A&Q about 350Z
Q:
Im not one usally to race but I really just wanna get good at driving my Z. Whats the best shift point to take off at?? I tried searching this with no luck. Thanks
-walt
06 350Z 6spd
92 300z NA 2+2
A:
If you are Drag Racing with a manual Transmission you want to "take off” (side step the clutch) at 4000 to 4500 Rpm's. Then you want to shift (power on) at 6500 Rpm's for maximum performance.
Oh, I forgot. Turn off the traction control first.
Mspeasl
Central Illinois - Form member since 2/02
"Growing old may be mandatory, but growing up is optional"
03 Redline Touring 6sp "350Z" (Pre-Ordered 02/02) - Delivered 29 August 02
05 Satin Jade Pearl Chrysler 300C 6/04
Post Edited (Oct 2, 5:45pm)
A:
This is a question without a single answer. Plus, you haven't really defined what you mean. Do you want the fastest possible acceleration? Or do you want the smoothest take-off from a stop? A high RPM clutch dump will eat up your tires and glaze your clutch in a hurry, but that's the best way to get off the line as fast as possible.
-- Next Up: SCCA ITR 300ZX --
A:
I'll second Mspeasl's opinion on a 4-4.5k rpm launch (though I do not side-step - just personal preference).
But I had read that 6200rpm was the best shift point...
'04 Daytona Blue 350Z Enthusiast - B-Stock #34
Tanabe Sustec 36mm chromoly front sway bar
K&N drop in air filter
Hawk HPS brake pads
Pioneer Premier CD/MP3 head unit
18% tint rear and sides
A:
"Side step", figure of speech. Quickly release may be a better way to state it.
Mspeasl
Central Illinois - Form member since 2/02
"Growing old may be mandatory, but growing up is optional"
03 Redline Touring 6sp "350Z" (Pre-Ordered 02/02) - Delivered 29 August 02
05 Satin Jade Pearl Chrysler 300C 6/04
A:
You can also slip the clutch while planting the gas firmly to the floor. If done righ, the RPMs will hold at peak torque until the drivetrain comes up to speed. (I think this may work better on motorcycles though.) Im sure that this technique would glaze a non-wet clutch in a single or few passes.
Daily driving: I personally try to slip the clutch the least amount possible. ie, not accelerating until the clutch is all the way engaged. The leads to really slow starts in first, and sometimes a jerky shift to second if not timed perfect.
Other than that, listen to the advice of the experienced guys (notice I didnt say old fogies) they could drive any one of us young guys under the table given the chance.
06 Lemanz Sunset Track Z
Best car I ever bought.
IHI Turbos comming soon.
A:
Walter contact ur local Z club, most have driving courses that perfect ur Z experience.
I took a Subaru STI from start at lights onto freeway on Sat, depends how much u can distract them off the line ;)
2005 350z Silver Coupe Touring
“while your busy contemplating your dream, i'm living mine......”
A:
also got this on office email today: http://www.wrightspeed.com/index.html a new electric supercar, the video is a cracker, it smokes a ferrari and porsche!
2005 350z Silver Coupe Touring
“while your busy contemplating your dream, i'm living mine......”
A:
don't make me send the aussie dictionary over.....
2005 350z Silver Coupe Touring
“while your busy contemplating your dream, i'm living mine......”
A:
that cracks me up.
'06 Silver Alloy 350Z Touring
A:
Thanks everyone. I dont want to eat my tires but I wanna nice take off. I have been roped into going to the Track with some friends. I dont want to look too much like a idiot. If you guys have any other tips or whatever go ahead and shoot em. THANKS!!
-Walt
06 350Z 6spd
92 300z NA 2+2
A:
Well if its your first time to the dragstrip, Ill tell you all the mistakes I made. Others feel free to add stories or suggestions and not just laugh at me.
1. Walk the lenght of the track if you can. Make a mental note of where the staging lights and finish line is. This might sound stupid, but when your adrenaline is pumping, you forget. I didnt do this and ended up backing off the throttle 300 ft before the line, then realizing my mistake and accelerating again after I passed it.
2. Watch a couple of passes by other drivers and get a feel for how they stage their car including what the track officials are doing to help them stage. The last thing you want to do is backing up then going forward only to backup again to get staged. (oops)
3. Unless you practice warming up your tires, (a controlled burn out), your first time at the track is not the place to learn. Well at least not for me.... I slid the front end of my car, (FWD Daytona), doing a burnout in the water and damn near hit a track official.
4. Use your first couple of runs for a nice easy start. Kinda like you are on the street and you want to beat the minivan next to you. I looked like a moron my first run, because I thought I needed to dump the clutch from 5000 to get a good start. Instead I sat there wheel hopping.
5. <---- Can you tell Im an En gin neer with my numbering. Dont speed on your return trip back to the staging area. They dont like that, and youll get yelled at when you pick up your trap ticket. Oh, and remember to pick up your trap ticket. You dont want the race official to walk up to you while your trying to look cool next to your car and hand you a 16s time slip.
Thats all my constructive stories/ mistakes from my first track experience. Guys dont leave me hanging, I know someone else has a good story/advice.
06 Lemanz Sunset Track Z
Best car I ever bought.
IHI Turbos comming soon.
A:
350 TTZ,
<That’s all my constructive stories/ mistakes from my first track experience. Guys don’t leave me hanging, I know someone else has a good story/advice.>
My first time was with my 1953 Chevy in 1960. I was in College and some of my roommates wanted to go to the drag races at US 30 south of Chicago. So we all hopped into my car on that fateful Sunday morning and went to the strip. Well I was hooked and man I wanted to race also. So I entered and went up to the starting line just like everyone else was. Back in those days there was no Christmas tree, just the starter with flags. Well I got a little nervous and passed over the starting line. He had me back up, which I did and he stopped me when I was where he wanted me. Well now we were ready to go. He raised his first flag and pointed at the other guy, then he pointed it at me. I shook my head that I was ready and then he quickly raised the checker flag to go. I had that old 6 cylinder revved up and boy I dumped the clutch expecting to take off like a bat out of hell in the direction of the finish line. What happened next was total embarrassment. The car went backwards and I felt like a total idiot. The other real Drag Racers just shook their heads and laughed their butts off.
Next<G>
Mspeasl
Central Illinois - Form member since 2/02
"Growing old may be mandatory, but growing up is optional"
03 Redline Touring 6sp "350Z" (Pre-Ordered 02/02) - Delivered 29 August 02
05 Satin Jade Pearl Chrysler 300C 6/04
A:
good stories guys, I am lucky enough to a have a brand new strip of road that is abandoned and outta sight. Also its about 2 and a half miles long. The local kids in the area have the quartermile marked with spray paint. so I have untill Sat to get some practice in.
06 350Z 6spd
92 300z NA 2+2