Time Trial Results
#11
Senior Members
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: USA, NJ
Posts: 536
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2007 BMW 550, Sport, Navi, PS, CWP, Sirius
Originally Posted by geokr1' post='365648' date='Dec 10 2006, 10:15 AM
Let me answer both your's and Serg's questions as best I can recall. The tires were stock Bridgestone Potenza's inflated as recommended - 30/35 with around 7K miles on them. The temp when I drove in at 9:30 was 47F and it may have gone up 8-10 degrees as the day went on. It was a clear, dry day, maybe some high clouds so I would guess the pressure was around 29.95, wind was negligible, GPS altitude was around 125 MSL. I was running Shell Premium 93 octane and I totally pigged out on Bubba's Buffalo Wings and Cheese Fries between the third and fourth race. I agree that the 60' times need a lot of improvement and am interested in any suggestions there. I did try brake torqueing a little but never over 1000 rpm. Next time I run I'll take advantage of the scale and get my takeoff weight.
#12
Contributors
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Austin TX
Posts: 6,554
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2014 X5 xDrive 5.0 M Package Carbon Black Metallic/2008 M Roadster Imola Red
Originally Posted by geokr1' post='365648' date='Dec 10 2006, 08:15 AM
Let me answer both your's and Serg's questions as best I can recall. The tires were stock Bridgestone Potenza's inflated as recommended - 30/35 with around 7K miles on them. The temp when I drove in at 9:30 was 47F and it may have gone up 8-10 degrees as the day went on. It was a clear, dry day, maybe some high clouds so I would guess the pressure was around 29.95, wind was negligible, GPS altitude was around 125 MSL. I was running Shell Premium 93 octane and I totally pigged out on Bubba's Buffalo Wings and Cheese Fries between the third and fourth race. I agree that the 60' times need a lot of improvement and am interested in any suggestions there. I did try brake torqueing a little but never over 1000 rpm. Next time I run I'll take advantage of the scale and get my takeoff weight.
#13
Contributors
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Austin TX
Posts: 6,554
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2014 X5 xDrive 5.0 M Package Carbon Black Metallic/2008 M Roadster Imola Red
Originally Posted by grogan545' post='365645' date='Dec 10 2006, 07:47 AM
I agree with Sergy on the run flats the extra unsprung weight of the run flats will definitely affect your times.However I do not agree that launching a step is that easy.I have quite a bit of drag strip experience and I bettered my times from a 13.899 to a 13.644 by fine tuning my starting method.I made 4 runs,each one was better than the last.I found that going though the water and spinning my tires clean worked best for me.I think if I made about 10 runs I could have improved my time to about 13.50.It takes some experimenting with the track surface on stock tires to get best results.With drag slicks it would take only a couple of runs to get best results because the traction is magnitudes better.You definitely should have the DTC/DTS off for best times.
#14
I was at MIR that weekend as well (but brought my bone stock 2006 Z06 and managed an 11.46).
Anyway, a couple of suggestions that might help:
1. Staging - It is very critical that you stage as shallow as possible. The roll-out distance is about 12 inches and it will take about 0.4 seconds to cover this. That means that every inch of rollout is worth about .03 of a second. Most people don't understand how even a few inches of roll-out can add several tenths to their E.T.
From looking at your 60' times, I suspect you didn't stage as shallow as you could.
2. Keep the engine as cool as possible -- The ECU on these cars pulls timing as the air intake path heats up. So, you want to do everything you can to keep the engine cool while waiting for your run. That means cycling the ignition on and off as you move through the staging lanes to minimize the amount of time spent with the engine on. Always want to cool the motor between rounds.
3. Stay in the groove - Find the dull part of the track and line your car up directly with this. MIR uses VHT traction compound and you want to avoid the shiny areas.
MIR is closed for now - but might want to give this a try next season.
Hope this helps.
Anyway, a couple of suggestions that might help:
1. Staging - It is very critical that you stage as shallow as possible. The roll-out distance is about 12 inches and it will take about 0.4 seconds to cover this. That means that every inch of rollout is worth about .03 of a second. Most people don't understand how even a few inches of roll-out can add several tenths to their E.T.
From looking at your 60' times, I suspect you didn't stage as shallow as you could.
2. Keep the engine as cool as possible -- The ECU on these cars pulls timing as the air intake path heats up. So, you want to do everything you can to keep the engine cool while waiting for your run. That means cycling the ignition on and off as you move through the staging lanes to minimize the amount of time spent with the engine on. Always want to cool the motor between rounds.
3. Stay in the groove - Find the dull part of the track and line your car up directly with this. MIR uses VHT traction compound and you want to avoid the shiny areas.
MIR is closed for now - but might want to give this a try next season.
Hope this helps.
#15
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Southern Maryland
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2007 550i, Titanium Silver/Black, 6-Sp Steptronic, Sport Package, HD Radio, Sirius, Premium Sound, GPS Nav, Cold Pkg, cell phone cradle, iPod through the AUX port
1976 Datsun 280Z, Charcoal/Black, 5-Sp Manual, A/C, American Mags, CD, Tom Tom 930 GPS (works better than the BMW!) and the rest is pretty much stock
Thanks to everyone for the analysis and advice - will try it all again in the spring at MIR and I WILL see 13's!
#17
Contributors
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2005 545i Orient Blue
Don't be disappointed, the 1/4 mile is truly all about perfecting the technique. You have to run it over and over and try all the different tricks and tips suggested on the forum. You'll get to where you want to be.
Don't let the reaction time be an issue, if I'm not mistaken, that doesn't factor in at all to your times.
Don't let the reaction time be an issue, if I'm not mistaken, that doesn't factor in at all to your times.
#18
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Southern Maryland
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2007 550i, Titanium Silver/Black, 6-Sp Steptronic, Sport Package, HD Radio, Sirius, Premium Sound, GPS Nav, Cold Pkg, cell phone cradle, iPod through the AUX port
1976 Datsun 280Z, Charcoal/Black, 5-Sp Manual, A/C, American Mags, CD, Tom Tom 930 GPS (works better than the BMW!) and the rest is pretty much stock
Originally Posted by octee' post='366212' date='Dec 11 2006, 05:16 PM
Don't be disappointed, the 1/4 mile is truly all about perfecting the technique. You have to run it over and over and try all the different tricks and tips suggested on the forum. You'll get to where you want to be.
Don't let the reaction time be an issue, if I'm not mistaken, that doesn't factor in at all to your times.
Don't let the reaction time be an issue, if I'm not mistaken, that doesn't factor in at all to your times.
#19
Originally Posted by dgdoc' post='365668' date='Dec 10 2006, 10:31 AM
I was at MIR that weekend as well (but brought my bone stock 2006 Z06 and managed an 11.46).
Anyway, a couple of suggestions that might help:
1. Staging - It is very critical that you stage as shallow as possible. The roll-out distance is about 12 inches and it will take about 0.4 seconds to cover this. That means that every inch of rollout is worth about .03 of a second. Most people don't understand how even a few inches of roll-out can add several tenths to their E.T.
From looking at your 60' times, I suspect you didn't stage as shallow as you could.
2. Keep the engine as cool as possible -- The ECU on these cars pulls timing as the air intake path heats up. So, you want to do everything you can to keep the engine cool while waiting for your run. That means cycling the ignition on and off as you move through the staging lanes to minimize the amount of time spent with the engine on. Always want to cool the motor between rounds.
3. Stay in the groove - Find the dull part of the track and line your car up directly with this. MIR uses VHT traction compound and you want to avoid the shiny areas.
MIR is closed for now - but might want to give this a try next season.
Hope this helps.
Anyway, a couple of suggestions that might help:
1. Staging - It is very critical that you stage as shallow as possible. The roll-out distance is about 12 inches and it will take about 0.4 seconds to cover this. That means that every inch of rollout is worth about .03 of a second. Most people don't understand how even a few inches of roll-out can add several tenths to their E.T.
From looking at your 60' times, I suspect you didn't stage as shallow as you could.
2. Keep the engine as cool as possible -- The ECU on these cars pulls timing as the air intake path heats up. So, you want to do everything you can to keep the engine cool while waiting for your run. That means cycling the ignition on and off as you move through the staging lanes to minimize the amount of time spent with the engine on. Always want to cool the motor between rounds.
3. Stay in the groove - Find the dull part of the track and line your car up directly with this. MIR uses VHT traction compound and you want to avoid the shiny areas.
MIR is closed for now - but might want to give this a try next season.
Hope this helps.
Probably best to focus on your other advice, and getting a real clean take-off. Or pick a nice cool/dry day!
#20
Contributors
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 21,274
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: Mini Cooper
Originally Posted by octee' post='366212' date='Dec 12 2006, 06:16 AM
Don't let the reaction time be an issue.
If you have the time in your head you will not have 100% on your driving
Its like any sport mind over matter, don`t think, just do it and it will get better and better