If one was to pitch up at a drag strip or, say, the Brighton Speed Trials, what would be the fastest way to launch the car? As you know, we have no launch control only DSC on or DSC off. Normally I would use DSC off as the DSC can be very intrusive in corners, and doesn't allow the back to slide anywhere near enough. But on a straight 1/4 mile strip, would it be a faster launch than manually feathering the throttle?
Fastest launch for 1/4 mile?
- Thread starter carl
- Start date
Liverpool
mmm-five said:DSC off and 4500rpm seems to be the best for a fast launch, as it means you can get the 5-10% slip you need to make it quick.
You'd be lucky to get it under 6 seconds with DSC on - and you'll have to practice a fair bit to get 5.0 seconds
Ive tried launching the car at around 4000rpm and dropping the clutch and went sideways with smoke pouring out the rears.
It's also dependent on tyres. I don't do it frequently enough to do accurate measurements, but I remember holding the revs at about 12 o'clock on the dial - which I thought was about 4500rpm.
On the OEM Conti's it was very/too easy to slide the car with the DSC off. With the Michelin PSS on there's a whole new level of grip - which means you need those extra 500rpm or so to stop it bogging down - so I suppose with OEM tyres 3500-4000rpm may do the job.
Only one way to find out for certain
On the OEM Conti's it was very/too easy to slide the car with the DSC off. With the Michelin PSS on there's a whole new level of grip - which means you need those extra 500rpm or so to stop it bogging down - so I suppose with OEM tyres 3500-4000rpm may do the job.
Only one way to find out for certain
erol_h said:mmm-five said:DSC off and 4500rpm seems to be the best for a fast launch, as it means you can get the 5-10% slip you need to make it quick.
You'd be lucky to get it under 6 seconds with DSC on - and you'll have to practice a fair bit to get 5.0 seconds
Ive tried launching the car at around 4000rpm and dropping the clutch and went sideways with smoke pouring out the rears.
It will if you dump the clutch. If you feather it/balance it then you get a full launch.
pilchardthecat
Active member
erol_h said:
I'm not convinced the extra £140 is worth it for PSS - You can get Conti 3s for £230 each on the back. Much better than the old Conti M3s and about the same price.
I could get the OEM Conti M3 for £180 for the rears and £160 for the fronts (£700 delivered, and add another £10/tyre for fitting = £740). The PSS were £270 for the rears and £220 for the fronts (total fitted = £980), but there's almost always 20% off (and I get 2% cashback on my 'Executive' card) from Costco so the extra was only about £25 - definitely worth it.pilchardthecat said:
Never tried the Conti SC3 so can't compare, but I only considered the Conti SC5 and Goodyear F1A-2 when I bought them last year.
Although I'm assuming we're talking about OEM 18" sizes, not 19" CSL sizes.
pilchardthecat
Active member
mmm-five said:
Wow, those are amazing prices. I did my rears last month, prices via blackcircles etc and there was a £70-£80 premium (per wheel) for the PSS vs the Contis
I've done Santa Pod in mine and a few rules I follow but I'm no expert and you get some right and some wrong.
Spin the rears up on the warm up/burn out area if there is one. It does help.
Traction OFF. It will just bog down otherwise. This is a certainty.
First gear then slip the clutch. Might not be good for it but you will either bog down or spin up otherwise.
Then short shift to second and floor it avoiding the limiter in each gear
Look for around 13 seconds and 110mph or so if you get it hooked up.
Enjoy!
Spin the rears up on the warm up/burn out area if there is one. It does help.
Traction OFF. It will just bog down otherwise. This is a certainty.
First gear then slip the clutch. Might not be good for it but you will either bog down or spin up otherwise.
Then short shift to second and floor it avoiding the limiter in each gear
Look for around 13 seconds and 110mph or so if you get it hooked up.
Enjoy!
One of the USA guys did a 10 in a stage 2 ess car.
2nd run snapped both driveshafts.
On drag tyres , who knows what's possible, Tom again USA owner has vboxed his stage 2 0-60 at 3.9 seconds.
I wince when the fi z4ms do this as I'm waiting for snapping noises.
Mid 13 for a stock car is say.
2nd run snapped both driveshafts.
On drag tyres , who knows what's possible, Tom again USA owner has vboxed his stage 2 0-60 at 3.9 seconds.
I wince when the fi z4ms do this as I'm waiting for snapping noises.
Mid 13 for a stock car is say.
Not tried many hard launches personally, only 3-4 times the whole 3 years i've had it and i've invariably spinned the wheels profusely in each case.
No 1/4 mile drag strips here either. Longest one is only 300m (1/4 mile is about 400m). I'm going to take it to a RWYB event eventually though. All in good fun.
No 1/4 mile drag strips here either. Longest one is only 300m (1/4 mile is about 400m). I'm going to take it to a RWYB event eventually though. All in good fun.