First qtr mile run....fail @ 14.6, 105mph
 

Ok...so I did my first ever qtr mile run the other day with my Z. I goggled before hand to see what the ideal rpm was to drop the clutch and whoever's post I read was wrong because it was a total fail (or my specs / conditions were totally different than his runs). It said 3k was an ideal rpm to let out the clutch.

It was 67 degrees, I had stock tires on, I did not warm my tires up first, and I have full bolt-ons w/ Cobb tune (313 whp).

I spun first, spun second...finally catching 7k in second...chipped 3rd and finished in 14.6 @ 105mph.

Can some of you track gooroo’s give me some advise.


http://www.the370z.com/members/blues...-drag-fail.jpg

ROFL @ 60'.

Don't worry, bro. You'll get better. I remember the first time I ever went in my Mustang... We are all there at one point. If after your second or third trip you're still cutting lousy 60's there's a problem, but for your first time out... don't worry. Just keep at it!!!

You need to slip the clutch a bit and modulate the throttle if you encounter too much spin. If you spin too hard from 3k launch a little lower or feather the clutch a little more.

Edit: Also, always drive AROUND the water box and do a little dry hop (quick spin of the tires) before you stage to clean off any debris you collected in the pits. You don't want to do a burnout with street tires -- don't want them too hot.

Focus on the 60' time, which basically is your launch. What is online will be for that person, with X mods, and on that track that day, while for you it might be completely different so you will need to run a few times to find your spot.

dang thats horrible. 2.6 60ft? how do you even pull out infront of traffic without someone rear-ending you LOL

it takes time to figure out how to launch the 370.
im sure you will be in the 12 's soon
Lower your rear tire presure to 27 lbs.
this will help.

When you dump the clutch at 3k, are you keeping it at 3k, or are you getting antsy and mashing the gas?

Damn guy in the left lane had a stellar r/t. What was he driving?

Ha sorry i Just liked the thread title sorry about that man!

Yeah first time I tried to launch mine was on a back road at 2am. I dropped the clutch at 3k and mashed the gas at the same time and it just spun like crazy..well the RPM's did I don't think the clutch actually got to catch because I didn't go anywhere really haha. I then shifted into 2nd and the RPM's flew again and the clutch pedal just remained depressed. Scared the **** outta me because I thought I broke something. I think I got it now because the second time went a lot better, had to kinda let it catch then mash the throttle hehe.

Your reaction time was over a second. I'll bet you are waiting until you see the green light before taking off. Try taking off when you see the last yellow. By the time you cross the sensors the light will be green!!!

There's a 13.6 for you right there, even without perfecting your launch control!!

Anyone watch the Nismo 370z on Motorweek this week? They got it to do 1/4 mile in 13.8 sec. Said it was incredibly difficult to launch.

I'm pretty sure the reaction time doesn't affect the ET, Jorge.

Honda CRX? :tup:

he could wait at the line for a week, still would have ran the same time.

Correct, unless you are racing someone.
Reaction time is worthless if you are just going against yourself, you can sit at the green and wait if you want, the clock starts when you roll forward.

I don't know why so many people think RT means anything when you're out at a test and tune. It has no impact on your ET at all.

I was at the track last year and this ricer Scion driver was telling me how he'd be running 9s (8th mile) if only he could have a second off his RT. I didn't rail on the kid but I politely pointed out that RT doesn't matter and you are stuck running 10.99s.

Really!?!?! Damn, that means I really didn't run a 13.9 with my Eclipse turbo when the slip said 14.2 and my friend told me to back the r/t out!!!! That's what I get for listening to another amateur!!! Thanks for clearing this up Ray.

I had no idea so many people thought RT was factored into your ET!

Seems like this thread may need sticky! http://www.the370z.com/track-autocro...tml#post482413

Id cry, lol , jk ...

I would just feather the clutch from 2500 in such a way that you never spin and are always moving.. it wont get you the best launch but it will prob get you a 2.2 or better with your mods.

And did you go through the water pit and not do a burn out ? I would just go around the water. than do a small burn out just incase your a little wet and than line up...

Im going to the track on wednesday, just dynoed a very generous number but my expectations are tampered this time because im on stock rubber with limited tire left... I want a shot at it before I get a Drag Radial setup. Than im expecting to pull 1.9 60 foot or better. .7 better than your first pass within the first 60 feet ! lol think about that, its crazy how much time there is to be made up in the first 60 feet.

Yea, I was wondering about the tire pressure. I usually lower it for auto cross but wasnt sure how much or how little for the drag.

Haha...MASH :)

nice theory. Anyone else do this?

Although I don't care as much about reaction time because its not factored into my final qtr mile time

Yea, I am a dumb *** and didnt think about driving through the water and getting my tires wet. I was too caught up in the moment. I will either drive around next time or do a small tire spin to clean them off.



Thanks for all the feedback guys! :tup:

You should always avoid the water box if possible... a small spin isn't going to be enough to dry them off, and you don't want to heat the tires too much prior to your run.

Yes, a good rule of thumb is to leave the light on the third yellow. With good practice you will be cutting near perfect rxn times. Of course as already discussed, it does nothing for your times.

Reaction time may have not have anything to do with your ET, but I personally feel that it can give you the edge over your opponnent....The quicker you get off the line than he does the better chance you have on winning or if not, giving him/her a run for their money...

Trying not to Mash off the line is kinda Hard...especially if you got the jitters...It takes a lot of time and practice...

Here is a clip of a pretty decent launch...He is revin' at about 3K...(Fast forward to the 1:40 mark)...but don't know what his mods are or whether he's running slicks or Street Tires.

thats me, only mod at the time was G3 intakes, stock tires, which were actualy at 45~ psi...never got a chance to check them until i got home, damn dealership for some reason put them that way. As you said, i got the jitters and accidently dumped the clutch causing a horrible 60' time. Sorry for the video being so long, didnt know the guys were going to prep the horrible track.

Lol...Wow..I really think that you're launch here was pretty smooth!!!! It took me some time to figure out how to launch the 370z...and beleive it or not I based my initial launches off of you're vid...I could never figure out to do that whole thing of not mashing the gas when getting off the line...I naturally have a heavy foot...even when driving daily, so not mashing the gas is out of the question for me...its like second nature...No matter how hard I try I always seem to mash the gas...I found that reving at 1700 to 2000 rpm and mashing works great for a launch...I tried so many times at 3k, but just could not hold back on slammin my foot down on the gas pedal...This caused me to sit a lot at the line and not gain any great traction...