[s-cars] 1/4 miles and clutches

[Calvin & Diana Craig]

Paul,

I was able to pull a 14.90 with a chipped only car, but the MPH was lower at
about 95....inidcating that your car is making more power but your first
clutch escapade probably put the kabash on more aggressive takeoffs :)
Usually I hold at about 3k rpms and then start a rapid but controlled let
out of the clutch and about the same rate, maybe a little faster, downward
press on the throttle...this limits clutch slip and I try to regulate with
the tach at about 3-4k rpms by letting the clutch out more aggressively if
the rpms start to go up above 4k.  However when you do get too rapid on the
gas and it starts to rev too high you almost never get a kick butt start
because you instinctively, to save some clutch life, wind up overcorrecting
and dropping it too fast inducing the dreaded bog and wait syndrome :)

--Calvin


-----Original Message-----
From: s-car-list-admin at audifans.com
[mailto:s-car-list-admin at audifans.com]On Behalf Of Paul Krasusky
Sent: Monday, August 19, 2002 1:11 PM
To: 's-car-list'
Subject: [s-cars] 1/4 miles and clutches


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<<<Paul's car has the MTM Stage 1+ chip and a Stebro exhaust from the cat
back.
Same 17" Avus though with 255 tires vs. my 235s, so probably slightly more
rotational mass.  As I recall, his last two runs were 15.13 and 15.15 sec
ET, with a trap speed of 97-98 mph.  I'll let Paul describe the first run
when he gets back.  I don't know.  Something to do with clutch not engaging
until 3rd gear.  It wasn't pretty.>>>

Weeeeeeeeelll, let's just say the smell has finally left my car.  My 1st run
I was a bit jazzed up, and stuffed the gas as I dropped the clutch @ 2k or
so.  It redlined very quickly, banged 2nd, same thing, banged third.  It was
then I realized that, hey, wait a sec, there's no way I'm baking all four
tires on a sticky strip through third gear.  I backed off the throttle and
realized what I was doing.  Yikes.  And yes, I AM an idiot, I'll
preemptively strike on that one.

What's odd about that is my clutch has never hinted at having the slightest
issue, at all.  And hasn't since.  Bizarre.  Looks like a Centerforce and
alum. flywheel are in my future, at a mere 94k.  Anyone have any idea on the
odd chance that one of them thar warranties Bruce M. was talking about last
month covers something like this?  If so I'd run out and get one, and file a
claim.  Doubt it though, too good to be true I'd say.

Yeah, my next 3 runs were all a consistent 15.125, with RT's of .525 and
traps of 98.  I was real happy with the consistency, meaning I likely wasn't
leaving much on the table.  Not dropping the clutch leads to insufferable
turbo lag though, I could sit there and count the seconds as it bogged
terribly.  At least two before the turbo hit.  Reminds me of the fact that
you have to be a magazine test driver driving a factory car to get the times
they publish.  Or have stock in Centerforce that is.  But the good thing is
now Bob and my AC/AP 22's are calibrated, mine was way the F off.

What was real impressive was a mild appearing 1st gen. Eclipse.  He beat a
full drag car '65 ish Nova mit slicks that practically touched in the
center, which was running 11.3's... the Eclipse tallied an 11.1 @ 128 or so.
Absurd stuff, you'd never have guessed it.  The guy in the Nova looked
pissed.

I ditched out on the 2nd Wed. event that I was up there.  97 degrees @ 6
p.m....  not good.  Heh, maybe Jack Gagnon will chime in about his runs that
day, hee hee hee...  similar to that purported Microbus run on 8/9...

-Paulie clutchfume K.
CT
'95 //S6
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