I went to maple grove raceway and no thanks to you all here on the forum I went in blind as far as best launching techniques and strategies. Anyway, after 3 runs of very minimal power braking and spinning the tires all the way through 1st I decided to not pwr brake. My best time of them was 15.2 @91mph. Next run I just mashed the gas on takeoff and ran a 15.6 @ 92 spinning all the way through 1st again...My final run I decided to start the car in 3rd and shift into 4th (D) once around 70mph which I did. No power braking and my car didn't spin at all through 1st..my 60' was 2.2 and my run came to 14.9 @91.05mph....I didn't really think my auto could break the 15.0 mark so I was happy. How is this time compared to other 5.5 gen auto's??? Thanks...

 

hey, good runs man ! can you post up a slip ? beat any cars in a good race ?

 

i think thats about normal for an auto 5.5 gen. ~15.0 and for 6speeds ~14.6

 

14.66 at 92.9 here with the only performance mod being my ported stock airbox.

Starting in 3rd, 4th, or 2nd makes no difference as far as launching ability. It's all the same (starting in 1st).

I start in 1st gear (manually selected), powerbrake until right about 1K RPM, launch on the second yellow keeping it at about 1K RPM, hold it for about half a second to one second, then punch it. I shift manually at 6K RPM, and with the slight delay, my auto shifts at 6500-6600 RPM perfectly each time. That method can get me 14.6's-14.7's all day long.

 

14.4 @ 95ish here, I'm an auto as well (in sig). Ghetto airbox, cat-back, UDP. Launching depends on the condition of the track on a particular night. I've had nights where I can power brake and mash the gas right away as well as nights where I have to roll on the gas and not hit WOT till like 5000 RPM in 1st. Still I havent managed to get better than around a 2.28 60' time.

 

02-03 Automatics can be made pretty quick ...What was the weather like on your runs?

 

you have the 3.5 litre motor correct? You could be making better times if you drop you tire presure so u don't spin as much.

 

That's not true, and believe me, we've had plenty of long hard discussions about it here on the .orgy. Let's keep this to real advice if at all possible

Lowering tire pressure on any "standard" street driven tire does not give you more traction. (By standard I mean any high mileage touring or performance tire-Only slicks get increased traction from lower tire pressures).

 

you beat me to it

 

Sorry maybe thats a little over the edge for him to do now. But, when I do spray out of the hole I do notice a huge increase in traction when going from 44psi to 20psi on Nitto 555's

 

75 degrees, sunny and mad humidity...probably around 85-90%.

 

well humidity kills our cars so get back when the weathers a little cooler. 14.6's are within reach with a better 60' and cooler weather stock.

 

Maybe it was the humidity, but your trap speed seems a bit low.
14.9 should have you in the 92 mph bracket.

And like the other poster said, starting in any gear but 1st will get you no other gear than 1st.
Manuallly shifting the auto simply lets you decide when the car is going to shift into the next gear and still allow you to run WOT.