i am looking at taking my s-type r to a local raceway,where they have a drag strip and you pay$16 bucks tospend the evening runingquarter miles all out. great fun i am told.i have messed around off the line in town and have had some wierd transmission shifts while accelarating, which seem toindicate things are notgoing as fast or as smooth as possible. i suspect the computer.to get the most off the line i presume i should take the traction control off, put the sport mode on and/or use the manual j-gate shifter. am i right? anything further i can do to let the computer give ME contol (or at lease not hinder the run)? what's up with the wierd shifts off theline instraight automatic sport with traction on? any other thoughts on getting the most out of my quarter mile runs?

 

I don't know enough about the STR to really help but could you describe what you mean by "weird shift" ?

Sounds like your first time, and not that you asked about any first-time-at-the-track driving advice, but.....

If you weren't already planning on doing so I'd suggest you make a few runs to get the feel of things and avoid making any mistakes....before worrying about gettingyour best ETs and trap speeds. Just drive the carand lettraction control etc do their thing. Pay attention to the starter (never **** off a starter!), leave on the last yellow, and don't let up till your sure you've cleared the finish line.

I'm no pro, but I remember all the mistakes from my first runs about a million years ago.

Cheers
DD

 

Well with this car to get the most out of your passes:
- Leave it in full auto, not J-Gate manumatic bs..
- Take traction control off
- Footbrake it; hold the max RPM the converter will allow
- Unless you have drag radials, dont do John Force burnout, just spin the tires a little to remove debris and get them hot..
- Raise the front tire pressure and lower the rears
- Take out the golf clubs, the 12 pack of Heineken, and the rest of the groceries..
- Try to fill up very early in the morning to get the coldest gas you can and make your pass with a 1/2 tank if possible
- Don't sit there idling in your car before the run, you want the engine as cool as possible because these engines loose A LOT of power to heat soak...

 

Oh and I think the weird shifts your talking about is the standard programming in our cars.. From 1st to 2nd, and 2nd to 3rd our cars upshift veryy early, not when the engine is making full power.. The aftermarket ECU tunes fix this a little, but as long as the car is stock it will do this.. Eric

 

The jack and the spare tire are pretty heavy too, I am not sure how serious your are about this, but every little bit helps..

 

well again I typed a book last night only to be hit by the We are sorry, and appologise message
anyway, to be bried, On street tires stay out of the water box, drive around it and back into the wet leading edge, not hte standing water. Light em up but let off the throttle before the tires bite as you risk fragging the sprag in the convertor, and damaging the trans

 

BTW, do the STRs have limited slip diffs?

Cheers
DD

 

good info ! on dragracing a "R" , how fast are these cars in the 1/4 and what kinda mph do the ryn ?

 

do both tires spin?

 

That's why I ask. My understanding is that they don't have LSDs yet I see videos with both rear tires smoking...which suggests they do, so....?

Just wondering

Cheers
DD

 

STR's do not have LSD's. You will be doing several practice runs before you find a time you can be moderately satisfied with. lol.

 

Oh and not sure but around here you need an approved helmet-check into it. Take out all the weight you don't need like spare tire, jack etc like mentioned above. Sometimes if its warmer I will bring a 5-10 lb bag of ice and put it on top of the intake area/cooling tanks while waiting in the lanes (might have to remove the pretty supercharged cover), make sure your air filter is clean, 1/4 of gas or less, air pressure in your rear tires down. Hit the throttle when the 2cd to last light lights up. I don't power brake the jag just ease it off the line then increase throttle, but you might find its easier the other way-try em both out. GOOD LUCK! and post your times and maybe a video if you can!

 

In regards to the LSD: No, STR's do not have an LSD.... BUT, I know of a couple of guys with Lincoln LS's that took a center from a Cobra and adapted it the the LS.. it worked out beautifully, because the LS has a ford 8.8 and so does the cobra.. I believe our cars also have an 8.8, so this actually might be possible for us to do.. If it is, I will probably be the first idiot to try it.. Eric