Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Dyno and Drag tips for the track. 1/4 mile.

this guy at work wants to race me real bad for what reason i don't know. i told him if we are going to do this then lets go to a track and do it right because i don['t need any cops chasing us or having an accident or something. anyways i was wondering on some tips of advice for taking my car to the track. like what tire pressures to run, what is best way to launch (drop the clutch or ease it out) etc. by the way he has a 2003 monte carlo ss.. the ones without the SC. he is a little out of control because he told me he has a k&n and he believes its worth 15hp, you know one of those guys. so i just want to stuff him and get it over with. my car is a 99 CSVT with 73,000kms on it with no mods excepth an accumulator.
thanks

we'll you prob wont take him off the line..so no wheelspin or hop would be ideal...if you spin or hop you might be done...

practice your launch in a parking lot somewhere, preferably where you know the owner. Rev to 2500-3000 rpm, and let out the clutch fast and smooth as you pour on the gas. You should get a hair of wheelspin and no hop. Practice your shifts on the street: quick and smooth is the key. You can poweshift to help beat him but you might kill your clutch/diff/axles, etc. Oh, remove your spare tire, pump your rear tires up to the maximum pressure on the sidewall, drop your fronts to about 30 or even 28, and try to keep the car cool when you run. If it's cooking in the engine bay you'll be slower.


BTW- I do a drag-type launch on some auto-x courses, and that roll resistor from Pole120 is great! It helps a lot, even on stock suspension.

I wouldn't worry a whole lot about tire pressure. Factory settings are fine. Your best bet on the launch is to get to the line in 1st gear. slowly let the clutch pedal out until you can start to feel it grab, then press it back in a hair. This ensures that the clutch is ready to be slipped, and you know where the grabbing point is. Rev the motor to about 2700rpms. Once the light goes green(actually the 3rd yellow light is at it's brightest), slip the clutch slowly while keeping the rpm's in that 2800-3200 rpm range with the gas. Once the clutch pedal is completely let out, you should be withing your secondary range(3200rpms), which at this point, 2nd gear is approaching FAST! From here on out, it's all a matter of how fast you can slam gears.

Disclaimer: What I've explained above is how I race at the track, and have been very successful. Also, this method is to be used it all parts are in good working order. Please do not attempt a heavy clutch slip if your clutch is already going out.

Mark

You can take him...

I raced one (at a track) from a 30mph roll or so and won by atlest 2 car lengths to triple digit speeds.


I just recommend trying to practice a few launches at different rpm's (just not too high) and get a feel for how much you can give it before you spin.

Good luck!

I agree with everything Y2KSVT said except the secondaries open at 3800 rpm (at least thats when mine do). I do everything that he does but I rev it to about 5100 rpm and then slip the clutch. The tires will chirp a few times and when they hook up 100% the engine doesnt bog at all cause its around 5-55k rpm. This is hard on the car but if you have good tires and your at a good track this is the best way. Ever since I went from 3500rpm launching to 5k rpm my 60 fts have gone from 2.3s to 2.2s. Which is huge in a 1/4 mile.( i have Neo Gen Nittos)
just my .02

svts open early at wot and 3800 otherwise

thats good driving 2.21 60ft. i can appreciate a man who knows how to launch a car.

that was with street tires right?

Yes, that's with street tires. My current best with the 3L and LSD is a 2.13 60' time(street tires.) Soon to be going back to work on a 2.0X with these crazy tires I have on now!

Mark