Got my ass kicked, twice.

Did you win or lose? Please drive safely!
Tinton
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 3086
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2006 8:01 pm
Cars: 91 MR2t, 88&86 Fieros
Location: GA

Got my ass kicked, twice.

Post by Tinton »

By a Grand Am :oops:

It looked like a mid 90's Grand Am, which means it either had a 3.1L V6 with 155 hp or a 2.3L Quad-4 with 180 hp. Did I mention I only have 140 hp? :lol:

I was coming up to school and I was sitting there at the traffic light trying to turn left. There was some latino-looking dude in the Grand Am, and he knew what I was trying to do. I do this every day, I'll pull up there to the far-left lane, launch hard when the light turns green and I'll get into the right lane when I'm out of the intersection. It saves time because a line always forms in the other lane, and sometimes you have to wait for the light to cycle a couple times.

I wasn't sure what was going to happen, but I launched hard anyways like I usually do. I watched the other set of lights, they turned yellow, so I went to first. I launched hard and I had my RPMs right (somewhere around 2500-3000 rpms) but I didn't get the clutch out fast enough. I get out of the turn and at most I have about a car length on him, but not enough to pull in front. So we both line up at the next intersection. :twisted:

Here we have 1 light, then maybe 100 yards away there's another light. So this time I get the launch right, but there isn't enough room for me to pull on him before we're up to the next set of lights. This is the main race. I don't launch very well (rpms too low and the car bucks once as the tires grab) but I still get about a car on him off the line, I can hear him back there doing a little burnout. By the end of 2nd gear (60 mph) we're dead even, I lost my lead, and from there he pulls on me til we shut down at about 80. I'd say he had like 2 carlengths on me by 80.

:evil:
Image
subzero
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 2998
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2005 3:29 pm
Location: NYC

Post by subzero »

you win some, you lose some.
FREE ROMAN!
violinandbass87

Post by violinandbass87 »

subzero wrote:you win some, you lose some.
or in my case, lose all...thats what happens when you have 82 or less horses in your ranch...
Nychold
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 5339
Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2006 2:33 pm
Cars: 2007 Scion tC
Location: Ocala, FL
Contact:

Post by Nychold »

scion_xA_gf wrote:
subzero wrote:you win some, you lose some.
or in my case, lose all...thats what happens when you have 82 or less horses in your ranch...
Depends on the type of ranch. I've seen plenty of motorcycles with 80 HP that could smoke a 400 HP Chevy Corvette. :lol:

But don't fret about it Tinton. In my old slushie Beretta, I challenged a Ford Mustang GT at a light. And off the line, I trounced him. I had about a car on him when he started to pull, and pull, and pull, and pull...and it was over. :lol:
Watercolor: I'm a grade A bone sucker!
Me: :shock: :) :D :twisted:
zender05
Senior Standardshifter
Posts: 734
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 5:24 pm
Location: Orlando, FL
Contact:

Post by zender05 »

I'm sure that was a intense launch :P. You must've been hard at work calculating grip vs. launch surface vs. output vs. revs. Impressive! :D
Nychold
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 5339
Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2006 2:33 pm
Cars: 2007 Scion tC
Location: Ocala, FL
Contact:

Post by Nychold »

zender05 wrote:I'm sure that was a intense launch :P. You must've been hard at work calculating grip vs. launch surface vs. output vs. revs. Impressive! :D
Launches in autos are easy. Plus I think he messed it up pretty good. :lol:
Watercolor: I'm a grade A bone sucker!
Me: :shock: :) :D :twisted:
User avatar
acadien
Senior Standardshifter
Posts: 334
Joined: Sat Mar 13, 2004 9:54 pm
Location: Ottawa, Canada

Post by acadien »

I already challenged a pretty lady in a corvette while driving a 1998 Corolla. She gave me a 3 second head start then just blew by me. I still enjoyed those 4 seconds where i was ahead.
zender05
Senior Standardshifter
Posts: 734
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 5:24 pm
Location: Orlando, FL
Contact:

Post by zender05 »

Nychold wrote:
zender05 wrote:I'm sure that was a intense launch :P. You must've been hard at work calculating grip vs. launch surface vs. output vs. revs. Impressive! :D
Launches in autos are easy. Plus I think he messed it up pretty good. :lol:
I think you missed my gentle sarcasm. :) Good story!
Nychold
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 5339
Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2006 2:33 pm
Cars: 2007 Scion tC
Location: Ocala, FL
Contact:

Post by Nychold »

zender05 wrote:I think you missed my gentle sarcasm. :) Good story!
Actually, I got it, but it was a pretty intense launch. That 3.1 is a strong motor from idle to (about) 4000. :D :D
Watercolor: I'm a grade A bone sucker!
Me: :shock: :) :D :twisted:
dklkse
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 1935
Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 11:22 am
Location: Planet Irk

Post by dklkse »

subzero wrote:you win some, you lose some.
Yup. Can't win 'em all. Props to the superior performance. Time to move on.
hockeystyx16 wrote:they got ABS placebo all up their ass making them feel safe and warm
Tinton
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 3086
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2006 8:01 pm
Cars: 91 MR2t, 88&86 Fieros
Location: GA

Post by Tinton »

My launches weren't horrible, just real sloppy. Its so hard launching a MR car like that, I don't want to launch very hard because it might just stick and I may break an axle or a mount. If I launch real high I might get wheelspin too.

Its nothing like this bad launch I had the other day. A acquaintance of mine was driving next to me in a older BMW 325 (I think its a 325). I wanted to race, so we stopped at a light on this 4-lane. I got the most perfect launch the first time but he gave up way too early. I got like 2-3 carlengths on him on the launch, and after that he gave up. Second time he launched for real but my rpms were too low (only like 2000) so when I let out the clutch too fast it just gripped and stalled.
JackBauer
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 3003
Joined: Sat Mar 18, 2006 10:19 pm
Location: Atl. GA

Post by JackBauer »

The best way to launch that car with out breaking any mounts or transaxle is to 'pre load' the trans on power.

Rev up to the range. (say, in a jetta, i launch from about 3.5k on a mild run) let the clutch out to where the car wants to move. When the tree turns green, do your thang like you would on a race launch (slip the cluth while gradually flooring the gas)

Lets be honest, thats not the best for the clutch, but that is THE safest way to go tracking on a stock car and almost have a guarantee nothing expensive breaks
User avatar
mesaboogie18
Senior Standardshifter
Posts: 877
Joined: Sun Dec 03, 2006 7:11 am
Cars: 2004 VW GTI 1.8T 5speed
Location: Hawaii

Post by mesaboogie18 »

3100 series V6 FTW!!!
2004 VW GTI 1.8T

"Forgiveness is between them and God...I arrange the meeting"
Obsidianice
Junior Standardshifter
Posts: 54
Joined: Sat Jul 29, 2006 11:34 pm
Location: Austin TX

Post by Obsidianice »

Grand Am's do have a little power off the line. Tiime for you to make some upgrades toyour ccar!

Subzero...that sig is absolutely hilarious
1991 Nissan Maxima
1996 Infiniti I30t..turbocharged
JackBauer
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 3003
Joined: Sat Mar 18, 2006 10:19 pm
Location: Atl. GA

Post by JackBauer »

x2, def. time for mods. Great thing about your car Tinton is that it's stupid easy to work on. Drop in some cams and an exhaust and see what happens.
Post Reply