How To Prep For Drags In My Gtr?.....im I 1st Timer...

[nsta]

Hey guys,

Im going to enter the Drags for the 1st time ever, never entered before, so its going to be a good learning experience..

Few problems, ive never launched my GTR, so its going to be quite interesting,.....anyone have some advise/quick hints tips?....

What could i do to get better times, im thinking of removing my interior....done it enough times already, so that wont be a major...how about lowering my tyre pressures?....

quick roundup of my GTR

R33 GTR RB26

312AWKW

265/35/18 tyres all round (32psi t/pressure)

adjustable suspension (damper/height)

Aftermarket Clutch (hopefully it handles the launches ok)

Any tips?

Thanks.....

[_K1NGTR_]

Handbreak launch lol better than just droping it Hold up your hand break and feather ur clutch till its pulling and hold the car stationary with the hand break and rev it to what ever you want then release the hand break and get a 1.6 60 ft like i do!

Takes practice but once you get used to it its really good to use

[paulr33]

you would be silly to remove the interior, do a few drag days then decide if its for you or not and if you are happy with the times you are getting

no need to do it if you are happy with the times. you have 300awkw so should be enough for 12s no worries

drop tyre pressure 20psi (at least)

+

learn how to launch

go practice somewhere

[Sklyn]

RELAX!!!!! don't let the excitment and pressure overwhelm you, just get out there and give it a go. You will get better with practice.

For your first meet i dont think striping the car etc will make a huge difference, just get used to launching and how it feels to be on the strip.

Tire pressures can vary depending on air and track temperature as well as suspension and wheel size. so play with it between runs.

I have only entered a few meets myself, but it is heaps of fun.

[Swiper the Fox]

raise the ride height...soften the suspension (soft bump and hard rebound in the rear...opposite in the front) about 22psi in the front and 20psi in the rears. Off the limiter launches are the best for a 1st timer as the handbrake method is a little tricky (ive never done it that way) Look at your last dyno graph and change as power starts to fall off (using a shift light will actually help too although ive never used one of them either)

Edited November 27, 2008 by DiRTgarage

[bnr#@]

If you have never launched it before then the main thing is hold on tight and be very ready to change gear as first will disapear in a second or so. And did I mention HOLD ON!!! LOL

[Swiper the Fox]

If you have never launched it before then the main thing is hold on tight and be very ready to change gear as first will disapear in a second or so. And did I mention HOLD ON!!! LOL

Yes a launch with a STD ratio gearbox is a one handed affair...as you need the other to quickly get out of 1st. With the OS giken i used to run you could actually 'drive' the car out of the hole before reaching for 2nd due to the better drag friendly ratio's.

[NXTIME]

The car shouldn't roll forward as the handbrake effectively holds the car stationary whilst you rev the engine and load it by slightly releasing the clutch. This method also take up any slack in the driveline and helps reduce the chances of breaking it. It definitely needs practice though... try a 5000 rpm launch and increase it by 500rpm if it bogs down.

[Swiper the Fox]

you guys are soft...even Stacey does off the limiter clutch dumps when launching...

I guess thats why she's quicker than you guys...lol

Edited November 27, 2008 by DiRTgarage

[NXTIME]

touche!

[unique1]

yer i always use pauls method too, rev limiter and drop clutch havent broken anything on a launch yet with 430kw at wheels, more chance of breakage is the 2nd to 3rd gear shift, go easy on it, i broke mine on its first pass. I hope your clutch is good

[Sklyn]

Most importantly....KEEP IT STRAIGHT!!!! try launching at about 5000 as said and work it out from there.

Have you done any burnouts or drifting in it yet? How hard have you driven it? because if you haven't experienced it before it is surprising!

[_K1NGTR_]

Ive never heard of that before in a manual, i used to do it in my auto s15.

But wouldnt you roll just slightly breaking the starting lasers? ill try it 2nite when i go on my nightly thrash.

Ive only ever done 2 launches; one at 5000rpm which was amazing and yes you have to change gear almost straight away.

I did another at about 4000 but it just bogged down.

yea give it a shot man i have been using it for 2 years now and i mastered the technique of taking off and getting really good 60 foot times . happy to show u in my car love doing it ...

[writeoff]

The following points came from an article by Martin Donnon in HPI magazine #90.

- Only fill the petrol tank to 0.25 full (half way for R32 GTRs).

- Take out all unnecessary stuff like the spare tyre, jack, car mats and any shit you have in the boot, glove box, centre bin, back seat etc.

- Put 22psi in all the tyres.

- Warm up the tyres properly (granted this is more difficult in a R33/R34 GTR without a torque split controller).

- Sit on the rev limiter for 5 seconds and then dump the clutch...

- But avoid hitting the rev limiter as you change through the gears so be ready to grab 2nd!

- Keep you right foot planted until you are across the line ie don't back off when you see the line approaching.

Some extra tips if you i) have the parts, ii) can be bothered changing them & iii) have the $ and time:

- Remove the passenger & rears seats, speakers, door trim etc

- Use smaller rims - the stock R32 GTR rims are good or even 15"

- Use the stock GTR suspension.

- Use specifically designed drag radials eg Mickey Thompson (if you can afford them).

Good luck and lets us know how you go.

PS - I have never done any of the above as AIR has been closed since I've owned my R32 GTR

Edited November 27, 2008 by writeoff

[and3_3]

With the whole redline launch, will my clutch like me very much after a few hours of this?

I've just bought a new clutch and its getting put in on monday and i'm going to willowbank 20th dec, so id like to keep my clutch happy...

[_K1NGTR_]

LOL yea once u get the hang of it you will love it ! It creates way less wheel spin and is so much safer because everythings grabbing already and when u drop the hand break it goes when u drop the clutch everything just hits hard which can f*k your diff gear box or what ever I have a Twin plate so it grabs straight away.

[Public Enemy]

forget about racing the green light on you first night, just focus on getting a good launch away even if it's a second or 2 after the green.

[R31Nismoid]

^^ best point in the thread.

Be slow and take your time. If you race out and try race the tree on your first few outings your not going to go so well as your likely to get caught in the moment and forget something like a gear change, or miss a gear entirely etc.

Better to think about it once your in stage, run over the things your gonna do, then have a crack.

& limiter launches...

[PHA71L]

i would try nothing under 6000rpm i do limters to but last time i ran with stock gtr rims dumping from 7000 i just spun all fours for all of first gear .....

but with your tyres and clutch you should be fine!

ride the clutch you will get clutch slip so i would just dump it

Edited November 30, 2008 by PHA71L

[nsta]

Thanks for all the replies guys, im gonna give it a shot next week and see how i go....

My mates gnna give me a few tips, and also let me practise beforehand (legally:).....

Just concerned....i'm really not keen on giving it too much hard launches, as im about to sell it.....just want to post a time so i can say ive done so.

How much time can i good launch take off?.....i mean if i was to just WOT without a launch from the green light, will i post a bad time?

Cheers.