I had never been to the 1/4 mile track(or any track for that matter) before last night. I was only able to get two runs in.
run 1 :
R/T - .851
60' - 2.349
330 - 6.126
1/8 - 9.252
MPH - 79.29
1000 - 11.891
1/4 - 14.105
MPH - 100.70
(I beat a DSM)

run 2 :
R/T - .707
60' - 2.430
330 - 6.226
1/8 - 9.330
MPH - 79.98
1000 - 11.947
1/4 - 14.141
MPH - 101.70
(I beat a current model Mustang GT)
I took a video of the first run because I wanted to document my hymen being ruptured, lol. Maybe it will help with the analysis of my run.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDf0mkBa8Io

The vibrations are from my absence of traction in first gear. I was launching at around 2k RPM's.
Thanks in advance for any advice you guys have for me.

 

BTW, the car is making 284.4 WHP on the dyno dynamics dynamometer and is a six speed on street tires.

 

Tough to tell what went wrong at launch because of the vid quality. The rest seemed like a Sunday drive....

 

You done good. New racers are always interested in ET and shifting when they should be concentrating on 60 foot time. I see room for improvement.

You are picking up 21.8 MPH in the second 660 feet. I would link to see 23.0 MPH.

The dashboard shake looks like wheel hop.

With practice I see 13.7 seconds.

BTW post a time slip here: https://my350z.com/forum/drag/233840...ons-stock.html. I think you are #35.

 

Thanks, hopefully I'll be in the 13's soon.

 

You shifted right before the end which lowers you're ET. Next time try not to shift unless your hitting the rev limiter.

 

Hmm, didn't even think about that. Thanks.

 

I would think a higher launch. If you get your 60' down, you get your E.T. down.

 

Maybe. I'm nervous about going higher than 2k though. All the times that I have practiced launching at 2.5k+ I just end up spinning the tires and pulling to the left. Perhaps with better clutch control it would work.

 

You will get accustomed to better 60 foot techniques and times. A hard clutch at 3,000 RPM, and you will just sit and spin. Better clutch and throttle control is needed.

When releasing the clutch you can feel the tires “bite.” Once you have transferred weight over the rear tires, you must hit the gas hard. Sounds like a two step technique but it happens in a second.

 

Thank you. Your advice is invaluable to me. I understand what you're saying, now I just have to try my hand at it.

 

Yeah, the only way to figure it out best is to go out and just do it. It's going to take more than a few tries to be perfect, but you will eventually get it.

Good luck!

 

I know this is going to sound rude, but please search for launch techniques.

Veetec and I have both posted a number of times things to make sure of.

Keep tires at stock pressure (if you didn't), do a QUICK burnout, not to heat the tires at all, but to throw any debris that has stuck to them off. If you drive through the water, burn out a bit longer to dry them (heat = evaporation).

Once you pull to the line wait for both cars to reach full stage, raise the RPM's to some level (I like VERY high levels, like 5k+), starting low and working your way up. When the tree starts dropping get ready, have the clutch released to just shy of the point it will grab at. When the third yellow illuminates slowly release the clutch, as the car rolls forward depress the gas further, the clutch will need to be feathered out as you increase to full throttle. If you start to spin slightly lift from the gas, but not completely. Spin won't help your times at all.

DO NOT dump the clutch at the line. DO NOT slip the clutch out too quickly. The correct process is and will seem horribly brutal to the life of your clutch. I have experienced the potential pitfalls of good launch techniques (failed flywheel ) but have the mentality, if I am going to the track to race, lets see what the car can do.


Edit - I just realized I had him leaving half a second early :EEK: Fixed what amber to leave on.

 

Very helpful!

 

Thanks, and good luck.

I think www.rangeracceleration.com is a great source of information, but the stock potenza's, as well as most other street tires DO NOT like to be warmed up much above 90-100 F range, so the burnout section doesn't really apply.

Practice makes perfect. Took me probably 30 runs to get the clutch felt out enough to drop consistently into the 1.9 60' times. Now with the JWT clutch and flywheel I have ~10 runs, only one (and not a good one) was a 1.9x 60'.

 

I'm saving this post for all the new threads that pop up asking for launch techniques.

Goodluck on your next try. I'm interested in seeing your improved times.

 

+1

Side note: The stock clutch may or may not handle a 5k rpm launch. Every time I've tried to launch that high my clutch fluid boiled over and the peddle stuck ruining my run. I've even had it replaced under warranty (not track related) and still the same issue.

 

Yeah....and it can ultimately lead to breaking parts and ending up with JWT parts being installed a week later that makes lots of tranny noise but perform EXCELLENT

 

LOL...I can tell the glass is half full in your eyes

 

Not bad for your first run. I'm late to the game, so have nothing more to offer than anyone else has already stated besides a comment about your RT. I assume the RT doesn't matter in the type of drag racing you're doing, however, if you want to dial that in, start your footwork when you see the last amber light illuminate. I used to make the mistake of anticipating when the last amber light was going to illuminate and was red lighting. When I actually see it light, I start my footwork to get a good RT. If you ever go to drag events that are bracket-style racing, this will be critical in dialing in to earn you an advance to the next round.

I am curious, however, about your car. What's done to it that you have 284rwhp? I'd expect a higher trap speed with that power.