Drag Strip

[3.slow]

What PSI do you guys set your tires at? How do you launch? What RPM do you shift at in each gear? Any other tips and tricks? I am racing against an Infiniti G35 and need all the help I can get. This will all be done on a closed course drag strip.

[clos561]

20-25 psi in the fronts....stock launch around 3k, you have to figure it out for urself after a few runs

-i havent ran that low psi at the track yet, i will next time since im modded a bit more and trying to get best times

[MidwestSpeed3]

I ran 20-22 the 2 times I went. Launch at about 3k, and modulate the throttle to control wheelspin/hop. Shift at about 57xx-ish if you are stock. 1st and 2nd I think I read you should take up over 6k a bit helping you land better in the powerband for the next gear.

Good luck and post your results!

[3.slow]

Do you slip the clutch out or dump it like car and driver says?

[clos561]

i dump the clutch, and with low psi it would launch better, but best thing is the slip a lil bit, i jsut havent goten around to trying it. it really also depends on the mods

[3.slow]

With 40 PSI in my fronts I get a lot of spinning in 1, 2, and 3. With high 20 PSI, I would get first to CHIRP, CHIRP, CHIRP then break loose a little in second. G35's run high 13's don't they?

[clos561]

With 40 PSI in my fronts I get a lot of spinning in 1, 2, and 3. With high 20 PSI, I would get first to CHIRP, CHIRP, CHIRP then break loose a little in second. G35's run high 13's don't they?

yea, supposed to

[3.slow]

I will have to tree him then

[assman]

Dumping the clutch is an easier technique then slipping but not necessarily more effective and definately more harmful to your car. So try to learns slipping if you can.

Also for shifting you should try to keep it within the area of the powerband before it falls off which from the dyno runs people here have shown me is at or close to 5600

Also if you have air right at the track so you dont have to drive far to get it I would even go a little lower then 20 in the front and 40 in the rear.

As for the tree, well theres no substitute for practice. Make sure you get htere before your buddy and do a few runs and theres no way he'll beat you.

Last point, remove your stock airbox or cut a big hole in it, that shoud give you some additional power. And believe or not ive actually pulled my hood open and zip tied it so it wouldnt fly up before. It did help and on our cars it should help cool the tmic as well as get extra air into the filter especially if you cut a hole in it.

[3.slow]

I just put on a CAI. And he will be at the strip 4 hours before me lol!

[assman]

Well make sure you get a few practice runs in, make sure you work on your launches and shifting, but dont run as hard as you can to give him a false sense of security.

[3.slow]

I havent missed a gear in a long time( Knock on wood) LOL.

[assman]

When is this going down? You have to let us know how it goes.

[3.slow]

Will do. One of my other friends who was going to race too had some engine trouble today. He sent the oil pressure sending unit out the back of the block. You can guess what we are fixing tomarrow morning.

[3.slow]

The drag strip is open on Friday, but forecast is calling for rain Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I will be racing if we don't get rained out.

[cosmic_spd3]

Aight dude go get him and Kick his Ass..Represent for ur fellow speed3ers..loll..
Maybe when ur finsh u could change ur name from 3.slow to 2.Fast..

[3.slow]

Aight dude go get him and Kick his Ass..Represent for ur fellow speed3ers..loll..
Maybe when ur finsh u could change ur name from 3.slow to 2.Fast..

GIVE THAT MAN A BEER!!!! WOOHOO(cheers)

[3.slow]

I only ran a 14.8 my first time out. I bogged the launch because I found this better than spinning right away and I missed 5th gear LOL. I beat my G35 buddy, but he had to quit early because he got a large screw stuck in his front left hand tire. bummer.

I lowered the tire pressure from 50 psi to 25 psi and it helped alot. I launched at 2700 rpm with traction control off. I also feathered the clutch out. Dumping the clutch just makes more tire smoke. Launching at 3000 rpm I spun through 4 GEARS on a sticky track!!!!!!

So 2500-2700 was good. Then the shift to second resulted in lots of tire hoppage, then traction in 3rd. I was shifting as hard and as fast as I could. I raced another mazdaspeed3 and his best was a 14.57 and the rest of the day he ran low 15's.

Any tips or tricks for me when I go next time? I don't see how Car and Liar ran 14.0.

[Fritch]

50psi? why on earth do you ever have your tires inflated to 50psi? that is WAY too high even on the street.

[Ben Nast]

I think stock for stock the Ms3 has the more to work with than the g35. But it can definatly be a drivers race. If you put the same skilled driver in each car the ms3 would win. I think if you really know what your doing 13.9 is possible bone stock, maybe even better.

[3.slow]

U guys are telling me that I can run 13.9, but no one here is explaining how to do so. I thought I was going to be running 14.5's the whole night but I could barely dip into the 14's. Maybe I will run 20 PSI in the front and launch at a slightly higher rpm.

I am at 2200' elevation and the temperature was in the 70's yesterday.

[3.slow]

50psi? why on earth do you ever have your tires inflated to 50psi? that is WAY too high even on the street.

The damn tires I have say 50 PSI max.

[assman]

The elevation might be the problem right there. Im not to familiar with it since im within 100 feet of see level but afaik its the problem.

[happy and angry]

What in the hell... 50 psi max means MAX PRESSURE, not optimal. Read your door panel. It will say, quite clearly, 32 psi. Do what your manufacturers tell you to do. 50 psi, Christ, made me think you were doing drag runs on temp spares.

[clos561]

U guys are telling me that I can run 13.9, but no one here is explaining how to do so. I thought I was going to be running 14.5's the whole night but I could barely dip into the 14's. Maybe I will run 20 PSI in the front and launch at a slightly higher rpm.

I am at 2200' elevation and the temperature was in the 70's yesterday.

its all in the 60 foot, i went to the track wednesday and couldnt get past 14.1, i need some more track time with the gutted cat , lighter rims, and motor mount...tires spin alot more and i need to find right time to shift 2-3. i had 20psi too so it just takes practice.

[chacon101]

FWIW, I read an article a long time ago about this drag racing champion. One suggestion he had was to leave the car running in between runs. He says it kept the car consistent or something.

Besides elevation, driving skill is always a factor. There is a reason not everyone can race a car. If you are going to keep racing like this, get the rear engine mount which should help your times and just get more experience.

I mean, it's not like I was BORN being great at Rock Band...I had to practice alot. (guitar)

[assman]

Ya post up your 60s and traps, it can help us diagnose where your having problems.

[clos561]

my 60's were 2.4 on all 3 of my runs...i couldnt get the shift points right causing me to get real low rpms comin into 3rd. ive got 2.1, 2.2 before with stock wheels and stock mount

[assman]

I would guess that a 2.0 would be the best this car can do stock, a 2.1-2.2 are good and anyhting higher and you need a little more experiance

[Ben Nast]

U guys are telling me that I can run 13.9, but no one here is explaining how to do so. I thought I was going to be running 14.5's the whole night but I could barely dip into the 14's. Maybe I will run 20 PSI in the front and launch at a slightly higher rpm.

I am at 2200' elevation and the temperature was in the 70's yesterday.
Check this thread out I started. 13's are possible stock everything. At 2200' elevation it may not be though. You need like a 2.0-2.1 60 ft, powershifting at 5700.
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123692906

[Derek88]

50 psi, Christ, made me think you were doing drag runs on temp spares.

(hah)(hah)(hand)(rofl)

[Fritch]

The damn tires I have say 50 PSI max.

I should slap you (headshake

your radio says it can go to 50 too, do you always have it on that loud?

no, because thats not a good thing

[3.slow]

I had 60 foot times in the mid 2's and trapped in the higher 90's, but never hit 100. I will take my tire pressure down from 25 PSI to 20 PSI next time.

I either bogged the launch and spun through second or spun 1st, 2nd, 3rd,4th
then bogged and had to downshift LOL. I was feathering the clutch out at 2500-2700 RPM. I got all my oponents at the tree also. .097 was my worst reaction time.

How hard is the motor mount to install?

If I launch at 3k on the street I spin 1st and 2nd then hook 3rd, but on the sticky track I keep spinning. It makes no sense.

[3.slow]

I should slap you (headshake

your radio says it can go to 50 too, do you always have it on that loud?

no, because thats not a good thing

Hell ya I have my radio blasting. I didn't buy this car not to beat on it.

[clos561]

I had 60 foot times in the mid 2's and trapped in the higher 90's, but never hit 100. I will take my tire pressure down from 25 PSI to 20 PSI next time.

I either bogged the launch and spun through second or spun 1st, 2nd, 3rd,4th
then bogged and had to downshift LOL. I was feathering the clutch out at 2500-2700 RPM. I got all my oponents at the tree also. .097 was my worst reaction time.

How hard is the motor mount to install?

If I launch at 3k on the street I spin 1st and 2nd then hook 3rd, but on the sticky track I keep spinning. It makes no sense.

my traps are good, jsut my 60's are killing me, my traps that night were 101.5 i wish i had a private track (freak)

[Fritch]

Hell ya I have my radio blasting. I didn't buy this car not to beat on it.
(braindead

[3.slow]

This car is an expensive toy

[assman]

mid 2s, you definately need some work. From there your 1/4 should go down to low 14s

[3.slow]

All you guys talk big, but what steps do you take in the launch? Tire pressure, launch RPM, slipping the clutch or dropping it, flat shifting?

[clos561]

slipping is best for launching, jsut takes practice, i dont even know how to really do it perfectly yet. i dont talk big, i jsut know that i need alot of practice. this is my frist stick car and first mod car. Some guys on here have been doing this shit for years...

[assman]

Well ive gone to the track with all 3 of my last cars all more then twice, probably 10 times altogethor with about 140-160 1320' runs. So im no expert but I do have some pointers that will help.

As Clos561 and I and others have said:

PSI ~17-18
Drop Clutch < Slip Clutch but its harder on your car and easier to do
Shift no higher then 5500 or so becuase the power curve falls flat on its face
Depending on the track I cant tell you what to rev at but 2500 -3000 is typical.

Make sure you cool engine between runs. Do a small burnout to remove crud from tires any more and its just a waste of street tires.

Oh and turn up your stereo and keep your windows down ;)

[3.slow]

I thought dumping the clutch was way harder on a car then slipping it? Any thoughts? What do you guys do in 1st and 2nd gear? I bog 1st and spin the hell out of second, or spin both?

[happy and angry]

I thought dumping the clutch was way harder on a car then slipping it? Any thoughts? What do you guys do in 1st and 2nd gear? I bog 1st and spin the hell out of second, or spin both?That's what he said. It's harder on the car, easier to do, but not as effective.

Run around 20 psi TCS/DSC off, launch at 3000 RPM, slip the clutch so you keep the tires chirping but not spinning (you're right at the limit of traction) without bogging. Shift around 5700 - 6000 RPM. Power shift from second to third. You should hit a good time.

[MS3077]

That's what he said. It's harder on the car, easier to do, but not as effective.

Run around 20 psi TCS/DSC off, launch at 3000 RPM, slip the clutch so you keep the tires chirping but not spinning (you're right at the limit of traction) without bogging. Shift around 5700 - 6000 RPM. Power shift from second to third. You should hit a good time.

Agreed, maybe I would of run better than 14.44 if I lowered my tires to 20 psi.. My 60ft was 2.17 on Normal psi with the stock street tires no mods.

[3.slow]

Ok, even if I take off in first I still spin second no matter what. Do you get this too? I ran 14.8 in the high 90's missing 5th gear lol.

[Ben Nast]

Ok, even if I take off in first I still spin second no matter what. Do you get this too? I ran 14.8 in the high 90's missing 5th gear lol.

I think you need the driver mod.

[clos561]

my tires spin 2nd gear = no traction, u gota let it spin until its jsut right then shift to third. Thats my problem, the 2-3 . i shift early and the car goes to really low rpms...practice practice .(hand)(smash)

[happy and angry]

Learn throttle control. If you're spinning your way through 2nd gear it's not only wasting traction, it's likely leading you to shift early in the RPM range.

Remember when I said you want to be making tire noise without making tire spin? When you shift into second, don't just jump on the throttle. Get into it gradually, keeping the car at that fine line between grip and tire spin. Once you get into tire spin you're wasting grip, and you'll either have to wait it out OR come off throttle, neither of which are ideal situations for a drag strip.

You ever hear slow is smooth, smooth is fast before? Apply it to pedal control.

[Chris Barnett]

You ever hear slow is smooth, smooth is fast before? Apply it to pedal control.


Go slow to be fast is the motto I've used, but same principle.

[MS3077]

Ok, even if I take off in first I still spin second no matter what. Do you get this too? I ran 14.8 in the high 90's missing 5th gear lol.

When I ran my 14.44 I revved the engine at the light up to redline (to hold boost) and when it was time and the tach needle was on it's way down I slipped the cluth right about 2900rpm and power-shifted into second (this happens really quick) I still burned out a little in first and second, 3rd and up were just fast lift shifts (I still didn't lift quite all the way) My 60ft was a good 2.17 Why I only trapped @ 94.6mph I don't know..