Trying the 1/4 mile for the first time tomorrow at PBIR, any launch tips for DCT?

[mike33176]

I have lot's of road racing experience and I've done a few Florida Mile runs but, never had to be concerned about getting a good launch. Any tips for 1/4 mile launch with DCT. I tried the stock launch control setting at the runway and it spun the tires thru 2nd gear. Will being in the "groove" on a dragstrip help with the slippage problems or should I drop the rpm's with the cruise control lever? Love to hear any of your experiences, Thanks in invance, Cheers!

[Mr.Bimmer]

This car's a bitch to launch at the strip. I know I know it's not a drag car, but still it's fun to try it once. I ended up putting it in D5 with traction control disabled. And I still ended up spinning badly on the 1 -2 transition shift. My 60ft was just terrible in the 2.3 range. Don't go WOT straight from the get-go, you'll load up the DCT transmission and the car will basically do a poor mans launch control (you know what I mean if you've tried this before). Unless your track is sticky as gum I'd avoid the launch control for fear of spinning. My track was really busy so I only got one run. Hopefully you'll be able to try out a few different methods. Do a search on here, there's a little bit more information. Good luck.

[mike33176]

Thanks Bud, it should be FUN!

[swamp2]

LC works great but....

Only if

1. There is not a long line of folks queueing up at the strip. If so your tranny will cool down and you will not be able to us LC - it will be disabled based on the temperature being too low.
2. You have great traction - not a problem at most strips.

What worked out best for me on street tires was to use the "pseudo LC mode" by simply mashing the gas way early in the lighting sequence so the revs have time to build and the car launches just at green. My other settings were Drivelogic in D5 and using DSC = MDM, EDC = comfort (to try to allow maximum weight transfer). Since using only street tires I found it best to do one quick burnout with DSC off then just stage up. The burnouts can give some terrible axle hop and I hate that feeling of beating on the car a bit when that happens. Using this technique I was able to get a sub 2 second 60' time, which on street tires I was quite happy with.

[OC3]

^+1 on axle hop. Jezuz

[Rshane]

at the fırst sıgn of axle hop get off the gas...not cheap to fıx a broken half shaft. I use my Mustang for the 1\4 mıle track...the M ıs for fun cruısıng...and a track wıth turns.

[JIO]

You can adjust the launch +/-500 rpm by using the cruise control lever.

[mkoesel]

I second what everyone said.

Not DCT related, but leave on the last yellow for a good R/T.

[swamp2]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

I second what everyone said.

Not DCT related, but leave on the last yellow for a good R/T.

When using the "launch control light" as I call it you have to leave with about 2 yellows left!

LC lite is the DCTs ability to free rev and pause ever so slightly so that the clutch can be dumped even when not in LC mode formally. It only does this upon very heavy and very large throttle application from a dead stop. I found this along with D5 for perfect redline shifts the best for the drag strip.

[IFX]

Originally Posted by GhostRideTheWhip

C63 AMG for straight line speed, M3 for the curves.

With that said, make sure the track isn't busy for LC to work properly.

Yea, personally leave the strip to AMG's..

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by swamp2

When using the "launch control light" as I call it you have to leave with about 2 yellows left!

Makes sense. I only tried launching with LC-proper, or just rolling away with gas applied gingerly.

[swamp2]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Makes sense. I only tried launching with LC-proper, or just rolling away with gas applied gingerly.

You should give "LC lite" a try.

Push the pedal far and fast that's all you have to do. Many do not like it due to the natural delay. The car does simply sit at zero speed and build revs for a brief moment before dumping the clutch. There doesn't appear to be any other possible solution if you want to have it dump the clutch. The consequence in a street race is that the guy with either a normal MT or AT or the fellow using any sort of LC will most likely get a significant jump on you (i.e. in essence you'll have a poor RT).

I think it is quite clever - 3 modes - normal take off (the clutch begins moving as soon as the throttle moves), "LC lite" providing that feel of the dumped clutch and then full/formal LC!

[mike33176]

Originally Posted by swamp2

LC works great but....

Only if

1. There is not a long line of folks queueing up at the strip. If so your tranny will cool down and you will not be able to us LC - it will be disabled based on the temperature being too low.
2. You have great traction - not a problem at most strips.

What worked out best for me on street tires was to use the "pseudo LC mode" by simply mashing the gas way early in the lighting sequence so the revs have time to build and the car launches just at green. My other settings were Drivelogic in D5 and using DSC = MDM, EDC = comfort (to try to allow maximum weight transfer). Since using only street tires I found it best to do one quick burnout with DSC off then just stage up. The burnouts can give some terrible axle hop and I hate that feeling of beating on the car a bit when that happens. Using this technique I was able to get a sub 2 second 60' time, which on street tires I was quite happy with.

So, I didn't think I'd really get a rise out of 1/4 mile racing since I've done the Florida Mile but, I was wrong, what a blast! The Huge Crowd was cool to race in front of also, Huge Turnout. I had LC issues, the first 2 times I tried it, when it was banging off the limiter, the car was lurching forward and caused me to red light both times. I wish I woluld have seen the post quoted above because those turned out to be the best settings and procedures. I beat up on a few ISF's , a Civic turbo, a lexus sc400 turbo and a C5 vette convertable. I lost to a GTR, a ZO6 and a Cobra with a larger supercharger. I think if I can get the LC issues with the AA tune lowering the revs to 4300, I can get it into the high 11's. Here's my slips, remember, 1st time at the 1/4 mile ever.
BEST ET vs ISF


Best RT VS ISF


Versus the GTR with a mid pipe, look at his RT!

[xchosun1x]

Originally Posted by JIO

You can adjust the launch +/-500 rpm by using the cruise control lever.

how do you adjust it?

do you have to build up the revs in LC mode and then adjust it at that time?

or it is adjustable before revs build up?

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by swamp2

You should give "LC lite" a try.

Yeah, I've done that on a few occasions on the street. It's nice but, I guess I kind of avoided it at the track due to the delay. I got my best time with LC, but it was nothing to write home about either way since the track was an ice rink.

Originally Posted by mike33176

So, I didn't think I'd really get a rise out of 1/4 mile racing since I've done the Florida Mile but, I was wrong, what a blast!

Great job! Do you have exhaust or other engine mods? Or are you stock. Either way, it's a great effort, and with more practice you could probably be in the low 12s.

[mike33176]

New Pics posted

[VictorH]

Those are great times and very consistent, congrats.

[mike33176]

All 12 runs I did , except for the first 2 with LC were between 12.70-12.49. I was happy with the consistancy, not with the launch though.

[swamp2]

Originally Posted by mike33176

So, I didn't think I'd really get a rise out of 1/4 mile racing since I've done the Florida Mile but, I was wrong, what a blast! The Huge Crowd was cool to race in front of also, Huge Turnout. I had LC issues, the first 2 times I tried it, when it was banging off the limiter, the car was lurching forward and caused me to red light both times. I wish I woluld have seen the post quoted above because those turned out to be the best settings and procedures. I beat up on a few ISF's , a Civic turbo, a lexus sc400 turbo and a C5 vette convertable. I lost to a GTR, a ZO6 and a Cobra with a larger supercharger. I think if I can get the LC issues with the AA tune lowering the revs to 4300, I can get it into the high 11's. Here's my slips, remember, 1st time at the 1/4 mile ever.

Great times, I'm assuming you just have AA software and no other performance mods? If so the 12.4X is downright amazing. The best time posted in this giant "database' of ours is 12.5! Nice work on putting the IS-F down as well! My first time at the strip with this car was vs. my buddy in his Challenger SRT8 who was really egging me on. Needless to say even totally botching the RT I still reeled him in...

[mike33176]

No, along with the tune, I have an AA Cat-back and an HFC- Xpipe. I need to address my launch/ RT issues and I will get into the Very low 12's and I think , very high 11's.

[swamp2]

^What do you estimate as your crank hp with those mods?

[powertrip]

Nice times brah . It looks like your AA tune is extremely consistent. I saw the same consistency on the dyno when I was running their tune.