how to get best quarter mile time

in4sir · 6th September 2001, 00:50

hey guys,
the other night me andmy dad took his M5 to a drag strip, there were tons of other tuned up funny cars and it was really cool. anyways, my dad was up against a firebird and lost his first time with a 1/4 mile time of 14.99, due to tire spin and wheel hop. he went again against a different firebird and won by .2 of a second, still with a 1/4mile time of 14.2. this time he rev. up to 1,000 rpm and still his car was bouncin all over the place. how do u get the best quarter mile time(with michelin sports)?

KirklandM5 · 6th September 2001, 01:05

hire a professional driver...

Seriously...launch at 1400pm ish....shift at 7000.

Yupkwondo · 6th September 2001, 03:38

Lower the Tire Pressure to 30-33 psi...hold RPM's at 1200-1400, feed in the clutch slow for about an 1/8th of the way, then drop it and stomp the gas, shift at 6700 on the tach in first because it's behind the engine actual RPM, and just keep keep going...if you do it right, you'll pull around a 13.00 at 108 mph...this is the what I found works...until I go back and find something better!! I haven't done it yet, but I know from practice this "is" about the best launch!!

~ Jason
13.22 @ 106

greg · 6th September 2001, 04:10

A few more things - probably obvious:

1) Buy some 100 octane fuel. Drive at least 50 miles, including plenty of full-throttle to redline romps to give the engine computer time to adjust.

2) All electrical loads off

3) A/C off.

4) Remove EVERYTHING you can possibly remove from the car. eadrests, floor mats, the "mobility" kit (alone weighs several pounds), everything from the glovebox, door storage, excess fuel (an 1/8 of a tank will get you through quite a few runs) etc. Even the window washer fluid if you really care. I'll bet you can get 75 - 100lbs out without working too hard.

5) Wouldn't hurt to cool everything in the engine compartment as much as possible first too. Wrap ice packs around the air intakes and intake box - remove right before the race.

6) Sport mode on, DSC off.

7) Launch as described above. The goal is minimal wheel spin - when you launch from 1400, you can let the clutch out ALMOST instantly as you ALMOST instantly floor it. But you MUST make sure the clutch is fully engaged before anywhere near full power develops, because you don't want to fry your clutch. ABSOLUTELY don't slip the clutch in any upshifts either. Just BANG it. If anything slips, it should be the tires, not the clutch.

in4sir · 6th September 2001, 04:11

u can have an smg2 do it for u.....

Rezf · 6th September 2001, 05:28

[quote]Originally posted by greg
[
2) All electrical loads off

Forgive my naivety, but why does electrical stuff (i.e. heated seats) take away from the hp of the car. I knew about AC, but nothing electrical?
RezF

tonyo · 6th September 2001, 05:57

Quote:

Originally posted by Rezf
Forgive my naivety, but why does electrical stuff (i.e. heated seats) take away from the hp of the car. I knew about AC, but nothing electrical?
RezF

The alternator is harder to twist when it is producing more current.

kgk · 6th September 2001, 08:06

I've never drag raced, but I would think that slick tires would help, and perhaps even tire warmers!

Of course what you *really* want is nitrous oxide....