddy with a camera, good stuff.
First bit of advice, learn to drive your car before you try to race your car. All you will end up doing is screwing up your car and getting bad times. It takes a helluva lot longer to learn how to drive a manual than a week and a half. Give it a couple months before going back
Your 60' times need help and so does the rest of your run...First you need to learn your track. Every track is different. Some are slick some are sticky. That is why someone can't say launch at such and such unless they run the same car at the same track. I race at a very slick track. So, I launch at 1200rpms - 1500rpms. If I go higher the car spins. Get your 60' down to 2.2 or better. Every .1 you shave off your 60' time you double in the 1/4 ET. So, your 15.6 would have been a 15.2 with a 2.2 60' This is an average but pretty accurate one. Make sure you slip the clutch. You want just a little chirp and that is it. Also, power shifting helps which is never leaving the gas pedal off the floor. Just push the clutch in every time and leave the gas to the floor.
1st gear - Shift at 6000rpms
2nd-4th - Shift at 6200rpms or redline. AS close to fuel cut off as possible.
Also, get ride of the spare and jack. That is a good 50lbs. Back seats too if able...
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14.7@94.01mph with Heavy ass 18's :D
Thank you MDMA, that's exactly what I was looking for. When you say slip the clutch.. what's that mean? hehe
I did get rid of the spare and jack, didn't even consider taking out the back seats. I'll launch lower at that track from now on, it was very slippery. My 15.6 time was power shifting too, i think that helped the most.
get sticky tires, stock conti's squeal like a mother, i got YOKOHAMA AVS ES100's, its hard to get them to make a chirp. also, redline synthetic can help alot with the misshifts, going to third, i need that stuff bad, my third gear grinds like teeth.
Originally posted by Zaren Thank you MDMA, that's exactly what I was looking for. When you say slip the clutch.. what's that mean?
Try starting at 1500rpms if you have a slippery track. If you still slip try 1200rpms. That is the lowest you should ever have to go because of the art of slipping the clutch...
That means the same thing as feathering? Basically when your at the line waiting for the tree to start your revving. Well, instead of slamming the gas down and letting off the clutch you play with both. This is something that takes practice. And many runs at the track to master. I'm still mastering it myself. Everyone is don't let them fool you. It is the point in which your giveing your car as much gas as possible without spinning your tires. To do this you have to SLIP the clutch.
Believe it or not...It helps to do it barefoot. lol I know this might not be normal but it sure helps me. You can feel everything much better. I have more control doing it this way. Either way you choose try it. Don't worry your first few times will be pretty bad times...On average anyway. But, practice makes perfect...
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14.7@94.01mph with Heavy ass 18's :D
Oh, also, I havn't looked at it on my car too closely (and I'd check right now if it weren't pouring monstrous amounts of rain outside), but would it help if next time I go to the track I take out my driver side fog light to try and get some ram air? I have an AEM CAI, so the cone is right down there, is there anything else that can't be removed without much trouble down inbetween the fog light and the cone?
you can take the fog light out easy, and the inner fender plastic panel that covers up the coldair, but the diference wont be seen until you've spent atleast three months getting used to the car. here's a trick you can do, get dry ice, get something to hold a bag of it to the outside of the CAI tube, this cools the tube and the air will be slightly cooler, small gains are possible.
Originally posted by Silvspec86 you can take the fog light out easy, and the inner fender plastic panel that covers up the coldair, but the diference wont be seen until you've spent atleast three months getting used to the car.
But there will be a difference, nontheless.. I'll try this next time I go.
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Originally posted by BlackoutSpecV what was your tire pressure? thats always nice for helping you hook better and can shave your 60ft time.
After my 16.0 run and 15.8 run I lowered tire pressure, they were at 35 for those two runs, for my 3rd I took it down to like 18 on each.
Theoretical situation:
You have a R/T of .500 seconds, and your 1/4 mile time is 15.5 seconds. If you had had a R/T that run of 0.000 instead of .500 and you drove exactly the same, would your 1/4 mile time then be 15.0?
So basically, does it start timing your 1/4 mile time from when the light turns green regaurdless of if you start right away or not, or does your final time get timed starting after you start moving?
the timer starts counting when you start moving, you could have a reaction time of 25 seconds and still run a 15.2. The R/T only affects the actual race going on (you vs the other guy)
say you have a fast as shit sentra and you're racing a civic
the civic has a reaction time of .6s and runs an 18.3, you have a reaction time of 10s and run an 11.5. Even though you ran an 11.5 he still wins the race (.6+18.3 < 10+11.5).
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