0-400m tech for ITR owner
I find a good post for 0-400m tech for ITR owner. It's a little bit long. Hope can share with you.
Part 1.
All times mentioned are in regards to racing on true street tires.
1. What does a bone stock ITR run?
A normal ITR in ideal conditions around sea level Generally traps in the 94-96mph range. The ET is going to be up to track condition and the driver. With a good driver and track under the same conditions a stock R is capable of SOLID mid 14's, easily dipping into the lower 14's on the best runs with an experienced driver.
If your car is trapping in that range and it isn't running the times you want it's either the track or the driver, sorry but the car is running just fine.
For your first time at the track be content if your R breaks into the high 14's, don't worry, its not the end of the world. My first time at the track I had to struggle for a a 14.7@93.5mph
2. I have a stock R and want to pull mizzad fast times to impress chicks, what do I do?
Buy a Z28. Seriously, the key is PRACTICE, PRACTICE, and more PRACTICE. Do not substitute mods for driving skill.
A: Learn to read a time slip, as in the whole thing. You don't know how many guys I've met, that are at the track regularly, that still don't know what it means when I say "yeah, but what did you trap, or what was your 60'?", all they are concerned with are the numbers at the end, not the ones in between which are far more important. Sit down and break apart a good and an almost as good run, see the differences in time and speed at each point, try to think why the car would be doing what it is at the point where things don't match up. Your own noggin and that little slip can tell you alot more than what Joe Bob thinks you should do on the next run.
B: Pull a good 60' THAT IS IN THE POWER BAND! If you can't do this then a fast time isn't happening. 3rd gear VTEC, mad fast shifting skillz, lucky underwear, or a picture of your girlfriend covering the tach doesn't make up for a bad launch.
LAUNCH IT HIGH AND MODULATE THE CLUTCH AND GAS. This is how I've pulled my best 60' and 1/4mi times. My best launches were around 6-7000rpms ON TRUE STREET TIRES. Those that say that is too high for street tires just haven't practiced enough, or don't know what they are talking about. This is why I say practice is the key. I hold my revs at the determined rpm and bring the clutch part way up, to the point that I know it is going to start engaging. When I launch I do not apply more throttle, the throttle foot stays the same, if not releases some, as I smoothly but still quickly engage the clutch, when I feel the car will have traction I peg it the floor. The goal is to gain as much traction off the line as possible but to keep the car above 6,000rpms in the process.
Dependant on track conditions this will not always be possible, I know it wasn't for me. This you just have to learn. Start from a lower rpm and work your way up.
Now some of you are saying "but can't I pull good 60' without having to launch so high?". Yes I use to do it all day long, but then guess what, that makes our high strung cars have to pull through the dead spot of the power band, which is just wasted slow "hurry up and get to VTEC you torque less POS" yelling time. http://images.honda-tech.com/set1/smile/emwink.gif
Example: Some guy hooks a 2.2 60' from 3,000rpms, another does it from 6,000rpms...... guess who wins. http://images.honda-tech.com/set1/smile/emwink.gif
Oh and for all of you wondering I have pulled 2.0 and a bunch of 2.1 60' times on true street tires (not drag radials) with such methods. That should be enough evidence that it works.
C: Learn to shift fast. No not how you think you've been shifting. You banging the shifter at lighting speed means diddly squat. A four year old spaz power ranger wannabe could out shift us all if that was the requirement.
Fast shifting is all in FAST FEET COORDINATION. You can press the clutch in, then 3 days later snatch the shift lever at Jedi speed into second gear (thinking you're shifting fast), go to sleep, eat, whatever, then slam your foot off the clutch. Your hand speed was fast. The actual shift took three days, a nap, and a meal.
Right now sitting at the computer fire off the fastest front snap kick you can muster with your left leg. None of that pressing down letting off crap, a nice sharp kick, fast as you can there and back. Congrats, you just did a really fast shift. Now time that with your Jedi hands, learn that you can actually miss gears now because you really weren't shifting that fast before and subtract a touch from your ET. Don't get too happy though your 60' is FAR more important
