Ok, took my car to the track for the first time and looking for some advise from drag racers out there

Conditions: San Antonio Raceway, 70 degrees, clutch slipping through 1st gear.

1/4: ~13.1 secs
60ft: ~2.1 secs
ET Mph: ~110

I can understand the bad time due to the slipping clutch, but my friend driving a modded A3 had the same 60ft and ET Mph...but was hitting 12.7.

I think I am losing the most time on 1st to 2nd shift and 3rd-4th shift. Is there a specific technique on 1st to 2nd shift...redline shift or earlier? For 3rd to 4th If I stay on 3rd I will hit a little past redline...so I shift to 4th. Also on occasion I would lose grip in 2nd gear and the car will slide left...I didn't think traction would be an issue for awd?

What is the best technique? Or do I just start powershifting...lol.

 

It sounds like you might be losing time with your shifting. Also, with AWD and some decent tires, you really should be able to cut lower 60' times.

With my 65 Mustang drag car, I would just stab the clutch, shift, and left go without lifting the throttle. I calculated my shift points based on the HP curve of the engine, transmission and rear end gearing, etc. My shift points were all before redline. I relied on the speed of my shifting and the rev limiter to keep me from grenading the engine. I personally would not do that on a car that isn't a dedicated track machine.

 

oh thats not to bad! watch my wideo below it may help.

http://www.streetfire.net/video/pors...388_713865.htm

i shift at 6500 so by the time im done shifting its closer to 6800 right still in the powerband. dont dump the clutch ride it out and do not powershift unless you feel like braking parts!
Speed Shift only!

 

Nice run! I wish you had in car video so I can see how fast you are actually shifting. I have a feeling I am being too conservative on my shift. My concern is breaking my transmision so I make sure I am in gear before stomping on the gas again after each shift. When you shift are you still stabbing the clutch as fast as possible but letting off the gas pedal?

 

Talk to Powell, he can really give you some pointers.

 

Most people have trouble with the 2-3 shift, not the 1-2 or 3-4. Also, if your clutch is slipping in first gear, it will REALLY be slipping the higher gears..which explains your low mph. Do you notice the car revving but not really accelerating that fast? Get a new clutch a go back...

 

forget the time for a minute, think of your trap speed which seems really low

 

Agreed...actually surprised he hasn't chimed in yet since this is his forte

Is a good trap speed around 115 for stock turbo?

Its odd. I notice it slipping significantly in 1st gear...revs high but car doesn't really move. 2-4 "seem" to be ok. In order for me to move in 1st gear I have to launch <2k RPM then it seems to grab. 3k or over and it just revs. Previous owner probably used the car as a daily and slipped the clutch it 1st gear for a smooth start too many times. Clutch showed up on my PPI as needing replacement so I wasn't surprised.

After my clutch replacement I am probably going to dyno the car just to make sure there isn't any other issue.

 

Very good run PALETTE and excellent advise for us about shifting.

 

Found this pretty good video on you tube. If I actually shifted as fast as the "speed" shifting in the video I would probably knock off .5 sec from my time. Time to go practice...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv791ac2bmE

 

with decent weather, yes, 115mph would be good for a stock K16 car