I've got an auto GLE and i'm interested in the best method to race it to get better track times. Power brake or not? Use the 1 and 2 on the shifter or not? Thanx

 

I brake-torque to about 1300 or 1400 rpms, and I do manually b1tch-shift the auto tranny...even if it doesn't improve my times, it makes me feel better about it lol.

 

leave it in D, brake torque to 1500, go on the last yellow after staging...

do a few mods to help you along, like the hacked airbox mod, and take out your spare tire and anything else you can to lighten the load. also, let the front tire pressure be around 20-25 psi to improve traction. It's not necessary to do any burnouts on street tires when you're stock, only warm them up when you have slicks, so drive around the water box.

 

[QUOTE=tavarish]leave it in D, brake torque to 1500, go on the last yellow after staging...

QUOTE]

ah an experienced auto racer. this seems to be the best method for me also.

 

Thanks for the input guys

 

If you put a big brake kit on your car, you can power brake to 2100RPM, let off the brakeat the last yellow, and nail it. Best thing to do is get one of those little g-timers, and practice your launches. It will tell you what is fast and what isn't. A lot of the time, what you feel to be fast, and what actually makes better time are two different things.

 

yeh i need some of those, i start to creep after 1500. and your right some of my fastest times came from a seemingly slow start compared with some of my ferocious launches which yield low times.

 

Some reliable source told me that many times an auto can be faster than a 5spd if driven the right way. Whats your take?

 

the statment above only applies to cars with very high HP

there is a reason the only NA max in the 12's and the only boosted maxs in the 11's are all manuals although there are some very fast auto max but if they were swaped to 5spd with an EXCELENT driver i believe they would be slightly faster

 

given the same power, an auto CAN be faster simply because there is lack of human error. You step on the gas, the car goes. But with a manual, a driver can get a bad launch or misshift or miss a gear causing a slower time.

 

What if you cant avoid all the water, a short burn out? short hop?

 

You can avoid the water O_O

=D

Just dont hit the wall while doing it.. Seen it happen before..

 

Simple, you can't shift faster than computer controlled auto transmission.

 

i have to agree to a point. yopu cant manipulate the hp with a auto unless you have a stall converter to achieve those times, but a properly boosted auto like c-max's you can see some quick numbers.

 

In theory, the manual transmission is faster than the automatic...however, theories don't bring human error into account...in a perfect world, the manny is faster than the auto, but not everyone is a perfect driver.

 

If you are going to race your auto, do not b!tch shift it. I can tell you from personal experience that it is a good way to fry your tranny. I fried the tranny on my camaro by doing that, and my brother fried the tranny on his avalon too. The auto tranyn is made to shift at certain points, just keep it in drive.

 

I've noticed zero difference with manually shifting the auto than leaving it in drive. I think with moderately fast cars, the manual would fare better while really high hp cars would benefit with a properly set up auto. High stall, torque convertor, shift kit, etc. Alot more consistent.

Sam

 

heres a good little article on a friend of mine who turned me on to automatics. he made my car into a but whipping automatic
http://www.nhrasportcompact.com/2002/news/041901.html

 

you need to auto shift that puppy- which means you shift 1st, 2nd, and up to D which is your 3rd gear- you'll never reach 4th in the 1/4 anyway so right as after you hit third you should be coming to the 1/4- i got better times when i shifted instead of just leavin it in drive - you can brake torque at the line til about 2000 rpm due to the rev limiter - unless you have a line lock on that puppy but then you'd be dreamin

 

brake torque dont work right for me so i jus punch the gas and i get better timing i punch it as much to chirp not to spin

 

Oh yeah and one more thing...no matter if you leave it in D or do the 1 2 D thing, take OFF the o/d.

 

get a 5spd....that's what im gonna do.,..i've just gotten tired of the auto, no fun to race anymore..