OK, so I have spent the last 8 months adding a Stillen cone filter w/frankencar midpipe, Stillen RSB, Stillen catback exhaust, and an ACT street clutch to my 95 se 5spd. However, yesterday I raced a friend with just a drop in K&N and exhaust on the same exact car (95 se 5spd) and ended up losing 3 times, each time by less than 1/2 car length. We shifted at almost the exact same points, but my launches were definetly weaker because I was struggling not to spin the tires, because the clutch grips so damn fast and hard. I know tires are definetly part of the problem, but simple logic should tell you that with the modifications I have made this should have been no contest. The only other things I can think of are:

1. I removed the "cold air intake" thing that gors from the grille to the intake box, possibly starving the intake of cold air, meaning slower acceleration. should I put it back on?

2. I had a low idle, 500 rpms, which may mean dirty injectors? I have since used a synthetic injector cleaner and installed a '95 300zx fuel filter which raised it to 750 rpms (shouldn't it be more like 1k?)

3. He had one passenger and I had 2.

Know this is kinda long, any help or ideas would be appriceated.

 

He is probably just better than you at launching. Why dont you swap cars for one or two runs. Then you might be able to rule out a poor launch on your part....

 

Low idle . im thinking replace your Knock sensor, Youll need to eventually I guarantee that.Other than that practice your launches or get some Michellin pilot_sports

 

Eric,
I'm sure your friend would be happy to swap cars for a couple races.
If your friend drives your car and still wins, you know that he is better at launching and/or shifting. If the friend's car still wins, you know that his car is just faster. Maybe since my, I mean HIS, car was just washed and yours wasn't, it had less aerodynamic drag on the car. LOL It's the little things that make the big difference.

 

yeah poor launch, not as great tires, and the extra weight from the passenger could have done it.

 

Its because, no offence or anything, but you suck at driving. I raced a GTP(Supercharged Grand Prix) and a MR2 Turbo(15psi) and only lost by about 1-2 cars. Are you power shifting and all whatnot too? If you wanna win a race, you gotta beat your car a little. I mean burning through 1st, scratching 2nd, ect.

 

I'm thinking:
Your mods are basically on par--why no Y-pipe?
The extra passenger makes a HUGE difference. (What's that rule?... 100lbs of weight = 10 hp or something like that)
You both running stock rims? Larger rims can make a huge difference.
Idle for a 5spd is ~625rpm or there abouts. Reset your idle speed (do a search on the procedure).
Pull codes from the ECU to rule out the Knock sensor which can rob you of 10-15% power.

 

There was a test a few years back where some testers compared power shifting and clutch shifting. The result, power shifting wont result in any difference in your runs.

 

Ditto.

Do you have a system in your car? A box and amp and speaks ways a way ton of a lot.

OR!! he had a hot girl in his passenger seat and you had two fat kids in the back rolling around.