Improve your ETs by .4 without mods

[JekylandHyde]

Last season, I learned that I could improve my ETs by at least .2 by improving my shifting (faster and staying on throttle)

Last season, I had a total of two 60's in the 1.7s.
Those 2 were my frist two runs on a new tranny, LSD and motor mounts.
That is two out of 32 attempts! I only had four 60's in the 1.8s.
I was not pleased with 6 good launched out of 32.

It was my goal this season to improve my launch.
With the tires and power I have, I should be able to get a more consistent good launches.

So far in '04, I have 13 runs in and my 60's look like this:
One in the 1.6s = 7.7% compared to '03 = 0%
Four in the 1.7s = 30.8% compared to '03 = 6.2%
Five in the 1.8s = 38.5% compared to '03 = 12.5%

The only change over the winter was the weight savings (About 145 lbs) and how I am launching the car. I honestly spent time "thinking" about launching & shifting ~ visualization as they call it.

I guess what I am getting at, is there is so much "free time" out there to improve upon. Years ago I used to criticize drag racers ... "anyone can drive fast in a straight line"
I retract all of those statements ... doing it right and doing it consistent is not easy.

As I have often heard NoShoes say, "work on the nut behind the wheel." We spend so much time and money buying parts for more horsepower to go faster when there is a lot we can within ourselves.

Improving your launch and improving your shifts could easily get you .4 if you do not have it down already. If you are not sure how well yo uare doing, find other racers with the same/similar car and see what kind of 60' times they get. Compare their mph and ET to yours.

Remember:
MPH indicates the potential of your car. ET indicates how well you drove it.

[matt11583]

very true. "its not what car you have, its how you drive it." ive heard people say that all of my life. it doesnt help to mod your car to 5-6 hundred hp if you cant drive it.

[HiFlow5 0]

Nice post!

[JekylandHyde]

Thanks

[tupac]

nice post jeky is really helpful

[JekylandHyde]

Thanks Tupac

[96TSi]

this is exactly what i like about automatic race cars, they are faster due to the manual transmission cars waiting on the driver to make it to the next gear.... unless you got some sick throw shifter with air pressure shooting you into the next gear

[matada]

Originally Posted by 96TSi

this is exactly what i like about automatic race cars, they are faster due to the manual transmission cars waiting on the driver to make it to the next gear.... unless you got some sick throw shifter with air pressure shooting you into the next gear

this was a joke right?

[JekylandHyde]

Sure, automatic is a great idea if you are building a pure drag car ... that is not what I am doing.

Hyde is a total performance vehicle. I am competing in SCCA Solo 1 Hill Climbs as well as Solo II Autocrosses and I assure you that is no place for an automatic.

[96TSi]

oh im just messin around bout most of it. but i do prefer automatics to the pure fact that im lazy and dont wanna use skill when i drive

[kittedb18bt]

great post JekylandHyde, as always you are helpful.

[Villain281H]

I'd prefer a manual, but automatics are far more consistent for drag racing/bracket racing. You always lose less hp to the tires through a manual trans, but launching a stick car can be tougher than an auto at times.

Just my $.02

Derek

[DeViL]

The hole shot can make you or break you in a race, I've learned that pretty quickly through bracket racing. Also it seems the faster you go the harder it gets competition wise.

[_shay]

Automatics are good for bracket races. When you've got a car that runs consistantly, even if it's slow, you're chances of winning are still better. There's less variables to deal with when you've got an automatic.

Now that I know how to shift I'd prefer a manual over an automatic anyday...