13.5 @109 5800ft ASL

[snailD]

So today i hit up Bandimere Speedway's IDRC event in Colorado. If it isn't the highest elevation drag strip in the US i think its up there. We are at 5800ft above sea level.

I couldnt get the launch down. I was using my Nitto NT01's (245 used for autocross) as i figured they were better than my street tires (245 Dunlop Direzza DZ102). I matched what i got on street tires before for 60ft times, but 2nd gear was 1000x easier with these as i hooked once i shifted. I struggled with wheel hop on these in 1st gear, i had them at 28psi. I would love some feedback from the pros about a different strategy. I want 12s this year.

The car was running great all day though, and the new southbend stage 3 endurance clutch was awesome, i love that thing. I was very surprised to see i almost trapped 110 considering i was running pump gas on this little turbo, the last time i ran was on e85 and i came away with a 114 trap.

I took advantage of Bandimere's scale, with me in it (and the jack i forgot to take out) the car came in at 3255 lbs. Without me it was 3095. This is with the trunk of the car out (all foam spare and tools) but full interior. I would love to get this thing down under 3k without me in it while retaining the interior for ease of everyday use and track prep.

Slips shown below first to last pass

[mxlplx71]

whats your launch rpm? reving higher may help the hops, or a slight slip of the clutch off the line instead of dropping
i ran nitto 555 dr's around 20psi got a 2.04 60'

[speedfreak44]

I was about to rag on your times until I saw CO in location. Good stuff! I had wheel hop issues when I went to the track too so I switched to jbr88. I still get some wheel hop so full mount may be in order. I have less power so I would bet you would benefit as well from full mounts.

[MSMS3]

Great times considering extreme altitude and pump gas. The trap speed is impressive and the 13.5 and the 60 ft times in the strips confirm your difficulties with launch. FWD is a bitch. But once you hook, it's hold on tight, mother, this is gonna be fun.

[snailD]

Yea i was extremely impressed with the car, only to be let down a tad with my driving off the line. I would love for some experienced drag guys to let me know some secrets to either getting those nittos right or if i should just work on it with my dunlops

i launched at 3200 first run, 4000 second, and 3800 3rd. i think 3800 was the key rpm but i let off a bit due to wheel hop.

i really don't want to go full mounts, i've been in plenty fully mounted cars. i love my car so much because of the performance and driveabilty it still has. its a daily and @lookback; always says how nice and quiet and smooth it is after he gets out of his car lol

[mxlplx71]

My best time was when the car went back into limp mode 2xs in a row and I had to reload my map, didn't use launch control, just did a huge burn out reved the f out of it and launched by ear pissed off at the car. Beating it worked for me.

[speedfreak44]

With that power its going to be hard getting it down. Are you stock clutch? I usually launch low like 3200 and it rips out the hole so long as my clutch is still in a good mood. I have pulled multiple 2.0 60s on street tires. Do not water box it. Spin them dry just for a second to clear the dirt and then go

[JgamB]

I gave up trying to "launch" my car with any kind of significant RPM, and I can pretty consistently nail a 2.1 on a well prepped track. I have my 2.0x and plenty of 2.3's to go with it, but the snatch hair difference is so hard to modulate with your right foot. I pretend I'm going 10° uphill with a slight (2.2K?) over-rev and then slip the clutch as I apply more gas.

The one thing that does help for sure is to run 1st gear out to the limit - get yourself out of peak torque to help 2nd gear hook. I have my rev limit set to 7.2K so I don't have to reach for 5th gear, and thus far it's produced 117.12 and 117.92 traps at 2800 DA. For a lil BNR, she's doing work.

I've never tried dumping air from the tires. That used to work well for RWD cars at the strip, but I think you'll see improvements from over-inflating the rear tires instead. Stiff booty with minimal recoil FTW.

[snailD]

Originally Posted by speedfreak44 With that power its going to be hard getting it down. Are you stock clutch? I usually launch low like 3200 and it rips out the hole so long as my clutch is still in a good mood. I have pulled multiple 2.0 60s on street tires. Do not water box it. Spin them dry just for a second to clear the dirt and then go

in my OP i listed i have a southbend stage 3 endurance. love it. and i already don't waterbox the car and spin the tires before the line.

Originally Posted by JgamB I gave up trying to "launch" my car with any kind of significant RPM, and I can pretty consistently nail a 2.1 on a well prepped track. I have my 2.0x and plenty of 2.3's to go with it, but the snatch hair difference is so hard to modulate with your right foot. I pretend I'm going 10° uphill with a slight (2.2K?) over-rev and then slip the clutch as I apply more gas. The one thing that does help for sure is to run 1st gear out to the limit - get yourself out of peak torque to help 2nd gear hook. I have my rev limit set to 7.2K so I don't have to reach for 5th gear, and thus far it's produced 117.12 and 117.92 traps at 2800 DA. For a lil BNR, she's doing work. I've never tried dumping air from the tires. That used to work well for RWD cars at the strip, but I think you'll see improvements from over-inflating the rear tires instead. Stiff booty with minimal recoil FTW.

yea i may need a different strategy than using lc and releasing the clutch real fast. my buddy was saying slightly less power in 1st to keep wheel hop down. i short shifted the 2nd pass because of hop, then the 3rd i let off the gas slightly, if i could have stayed on the throttle both 60s would have been quite a bit better

[MSMS3]

I can't get my 60's below 2.2s. I just suck. Tried everything. The most consistent is just sort of rolling into the throttle out of the hole with no wheelspin and getting into second ASAP once rpms are up enough to be in the torque band in second. That is almost an instant shift to 2nd. That is low 2.2s, but can't get any better. I end up with 13.3 at 108 at sea level. The 108 suggests that ETs could be a couple tenths better if I could launch worth a shit.

Somebody school us up on launch.

[speedfreak44]

OP issue is wheel hop. Once that is fixed his setup is good to go
@MSMS3; load the axles at the line and hold rpm around 3200. Right after 3rd yellow lights release clutch just enough to start moving then feather it out to keep traction. Run the rpm out to redline and slam second. I pulled a bunch of 2.0s on shitty street tires on my hypertech tune. Keep the air pressure correct in the tires as well.

[MSMS3]

Originally Posted by speedfreak44 OP issue is wheel hop. Once that is fixed his setup is good to go @MSMS3; load the axles at the line and hold rpm around 3200. Right after 3rd yellow lights release clutch just enough to start moving then feather it out to keep traction. Run the rpm out to redline and slam second. I pulled a bunch of 2.0s on shitty street tires on my hypertech tune. Keep the air pressure correct in the tires as well.

Thanks. The technique is very similar to what I am doing except I am not staying in first as long. I think I am leaving at around 2800 with clutch slip and feathering, but shifting much too early. I'll give this a try.

My tires are sticky Yoko AD-08Rs. They are new and I've not tracked them. They replace AD-08s (not R), which were a similar compound.

I appreciate the tip.

[speedfreak44]

Suggestion #2 ...raise the rev limiter a few 100rpm for first gear but shift normal the rest. Helps you land 2nd really well

[snailD]

Originally Posted by speedfreak44 Suggestion #2 ...raise the rev limiter a few 100rpm for first gear but shift normal the rest. Helps you land 2nd really well

yes running out 1st will get you a better 60ft. i short shifted this time as well because of the hopz

[icee753]

What kind of tires do you guys recommend for good 60'?

[snailD]

Originally Posted by icee753 What kind of tires do you guys recommend for good 60'?

slicks lol. but honestly you can get some solid times with some good/wide street rubber

[speedfreak44]

I pulled my 2.0 60s on oem tires. Once I upped the power with e85 I was having wheel hop and clutch issues so I replaced the rmm with jbr88 but have not returned because of stock clutch

[snailD]

Originally Posted by speedfreak44 I pulled my 2.0 60s on oem tires. Once I upped the power with e85 I was having wheel hop and clutch issues so I replaced the rmm with jbr88 but have not returned because of stock clutch

im honestly thinking of going back with my 245 dz102s. less likely to hop and tires are good enough to grip decently. i did 2.1's on my last set of dz101s in a 225

[speedfreak44]

The sticky the tire the more likely hop will occur just fyi

[snailD]

Originally Posted by speedfreak44 The sticky the tire the more likely hop will occur just fyi

yes i know, which is why i was thinking of running these dunlops instead of my autocross r comps

[speedfreak44]

Good choice. Then again you have a good clutch. Use it. Launch hard

[snailD]

Originally Posted by speedfreak44 Good choice. Then again you have a good clutch. Use it. Launch hard

yea i love this thing. i might tone down first gear a little bit more too. i have a 14psi spring so the only thing i can do at this point is drop first gear app. its already at 60% instead of 100% for max

does running lower tire pressures help to induce wheel hop?

[speedfreak44]

Yes it does. The more grip, the more transfer to drivetrain. This is when the bushings flex and cause the hop

[snailD]

Originally Posted by speedfreak44 Yes it does. The more grip, the more transfer to drivetrain. This is when the bushings flex and cause the hop

well i was more thinking the tire might warp more causing some reflex which is why its hopping. i didnt run super low pressures only 28psi but i wonder if i could rid of hop with keeping it at like 32 on the same set of tires or something

[speedfreak44]

Those aren't R compound are they? If they are just sticky street tires I would keep air pressure at whatever the sidewall suggests. Drag radials and slicks have soft sidewalls that let the contact patch touch well. Street tires have stiffer sidewalls and to get a good contact patch they should not be deflated.