and I came excited the whole way here

I wasn't gonna go tonight, but my brother calls me up telling me there was NOBODY there tonight (he drives a 99 SI). So I go, but I got there at 9:30... he was right though, the line was VERY short. I thought, "Finally! I'll have the chance to fix my 16.2." By the way, this is my 3rd time at the track. Anyway, my excitement started to fall when there were 2 oil spills one after another... my car didn't get anywhere in line for 1 hour!!! Then they announced that this would be the last run, so I was disappointed to have spent $15 for one run. Fortunately, I wasn't disappointed for long after I completed my run and grabbed my slip...
15.5 @ 89!!!!!!!! I was so fricken happy I started to scream insanely! My brother came running to congratulate me (he's still working on his 15.7). Now I think those $15 were well spent

Anyway, I was so excited that I just wanted to share my story with you all. Thanks for listening

Special thanks to Josh (a.k.a. drifter) for your tips! I did exactly as you said and it worked.

Here's my slip: http://personal.atl.bellsouth.net/mi...320_051502.jpg

 

VERY NICE TIME! just wondering but what where you racing against?

 

Thanks man!

It was a 6th Gen. Green Civic Coupe, but not sure on the trim. Assuming from his time... it was probably a DX or something

 

fiebru1119 asked me if I could share the tip that Josh gave me... so here is a copy of the email I got from Josh:

This was in reply to one of my old posts asking for help on my old time (16.2).

 

congrats

 

Congratulations man.

I wish I could say the same about our track.

Tuesday night I waited in line for an hour, and there were no oil spills, or wrecks.
The lines were just that long.

 

yeah, long lines suck. when I went I got in 3 runs, and there was almost exactly 1 hour between each run.

 

yeah i went last night to orlando no lines but i only wanted to run once, and watch--the usually hot weather 15.7 at 87 a copuple of tenths off normal for me....its too damn hot here and my 60' sucked


nice run

 

Trust me, it is RARELY this empty. We usually wait 1 hour between runs cuz of lines too.

Hey Red2001GSR, you dropped to a 15.1 just with AEM CAI and removing those 2 things? I've been seeing that a lot around Honda-Tech: "Removed PS Belt". How do you do this and what does it do? Is it harmful in any way? I'd appreciate any help, thanks!

 

just loosen the tensioner on the power steering pump and take the belt off.. its supposed to take stress of the engine and "free up" more horsepower (sortof what under drive pulleys do).. it may be harmful to your forearms and the workout youre gonna get w/out PS lol


[Modified by fiebru1119, 12:02 PM 5/16/2002]

 

Nice times Xaos, nice that you improved so much .......Junier

 

Good run but man you get still get that down a bit to possible low 15's. I took a look at your time slip and your 60 foot time was a 2.4XXX. On street tires you should be able to net a low 2.3 - high 2.2 60 foot and that there should bring you to a 15.3-15.2.

It's all about the launch. Congrats.

 

Hey,

Can you share your driving tips? what did you do, that you run so well this time? normally, first runs are always the slowest for me. Thanks

 

damn, you 60ft was bad.. maybe too low of a rev. try higher..

 

I ran a 15.1 in my car with the PS belt removed... but my friend who's a slightly better driver ran a 15.1 the run before it in my car, with the belt still on. His 15.1 was with AEM CAI, and no muffler only.

Here's my launching procedure...

#1. Avoid the burn-out box...
#2. pull up to light up the first staging light...
#3. rev up to 4500 or so... (I kinda bounce around there, 4,300-5,200, experimenting)
#4. LIIIIIGHTLY let off the clutch just enough to pull you forward to slight up the 2nd set of lights...
#5. watch lights go 1, 2, on 3... sidestep (drop) the clutch...

I'm still learning, but this launch is getting me consistent 2.3 60'.
I am trying to figure out how to get 2.2's on my stock tires.

After you've done that... shift fast, but accurately, don't miss a shift.
Don't watch the time boards... you'll find out soon enough what you ran... and don't look in your mirrors for the other guy.

Try to avoid missing shifts... but don't be too sluggish about it... make them quick.
Also... if you're trapping around what I'm trapping... I've found that most runs, you don't need to shift into 4th, so just keep it hammered down until you absolutely must shift.

I have gotten good at shifting RIGHT before fuel cutoff.

 

Thanks Junier! I'll see you later tonight at the meeting!

Working on my 60' is my next step. I was told that stock GSR's are supposed to run 15.5's... so that's why I was aiming for that goal. I had no idea that I could do even lower! I might go again Friday for Midnight Madness (6PM-2AM).

Red2001GSR, thanks for sharing your technique. I'll try higher RPM's to see what happens. Hopefully my 60' will get better. When you say you avoid the burnout box, do you not burn out at all then?

I avoid the wet area if that's what you mean, but i do a small burnout to get to the line. I pull up till both lights are lit, then I start revving to 4000... I slowly drop the clutch though... and my wheels were chirping till about 6000... which is when it really pulls. I shift right on 8 and it chirped 2nd... after that everything went smooth. I only concentrated on the road and the tach... didn't bother looking at the other driver, or the time board. Shifted into 3rd @ a hair over 8 this time... and i rode all the way till i passed the board, which I shifted into 4th right after.

That's how it all went down

I'll let yall know how everything goes down on Friday.

 

Yeah, I avoid burning out altogether.
I don't think street tires benefit from it.

I did do a burn-out my last run of the night Tuesday, because it was getting to around 40 degrees outside... and I hadn't moved my car in an hour... so I warmed them up. I had never done a burn-out in a bleachbox before, but man, it was EASY to make tons of smoke. I ran it through 1st and 2nd... the crazy hose guy who always gives me **** for not doing burn-outs was all wide eyed.

Anyhow... you can do better than 15.5... but you have to understand how much of racing IS NOT about the car. The driver is important, but don't discount the importance of conditions beyond your control.

humidity is big
temperature is big
wind can make a difference

what was your tire pressure? I set mine to 25 psi in the front, and 40 in the rear. The lowered tire pressure helps keep you from spinning too much. Make sure you raise it back up when you leave the track, or your car will handle pretty poorly.


[Modified by Red2001GSR, 8:34 PM 5/16/2002]