Best Way Off The Line? (Auto Trans)

Bonzo · 08-24-2012, 11:50 AM

Okay you track guys and gals, I've never posted in this section because, well, I don't race. But I figured since my question was regarding off the line performance, you folks would be the experts to ask this question to.

First, my car is my daily driver that I just use to have as much street fun as possible. Performance wise it's 100% stock, Sport with automatic. I'm currently up to just over 5000 miles.

For the last few months when I get the chance, I have been punching it off the line at the light just to see how it goes. I've tried different techniques, some with success, and some with failures (mostly due to the traction control I think). So far I think my best runs/pulls have been in manual mode, but without anyone actually timing me it's hard to say. I've also never dragged anyone yet, so I have zero measurements or references to go by.

I just finally got to thinking this morning that I wonder what the other guys are doing? I wonder what the best method (technique) really is? So I figured I'd ask you. [Of course you can flame me or dig me or rag on me all you want I guess for not knowing already. I'm a big boy, i can take it. And I'm sure there are other threads out there answering this question already, so consider me lazy for not spending an hour looking.] I was just looking for some Z expert advice to get the best jump so I don't embarrass our Z community when I'm up against a Camaro or Mustang or something.

Thanks for your advice / input.

Cheers ---- Bonzo

Compdoc777 · 08-24-2012, 12:04 PM

I thought I wanted an auto until I drove one. Thing could not make up its mind and shifting With the paddles was weird. But for auto I would think manual mode 1st gear hold brake pressure on gas turn off VDC. Green light go 100 % throttle.

Don't know if the car has some sort of launch control.

Bonzo · 08-24-2012, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Compdoc777

I thought I wanted an auto until I drove one. Thing could not make up its mind and shifting With the paddles was weird. But for auto I would think manual mode 1st gear hold brake pressure on gas turn off VDC. Green light go 100 % throttle.

Don't know if the car has some sort of launch control.

No launch mode.

Deciding on auto vs manual was a hard decision for me. 2 of our other 3 cars are manual, and I knew I would be driving this as a daily driver. I went with the auto because I didn't want "traffic clutch leg". If the Z didn't offer the paddle and/or the "tip" shifter, I would have gotten the manual.

Back to the question, I tried it a few times with the VDC off and got some definite wheel spin. So I'm sure I just need to play with it a bit more to get the right amount of brake/throttle (RPM) going before hitting it. Or, someone who's already figured that out could just answer here so I can save on tires? Wink wink.

And I'm also wondering about with the VDC on. So far for me it doesn't seem like you can do the brake/throttle thing much if at all. It just dies out for like a second or 2, then goes.

Z eliminator · 08-25-2012, 05:27 PM

You have to pull the brake fuse and ut will not die on you

Alexshen1 · 08-25-2012, 06:55 PM

foot on brake vdc off rev to 1.5k and feather the gas get about tiny bit of spin, if you go 100% on gas, you will spin like crazy.

threeseventy · 08-25-2012, 08:24 PM

Off the line at the light at the dragstrip? Or is this a street racing post? Don't drag race on the street. As far as on a track, don't do that either. Your tiny stock rear tires will a) spin and not grip and b) wear out ridiculously fast. DO go to a road course and pass stock Mustangs and Camaros safely because the Z is better on track.

Z eliminator · 08-26-2012, 05:52 AM

race only at the drag strip , street racing is not cool
take it to the track

Z

wstar · 08-26-2012, 07:23 AM

Turn off VDC, put it in M-mode in first gear, hold the footbrake and raise the revs just a little (2K-ish or less), then side-step the brake and roll into the gas pedal smoothly and quickly and manage traction with the pedal and the steering wheel. Also, don't hold with that footbrake for too long, just a second or two. If you hold it long you'll quickly overheat the fluid. 2nd gear pulls pretty hard, it's better to make the mistake of shifting to 2nd a little early than to wait a fraction of a second too late and bump into the soft rev-limiter at the top of 1st (which you'll reach very very quickly, and you have to keep the 7AT's shift input lag in mind...).

But really, who cares about first gear? Drag racing a car just puts a bunch of unnecessary stress on the drivetrain. All the real fun happens in 3rd-5th gears and involves frequent cornering and braking

Bonzo · 08-27-2012, 08:40 AM

Sorry, but I have to love when someone on a forum asks a simple question and then gets a bunch of "holier than thou" crap sort of answers. It's like someone simply asking which is the best radar detector and the first person who replies gives all this crap about how speeding is bad and people with detectors are evil people. Or like when someone starts a fun totally off topic thread about your favorite beers and someone posts in with the evils of alcohol and how people who drink are all sinners or thereabouts. What ever.

I say thanks to the people who tried to help me out and give me some good advice, I appreciate it. This will help me not only be a better driver, but it will also save unnecessary wear and tear on my car.

To those of you who can't keep your personal opinions about something I didn't even ask about in check, go start your own thread. This thread is about the best ways to get off the line. That's it. Thanks for your cooperation in advance.

threeseventy · 08-27-2012, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonzo

Sorry, but I have to love when someone on a forum asks a simple question and then gets a bunch of "holier than thou" crap sort of answers. It's like someone simply asking which is the best radar detector and the first person who replies gives all this crap about how speeding is bad and people with detectors are evil people. Or like when someone starts a fun totally off topic thread about your favorite beers and someone posts in with the evils of alcohol and how people who drink are all sinners or thereabouts. What ever.

To those of you who can't keep your personal opinions about something I didn't even ask about in check, go start your own thread. This thread is about the best ways to get off the line. That's it. Thanks for your cooperation in advance.

Whoa fat jesus.. nobody is holier than thou, just wiser (and apparently a lot nicer). The sticky above your incredibly obvious "how do I street race" post says NO STREET RACING POSTS. The advice on how not to waste your tires (or time vs faster straight line cars with fat rear tires and probably not auto trannys) is withdrawn, and the only way you would further embarrass this forum would be to put our sticker on your car THEN do your failure to launch routine and they post it on youtube. We'll watch for that

Bonzo · 08-27-2012, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by threeseventy

Whoa fat jesus.. nobody is holier than thou, just wiser (and apparently a lot nicer). The sticky above your incredibly obvious "how do I street race" post says NO STREET RACING POSTS. The advice on how not to waste your tires (or time vs faster straight line cars with fat rear tires and probably not auto trannys) is withdrawn, and the only way you would further embarrass this forum would be to put our sticker on your car THEN do your failure to launch routine and they post it on youtube. We'll watch for that

Holier than thou refers to others jumping a thread topic and shoving ones opinions down my throat on a topic that I'm not asking. Did I say I was street racing? No. Did I say I just wanted to get the best out of my car in case some other car trys to (basically) be a pain? Yes. I've got 5000 miles on my car and I'm now just getting into seeing how she'll go. I have yet to even be close to another car when I get on it. I think that basically says I'm not racing. I've never raced off the line on purpose in my entire life, except solo jumps on empty roads, and that's not racing. But certain situations call for juice to get you around certain yahoo's once in while, and I'd rather have it right than wrong. And when I'm driving the back farm roads by my house and I want to show my nephew what the car has, I want to give it it's all.

Once again, a thread unraveled by unwanted opinions.

How about you calm down and you.....

A big what ever.

EDIT: And while you are going elsewhere, why don't you go looking for the thread I was on about the Ohio mile. If I were to "race" as you say, I'd be doing it there. Although that's not really even racing, it's just a solo speed mile.

One_Quick_Z · 08-27-2012, 10:16 AM

If you make a comment saying how do I get off the line at the light, then say I dont take it to the track one will assume that you are street racing and that is a very poor judgement on your part.

DAN

Bonzo · 08-27-2012, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One_Quick_Z

If you make a comment saying how do I get off the line at the light, then say I dont take it to the track one will assume that you are street racing and that is a very poor judgement on your part.

DAN

Perhaps I should have been more clear? If so, my bad. I guess I should have known by posting in the track racing section that the only people answering immediately think RACE!!!! You know, because that's all any self respecting owner of a Z should want to do all day 24/7.

Perhaps our definition of racing is different? I don't know, because I don't frequent these threads. If it's just me, jumping off the line, by myself, wanting to go fast, that's NOT racing, at least to me. Perhaps, due to legal issues, this forum sees it differently? But the way I see it, I can accelerate fast myself all I want.

There are circumstances (which I have yet to have in 5000 miles) that present themselves where jumping off the line with some other yahoo because he's been cramming up your arse or something else unsafe is the safe way to get out of jams. But that's different topic altogether.

For the record to you safety folks, I am 42 and have NEVER been driving in or been the cause of any accident. I'll put my safe driving record up against anyone else's. Do NOT tell me what I should or shouldn't do in my car, I'll be the judge of that thank you.

This thread has ran it's course. I got some good answers here and will use those answers to my benefit. Thanks to those who could post some advice without preaching what I shouldn't be doing in my car.

Mods, please shut it down before a simple question gets turned into the next world war. Thanks.

Bonzo · 08-27-2012, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonzo

I've also never dragged anyone yet, so I have zero measurements or references to go by. I was just looking for some Z expert advice to get the best jump so I don't embarrass our Z community when I'm up against a Camaro or Mustang or something.

Cheers ---- Bonzo

Perhaps it was these 2 lines that got it going wrong?

Let me address those. I guess I could have made it a bit more clear. In the first line, I should have said "anywhere" instead of anyone. The point I was trying to make is that I have no clue as to what I'm doing 0-60 in; 5 seconds or 6 seconds; or more. Regarding the second line, again, as I stated in a lower post, "racing" (your word, not mine) the Camaro "fragile ego" people off the line would be to get around and out of harms way, in certain circumstances. So far I've not had this situation come up. But I'd just like to know the best way to do it.

Bonzo · 08-27-2012, 11:27 AM

I'm done. Please shut this one down.

08-24-2012, 11:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
Bonzo Track Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 690 Drives: Finally, a 370Z!!! Rep Power: 3372	Best Way Off The Line? (Auto Trans) Okay you track guys and gals, I've never posted in this section because, well, I don't race. But I figured since my question was regarding off the line performance, you folks would be the experts to ask this question to. First, my car is my daily driver that I just use to have as much street fun as possible. Performance wise it's 100% stock, Sport with automatic. I'm currently up to just over 5000 miles. For the last few months when I get the chance, I have been punching it off the line at the light just to see how it goes. I've tried different techniques, some with success, and some with failures (mostly due to the traction control I think). So far I think my best runs/pulls have been in manual mode, but without anyone actually timing me it's hard to say. I've also never dragged anyone yet, so I have zero measurements or references to go by. I just finally got to thinking this morning that I wonder what the other guys are doing? I wonder what the best method (technique) really is? So I figured I'd ask you. [Of course you can flame me or dig me or rag on me all you want I guess for not knowing already. I'm a big boy, i can take it. And I'm sure there are other threads out there answering this question already, so consider me lazy for not spending an hour looking.] I was just looking for some Z expert advice to get the best jump so I don't embarrass our Z community when I'm up against a Camaro or Mustang or something. Thanks for your advice / input. Cheers ---- Bonzo __________________ Finally Able To Order 2012 Model 8/24/2011 Delivered Tuesday November 15, 9:57 am!!! 2012, Auto, White, Sport, Kick Plates

08-25-2012, 05:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
Z eliminator A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 1,659 Drives: 370 Z 7AT Sports Rep Power: 19	You have to pull the brake fuse and ut will not die on you __________________ 12.343 @114.14 . 4.5 stroker motor is now being built. Dec 1 2015.

08-25-2012, 06:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
Alexshen1 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 154 Drives: 09 370z Rep Power: 16	foot on brake vdc off rev to 1.5k and feather the gas get about tiny bit of spin, if you go 100% on gas, you will spin like crazy. __________________ Fast Intention-Stillen-Amuse-UAM-Angel eyes-S Tune-Kenwood-UpRev-Aerojacket

08-25-2012, 08:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
threeseventy Track Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 600 Drives: Opinion Rep Power: 16	Off the line at the light at the dragstrip? Or is this a street racing post? Don't drag race on the street. As far as on a track, don't do that either. Your tiny stock rear tires will a) spin and not grip and b) wear out ridiculously fast. DO go to a road course and pass stock Mustangs and Camaros safely because the Z is better on track. Last edited by threeseventy; 08-25-2012 at 11:47 PM.

08-26-2012, 05:52 AM	#7 (permalink)
Z eliminator A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 1,659 Drives: 370 Z 7AT Sports Rep Power: 19	race only at the drag strip , street racing is not cool take it to the track Z __________________ 12.343 @114.14 . 4.5 stroker motor is now being built. Dec 1 2015.

08-24-2012, 12:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
Compdoc777 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Cypress Posts: 277 Drives: 2011 Nismo #4 MB Rep Power: 14	I thought I wanted an auto until I drove one. Thing could not make up its mind and shifting With the paddles was weird. But for auto I would think manual mode 1st gear hold brake pressure on gas turn off VDC. Green light go 100 % throttle. Don't know if the car has some sort of launch control.

08-26-2012, 07:23 AM	#8 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3595	Turn off VDC, put it in M-mode in first gear, hold the footbrake and raise the revs just a little (2K-ish or less), then side-step the brake and roll into the gas pedal smoothly and quickly and manage traction with the pedal and the steering wheel. Also, don't hold with that footbrake for too long, just a second or two. If you hold it long you'll quickly overheat the fluid. 2nd gear pulls pretty hard, it's better to make the mistake of shifting to 2nd a little early than to wait a fraction of a second too late and bump into the soft rev-limiter at the top of 1st (which you'll reach very very quickly, and you have to keep the 7AT's shift input lag in mind...). But really, who cares about first gear? Drag racing a car just puts a bunch of unnecessary stress on the drivetrain. All the real fun happens in 3rd-5th gears and involves frequent cornering and braking __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details Last edited by wstar; 08-26-2012 at 07:26 AM.

08-27-2012, 08:40 AM	#9 (permalink)
Bonzo Track Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 690 Drives: Finally, a 370Z!!! Rep Power: 3372	Sorry, but I have to love when someone on a forum asks a simple question and then gets a bunch of "holier than thou" crap sort of answers. It's like someone simply asking which is the best radar detector and the first person who replies gives all this crap about how speeding is bad and people with detectors are evil people. Or like when someone starts a fun totally off topic thread about your favorite beers and someone posts in with the evils of alcohol and how people who drink are all sinners or thereabouts. What ever. I say thanks to the people who tried to help me out and give me some good advice, I appreciate it. This will help me not only be a better driver, but it will also save unnecessary wear and tear on my car. To those of you who can't keep your personal opinions about something I didn't even ask about in check, go start your own thread. This thread is about the best ways to get off the line. That's it. Thanks for your cooperation in advance. __________________ Finally Able To Order 2012 Model 8/24/2011 Delivered Tuesday November 15, 9:57 am!!! 2012, Auto, White, Sport, Kick Plates

08-27-2012, 10:16 AM	#12 (permalink)
One_Quick_Z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Seneca Il Posts: 1,374 Drives: 10 Civic EX Sedan Rep Power: 220	If you make a comment saying how do I get off the line at the light, then say I dont take it to the track one will assume that you are street racing and that is a very poor judgement on your part. DAN __________________ -My BRZ with exhaust will decimate all if we overnight parts from Japan- 10 Civic EX Sedan- Current Daily

08-27-2012, 11:27 AM	#15 (permalink)
Bonzo Track Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 690 Drives: Finally, a 370Z!!! Rep Power: 3372	I'm done. Please shut this one down. __________________ Finally Able To Order 2012 Model 8/24/2011 Delivered Tuesday November 15, 9:57 am!!! 2012, Auto, White, Sport, Kick Plates

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