Hey guys I have a Manual 03 350z with a Skunk2 1/2 Plenium spacer, AAM Y-Pipe, Invidia N1 Exhaust, JVT Pop Charger and a stage 2 clutch with 18'' rims and Nankeg tires. This was my 2nd time at the track and I was very suprised at my time, as I thought it would be lower. I avoid the waterbox but spin the tires right before I stage and launching around 2.5 - 3k RPM. My time slip is as followed:

R/T = .454
60' = 2.297
330 = 6.629
1/8 = 9.942
MPH = 75.90
1000 = 12.693
1/4 = 14.997
MPH = 98.30

I would figure my time to be around 14.2-14.3 but I can not get out of the low 15's high 14's. Any tips on whats going on?

 

I highlighted your problem areas.

 

^ Why highlight the r/t? That has nothing to do with having an ET that's lower than he expected. The tires and 60' - yes those make a huge difference.

OP, reaction time has NO bearing on your ET, trap, 60', etc whatsoever. You need to knock that 60' down to 2.0 or lower, if possible. Better tires would help you out exponentially.

 

The Z is running strong picking up 22.4 MPH in the second 660 feet. Lots of times new racers worry about things that they may not be able to fix like 60 feet time. You can:

Change lanes
Move the car 6 inches to the right or left when staging
Alter tire pressure

But what you cannot do is fix staging pad preparation and weather conditions. All effect traction.

HINT: Our members love test-and-tune, and avoid competition racing at all costs. In general I have found that track officials do a mediocre job with staging pad preparation on test-and-tune days: after all its just for fun racing. They do a much better job on competition days.

 

better tires would help..but id lower the pressure a little bit..hold it at about 3k and feather it out..just work on lowering that 60ft. time and the rest will come

 

I've also been shifting at 6600 Rpm. Should I be shifting lower at like 5.5k?

 

no dont short shift..def. hold it out to 6.5k...keep those rpm's up..shift fast as u can smoothly..as u get better u can work on wot shifts to shave a few more tenths or so also...

 

Stage as shallow as possible (stop exactly as the 2nd light comes on) -- and try to get that 60ft down to 2.0. I learned about launching techniques here:

http://www.rangeracceleration.com/

 

This is a good idea for best ET. You can move the car until the staging light is flickering. Then 1 inch more. This technique will give you the maximum rollout BEFORE the timer starts.