2 wicked at the drag strip-power is there but launching it is another issue

[dereklburt]

I finally took 2 wicked to the drag strip. I have been very busy so I have not had a chance to even look at the forums. Anyway, I found out that the car makes the power it should but launching the car on high boost is no easy task. I needed more practice and may have been better off launching at a lower boost and then switching to high boost once I had traction.

Unfortunately, I only ended up with 2 runs. The first time I launched too soft and the car bogged really bad! The second time, I came off too hot (dropped the hammer at 5000rpm and it just went up in smoke. (horrible 60 foot times) I think that I could have had a good run with some practice but it was also pretty hard to launch when I could not even hear my car due to the car next to me.

Here were my two runs:

Run #1 Bogged really bad

.0118 reaction (negative red light)
2.6205 60 ft
8.7240 1/8 ET
92.67 1/8 MPH
12.8053 1/4 ET
122.18 1/4 mph

Run #2 Smoked the tires bad
.6837 reaction
2.4165 60 ft
8.7708 1/8 ET
92.17 1/8 MPH
12.8918 1/4 ET
123.73 1/4 mph

Here is the thing: The MPH trap speed really tells the story. I lost over a second easily with the launch both times. Ironically, the guy I mentioned racing before in his seriously built Monte Carlo with a big block was there. When we raced on the street, he pulled me initially due to the power band where we started (his is an automatic) but I pulled him slightly at the top end. On his first run he ran a 10.77 @ 122mph and pulled a wheel stand. After he tweaked his tire pressure he then ended up running a best of 10.44 @ 129mph. The power was there in my car but I am not about to bolt drag slicks on and take a chance of breaking something. I do think that I could have done a lot better if I launched it at low boost and then switched to high but I am not going to worry about it.

My lotus is not a drag car and on the street from a roll, I can keep with a 10 second ride. I already proved that. I am working on something possibly for next year with a revised header and possibly going up to a GT30 turbo. If anyone is interested in my current manifold/turbo/intercooler set up, I think I am going to start from scratch with a new system. I only have about 2000 miles on the current set up. Let me know, I can essentially sell the whole turbo kit minus the stand alone. I am referring to manifold, GT2871R turbo, piping and intercooler. It is a heck of a set up, I am just addicted to power and want more now.

Anyway, there you have it. I am sure that with a good launch, the car is good for a low 11 second quarter at probably 126mph or so. The power is there, I just couldn't pull it off with 2 attempts.

[Monsi]

you have a stock tranny?

[Seb]

I don't know what your mods list is, but you'll want polyurethane engine mounts to reduce that wheel hop as much as possible. This will save your transmission a little.

It isn't the power that kills the transmission, shock loading kills it. Watch a few people launch with AWD DSM's and you'll see what I mean. There is no abrupt clutch engagement, it's all controlled and purposeful. Sure, your clutch won't like you, but would you rather replace a transmission or a clutch?

Another thing you can do is look into multi stage boost controllers. They can be set up to reduce boost in the lower gears, and automatically switch to high boost at the appropriate time.

Also, to make your times a little more consistent have you tried launching off a two step rev limiter?

EDIT: Holy **** that 60 foot is holding you back. Tires, two step, and multi stage will do wonders.

[Viggen]

do you have a dyno run on the car? Interested to see what the powerband looks like on a 1.8t? How much boost do you run to get that power?

[cokey]

damn nice.. i will be drag racing the lotus when i get it too.. it's just in my blood lol... i would love to know your setup? you should try a small slick, you break more stuff with drag radials then slicks.. yes, slicks are stickier but the harder side wall of DR's make you wheele hop and break stuff easier... all comes down to practice of course.. what tires were you using on those runs?

[dereklburt]

To answer some questions. I do have the polyurethane engine mounts. I know that there was a dyno run of my engine posted on one of the forums. I think it makes slightly more torque now but if you search under "Tuning for turbo power" you should find a dyno plot. I have Dunlop Star Specs 255/35/18's. They seem to launch great when I autocross the car on lower boost but I had some other factors going on at the strip. I couldn't hear my car for one which made it harder for me. I also tried launching on high boost for the first time.

I probably will not run it at the strip again as it is 75 miles away but at least it gave me an idea of what my car is capable of. I usually end up racing people on the street and that rarely ends up starting with a 5000rpm launch. As far as the trans goes, it is a European spec trans. Basically the same as stock with higher gear ratios.

On my first run I ran a fiero with a built up 4.3 liter engine swap (he told me it makes 275hp at the wheels). He killed me out of the hole as I bogged it bad. He beat me through the 1/8th but then I passed him like he was sitting still. I could not believe how fast I flew by him once I actually got my car going. He ended up running a 13.2 @ 107mph. O' well, like I said I like to race people but I don't expect to be doing a lot of high rpm launches.