Tips for the strip?

[lampshade]

How many of you guys go to the 1/4 mile?

Kiri and I went to Calder on friday and had an awesome time only managed 2 runs as it was quite busy but were keen to go again in a couple of weeks. (Never seen so many 10sec cars in one place:dance: )

We've only ever been to the Pod to watch so it was a 1st for us and whilst the times were not what I would expect I think she done pretty well for her 1st time on the strip, and can see where improvement can be made.

So any tips for getting a better start off the line?

[SKM_87]

practice, haha. work your way up with revs till you find a good one. don't drop the clutch super quick. the sudden shock just causes wheelspin. release it nice and smoothly.

[R3N]

So what times did you guys end up getting?

Couple of tips are to reduce the pressure of your front tyres (FWD) for increased grip. Play around with the pressures to see what's best for you. If you want to make this a frequent thing, another tip is to start a log book and record the variables, ie. temp, pressure, launch revs, ET, reaction time, 60ft etc and you can compare runs.

Its alot about practice to get your times down, also trial and error, try it with TC on, and with it off, try different rev launches

[lampshade]

Times were pretty poor TBH 14.752 and 15.102, not knowing much about the 1/4 I think it's all down to her take off (both 2.6 /60ft) think the terminal speed is about right as they were both over 160kph (is that good:confused: ) both runs were done with the TC turned on, it's a long way off I know but I think a low 14 and poss a v/high 13 is possable.

[bornwild]

Turn TC off. Work the clutch nice and smooth and don't just drop it. Decrease tyre pressure to about 28ish psi. Warm the tyres up(which is gonna increase pressure a bit, possibly about 35psi). Other than that...quick gear changes especially from 1st to 2nd and you should have a nice run.

Also, if you're running an intercooler, spray some cold water on it. Won't help much but what the heck...

[xplosv57]

Agree with above, turn T/C off, Calder is a very grippy track so you should'nt have too much worry about wheelspin with a high rev launch!!!

I'll possibly be running down the strip at Calder next friday, hope to see you there if you're going!!

[CNBLU]

I would love to go to calder. you should have said something and we could of got a crowd to come down. im looking at going hopefully in jan as work should quieten down abit.

14.5 is not bad but with the power you have you should be looking at high 13's.

[MatsHolden]

How many of you guys go to the 1/4 mile?

Kiri and I went to Calder on friday and had an awesome time only managed 2 runs as it was quite busy but were keen to go again in a couple of weeks. (Never seen so many 10sec cars in one place:dance: )

We've only ever been to the Pod to watch so it was a 1st for us and whilst the times were not what I would expect I think she done pretty well for her 1st time on the strip, and can see where improvement can be made.

So any tips for getting a better start off the line?

Mate, I reccomend head out to Heathcote Park Raceway, most Sundays they have a Test n' Tune, about 50 bucks and you usually can get 10 runs absolute minimum! And it's a much more relaxed envirnoment too, so good to practice. It's a bit of a drive, but I think it's worth it.

[CNBLU]

wheres heathcote?

[xplosv57]

wheres heathcote?

Bit before Shepparton, well i remember it being on the way!! :D

[MatsHolden]

Bit before Shepparton, well i remember it being on the way!! :D

Lol it's a fair way from Shep. About an hour and a half from Melbourne. South East of Bendigo.

[CNBLU]

thats not that far....mmmm road trip boys????

ps. its about that far to calder anywayz:rolleyes:

[MatsHolden]

thats not that far....mmmm road trip boys????

ps. its about that far to calder anywayz:rolleyes:

I mentioned it a while ago on Vic Opelaus and no one was interested. Only thing, you don't want to go on a stinking hot day.

[lampshade]

Yeah the times aint nothing special but like I said for a 1st time it'll do, I have seen the same spec C/S Vxr do a 13.6 at the pod (less nm than Kiri's too ) so 13's should be attainable but it will take a long time for Kiri to get there if ever.

Might be an idea for us to get together for a Vic opelaus trip out there cant do sundays atm due to work but deffo up for a friday night out.

Got the team dynamic wheels arriving next week so we'll see how they do on the strip as there quite a bit lighter than the 19's.

[SIMid]

BR has done a few runs and has even gone backwards in tyre sizes 17"s to get traction. As well as a smaller the overall diameter, the better the acceleration.

[lampshade]

Smallest I can go is 18" due to the AP's (cant be arsed to put the std brakes back on LOL) but will deffo be looking at tyre pressure and seriously thinking about a cold water spray bar system as it's getting fuggin hot here now.

Reading the european forums, and there all going on about cold morning's and how there cars are performing so well makes me miss the U.K :(

[SIMid]

seriously thinking about a cold water spray bar system as it's getting fuggin hot here now. :(

*LMAO*

You felt nothing yet mate! Wait till we hit a couple of 40s, THEN you can complain like I do!

[mr corsa]

you should go to summer slam 07 on the 1st of DEC at heathcote

[lampshade]

you should go to summer slam 07 on the 1st of DEC at heathcote

Give up some info m8 ;) , you have by far the quickest opel in Aus how about some tips on how to get times down in the 1/4 mile??

Here is the stat's to work on.......

R/T 1.334
60' 2.598
660' 9.725
KM/H 127.60
ET 14.758
KM/H 161.53

Pretty sure the key is in the 60 ft time:confused:

[Apex]

Those times are shocking mate I was just as quick in my puss box :p get back out there! I really struggled with my Astra and found it a real pig off the line, I found mine quickest with traction control turned off and a cautious 4000rpm launch. Trial and error is the best way to learn though, give yourself 10 or so runs to find the cars sweet spot!

[MatsHolden]

Also keep in mind all cars are different and as such require different inputs. You don't really want to be launching a rex at 4000rpm for instance...

[bornwild]

BTW...what is it that you drive?

[MatsHolden]

BTW...what is it that you drive?

Drives a worked Vauxhall VXR... and yes Vauxhall, imported from the UK. V Nice.

[bornwild]

Drives a worked Vauxhall VXR... and yes Vauxhall, imported from the UK. V Nice.

With 223kW.....bloody hell, nice. Is that at the wheels?

[MatsHolden]

With 223kW.....bloody hell, nice. Is that at the wheels?
I'll let him tell you more about his beast. lol

[bornwild]

I reckon he should be getting mid to high 13s fairly easy with that! :)

[lampshade]

BTW...what is it that you drive?

me xt Falcon on gas LOL (great car)
Kiri C/S stage 3 Vxr with A.P's

TTEETT, I aint got a problem with the times ATM to be honest, as the KM at ET is 100mph+ so I know the power is there for a quicker pass just want to get the start better, dont think a 4,000 rpm launch is advisable with Kiri's car as it's her daily driver and I dont want to replace the clutch just yet LOL;)

[blueraven]

BR has done a few runs and has even gone backwards in tyre sizes 17"s to get traction. As well as a smaller the overall diameter, the better the acceleration.

same overall diameter, i went down a size for better rubber and cost of tyre...and for the strip you can let a little air out, tho i dont think it helped me much.

its all about the launch with fwd cars, my best so far is 13.9 with a 2.25 60ft time, if i get close to a 2.0 60ft, will be mid 13's...

[OPC]

Give up some info m8 ;) , you have by far the quickest opel in Aus how about some tips on how to get times down in the 1/4 mile??

Here is the stat's to work on.......

R/T 1.334
60' 2.598
660' 9.725
KM/H 127.60
ET 14.758
KM/H 161.53

Pretty sure the key is in the 60 ft time:confused:


yeah i wouldn't worry about the reaction time or about the car in the other lane

concentrate more on 60ft times

with so much power comin from the front id slip the clutch a tad and not flat stick in 1st and try and flat change 3rd to 4th thats what i did in the old car

[Dave]

Tie a big bungy cord to a pole at the other end of the strip :cool:

[Vectracious]

Another vote for Heathcote - much less busy....

And some very interesting cars going down the strip (I'll never forget an old Suzuki GTi which looked like it belonged on a tip and it ran a high 12!!!)

Vic OA cruise maybe? I remember you mentioned it Mat ages ago, but yeah, not much interest.....

[MatsHolden]

Another vote for Heathcote - much less busy....

And some very interesting cars going down the strip (I'll never forget an old Suzuki GTi which looked like it belonged on a tip and it ran a high 12!!!)

Vic OA cruise maybe? I remember you mentioned it Mat ages ago, but yeah, not much interest.....

WE'll put it up again and see what happens. haha i know what you mean about some interesting things going down the strip... I saw a VK 5.0L going down the strip, running fairly good times in the 13's and then he took his exhaust off and ran 16's hahahaha. Then there was the red corolla that looked like he'd raided Reece plumbing for his intake piping, was a pretty tough beast surprisingly but one of the runs, pulled 2nd and bang! Transmission components all over the track.

[mr corsa]

try putting on some load before you launch

[Wraith]

How many of you guys go to the 1/4 mile?

Kiri and I went to Calder on friday and had an awesome time only managed 2 runs as it was quite busy but were keen to go again in a couple of weeks. (Never seen so many 10sec cars in one place:dance: )

We've only ever been to the Pod to watch so it was a 1st for us and whilst the times were not what I would expect I think she done pretty well for her 1st time on the strip, and can see where improvement can be made.

So any tips for getting a better start off the line?

Great stuff Lampshade, you must have been one of those noisy buggers I could hear from my place last Friday night LOL, I live in Taylors Lakes and when Calders on, it's very audible from where I live :)

Melb. sure does have it's fair share of 10 and sub 10sec cars, not just these days, but even almost 20 years ago, when I was out there racing regularly there were quite a few of us cracking 10's and 9's :D

In your case, you just need to run more and get more experience at it, your car certainly has the power/weight to run much better times ;)

If your really keen, you can actually hire the track all to yourself for a certain period of time during the week and get both yourself and the car all sorted, that's what what I used to do years ago :)

[xplosv57]

Just came back from Calder last night, you should've come down, not a big turnout, so I managed 10 runs, and could've done 10 more but thought i'd let the car cool down and watch the others in action!!!



Here is the stat's to work on.......

R/T 1.334
60' 2.598
660' 9.725
KM/H 127.60
ET 14.758
KM/H 161.53

Pretty sure the key is in the 60 ft time:confused:

Everything except the 1/4 mile time look good there, especially the km/h is awfully fast, 60ft time maybe letting you down but a nice launch (with T/C off) and you'll easily crack a 13sec!!!

Good luck and get back out there!!! :D

[SKM_87]

with so much power comin from the front id slip the clutch a tad and not flat stick in 1st and try and flat change 3rd to 4th thats what i did in the old car
i would advise flat shifting in a street car. you will **** you gearbox, sychro's dont like it very much. even full race boxe's dont like it.

[OPC]

i would advise flat shifting in a street car.
u would... excellent.. me too :)

[SKM_87]

u would... excellent.. me too :)
hahha, i need a personal sub editor, lol

[mr corsa]

flat change without using your clutch

[bornwild]

flat change without using your clutch
lol:D

[JohnBu]

Just came back from Calder last night, you should've come down, not a big turnout, so I managed 10 runs, and could've done 10 more but thought i'd let the car cool down and watch the others in action!!!


What times you end up getting Steve?

[xplosv57]

Quickest was a 13.4, first time out at the drag strip so my launches were pretty shocking but with a good take off, should see that number go down a bit more!!!

Everyone was predicting mid 14's so i'm pretty happy with the result regardless!!!

[blueraven]

Quickest was a 13.4

in your astra? christ i must be doing something seriously wrong :(

[CNBLU]

in your astra? christ i must be doing something seriously wrong :(

VX Calais GenIII not an astra:D