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      04-29-2015, 08:49 PM   #1
augerpro
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First drag race!

Went to Bandimere for the first time to tonight in my M235xi. Never raced before so I was pretty nervous. First pass was 13.595s which I though was a good start (I'm car 34):



But then the next 4 passes were terrible, all in the low 14s. I think the car was pulling power. Intake air temps were 130-140F, I don't know if that is terrible or not? Here is a typical pass:



After I let the car cool and the sun went behind the mountain I tried another pass and accidentally hit 2nd gear right off the line. Still ran a 13.8 though. Fastest pass was just Sport+ with the tranny in S. My attempts in manual weren't very good, but then it is hard to tell for sure since the car was hot (I guess?) at that point. Any tips?
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      04-29-2015, 10:10 PM   #2
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this is the best I got



then average was 13.4... but my top speed was 103+ on all runs....

Sport+ already includes sport transmission shifts so putting the lever to the left for S does really nothing....
I would try this... use "Comfort" so you have softer suspension and will absorb the bumps better, now shifter in M, and launch in 2nd gear

It's weird cause can't be too hot in CO so not sure it's temp related and you have x drive so you shouldn't be getting much wheel spin if at all....
Do you have PSS or all season ?

Last edited by pikcachu; 04-29-2015 at 10:16 PM..
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      04-29-2015, 10:44 PM   #3
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I just had Bridgestone RE-11's put on. I never noticed the traction control light kicking on, I think I'm pretty good there. I did one launch in 2nd gear but it wasn't any good, I think that was my last run before I let the car cool now that I think about it. What elevation are you at?
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      04-29-2015, 10:47 PM   #4
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BTW what RPM are you shifting at?
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      04-29-2015, 10:49 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by augerpro View Post
I just had Bridgestone RE-11's put on. I never noticed the traction control light kicking on, I think I'm pretty good there. I did one launch in 2nd gear but it wasn't any good, I think that was my last run before I let the car cool now that I think about it. What elevation are you at?
300ft or so pretty much sea level
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      04-29-2015, 10:51 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by augerpro View Post
BTW what RPM are you shifting at?
first run was on DS so whatever rpm computer shits at red line probably around 7K then i tried around 6.5 but didnt make much difference
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      04-29-2015, 10:53 PM   #7
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Also I would brake-stand at about 2k to launch. My 2nd pass was weird because i swear during the brake-stand the rpm's starting dropping and I'm like WTF? then the light drops and I go and get a terrible pass. I was too nervous to really register what happened, but i thought that was weird. So it does seem like the car was doing something to slow me down.
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      05-01-2015, 09:07 PM   #8
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BTW anyone know what intake temps are too high? I was getting 130-140F after my first run. Wonder if that caused the car to pull power?
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      05-01-2015, 09:37 PM   #9
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Anyone use the Density Altitude calculator at dragtimes.com? I just input my 13.595 time and the weather snapshot from the site and it calculated a 12.989 @ 105.478 MPH for "extensively modified supercharged or turbocharged engines" (the most conservative selection). I guess this would be the equivalent time at some standard condition sea level. So I guess I'm not that far off?
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      05-01-2015, 09:49 PM   #10
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I wonder if turning off traction would help. I believe even in sport+ power can be robbed.. I think.. Just have to be much more careful of wheel spin with it off
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      05-01-2015, 10:35 PM   #11
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I completely turned off traction control my last run, but blew the launch by shifting in to 2nd right away accidently, so it was 13.8 but interestingly my highest trap speed of the night at 104 mph.
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      05-08-2015, 10:58 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by augerpro View Post
Also I would brake-stand at about 2k to launch. My 2nd pass was weird because i swear during the brake-stand the rpm's starting dropping and I'm like WTF? then the light drops and I go and get a terrible pass. I was too nervous to really register what happened, but i thought that was weird. So it does seem like the car was doing something to slow me down.
augerpro

I had this same scenario happen to me and caught it on video. I was doing a brake-stand, you see my rear wheels slightly slip and then audibly hear the rpm's drop (still doing a brake-stand at this point). It was the traction control kicking in. It really hurt the launch of the car as it pulled power. You can see a dramatic difference in your 60 ft. time between the two time slips you have attached. I'm betting this is what happened to you also.

You can try using the launch control function (this worked pretty decent for me) or just make sure to disable traction control.

Hope this helps.
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      05-13-2015, 11:30 AM   #13
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Yeah I'll try turning off traction control completely next time. Odd that it didn't effect my first run but maybe I wasn't deep in the throttle when staging. A guy I work with drag races and says modern cars can pull power if the intake temps are high. He also said there was a water hose to hose down my intercooler for this reason at the track.
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      05-28-2015, 07:12 PM   #14
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So I went to Bandimere again last night. Changed two things: a little octane boost in the gas and using a water hose after every run to cool the radiators. I had much more consistent results and intake temps stayed below 110F.

Had traction control all the way off every run. First run in DS, doing the brake stand a little long and the revs dropped off again. So I don't think traction control is the issue, but for whatever reason the engine doesn't like to brake stand for more than a couple seconds. Turned a 13.94.

Next run *I think* I was in manual. Waited till the first yellow lit and just got deep in the throttle and had my best run so far: 13.48 @ 103mph. Next couple runs I was messing with shift points and ran around 13.8 both times.
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      05-29-2015, 09:33 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by augerpro View Post
So I went to Bandimere again last night. Changed two things: a little octane boost in the gas and using a water hose after every run to cool the radiators. I had much more consistent results and intake temps stayed below 110F.

Had traction control all the way off every run. First run in DS, doing the brake stand a little long and the revs dropped off again. So I don't think traction control is the issue, but for whatever reason the engine doesn't like to brake stand for more than a couple seconds. Turned a 13.94.

Next run *I think* I was in manual. Waited till the first yellow lit and just got deep in the throttle and had my best run so far: 13.48 @ 103mph. Next couple runs I was messing with shift points and ran around 13.8 both times.
Last time I went to the strip I noticed the same, even with traction off if I brake stand too long the RPM's start to drop and it launches softer.
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      05-31-2015, 10:03 AM   #16
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The most satisfying part of the day though was beating two friends of mine, one in my old 370Z and the other in a 2012 Camaro SS. I was pulling them by over a second, Denver altitude is brutal. Go blown or go home!
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      06-04-2015, 09:19 PM   #17
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So I'm headed to High Plains Raceway tomorrow for my first real track day!! Question: does our car have a tow hook?
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      06-04-2015, 10:52 PM   #18
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it does.... it's in the trunk next to the battery on some leather bag
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      07-12-2015, 06:14 PM   #19
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Little update. I've settled into turning traction control all the way off and tranny in S. Just elevate the revs a bit, at the first yellow bury my foot in the gas and go at the third yellow. Best was 13.49 @ 103.5mph. Using the density altitude calculator at dragtimes.com means this would be equivalent to running 12.87 @ 107.5 at Pomona raceway on a random summer day. So I think I'm getting close to what the car is capable of, although I checked out the launch control the other day and it seems pretty promising since I can brake stand for an extended time at 3k, something no other mode will let me do.

After installing a BMS Stage 1 I ran a best of 13.23 @ 105.2mph. So a solid couple tenths which probably means a 30hp increase or so. Can't wait to try launch control next time!
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      07-12-2015, 06:22 PM   #20
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BTW anyone have recommendation for a good video upload site that won't compress it down?
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      07-13-2015, 05:20 AM   #21
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YouTube. You can chose.

Some good R/Ts on here so far. That 60ft time is gonna make the difference the most I think. If you are losing a little power then that will hurt you. Did any of you do burn outs? Not really needed with street tires.
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      07-13-2015, 11:12 AM   #22
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This makes me a bit worried about what my 1/4 mile time will be on my car with the 6MT I have JB4 and catless DP and aFe Intake but I know it probably wont hit 12's
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