The subject says it all. I went to the racetrack for the first time last night and was wondering if anyone could give me some sage advice that could get me to drive this car the way it was meant to be driven. My best results for the night are as follows:

R/T: .790
60': 2.058
330: 6.108
1/8: 9.399
MPH: 73.71
1000: 12.187
1/4: 14.587
MPH: 94.38

It was about 66 degrees out and didn't feel too humid. I was up at Eping Speedway in NH to accomplish the following. My three runs before this yielded to mid 15 second 1/4 mile times. Help me get my technique down to ride in the thirteens. Any help would be truly appreciated. All I know is that I feel that I am not launching right because I felt like the car bogged on the first three runs. The last runs I ran with the DCCD set to open. Thanks.

run the dccd just above open. IE put it in open, then roll it to just the other side of the little bump in the travel.

Launch on the rev limiter. This lets you build boost on the line

Slip the clutch briefly off the line. Done right and it should take off smoothly w/o tire spin or wheel hop. If it gets slick out you may need to roll in a bit more on the DCCD.

next shift w/o lifting off the gas.

What altitude are you running at.

94MPH?

I have no idea what the altitude is, but I will search for that figure. Keep the replies coming 14.5 seems like I am not doing something right.

It seems your launch is ok since your 60' time is not bad. So my guess is that you need to work on your shifting technique. Quicker shifts as close to redline as possible will shave a good amount of time off your 1/4 mile runs.

Eventually you should get the 60' time down to about 1.8 and you will be in the low 13's before you know it.

Um, it can do 1.7xx 60fts off the factory floor. Thats .3 off right there. BTW I am not a believer in that reducing your 60ft will reduce the 1/4 mile by more than that reduction automaticly much less by the 2-3 times the 60ft reduction that some people preach.

Return the car to 100% stock. This computer recognizes any changes and will pull timing. 92-94 MPH is what you get if it does. Exhaust upgrades are OK if you have a cat and no cel's. For now leave DCCD on auto. MBC's are a particular problem. If you took off the hose from the stock boost controller it must be put back on. From the tee one side will have a restrictor either in the hose or the tee itself. The restrictor side goes to the turbo. No restrictor = greatly reduced boost. Drive car for a while so ECU can adjust. Resetting ECU may speed this process. Tighten all hose clamps including on the turbo and underneath the I/C. Do not drop tire pressure, in fact 40-50 PSI is best. 78-80 MPH 1/8, 99-101 1/4 is what we are after. ET's are less important and will come with time. What works on other cars ( evo's, wrx's etc ) may not work on the STI due to the new, very advanced ECU. Hopefully the tuners will resolve this problem for all of us soon. It's the car, not you.

I have not done any modifications to this car as of yet. I just hope I can improve on these times into the future.

Don't feel bad. My best time so far is 14.5 also. I don't know what to do differently. My top speed was 97 mph. My 60' times are worse than yours though. I can't really bring myself to rev to the rev limiter on take off or leave the pedal on the floor while I shift. Is it really ok to bounce off the rev limiter all the time like that? Will that prematurely wear things out?

By the way, for anyone who cares. I ran with the car 100% stock then ran with the resonator mod (I.E. open air box) and my best times were almost identical (open airbox was .2 faster).

Ok I ran my car stock at Epping and ran consistant 13.7's stock on a 90 degree day. How and where are you shifting? You will need to be shifting into 5th before the traps at the end. Your 60 foot time looks about the same or a little better then mine my first time out so the difference must be in your shifting going down the track.
I keep my Right foot to the floor and Shift at about 6500 rpm. I set my shift light for about 6300 so by the time I see it and shift I should be at about 6500. My trap speeds stock were a consistant 99.5.

Ben

I don't have my exact slip in front of me but mine has done 13.2's between 100-104mph consistantly w/ 1.9 60ft (not comfortable flogging it so it bogs a bit off the line.) Worst run was a 13.5 @100mph. Car is 100% stock (including stereo, amp, ~35lb sub, and spare.)

Originally posted by STIadmirer
It seems your launch is ok since your 60' time is not bad. So my guess is that you need to work on your shifting technique. Quicker shifts as close to redline as possible will shave a good amount of time off your 1/4 mile runs.

Eventually you should get the 60' time down to about 1.8 and you will be in the low 13's before you know it.

No Flames but but in the STi close to 1.5 is the ideal.

Originally posted by QUICKONE


No Flames but but in the STi close to 1.5 is the ideal.

Who has had a 1.5 60? Sounds like a nice way to break a driveshaft to me.

-st

1.5 sec. 60 ft. seems very fast are there people actually getting 1.5's???

Not to worry, QUICKONE.

My point was that a slightly better 0-60' time will get only about the same difference in the 1/4 mile time (i.e. if you shave your 0-60' time by .3 seconds, your 1/4 mile time will be about .3 seconds better).

So this is not the major reason why MystianL is not getting good 1/4 times IMO. I still say his launch technique is pretty good (perhaps a couple of tenths could be shaved off) but the major improvement in his 1/4 mile times will come from better shifting technique which is a combination of knowing the best shift points for each gear as well as performing quick shifts without powershifting. Although powershifting could shave a couple of tenths off your 1/4 mile times, it's not worth the extra wear and tear on the tranny and clutch IMO.

I don't currently own an STi (I have an order in for the new GTO in Silver which is expected to be in sometime in October) so I can't really say exactly where the best shift points are for the STi but it is usually very close to or at redline (basically you want to shift where the car makes it's peak horsepower - shifting much above that will usually end up costing you in 1/4 mile times).

Just my .02 again.

Sorry I don't think a 1.5 60ft is even POSSIBLE on a stock STi. I have yet to hear of a 1.699 even.

STiadmirer, true powershifting is NOT possible with the STi. It has a hold RPM function to the electronic throttle at high rpm. Basicly it gives you a second or two of time to shift w/o hitting the limiter or mechanicly moving the gas pedal. This is why shifting foot flat to the floor is easy and totaly safe to do in a STi.

XT6Wagon:

Ah, I didn't know that. Sounds like a great function that Subaru has built in and good technique to use to maximize 1/4 mile times.

As for the 1.5 second 60' time, I agree with you. My very first posting to the this thread said that a time of 1.8 second 60' time would be ideal and that the original poster was not that far off from this time. Therefore, improving his 1/4 mile times would likely come from shifting technique rather than from launch technique.

Originally posted by Mystianl
I have no idea what the altitude is, but I will search for that figure. Keep the replies coming 14.5 seems like I am not doing something right.

Altitude in Epping is around 100 ft above MSL. It shouldn't be an issue.

how long does a clutch last under this kind of use ?

Using a subaru for drag racing is like using a rolls royce for a tractor pull.

It works, but you bought the wrong tool for the job.

Originally posted by Keshav
Using a subaru for drag racing is like using a rolls royce for a tractor pull.

It works, but you bought the wrong tool for the job.

Thats hilarious!:lol: :banana: (wiping tear from eye)

Thats nothing...

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=4832302

Couple of tips....

1) Preload the transmission by applying the emergency brake (hold the button in). It takes the "slap" out of the gear engagement. Some practice is needed to keep from smoking the clutch, but it works. This is a technique used by VW racers developed due to "weak" transmissions. I do this with my TC Beetle and have run 1.24 to 1.48 60 ft times. 10.70 @131mph.

2) When you "see" the last yellow bulb lite.......LAUNCH! That will cut your reaction times considerably.

Bugnuts - 2004 STi

Originally posted by Kostamojen
Thats nothing...

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=4832302

that's not too bad for a N/A 1.8L, slow as hell reaction thought (see above post)