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Drag day - end of season. Need new launch.

RedTwo

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 16, 2008
Messages
1,917
Location
New Zealand
I headed out to the drag strip for the end of season hurah after blowing the clutch at the January meeting. We're heading towards AutumnWinter now and it rained a little overnight, leaving the day overcast and cold with the temp down around 15* where it stayed for the whole day. I arrived just before racing started because the battery was flat when I went to leave, then I chose to top up the tank. Half way to the track I got pulled over by the cops! They thought the ride looked "pretty bumpy"! Which typically means dodgy suspension mods (chopped springs, dead shocks) - I think this will come into play later - luckily I have all the approval and compliance documents for all of my mods; one more for the good guys!
I think I will try this method next time; it beats sitting around for an hour while nothing happens. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I set my PB of 12.662 @ 108.70 MPH at the same event back in 2009 with a very unco-operative second gear. Since then I've picked up 20hp from a tune, increased wheel size from 15x6" to 16x8", 4 bolt axles and a plate diff. Back in Janurary the car was the exact same as it is now other than having the 2009 clutch and flywheel. After it blew I replaced it with the same clutch and a lightened ACT billet flywheel and had the gearbox synchros replaced.


First 4 runs were 12.9-13.0 at ~108 with 1.99 60's. Going into second wasn't perfect but the other gear changes were like lasers. I was hoping it was just the tyres and gearbox still warming up. On the 5th run a line to the wastegate came off! Luckily the ECU saved me from free boosting the engine inside out /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/uhh.gif While I was fixing the line I noticed I was completely missing a front indicator - who knows how long that had been missing /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

All plumbed up again and I laid down a 12.779 @ 109.92 followed by a 12.832 @ 109.43, but I was still putting down 1.99 60's. Shortly after this stage I got knocked out of the competition with a -0.008 red light while the other guy broke out by 0.3! Damn so close! Turns out they misread my dial in time on that run too; 12.7 turned into a 12.1!

I hadn't touched the launch control (I think it's the same as a two step) since 2009 when it was set at 5000 rpm. I noticed I was sometimes leaving the line at about 3500rpm so cranked the launch RPM to 6500 rpm and for the last hour before they closed the lanes I was putting out quicker ET's and lower 60's. I dropped my 60's down to 1.91 and ran 12.71 @ 109.67, 12.72 @ 110.15 and a 12.672 @ 110.00. That's better! That's almost my PB! I know I can crack it!
From here I started launching harder (no adjustments to the ECU as the laptops batteries expired), waiting on the line longer and loading up the handbrake more which let me cut 1.86 60's but still only got 12.80 @ 109.87, 12.73 @ 110.29 and 12.79 @ 108.97.


I didn't break anything, (found out I had) lost an indicator, ran some consistent good times but still left felling defeated. I know I should be faster! I've got more MPH but not getting the result at the start. Looking at the timeslips it's obvious something is very different at the launch between flywheels. I'm going to bleed the clutch system again and check the shift linkages. There's no reason for second to still be a cock.

My old launch technique was to use the launch control, loud pedal to the floor, clutch just about biting and take up the load on the handbrake. A couple yellow lights and it's handbrake off, clutch dumped, steer against the oversteer and 400m later hit the brakes /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
This obviously doesn't seem to be working anymore. Does anyone have experience launching these cars on a lightened flywheel? Does it require more clutch slippage? More revs seemed to help a little, should I just aim for redline? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jawdrop.gif How much impact would the stiff suspension have? It shouldn't compress like it used to on a launch and in theory should keep the weight distribution even. Or is it actually just making the rear end skip around?


Time slips:
2009
60' 330' MPH ET @ 400m
1.800 8.282 107.66 12.883
1.771 8.101 108.70 12.662

2012 - death of clutch
60' 330' MPH ET @ 400m
1.870 10.566 88.49 16.272
1.890 8.676 106.59 13.372
1.857 8.570 95.97 13.380

2012 - latest meet
60' 330' MPH ET @ 400m
2.004 8.510 107.17 13.110
1.923 8.369 105.05 13.002
1.994 8.388 108.54 12.924
1.990 8.501 108.41 13.042
2.010 11.612 46.30 21.005
1.985 8.276 109.92 12.779
1.994 8.323 109.43 12.832
2.199 8.664 108.58 13.202
2.081 8.600 107.72 13.210
2.085 8.441 109.52 12.955
1.957 8.379 109.02 12.929
1.994 8.485 107.82 13.066
1.917 8.201 109.67 12.716
1.942 8.232 110.15 12.727
1.915 8.177 110.00 12.672
1.822 8.580 108.81 13.147
1.860 8.307 109.87 12.809
1.856 8.236 110.29 12.738
1.864 8.251 108.67 12.796


I stole these off the facebook page so they're not fullsize.


Dirty old me me vs a dirty old Subary Legacy.


Do you think this guy gets a lot of sh*t from the other bikers?


They fed this guy enough stray cats and low flying birds to run a 9.26 @ 149 MPH
 

GSX_TC

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 7, 2011
Messages
3,722
Location
Houston, Texas
Your Eterna looks awesome on the track man, and that EVO is sick
 
Last edited:

NZ VR4 RS

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 27, 2001
Messages
274
Location
new zealand
here are some of my times from 2004, was running a lighweight flywheel, and a big 16g.
launch was set at 5500rpm and was building round 12psi.
all you got to do is drop the clutch, its that simple.


2.176 13.327 @ 106.38
1.914 12.807 @ 110.007
1.802 12.596 @ 107.91
1.930 12.846 @ 108.70
1.737 12.581 @ 107.91
1.950 12.947 @ 109.48
1.794 12.646 @ 109.48
1.722 12.525 @ 109.22
1.711 12.500 @ 110.02
 

NZ VR4 RS

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 27, 2001
Messages
274
Location
new zealand
No didnt need them till I got the 35r in. Best was [email protected] on some toyo street tyres. Still on the big 16
 
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