Smitty02CLs

alright guys, I had a tight race today with a new Maxima GLE, mainly because I didn't get a good launch. Question is, what is the proper way to launch a AUTO Cls

SilverBullet_RENAMED

What was the outcome!?

Smitty02CLs

He got about 2 car lenths on me at the start, mainly because I let him. I wasn't sure if he wanted to race and thought I would let him make the first move, most people around here don't race. he did punch it at the start... then I went chasing after him and gained a little in 2nd gear, we went up to about 90mph/3rd. I'm sure he had a 5 speed (Maxima's do have this right?) his car was quick, but I'm sure I could flat out beat him if I knew we were going to race and got a good start, that why I'm asking the correct way to launch a auto

Red Rider

Always expect a race, that's first. Turn off VSA and try not to stomp it before you hook up. Oh, and get some better tires

Smitty02CLs

Yea, I did turn off VSA and swich to SS, just in case he decided to, sure enough he did. So basicly just slam the gas , but not to hard to make the tires burn?

mc222

Here is what works best for ME--my opinons only:

Turn VSA off
Try and downshift into 1st (D1) prior to coming to a full stop--at about 20mph--if possible

When the light turns green--Gun it--depending on your tires you might want to give about 85% pressure to the gas then give it the rest of the juice.

When you reach 6800 RPMs put it into 2nd (D2) and repeat up into D3 and if needed D4

Just my .02

sidemarker

NEVER SHOW MERCY

KILL THEM WHEN YOU CAN

a car length is enough sometimes to beat anyone

let me give you some good pointers

TURN OFF VSA FIRST

if its at a light

make sure you have a good look at the opposite light or adjacent lights. when you know your light is about to turn green, then you get ready.

put the car in SS or into 1st put and apply the brakes with your left foot. give enough gas to get your rpms above 2000 (dont do this too long that is why you should start this method about 3-5 seconds when you are about to go) this is called torque braking.

watch for the other light to turn yellow and right before it turns red you know your lights are going to turn green so as soon as the opposite lights turn red just floor it and at the same time let the brake go. By this time you should accumulate enough wheel spin by the time your lights turn green you should have enough traction to launch about a good car length over that maxima

this is something you have to practice a couple of times to get the timing down

if you just press the gas when the lights turn green u lose about a half seconds trying to get traction, and so will your opponent that is why you want to make sure you have good traction by the time the light turns green. So while hes just spinning you are gone!!!!!

now from a rolling

you have to put it in 1st gear with this method you have to gate shift or you will lose every time.

put the car in 1st and get up to 25-30 mph dont worry you wont redline just give it enough gas to get it up there. then when you do the signal (three honks or whatever) floor it but watch out you will red line pretty quick and you want to shit into second at redline then to third at 2nd gear redline and once you get up to about 80-87mph cut it off because there is no reason to go any faster

sidemarker

Smitty02CLs

cool, thanks!

Nashua_Night_Hawk

Stop promoting road drag racing... take it to the track!

Be real drag racer with a timeslip!

Black CL-S 4-Life

Nothing wrong with a little street race every now and then. When I race I always put it in SS, works for me.

Scrib

Lighten up Francis... :P



On topic... Practice is one. (B) - get rid of VSA. Four, watch the wheelspin. It's a killer.



And don't get caught!!!

dbox

no shit! i just went to jail for racing!

sidemarker

i am not promoting street racings

i am just giving my opinions on a good launch if you do street race...

i wish i had a track in my backyard

sidemarker

mlrspwr

Thanx for the tips on launches. Next time I'm, err, at the track, I'll know the best method for acceleration.
And after all, is it really a "race" if you've smoked some HS student's Honda Civic already at 40 mph? Those guys seem to be the only people that consistently want to race.
And yes, yes, I shouldn't patronize them. I know, I'm in VTEC therapy.

NJTypeS

If he had a GLE, it was an auto. The SE is the 6 speed model

SiGGy

you guys race your cars?

All of the adive on here is great man, definetly watch the other lights to prepare for the green. Also keep an eye out for the turn lane light! Don't want to brake torque the tranny too long.

You can get a good launch with the stock tires but it's a bitch.

KILL THEM NISSANS!

an uh, RUN away when a 350z pulls up next to ya. Or flip the NOS switch on

Red Rider

No way i'm running away from a 350Z, it will probably be a 6 speed poorly driven by a youngster who was sick of his 30k insert here .............................................

SiGGy

LMAO

your killing me!

Marine1

Yeah!!! Until somebody dies. No matter how many times you get away with it, it is still not a good idea. Life is just too sweet to waste on a little bit of fun. God knows, I like to have fun. The street is just not the place. Most of you guys will say "be quiet old man". Maybe, just maybe, one of you will listen and live. Just my .02.

Smitty02CLs

You have a point, After I raced that guy yesterday I though ...man that was real stupid (we were doing 90+ in a 45 zone. ) I'm glad I didn't get caught because it would have been right to the slammer for me. There really wasn't any cars around, so I wasn't worried about hurting anyone.

I think it depends on who/car you are racing. Like yesterday was a very good, tight race.....worth doing. But some are pointless, like racing a Porsche or other "high end" sport cars. ...you do nothing but put others in danger casue there is really no change of wining.

bone_stock

I think the quickest start under the conditions you mentioned is torque braking. Since the CLS makes most of its power up high on the tach get a head start by torque braking. In case you don't know what that is it's simply pressing your foot firmly on the brake and reving the engine to just shy of the point where the tires spin (yes, the car is in gear). When the light turns green release the brakes and the engine is already turning 3 grand. Needless to say you don't want to torque brake the entire length of the red light (or very often). Just 3 to 4 seconds before you launch. It takes a couple times to get used to it. There is a fine line between spinning the tires and traction when torque braking, but once you get it down the CLS really moves out of the hole! Oh yeah, traction control O F F ! ! !

Black CL-S 4-Life

Be quiet old man! J/K:P When are you going to make it to a meet?

Nashua_Night_Hawk

The Max torque starts at 3500 tp 5500 (on stock 01-CLS). The TC can do BT up to 2400 rpm, if there is a high stall TC at 3500, it would be in aweome!

joeshmoe

That's a really good way to launch. Oh, and be sure nobody is running a red light before you launch. Otherwise, well I don't have to tell you you'll fell like a dumba$$.

Marine1

What up DUDE. It seems that we have meets when I am going to be out of town. I hope to make the next one. Some of the guys have made some good changes that I want to take a look at. I'm going to try like hell to make the next one.

mc222

Anyone know exactly how "bad" torque braking is for our cars??? Im not about to go trying it up and down the street, but at the same time ot just seems like it would/could F*ck things up....Any knowledgeable insight would be appreciated before I go blowing out my motor....Thanks guys

mlrspwr

Yeah, I'd like to know how bad torque braking really is.
I read it Fs up the Torque Converters on the Auto Tranny. I'm sure not too good for the tranny anyway.
Probably like anything else, if done in moderation, won't hurt things. If you do it all the time and rev really high with brake, then my guess very bad.
But I'd like to hear something more than what I am thinking.
Posts with experiences with this appreciated!

JimBob

I am scared to really punch it at a light with the automatic. I have visions of a mighty fireball of death and destruction being caused by my exploding, fragile transmission. I must stop reading the "transmission problems" forum.

Shawn S

I think we should ARCHIVE this thread and then in a few months compare it with people posting in the “DEAD TRANNY” section of the Forum.

You know, the people saying they were “never” hard on the car and blame everything on Acura.

Shawn S

bone_stock

Oh come on people the driveline is designed to take some stress. In reality torque braking is no different than driving up a steep grade hill while stopping at a few traffic lights. Granted, you don't want to make a 3000 rpm torque brake launch part of your every day commute, but once in a while is permissable. Even on the remote chance that you did break something while doing it the car is under warranty. There is no way any Acura service person could prove torque braking broke your car! Just my .02.

Smitty02CLs

TRUE!