Track & Drag tips for newbies

[hennie]

most important a positive bank balance

 

[msm]

Nice article here too: How to Compare Weight Savings to Horsepower Gains

 

[///Shaun]

Nice article here too: How to Compare Weight Savings to Horsepower Gains

As mentioned in the thread i posted on page 3:

Lots of information and methodologies have being discussed at length but for the purpose of this thread lets discuss further findings , formula derived from Tuner University.

---

Forums can really illustrate so much in words.

Heres a few videos that will show these words in action using the Launch techniques I have described. Once a driver can master these launch techniques its really a matter of the opponent having HP and driving skills to win.

a)
This video will illustrate a STEPTRONIC launch technique .

One will be able to see a E90 330d outlaunch a E46 M3.
(Andz driving my ex E90 330d)

I do not condone street racing. This video is just for viewing purposes.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="

" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


b)
This video will illustrate a MANUAL launch technique.

First thought for a test like this would make anyone think V8 M3 should win but here we see power to weight in action against a Z3 with a M3 motor.
(I drove DVST8s Z3)

One will be able to see a Z3 outlaunch a E92 V8 M3 DCT with Launch Control

I do not condone street racing. This video is just for viewing purposes.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="

" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[///Shaun]

So now that this thread was typed out and explained , anybody out there tried and tested this explanations.

Any feedback guys ?

Does it work or not for you?

 

[Sareshan]

So now that this thread was typed out and explained , anybody out there tried and tested this explanations.

Any feedback guys ?

Does it work or not for you?

Thanks for the Tips Shaun,

I tried it with my 330d at Tarlton a few fridays ago... and managed to do a 14.3

Launching in 2nd gear makes a huge diff compared to how i use to launch in 1st gear....

:thumbs:

 

[S1NGH 001]

So now that this thread was typed out and explained , anybody out there tried and tested this explanations.

Any feedback guys ?

Does it work or not for you?

I've tried it out, and it worked very well:rollsmile:

Thanks buddy you're the man :joy:

 

[///Shaun]

Thanks for the Tips Shaun,

I tried it with my 330d at Tarlton a few fridays ago... and managed to do a 14.3

Launching in 2nd gear makes a huge diff compared to how i use to launch in 1st gear....

:thumbs:

That is great news to hear.

14.3s is a very good time for a torque monster.

A nice set of slicks and the car will dip into the 13s.

13s are very achievable even on street tyres but the launch has to be 100% with practically zero wheelspin.

Looking forward to hearing more times from you , it can only get better from here onwards...


:joy:

---

So now that this thread was typed out and explained , anybody out there tried and tested this explanations.

Any feedback guys ?

Does it work or not for you?

I've tried it out, and it worked very well:rollsmile:

Thanks buddy you're the man :joy:

Excellent stuff , good to see you testing these theories out and enjoying it , glad i could be of some assistance.

Now call them GTIs out...

:joy:

 

[bmsportzn135i]

So would a 2nd gear launch in a x35 manual also achieve better results. As i seem to be suffering lots of wheel spin, even with a set of hossiers and low pressure!

 

[NavZ]

Any suggestions for launch & shift points for an E90 330i?

 

[Josh-ZN]

So would a 2nd gear launch in a x35 manual also achieve better results. As i seem to be suffering lots of wheel spin, even with a set of hossiers and low pressure!

135i - if i launch in 2nd gear i will get left in the dust. not enough oompf in 2nd from a standstill for me. if i launch hard in 1st, i spin my wheels like the road runner cartoon :dunno:

solution: A45 AMG. launch like a mofo in 1st and hold on tight :fencelook:

 

[bmsportzn135i]

So would a 2nd gear launch in a x35 manual also achieve better results. As i seem to be suffering lots of wheel spin, even with a set of hossiers and low pressure!

135i - if i launch in 2nd gear i will get left in the dust. not enough oompf in 2nd from a standstill for me. if i launch hard in 1st, i spin my wheels like the road runner cartoon :dunno:

solution: A45 AMG. launch like a mofo in 1st and hold on tight :fencelook:

Well thats the issue, some of the cars i raced at margate drags have launch control, and thats so not fair, they take off from the line like a mofo! On a side note thou, i did beat a Audi RS5 down the quarter mile!

 

[UpNcOmiNg!]

Launch is possible with a rwd, I successfully launched with an RS3 using launch control with my car. Just takes some playing with the throttle and getting that sweet spot.

 

[OppositeLockMT]

Launch is possible with a rwd, I successfully launched with an RS3 using launch control with my car. Just takes some playing with the throttle and getting that sweet spot.

Must be an awesome feeling.

 

[CliftonH]

Hi shaun.

I am used to the launch in first gear. It worked on some launches and others the car bogged down.

I tried it on 2nd gear and I was just burning clutch. Did everything the same as when I launch in first gear.

On 2nd gear the car was just rerving but going nowhere slowly and at abt 6 seconds later it takes off. Like the clutch was not realing when I left it.

I tried it twice and both times it was just riding clutch.

After that I just parked it off cause I could smell the clutch bad.

 

[Prev]

Great thread :thumbs:

 

[Johnny8Bit]

Section 4 - “Weight loss” to “Horsepower” Formula

Old weight (3500) / New Power-to-Weight Ratio (15.81) = 221.38 hp

So that means that by taking 100lbs out of the 3500lb car, we would have had to gain ~ 6.38 hp (221.38-215, (the new-original horsepower) to accomplish the same thing WITHOUT taking out the 100lbs. Thus in this situation, 100lbs is roughly the same as if we had done something to gain 6.38hp. So to some extent, this means that something like an intake that adds +6hp would FEEL kind of like losing 100lbs (or a very skinny passenger) in this particular vehicle. In another car with different weight and power numbers, this figure would be different but calculated in the same way.

Can we do an example please?

1500kg car with 100KW vs. 1500kg car with 200KW
Both cars lose 200kg of weight

Car 1.
Old weight ratio 1500 / 100 = 14
New weight ratio 1300 / 100 = 13
New power 1500 / 13 = 115KW

Car 2.
Old weight ratio 1500 / 200 = 7.5
New weight ratio 1300 / 200 = 6.5
New power 1500 / 6.5 = 230KW

So a carbon fibre bonnet on a M3 is worth more in KW than the same thing on a 328?

 

[moranor@axis]

Hi shaun.

I am used to the launch in first gear. It worked on some launches and others the car bogged down.

I tried it on 2nd gear and I was just burning clutch. Did everything the same as when I launch in first gear.

On 2nd gear the car was just rerving but going nowhere slowly and at abt 6 seconds later it takes off. Like the clutch was not realing when I left it.

I tried it twice and both times it was just riding clutch.

After that I just parked it off cause I could smell the clutch bad.

if you have to be slow on the clutch to stop it from stalling then it would be better to launch in 1st... and regulate to wheelspin/bogging by having the right RPM...

 

[CliftonH]

Hi shaun.

I am used to the launch in first gear. It worked on some launches and others the car bogged down.

I tried it on 2nd gear and I was just burning clutch. Did everything the same as when I launch in first gear.

On 2nd gear the car was just rerving but going nowhere slowly and at abt 6 seconds later it takes off. Like the clutch was not realing when I left it.

I tried it twice and both times it was just riding clutch.

After that I just parked it off cause I could smell the clutch bad.

if you have to be slow on the clutch to stop it from stalling then it would be better to launch in 1st... and regulate to wheelspin/bogging by having the right RPM...

I'm too scared to burn the clutch. Will stick to using 1st gear.

 

[Johnny8Bit]

Section 4 - “Weight loss” to “Horsepower” Formula

Old weight (3500) / New Power-to-Weight Ratio (15.81) = 221.38 hp

So that means that by taking 100lbs out of the 3500lb car, we would have had to gain ~ 6.38 hp (221.38-215, (the new-original horsepower) to accomplish the same thing WITHOUT taking out the 100lbs. Thus in this situation, 100lbs is roughly the same as if we had done something to gain 6.38hp. So to some extent, this means that something like an intake that adds +6hp would FEEL kind of like losing 100lbs (or a very skinny passenger) in this particular vehicle. In another car with different weight and power numbers, this figure would be different but calculated in the same way.

Ok this was really bugging me so I went on a Google witch hunt to seek the truth.

Basically this formula is not correct, even though the results are approximate.

The are also numerous other questionable formulas and generalisations floating around other car forums.
Went as far as deriving my own little calculation based on what made sense only to realise that someone else had already invented it, and called it Newton's Law.

f=ma

Switched around this is Acceleration = Force / Mass

Halving the mass doubles the force.

So as an example a 20% reduction in weight is equivalent to a 20% increase in power.

The resulting power calculations from the two cars in the example above are:

Car 1. 115.4KW (ratio formula), 113.3KW (correct formula)
Car 2. 230.8KW (ratio formula), 226.7KW (correct formula)

None of this however takes into account any rotational forces..

Oh look, it's 1am.

:bangdesk:

 

[moranor@axis]

the saying goes that you have to increase power at least 10% to feel a real difference in a car... so then you need to reduce weight by at least 10% to feel that also...

so at least 150kg in a 1500kg car... this is alot of weight if you want to keep it a nice place to be inside for only 10% gain...