Track & Drag tips for newbies

[msm]

Guys who have track and drag experience are welcome to share and thanks to those that have. Let's keep it to positive comments though and not mention tuners.

Everyone starts somewhere - some people have lost count of track days and ODI events, etc, some have not attended even one. Let this thread be an inspiration to get guys on the track instead of chasing them away. Maybe, it will even inspire me to get behind the wheel the next time too, instead of having my car parked off.

:ty:

 

[UpNcOmiNg!]

I like this.
Let's level the playing fields a little shall we, I will impart some wisdom from what I have learnt about the x35i, both N54 and N55.

If you are using all the revs these motors offer, you wasting time, lots of it.
The N54 makes its power soon than the N55, so, gear changes around 6,000rpm is where you want it. Anything over 6,200rpm (modded or not) is a waste, unless you are running cams, which I don't think anyone is.

 

[bmsportzn135i]

Now thats quite interesting, i must keep that in mind next time im at drags, 6k gear change..im used to my old NA cars where you pretty much ran it to the limiter. To the other x35 guys, what gear do you launch in, and at what RPM?

 

[SP33DYV]

I like this.
Let's level the playing fields a little shall we, I will impart some wisdom from what I have learnt about the x35i, both N54 and N55.

If you are using all the revs these motors offer, you wasting time, lots of it.
The N55 makes its power soon than the N54, so, gear changes around 6,000rpm is where you want it. Anything over 6,200rpm (modded or not) is a waste, unless you are running cams, which I don't think anyone is.

That's what I thought with the 1M, but my first run I ran to 7000rpm in all the gears and achieved 220km/h. My second run I shifted at 6200rpm and only achieved 217km/h. Makes you think. :thinking: There is omething different in the 1M's N54. :dunno:

 

[Arbee]

Hmmm...

*Edited BY MODERATOR*

From my side... i always let the car idle between runs, but try not to switch it off and run simultaneously. Then give it a break and start again. So basically, have 5 runs then cool off. Then 5 again. Etc...

I try different launches. My best speed at odi, i had the mirrors closed. Don't know if that helped me with the 2km increase.

 

[UpNcOmiNg!]

Launch at 2k on a rough-ish surface, about 1,800rpm on a smoother surface. You need to feather the throttle once or twice especially if modded on a smooth surface due to the amount of torque you putting down at those revs.
I broke my track virginity last Sunday, but check my launches. I out launched the brake boosting step auto's as well as the e46 M of 4Piper.

 

[SP33DYV]

Now thats quite interesting, i must keep that in mind next time im at drags, 6k gear change..im used to my old NA cars where you pretty much ran it to the limiter. To the other x35 guys, what gear do you launch in, and at what RPM?

1st gear at 2000rpm. MDM limits wheelspin a little though. I'm too scared to switch all driver aids completely off. :fencelook:

 

[UpNcOmiNg!]

My mirrors were also closed at ODI. after I did it I saw a number of people doing the same. I know Turbo 1 did it before I did. Here.

Morne, you should let me drive it, I'll tell you where to change :rollsmile:

 

[bmsportzn135i]

It gets rather loose with all the aids off. I tried 1 run at isithebe with everything off and it was very hair raising. I prefer shutting just DTC off. I was trying to launch at 2k -2.2k, but still everyone seemed so much quicker off the line! I also think my tire pressure was too high though!

 

[dvst8]

400m your 60 foot plays a huge part on your time.

Perfect your launch and you will get a good time (provided you don't mess up gear changes etc)

How do you get that perfect launch ? It will be different for different cars and different on the same car as you change mods.

The idea is to get off the line as little wheel spin as possible without bogging.

 

[UpNcOmiNg!]

I ran standard 2.5bar pressure on my run flats. I would suggest all aids off, 1,8k rpm launch.
You will get off the line quite quickly. You would have to feather the throttle once or twice and go full in from around 4k in 1st and then flat out from there on in.

 

[msm]

I also think my tire pressure was too high though!

Also seen quite a few guys playing with tyre pressures. Would also be interesting to see what works well.

 

[Arbee]

I also think my tire pressure was too high though!

Also seen quite a few guys playing with tyre pressures. Would also be interesting to see what works well.

My understanding is, the lower the tyre pressure the flatter the tyre the more traction. Hence going from 235 40 18 to 245 40 18 helps with traction.

But the trick is you don't want too much traction where you bog and you don't want to spin too much either.

 

[dvst8]

I also think my tire pressure was too high though!

Also seen quite a few guys playing with tyre pressures. Would also be interesting to see what works well.

Tyre pressure plays a huge part in good traction off the line.

On Semi's I go as low as 1.2 bar, I know guys that go as low as 0.9 bar.

 

[UpNcOmiNg!]

Here is probably one of my better launches, but my launches were all consistent

You can see I get about half a car + in the 1st 60ft. From there it's a catch up game for the other guys, was the same in all my races, if I had more power they wouldn't catch me.

 

[dvst8]

Here is probably one of my better launches, but my launches were all consistent

You can see I get about half a car + in the 1st 60ft. From there it's a catch up game for the other guys, was the same in all my races, if I had more power they wouldn't catch me.

On your run time sheet, there will be a 60 foot time, aim at getting this as low as possible.

:thumbs:

 

[UpNcOmiNg!]

The other thing is that with run flats you can't go too low on tyre pressure due to the tyre construction. I wouldn't go lower than 2.2 bar on rft's. on normal tyres maybe between 1,6 and 1,8 bar depending on the tyre.

---

This was at ODI,what is this time sheet you speak of!? :roflol:

 

[bmsportzn135i]

Wow, ok i had my rear at 2.8. Definetily need to drop the pressure! With the 19's on the car, which has a wider tire than the 18's i used on sunday, i must say i bearly break traction!
Upncoming, thats an amazing launch you have there. Well done!

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@dstv, what size semis do you track with? Cause thats a low pressure you have in the tires!

 

[SP33DYV]

I also think my tire pressure was too high though!

Also seen quite a few guys playing with tyre pressures. Would also be interesting to see what works well.

Tyre pressure plays a huge part in good traction off the line.

On Semi's I go as low as 1.2 bar, I know guys that go as low as 0.9 bar.

I ran 2.5 bar in my semis. They are 265/35 though. And i did not warm them up at all.

 

[bmsportzn135i]

:+1: i also dont believe in warming up tires!