I dident know where to post this so i figured here was as good as any.


I was just wondering where my cars sweet spot is? I mean where does my car make the most power? I know the cars are great off the line but how about from a roll? I tore the doors off a 94 Mustang GT from a 40mph roll. But when i run with my cousin in his 97 BMW 328i (stock) from a 40mph roll i cant pull more then a half car on him all the way to 100mph, what is going on here? My car has really crappy tires so from a stand still he puts 2 cars on me while i spin and then i start reeling him in. But from a rol we are dead even. So i was just wondering whats the best part of the power band to start from? Thanks guys.

 

It has been a long time since I have driven a stock Z28, but I would say the sweet spot on a LT1 is around 2800rpm and on. If you can't pull more than a half car on a stock 328i though, it might be time for you to see what is wrong with your car. It shouldn't even be a close race.

 

You should start 3800-4200. Why? because that is where you would be immediately after a shift from ~5700 (where you should be shifting in a ***** out race). I GUARENTEE that with two identical cars you start one in 3rd at ~3k and the other in 2nd at ~4k the one in second will wax the other. That is assuming a decest driver and not someone terrible at stick who's losing a lot of time on the shifts.

Race him again for us and find out which scenario works better.

 

Racing from 2800rpms would only work in first gear. If he did that in any other gear he will get waxed if the other guy has a clue what he is doing. This BMW should really not be able to keep up with you, they are pretty slow. My dad used to have one and it was nothing like my car was stock. The best spots to race in each gear for a 6spd with stock gears are 25-30 mph in first, 45-55mph in second and 70-85mph in third.

 

I agree. Keep your revs as close to 4k as you can but not too far over if you have to go over. I raced my friend's bone stock 94 from a 30 in 2nd (to level the playing field) and walked him hard especially when he was waiting for his tranny to downshift. My favorite is a 40 roll in 2nd. Friday I left a 99+ Mustang GT vert in the dust with 3 people in my car from 70 in 3rd. Kreinmc's post above is a very accurate gauge for gear selection.

 

I say as close to 4k without dropping below 4k. As krein said in first gear its the only time racing I'd want to be below the 4000rpm mark especially 2800rpm you'd do much better shifting into a lower gear turning only 2800rpm. The cars sweet spot is going to be from about 4000rpm to about 5400rpm. But it will pull pretty good to redline 5700rpm. As for the 328i that shouldn't even be a close race...sounds like you may have a problem.

 

With a stock A4, when you floor it (WOT), it's going to pick the "best gear" for acceleraton. It also takes time to react and downshift. You need to help it.

When you do a WOT run from a start, at what mph does the 1-2 shift occur? If it's above 40, say 45 mph, try to do your rolling runs from just above that shift point, like 50. Have the selector in "2" so the trans will already be in the correct gear. After you punch it and the race is on, shift to "D" and let the trans shift itself into 3 and/or 4.

Picking your best start speed is a big advantage. The last thing you want is to punch it at 40, have it downshift to 1st and almost immediately upshift to second. You've wasted most of a full second. Later 4L60E trans, in some models, can be locked in "2" and not downshift into "1" when you punch it at say 40 mph. It's called "second gear start" for slippery conditions. I don't think yours will act that way.

You might have an advantage starting with a 30 mph punch, geting a few seconds at the top of 1st while the Bimmer is rowing the gears.

 

Whoops, my response was geared towards an M6 car. I shoulda been more awake last night. OldSS's post is more relevent. Same concept though, you want to be just coming into a gear. I'm guessing in an auto that is slightly lower than 4k but i don't know cause i'm just a dumb m6 guy. haha

-brent

 

Your point was still accurate 4000rpm = much better than 3000 rpm.

 

Well, I thought i would give youguys an update..

Everytime we would run i always left it in (D) and i couldent seem to pull him from a roll?! So last nite we ran again this time I put it in 3rd from a 40mph roll and it wqsent even close. I pulled 5 cars from 40 to 60 and then it got worse before i let off. So we went again this time from 20mph because he said that was a good spot for him. So i dropped it into 2nd, again same result. I dont know if my car was acting up the first few times or if starting in (D) made that big of a diffrence?

He wanted to go for from a stand still because thats where my traction was horrible and he could put a few cars on me out of the hole. But again, I dont know if i was just having a good nite or what but i launched hard with very little wheel spin. I put 10 cars on him in no time and he gave up for the nite.

Alot of the prolem i think i was having was my fuel pressure, When we ran the first time it was hot outside and there was a strong smell of gas coming from my car. I think i have a leak (im getting it checked this weeknd) but lastnite it was cool outside and my car did not smell like gas, so all in all im happy i was able to beat him. I also thought something was funny about me not being able to pull his 328i. Altho i will give it to him it is pretty quick. He was running low 15's at the track here in vegas when it was 110+ degrees.