Racing!!!!!!!!!!!

specvracing · #1 03-02-2003, 01:54 AM

Ok, I dynoed my car about a month ago and my results were 142whp and 155 trq. I ran a 15.5 on the track. I here some people with 145whp is it a big difference if I were to race that person with 3 more hp than me in a SPEC. I am so comfused because I race sometimes on saturdays and cant beat those damn SI's. I feel my car with alot of power so whats the deal. someone please help. Im all stock. I read alot on diferent forums and everyone sais that Si's are no problem. please correct me if Im wrong but I also read that SOME Si's can run 15.1 in the 1/4th. then that would be a close race between the Si and SPEC. I beat almost all the other cars that people on the forums say they beat but the Si to me is so damn difficult. They rev to damn long

while im shifting. I have been driving stick for about 10months. someone please help me out here, Im am so damn comfused. out of about 7-8 Si runs I have only beaten one. I feel I shift pretty fast and I hardly even spin my tires when launching. I always take the lead but then after about 5-7 seconds thats when the Si starts creepin on me. I need some serious driving lessons.

HEEEEEELLLLLLLLLPPPPP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sr20de4evr · #2 03-02-2003, 11:09 AM

it sounds like you need some mods

It also seems like you need help shifting, 15.5 is a decent time. Many do much better...but it is acceptable considering you probably ran in Houston where theres so much humidity. Maybe an intake and some more practice driving couldn't hurt.

Learning to drive a stick is not some one-time thing. It is an on going lesson and you are always learning. Just practice shifting, try to me as smooth and fluid as possible, then go to the track a few more times, wait for some good conditions (40's, low humidity) and you might be surprised how much your time can drop.

Looking back at your other thread it looks like you need to work on your launch. What rpm are you dropping at?

specvracing · #3 03-02-2003, 11:56 AM

I launch my car at 1500RPM just so that I dont get that wheel hop. I changed my tires in the front also to some NITTO's same size as the stock ones. when power shifting I shift at 6200 maybe sometimes at 58 or 6000. I also got beat by one of those new 02 hatch Si's last week and just yesterday after I made the post I got beat by a swapped Lx with a si engine. Im going to try and not race any more untill I get some mods. I Just think that with all that TRQ there should be no chance for the Si, even if its modded. I was also thinking maybe that guy had a GSR swappe, and not a Si engine, but still I got beat by a 02 si. If I take the lead when launching shouldnt I stay like that? It dousnt seem like that to me beacause they just start gaining on me. I also sometimes grind into 3rd and sometimes I dont Either which way they all catch up and pass me.

STILL CONFUSED

sr20de4evr · #4 03-02-2003, 02:15 PM

well on the street, launching at 1500 seems about right, but on the track you should be launching up around 2500+, especially with those nittos. Just don't drop the clutch and floor it, try to feather out the clutch and you will get a much better launch. Just as a comparison, I have the stock 195 firestone firehawks (worst tires known to man) and I still pulled a 2.28 60' on my last trip to the track.

Maybe when you launch you are going before them, but they are getting a faster launch, so they are behind you but going faster, then they start gaining and pass you. Just a thought...either way I would get an intake, practice shifting, practice launching, and maybe get some motor mounts to help get rid of that wheel hop.

if you want a cheap alternative to motor mounts
http://www.b15sentra.net/forums/show...threadid=47906

if you want ES inserts you will have to wait a while

if you want PR motor mounts
http://www.b15sentra.net/forums/show...threadid=47586

all of these will help your 60', and improve the overall feel of your car.

specvracing · #5 03-02-2003, 07:09 PM

I thaught good launch was just to see who can get ahead and win the race. Im not sure if Im doint this correctly but when you say feather the clutch you mean let the clutch come out a little right, not exactly all the way down and when its time to go you slowly release and press the gas all the way down. I did that, if thats what your talking about.

sr20de4evr · #6 03-02-2003, 07:46 PM

by feathering I mean not dropping the clutch all at once, doing that will just make your tires spin. Feathering is where you slowly release it, to keep the tires on the verge of breaking loose, but not actually slipping. It takes practice, but will really help you at the track

Roark · #7 03-03-2003, 10:40 AM

I've seen many debates on HP vs. Torque. Peak horsepower and torque are only points on a curve and as such they may be a good indication of a cars acceleration performance but they are nowhere near perfect. The area under the horse power curve( Calculus integration ) would be a more accurate means of determining an engines potential. Power to weight ratios are also a good way to size-up a cars potential. The 99-00' Civic Si(s) may only make 160hp stock but they put close to 140 HP to the pavement. (i Know I owned one 0-60 7.1s) Couple that with a lower weight than a Sentra and the odds are stacked in the Si(s) favor. A driver can make a huge difference too.

If torque is so important why don't more sports cars have diesel engines? An engine has to make power in a decently wide band to move 3000lb of steel.

sr20de4evr · #8 03-03-2003, 11:05 AM

all good points, except the new si is 50lbs heavier than the spec

Roark · #9 03-03-2003, 11:29 AM

That's why I specified the 99-00' model year. The new Si runs around 1s more to 60mph. It is also harder to modify and has a face only a mother could love.

sr20de4evr · #10 03-03-2003, 11:32 AM

oh sorry, didn't notice that part. Ya I think Honda screwed up with the 02 model, I barely see them anywhere. Who wants to buy an overpriced mini-minivan thats slower than its predecessors and all of its rivals?

Roark · #11 03-03-2003, 11:37 AM

I agree. I think I have seen 2 or 3 on the road in the past yr or so.

sr20de4evr · #12 03-03-2003, 12:03 PM

ya same here, I barely see them anywhere

on another note, how do you like your z?
I love the looks of that car and it always seemed like it would be a blast to drive. My friend might get one soon so I've been curious about them. What model did you get? Taken it to the track yet? Have you had any problems?

specvracing · #13 03-03-2003, 12:06 PM

Hey Roark, so are you saying that it is a drivers race between an Si and a SPEC. just wondering, because there is alot of people saying there is no problem beating the Si, when I see times of the si doing almost or maybe even better on the track when both cars are stock. I have beaten one only and he was only losing by a little. his front front bumper was at my passenger door, the whole time. I one time when I first baught my car, when I really didnt know how to use my car I met up with another SPEC owner and he had been driving for years, Anyways we then saw a guy that had an Si and all he had was a CAI. all three of us raced I always stayed behind and both of them stayed dead even with each other, sometimes actually the si would win and sometimes the SPEC would win. they raced about 5 times. I know he only had a CAI because he let us see his engine.

Roark · #14 03-03-2003, 12:26 PM

Not sure about the Si vs. the Spec-V. You should probably change the launch like you guys have been talking about. The Si is all top end so geeting the hole shot doesn't necessarily mean victory but without it I would bet any money.

As for my Z, I bought the car in October and was able to drive it for 1 month before adverse weather conditions forced me to store it for the winter. I should be able to take it out in about a month. I got the enthusiast model. Actually it was someone elses car, but they decided they didn't want it after it arrived at the dealers. Something to do with orange peel. The car is certainly the quickest thing I have ever driven. In 6th it will do 100 mph with the engine spinning @ around 4k. The brakes pull almost as hard as those on a porchse. You can feel the cars weight at slower speeds. There the ride is also a little rough but nothing you wouldn't expect to find in a sporty car. The ride is smooth at higher speeds. The steering is very direct but a bit nervous at those elevated speeds. I haven't taken it to the track yet but I will this spring (both dragstrip and SCCA solo II). I had it up to 120mph once. I was cruising at 70 mph dropped into 4th and took off. I hit the same speed in my Honda once. It took a lot longer to get there and the car didn't provide me much reassurance that it would follow my steering input "suggestion".

Roark · #15 03-03-2003, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Roark
but without it I would bet any money.

It should read I wouldn't bet any money.

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