[Skylinescott]

Hi all, just wondering if any of you went up Santa Pod the weekend just gone for Ultimate Street Car?

I went up Friday and camped up there for the weekend, ran my car up the strip on Sunday and thoroughly enjoyed myself!

My best 1/4 Mile was 15.8 @ 89 MPH in my 2007 325D.

Anybody else raced up the strip up there and what times did you get?

Scott.

[Boz335i]

Been down there twice this year, will probably wait for the BMW show for the next one.

Best is 13.0 @ 111.11 mph.
58 plate 335i with DCT
This was running JB4 map 1

Car runs 13.4 with no mods.

Times do drop considerably later in the day as people go home, this means you keep heat in your tyres as you wait less time between starts.

I feel the car has a 12.8 in it once I sort my tyres out. Change the run flats for a softer compound.

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by Skylinescott

Hi all, just wondering if any of you went up Santa Pod the weekend just gone for Ultimate Street Car?

I went up Friday and camped up there for the weekend, ran my car up the strip on Sunday and thoroughly enjoyed myself!

My best 1/4 Mile was 15.8 @ 89 MPH in my 2007 325D.

Anybody else raced up the strip up there and what times did you get?

Scott.

A friend on here did a 15.3@89mph in a 320d mapped a few years ago.



In my previous 335d best was 13.0@105.5mph

In current M3 and only had 1 run (average start and hit limiter in 3rd) so room for improvement 13.3@106.5mph


I don't bother with show days, gets my goat queuing an hour+ between runs and paying the priviledge for it...

On RWYB days in my 335 I got 40 runs in one day before

[Skylinescott]

Nice times lads, did you both turn traction control right off? and what sort of rpm should i be changing in a diesel as i know they slow down the more you leave it in gear as the fuel cut off kicks in?

We were queing for 30 mins each run so it wasnt too bad. 40 runs is alot did you not have doubts about doing so many?

Im up for going to the BMW Show too so we should see who else would want to come.

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by Skylinescott

Nice times lads, did you both turn traction control right off? and what sort of rpm should i be changing in a diesel as i know they slow down the more you leave it in gear as the fuel cut off kicks in?

We were queing for 30 mins each run so it wasnt too bad. 40 runs is alot did you not have doubts about doing so many?

Im up for going to the BMW Show too so we should see who else would want to come.

Did over 150+ in my 335d and it never missed a beat. Other thing with shows is you pay top dollar for what 3-4 runs at a time. RWYB's is a set low price for unlimited.


Always traction control FULLY off. My 335d was auto(they all are) and brake boosted like a bitch.

My M3 is a manual, (love it) and I just try to ind an optimum rpm to launch at and modulate the throttle in first, NUT my shifts 8k bang on and away I go.

[Boz335i]

Totally agree with dxb, shows days are too frustrating with massive queues.

BMW show last year had very few 1/4 milers, most were too busy polishing their rims

Best launch for me is 2500 - 3000 rpm brake boosting with DCT (once I finally found out how to do it). Traction fully off and make sure you spin your tyres up in the water trough beforehand.

[Skylinescott]

Could one of you guys explain what brake boosting is? Is it where you rev on standstill while holding the handbrake up?

And why spin the tyres up in the water?

[dxb335d]

Brake boosting is needed with Autos to launch properly. Holding the brake whilst building up revs.

With a manual, just use the handbrake,

[dxb335d]

Use the water to burn out and warm up tyres. It won't work unless your burning out for like 20-25 seconds.

Just perfect your launch before messing with pressures and doing burnouts

[Kerr]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Brake boosting is needed with Autos to launch properly. Holding the brake whilst building up revs.

With a manual, just use the handbrake,

Would you do it in a manual though unless you have a massive turbo with huge lag?

I've never really tried that launch method before. I think 2500-3000rpm in the 335i gets me on the go with the right amount of traction for the best launch.

I'm sure sitting on the clutch while holding the handbrake would be really harsh on the clutch.

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by Kerr

Would you do it in a manual though unless you have a massive turbo with huge lag?

I've never really tried that launch method before. I think 2500-3000rpm in the 335i gets me on the go with the right amount of traction for the best launch.

I'm sure sitting on the clutch while holding the handbrake would be really harsh on the clutch.

Yes mate, Because launching at the correct RPM, for a perfect get away with mininal slip will ALWAYS be quicker than just pulling away. My M3 needs probably 3.5-4k for a launch, a 335i lower yes due to the torque, but would still need loading up on the handbrake (manual) to ensure a fantastic launch. But it does require skill, dont think buy just using the handbrake pulling up whatever revs and releasing will mean a good launch.


You go drag racing to get a good time, a little bit of clutch slip is not a problem, thats whats its there for... Gonna save your transmission too



P.S you sat at 2.5k in yours, and me next to you sat at 2.5k (in yourd aslo), but on the handbrake, Guess whose gonna get to the 1/4mile mark quicker, by nearly a second.

[Skylinescott]

I see, cheers guys. I definatly need to work on my launch haha.

They had the lights changing so fast that you dont get chance to sit there for 5 secs to get the clutch and accelerator right before the lights turn green when i was up there. The only way you could get half a decent launch is if you get up to the lights first and then have to wait for the other guy your racing :/

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by Skylinescott

I see, cheers guys. I definatly need to work on my launch haha.

They had the lights changing so fast that you dont get chance to sit there for 5 secs to get the clutch and accelerator right before the lights turn green when i was up there. The only way you could get half a decent launch is if you get up to the lights first and then have to wait for the other guy your racing :/

I don't usually remember that to be a problem??!! Maybe because its a show day they rush people through.

[Guvernator]

Interesting about launch methods. I've only been to the pod in manual cars before and getting the right launch makes a huge difference to your times. I'd like to give it a go in an auto at some point so it will be good to remember the brake boost trick to try to find the optimum launch revs.

As for the lights, do remember that you don't necessarily need to launch as soon as the lights change unless you are interested in your reaction time stats. You are also not racing against the car lined up next to you, you are racing against the clock so no need to try to leave at the same time either. The 1/4 mile timer doesn't actually start until you cross the start line anyway so you can take as long as you like. I have seen cars, especially big power ones sit there for ages until they have got their launch setup properly at which point they usually shoot off and overtake the other car about half way up the strip

[Kerr]

When it is competition days it is first over the line that wins.

Reaction time is part of the race.

[Guvernator]

Originally Posted by Kerr

When it is competition days it is first over the line that wins.

Reaction time is part of the race.

Really, didn't know that! At least I've never seen them run like that as there is usually a huge disparity between the power outputs of cars so no point in racing really. I must have managed to avoid competition days I guess.

What happens if a 1000bhp car lines up against a 150 bhp Honda Civic then which happens all too often when I've been, or do they try to match cars up evenly? I suppose it does make it a bit more exciting having someone to race though

[dxb335d]

RWYB days it's not. This is not a proper FIA competition.

The reaction time is on the slip, but not included in your ET.

[Skylinescott]

Oh right so am i right in saying that the time doesnt start untill you set off, instead of when the light turns green, which on show days is very quick?

That would be worth noting if so.

[dxb335d]

Thats right Scott, you can sit there for 20 seconds preparing yourself of you wish.

[Skylinescott]

Aye, cheers dxb

[Kerr]

If USC is anything like the Scottish one, you do as many runs as you want during the day with only the time counting.

They then section off the fastest FWD, RWD and 4WD cars into separate groups and becomes a knockout competition.

The first over the line wins the race.

I prefer a race than purely timed runs.

You obviously need to be running against cars reasonably similar or it becomes pointless though.

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by Kerr

If USC is anything like the Scottish one, you do as many runs as you want during the day with only the time counting.

They then section off the fastest FWD, RWD and 4WD cars into separate groups and becomes a knockout competition.

The first over the line wins the race.

I prefer a race than purely timed runs.

You obviously need to be running against cars reasonably similar or it becomes pointless though.

I dont run at shows its a SHIT way to go drag racing. Que like a bender trying to get into G-A-Y all day long

I am unsure how they run shows at Santa Pod. But I believe it's your quickes time excluding reaction rather than your Scottish system which is more set up for proper competition rules. Which is pointless in my opinion.

If we want to find out who has quickest reaction times all get identical cars ad go drag racing. We are out to find how quick your car is. Most people can't even maximise their own cars in a straight line... So need practise, practise & more practise.