Drag Racing for Dummies
04-28-2005, 10:38 PM
#1
Drag Racing for Dummies
I know that alot of the people on the forum are not into drag racing and mainly into road course racing, but I have got a couple questions about how everyone launchs the RX-8 when drag racing. I know there are some threads on the RX-8 times but there aren't alot of in depth discussion on the launchs and techniques. What pressure do you have tires at? What RPM are you launching at? Do you slip the clutch or dump it? What are your experiences with wheel spin and hop? How do you prevent wheel hop and spin? Right now at my local 1/8th mile track I have been launching at 4500 rpm and have had some bad spin and hops through first gear and I am running an average of 10.2 to 10.4 times, my best time thus far is 9.8. I have read of polak and other people running 9.3s in an 1/8th mile, what do you guys suggest I do? Thanks for the help in advance, I really appreciate the help.
Last edited by TORacing; 04-29-2005 at 01:17 PM.
04-30-2005, 12:03 PM
#3
X-Sapper
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last tiem i went to a 1/8 mile track (long tiem ago) in my 8 i got times of 10.6 10.3 10.0 and the 9.6. everytime i launched i lowered the rpm's down...started at 8500......last time was at 3k..but the track wasnt' very good. still had some wheel hop down in 1st.
if you got some sticky tires (or lower the tire pressure you can launch higher)...my tire pressure was also 32psi on all 4 tires.
all things being optimal i believe you should launch the car at abotu 5k - 5.5k (when you hit max torque in the 8 i forget the exact number)...adn slip the clutch a lill...i don't mean ride the hell out of it...bc/ then it's good bye clutch :D. this is jsut my thought son it though...i'm sure someone knowledgable will post soon...hehe least i hope so b/c i am curious as well :D
if you got some sticky tires (or lower the tire pressure you can launch higher)...my tire pressure was also 32psi on all 4 tires.
all things being optimal i believe you should launch the car at abotu 5k - 5.5k (when you hit max torque in the 8 i forget the exact number)...adn slip the clutch a lill...i don't mean ride the hell out of it...bc/ then it's good bye clutch :D. this is jsut my thought son it though...i'm sure someone knowledgable will post soon...hehe least i hope so b/c i am curious as well :D
04-30-2005, 12:05 PM
#4
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on a side note how you you liek teh apexi rsm? do you have to g-unit with it?
about how accurate is it..i heard it's good and have been looking to buy one...but haven't heard any feedback of it from any 8 owners :D
about how accurate is it..i heard it's good and have been looking to buy one...but haven't heard any feedback of it from any 8 owners :D
05-04-2005, 12:58 PM
#7
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I might head up to Moroso next Wed. with the 8. I'm not looking to run any decent times as I'll be on my 19's, I just want to get a feel for how the 8 launches at the track. I will try to lower my tire pressure a bit, but can't do it too much as I've barely got any sidewall with the 19's. I'm going to try and pick up a set of 17" wheels and some drag radials soon though. That should be fun.
05-12-2005, 07:18 AM
#10
Well Saturday I am going to the Kumho Street Warriorz event at Rockingham, the local Quarter mile, I will have my Turbo on by then so comparing to my other times will be difficult but I will try launching at 6000 RPM rather than 4000 RPM. I will let you guys know who it goes.
05-12-2005, 08:10 AM
#11
Do NOT slip the clutch, dump it with the engine rev'd to at least 7000 rpm
you'll get a bit of wheel hop but it usualy is nothing to be concerned about
if you spin it hard the rear end tends to move to the right, might require just a touch of countersteer
edit: didn't see that you have a turbo, you may need to drop the revs on launch dependent on how much rear tire grip you have
you'll get a bit of wheel hop but it usualy is nothing to be concerned about
if you spin it hard the rear end tends to move to the right, might require just a touch of countersteer
edit: didn't see that you have a turbo, you may need to drop the revs on launch dependent on how much rear tire grip you have
Last edited by TeamRX8; 05-12-2005 at 08:16 AM.
05-12-2005, 02:35 PM
#13
RX8 and a Truk....
Biggest thing to remember....unless you are racing for money, Reaction times mean DICK.
Sit there, at the green, as long as it takes for you to get a GOOD launch...60-ft time is key to a good E/T.
Sit there, at the green, as long as it takes for you to get a GOOD launch...60-ft time is key to a good E/T.
05-12-2005, 04:52 PM
#14
Blue By You
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Originally Posted by dmp
Biggest thing to remember....unless you are racing for money, Reaction times mean DICK.
Sit there, at the green, as long as it takes for you to get a GOOD launch...60-ft time is key to a good E/T.
Sit there, at the green, as long as it takes for you to get a GOOD launch...60-ft time is key to a good E/T.
05-12-2005, 04:54 PM
#16
Torque is Good
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Originally Posted by Horse
Well Saturday I am going to the Kumho Street Warriorz event at Rockingham, the local Quarter mile, I will have my Turbo on by then so comparing to my other times will be difficult but I will try launching at 6000 RPM rather than 4000 RPM. I will let you guys know who it goes.
05-12-2005, 04:54 PM
#17
Originally Posted by clyde
For what he's practicing for, RT and 60 foot times are the ones that count.
I would like to see his 60 foot times, though.
I would like to see his 60 foot times, though.
05-12-2005, 05:11 PM
#18
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Originally Posted by PoLaK
No im just wondering what his best 1/4mile time is, I disagree with the way he's recomending launching there, whether its for 60ft times or RT's.
05-12-2005, 05:21 PM
#20
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no experience in drag racing but I've been using the gtech for some time now. it might not be accurate but you can see your own results getting better at least
that said, you can understand I don't change tire pressure everytime I run. I have 36psi. I also use the same road, my own little 'dragstrip' which I visit late at night of course. road quality is bad so I found out that dropping the clutch (don't feather it!) at ~5k is the best...
on the dragstrip you have to rev higher, about 6.5k or 7k, because tires grip and the engine has no power to get you going. trust me on this or your 60ft time will be awful...
since the road I use is bad, I go sideways with 2nd gear too. what I do, to avoid loosing time (and wheel hoping) is not applying full throttle. find the spot where you have a balance between traction and wheelspin with maximun result... you have to do a lot of runs to get it right
you can chop off tenths of a sec by doing good shifts. no lift off makes a difference but it will kill the tranny eventually...
for good times you'd better get rid of your stock tires. I'm not stock, but with the 040 in a bad condition (16k miles) I managed a quarter mile at 14.49@97mph on that crappy road. I think its good. with my newly arrived coilovers and a set of good tires I hope I can drop it even more... you can check my other times in my garage.
hope I helped
that said, you can understand I don't change tire pressure everytime I run. I have 36psi. I also use the same road, my own little 'dragstrip' which I visit late at night of course. road quality is bad so I found out that dropping the clutch (don't feather it!) at ~5k is the best...
on the dragstrip you have to rev higher, about 6.5k or 7k, because tires grip and the engine has no power to get you going. trust me on this or your 60ft time will be awful...
since the road I use is bad, I go sideways with 2nd gear too. what I do, to avoid loosing time (and wheel hoping) is not applying full throttle. find the spot where you have a balance between traction and wheelspin with maximun result... you have to do a lot of runs to get it right
you can chop off tenths of a sec by doing good shifts. no lift off makes a difference but it will kill the tranny eventually...
for good times you'd better get rid of your stock tires. I'm not stock, but with the 040 in a bad condition (16k miles) I managed a quarter mile at 14.49@97mph on that crappy road. I think its good. with my newly arrived coilovers and a set of good tires I hope I can drop it even more... you can check my other times in my garage.
hope I helped
05-12-2005, 05:32 PM
#21
Originally Posted by PoLaK
you did see that i quoted "teamrx8" not "horse" right?
yes, and clyde was referring to me
I don't have any times yet, I have only been practicing my launch and 1-2 shift
what do you recommend then
Last edited by TeamRX8; 05-12-2005 at 05:39 PM.
05-13-2005, 01:31 PM
#25
I was only talking about NA cars, with a Tubro you could probably do great just launching at 5000k with a quick release, also do a short burnout b4 your run to warm up the tires, your probably going to break them loose in 2nd and 3rd gear if they don't put any sticky stuff on the track.