Just got back in from the track. Ed2K, Jeff K and myself came out for some late-season action. Jeff K didn't race his ultra nice 20th Anniversary Edition, but that didn't stop him from running Ed's sleeper down the 1320.
My first run was a bye-run. I actually ran down the strip by myself. I got to the track, picked up a helmet and looked for Jeff and Ed. I found them in the staging lanes, getting ready for action. We chewed the fat a bit, then the lanes started moving. I went back to my trusty A6 and got ready for battle.
As I'm sure you all remember, WoodEar and I have had this little battle going. How his GS4 is faster than my A6 2.7T 6spd. He claims that there's no way that I can beat Gs4 after GS4 the way I do. I went to the track and ran a nice conservative 14.71, backed up with another 14.73.
WoodEar then ran a 14.6 in his GS4, proving me wrong. I countered that I knew I could better my times, as I just needed a couple runs to do it (this A6 is the first stickshift that I have ever raced at the track, and it's a bi--- to launch) I predicted that I could pull a 14.4-.3 outta my car, stock. I was called a liar...
Fast forward to tonight..
Helmet on and rolling through the staging lanes, I'm thinking to myself.. "I need to launch perfectly, the same way I do on the strip, with no bog. I need to shift at 6800, from 1-2, and 2-3, without missing shifts, I should pass through the traps at about 6800 in 3rd. I CAN do this, I do it on the street..."
I stage and booger the launch. I engage the clutch too abruptly, get wheelspin from the fronts, then the EDL's (electronic differential locks or traction control) kicks in. I feel the brakes pulsing and the car shuddering. All I can say is "Damn, this is gonna suck" It did and I ran another 14.7. A 14.74 @ 94.84 with a 2.26 60' time.

Chatting with Jeff and Ed, I come up with some new strategies. I decide to engage the clutch a little slower, to eliminate the weight transfer, and prevent the fronts from spinning.

I stage and wait out the green. I'm alongside a Canary Yellow 87-93 Stang, with some chrome Cobra wheels and a loud exhaust. Looked mostly stock to me. I stage first, and bring my revs up to 4800. On the last yellow, I release the clutch. Blue Thunder digs in so hard I'm literally pinned to the seat. From the sidelines, I was told that the car literally leapt off the line. As I prepare for the 1-2 shift, I'm saying "damn, that felt like a great launch" I bang off the 1-2 shift so fast, you'd never think that I had a stick shift. Second gear hits and the Big Blue Audi lifts it's nose. I wind second gear out to 6800, and hit 3rd gear like I owned it. The tach is winding, the speedo racing up and up. I blaze through the traps at 6700 rpm in 3rd gear. I glance up and see the E.T. A 14.43 @ 94.99 MPH!!!! Absolutely smoking!!!! A trip to the scales shows my race weight to be 4170 (had almost a full tank of gas tonight) I pick up my timeslip and head back to the lanes. Excited and wanting to pack it in. Jeff mumbles "So, are you gonna back that time up?" I'm not saying that you should, but you might as well. I'm not telling you what to do, mind you, I'm just saying....You know...."
Back to the staging lanes I go..
This time Ed and I go at it side by side. Ed's got some experience under his belt, and he's good. We stage, I bring up the revs. The lights come down the tree, and Ed bolts. I'm not sure if he redlighted, but watching him launch makes me lose my concentration, and the RT spools to 1 full second before I get it together. Needless to say, I bogged the launch, as I was really caught off-guard. I pull off a great 1-2 shift, but Ed's got almost a full car-length lead, and he's not going to lose it. I slowly start reeling him in. In second, I creep up on him some more, we're just about even now. I hit third, and the 2.7 is breathing deeply now, slowly inching and inching ahead of Ed's hard-charging 5th Gen. We blaze through the traps with me taking the win light by a slim .084 margin. Running a 14.51 @ 94.75 to Ed's 15.1 @ 93.07. If this was a bracket race, it couldn't have been any closer. I literally beat Ed by a bumperlength..
So there you have it. Jim W and Blue Thunder have set a pretty damn good E.T. A 14.43 @ 94.75 mph.. Any way you look at it, that's fast. I'm elated, and proud to say that stock for stock, I CAN beat a GS400, PERIOD.

 

I'll say it again...where's Woody?

Nice work Jim...smokin'!

 

Great run !!!!!

 

damn jim congrats....that's some exciting **** there...i see ed is still running consistently and gave you a run for the money there i am looking forward to watching the a6 and the gs4 head down the track in the spring now

 

Kudos, like you have not heard enough about your rowdy ride, but keep up the good work.

 

dude you trippin.

1) I never said a 2.7T can NOT beat a GS400 in any way. in your case, it's just you report way too many GS400 and 540 roadkills left and right, that's why I doubt you. i made this perfectly clear many times already.
see, if i don't know you and you say your 2.7 beat a nsx, i will say ok. but if you beat 5 nsx in 2 weeks, then i will say bs.

2) you used a different launch tech today, so you improved your time. now if i remember and understand correctly, last time when you ran 14.7, that was the SAME way as you raced gs400 on the street, thus it's the 14.7 that beat the gs4 not today's 14.4.

3) congrats on your new time. next time dump the clutch at 6500 instead of 4800, i think it will be even faster.

 

1. You said many thing about how I could not beat a GS4.
2. I used the same technique I used on the street. If you remember correctly, I stated that I used the "shortshifting" technique that I was assured would work best my last outing. Either way, I still went .3 faster shifting at redline. If you raced me with your GS4 with the traction control on, I might be able to beat you easily with a 14.7. I was also called a liar when I said I could pull a 14.4-.3 stock. I wonder who said that to me
3. Thanks, dumping the clutch is still not my cup of tea. I'd rather avoid the sound of expensive parts ripping themselves out of my car. Nice smooth clutch takeup is what I used tonight works great..

4. Wanna Race???

 

1) I didn't say 2.7 can't beat GS400, I just don't believe roadkills from you. What can I say?

2) So when you raced and beat GS400 supposely on street, did you short shift or redline it???? You are confusing, you said yourself the 14.7 run last time was exactly how you raced on street.
And just what the hell are you talking about you can easily beat me with a 14.7??? My two good runs were both faster than 14.7, and my traction control WAS on for the 14.6 run. i never got the chance to have a run with proper torque brake and traction off.

3) Dumping clutch is not your cup of tea? May I ask what's the difference between let it go at 4800 and let it go at 6500???

4) I did want to race you, and remember I tried damn hard to talk alot of **** to get you to race me but you refused. then you went on your own and I went on my own. so what's the point asking me now???
I respect truth and fact, so I have no problem admiting yes you poster a faster time than my GS400 right now. I am sure I have room to improve too with enough practising, but that's no longer my interests.

Btw, let me ask you, is your car stock tonight?

 

Lemme guess, the same way you don't believe my roadkills, you don't believe my car is stock, right? Well, it is 100% as stock as the day I picked it up from the dealer (except the tint and Armrourfend)
I guess I misunderstood, I thought your best time was with the traction control off. You had said that you ran a 14.6 with the light blinking on and off. I thought that meant that you were on the verge of the tires breaking loose. I thought that if you switched the trac control off, you would still get the warning light telling you that you were breaking traction.
No matter. I personally would like to see you break a 14.4 stock. I don't think it'd be possible without some really meaty tires. Too much HP to two tires, in my opinion. I did remember that your best was a 14.6.
Either way, I don't care much anymore.
Asking you if you wanted to race was a joke, Chris. Remember the smiley fro after it?



Once again, my car is completely stock. If you like we can have it verified by a local dealer. If that's what it takes for you to believe it.

 

Oh here we go again. Good job Jim. Where is Ed on this board? I met him once before, nice ol' guy. Ed is damn good at the 1320 running consisten low 15's. Good job to both of you guys. Lets see what my "slo-lightning" can run this sat morning.

 

>>> Lemme guess, the same way you don't believe my roadkills, you don't believe my car is stock, right? Well, it is 100% as stock as the day I picked it up from the dealer (except the tint and Armrourfend)

I didn't say I don't believe, I just wanted to ask.

>>> I guess I misunderstood, I thought your best time was with the traction control off. You had said that you ran a 14.6 with the light blinking on and off. I thought that meant that you were on the verge of the tires breaking loose. I thought that if you switched the trac control off, you would still get the warning light telling you that you were breaking traction.

It was on, when it's on, it flashes when the tirs loses traction as warning. If it's off, it doesn't flash.
So in another word, I ran the 14.6 when the car was cutting the power to the rear wheel when losing traction.

>>> No matter. I personally would like to see you break a 14.4 stock. I don't think it'd be possible without some really meaty tires. Too much HP to two tires, in my opinion.

My best chance should be ECT to Power mod and traction off with a proper torque brake, I didn't have chance to do so. My 2nd run last time was trying to do this, but 1500 torque braking was way too high, I ended up peeling down the whole strip and did a 18 sec.
Other member here did witness GS400 ran 14.4 on track, so it's not impossible. Remember you got your Max to drop half sec with same mods but practising?

>>> Asking you if you wanted to race was a joke, Chris. Remember the smiley fro after it?

Hey I am weak in that dept. I only knew , recently I starte getting comfortable with , your is too much for me.
Muhahaha

 

Nice Run Jim ....
Getting better everytime..

Did you see a Red Supra TT and White GSX at the track ?
The Supra TT was supposed to run high 11's ?

Ant

 

just curious...

 

magazines have the GS4 running between 14.3-14.6 Let me point out that there were more 14.3's the 14.6's also. Its obviously possible woodear could run a 14.3 with some practice and the right touch. I could only find three mags that tested the A6 T. Two of them ran a 14.7 and the other was 15. And, obviously these numbers dont hold too much water as Jim proved the other night. Racing is so much about the launch. If you guys ever raced side by side, it's pretty much be determind in the first 100' or so. it also depends if you guys are racing for a better time, or to see who gets down the 1/4 first. As Jim said, he only beat Ed by a fender, but his time was a .5sec slower...someone could actually cross the finish line first but run a slower e.t. Ummm, who would be the winner then?? =)

 

Way to kick ***. If you want to get to your 14.3 you need to run with 1/8th tank of gas, take out the spare and jack, and any junk in your trunk. Each gallon of gas is 8 pounds. The difference in running a full tank of gas and an empty tank is about .15 on my car. I love the Audi A6 2.7 turbo. It's my new favorite car. I remember seeing your A6 at the DC Dyno this summer. You seemed very proud of it. I just don't have the cash at this time. When the my little one's grow up and are out of the house, I'll get a nice German sedan.

 

There are several (about 5 that I've seen) posted times. Ranging from a 14.3 (for the early 97 models) to a 15.0 to a late 98 model.
For the sake of fairness, throw away the highest and lowest numbers. That will erase the 14.3 and the 15.0.
The other numbers are 14.6 and a 14.5. That would give a rough estimate of 14.5xxx, as a realistic 1/4 mile time.

For the A6 2.7, there aren't many times posted. Just a 14.6, and a 14.7. There was a figure of 15.1 posted, but that was for a tiptronic.
My times so far were 14.71 , 14.73, 14.44, 14.51. I still feel like a 14.3 is completely attainable.

 

why am i in the corner and what's there to defend??
his 14.4 is faster than my 14.6, i have no problem saying that.

 

his car is a 4wd and stick. easy to play with, plus he shifts past redline, magazine don't do that.
so overall it's easier to improve the time on a 2.7 vs. a gs400, gs400 is automatic.

 

Actually autos are easier to launch consistently. Ie.. the faster Supras are autos beucase they can built boost using brake torque on the starting line.

 

don't feel it's necessary.
i have no problem living my life knowing jim posted a faster time, it's seems that it bothers you more than it botehrs me

 

consistently doesn't equal fast.
i might be able to run consistent 14.4 with automatic gs400, but for 2.7 you just drop the clutch near realine and right there you can cut time off, automatic don't have this advantage.

 

there is no '97 model gs400. the 15sec was a special test done at 7000ft latitude. i told you that before.

 

that were performed in 97, they must have been pre-production tests for 98 models then. I imagine that they were.

I have said before, I did not drop the clutch near redline. The redline in this car is actually 6800. I launched at 4800 with some quick slip of the clutch, (just like you'd do if you wanted just to "burp" the car forward an inch or two.
A 4800 rpm launch with 6800 rpm upshifts. Gave me the 14.4. If I had launched at say, 5500, still without "dumping" the clutch, I probably would be able to pull off 14.3.

 

I observed Jim's runs. Once I was in other lane 2 cars behind and the other time head to head. His run ahead of me was 14.4 and the head to head run was 14.5. At the start I redlighted with a .452 to Jim's 1.003. He did edge me out with my 15.1. Jim's car performs in an outstanding manner. As he improves his driving skills, a 14.2 is in the cards.

 

i didn't say you dropped the clutch at redline.
i said, *if* you do that, you will be even faster, that's what manual AWD is all about. and you just said this yourself too.

 

i have no doubt i can get faster, but i am fully aware it takes lots more practice, since it's an automatic not an AWD stick. thus i am not willing to try, you know it's not like e-town is right at my backyard

 

...

 

Thanks Paul,
Yea, I'm still loving this car. It's getting better mile by mile. I think that my racing days will be numbered. I might take it back to the track if I ever chip it. It's nice to know just what the car is capable of. I knew that low 14s were easily attainable, just needed some time. If I were to take out my spare and run on under 1/2 tank, I know that I'd be knocking on 14.2's door.
I'm glad you like the car, it's a helluva automobile. Thanks again.

 

S4 6-speed stock runs 14.2 right.

I am planning to get one of those. Only S4 is a bit small inside for my taste.
I saw S8 at auto show, that thing looked very nice.

 

the S4 is approx .4-.5 quicker than the A6 2.7T. There are a few guys who run 13.6-.7 stock with their S4's. Both the S4 and 2.7T have a lot of potential in them. I was looking at the S4, but it was way too small for me. You give up some top speed and acceleration with the A6 2.7, but I really don't need a car that can run 160 mph and mid 13's in the 1/4 mile. It'd be nice to have, but I really don't need it.

 

yeah but you know i am not you right?

 

i am sure there are A6 2.7T out there i can beat with gs400, i am also sure there are GS400's out there Jim can beat with a6.
so, you tell me.

 

Are you sure about that Wood? Those mag guys are pretty nutz most of the time. I'd think they would do whatever it takes to get the best time they could.

 

Brand spankin' new one? I think he said his name was John. He pulled off a 14.5 with that puppy.. Pretty nice..
We were chatting a bit. He was surprised as hell that I ripped a 14.4. He's cool people.

 

yeah on in the fine print, they alway claim, torque braking used for auto, and redline lift-throttle shifting for manual.

 

That White GSX, John, is my cousin .. guys around here know him cuz he comes to meets with me ..

He ran 14.5 with the stock turbo.. stock boost..All stock..
If you saw the Red Supra TT.. thas my other cousin...
was supposed to run 11's but couldn't get traction..
Also the 98 Blue M3 that ran 14.3 ? my other cousin..
I was supposed to go but i had class..

Ant

 

To my great dismay, never heard of him.

 

To your great dismay?

 

OJ who??
and TV is...?

 

Congrats Jim!