Taking my IS-F to the dragstrip tomorrow.
04-05-08, 08:28 PM
#1
11 Second Club
Thread Starter
Taking my IS-F to the dragstrip tomorrow.
So, I'm taking my IS-F to the dragstrip tomorrow. The weather is supposed to be around 60 degrees with cloudy at Great Lakes Dragaway. First time going drag racing with the IS-F. 
I'm thinking it's more difficult to launch the IS-F over my IS350 due to traction issues in first gear. Hopefully it won't be soooo crowded. We'll see...
Oh, BTW, I have ONE mod - I'm using my 18" rims with my old Dunlop Sportmaxx because I don't want to burn out the $349 19" PS2s in the rear. However, the 18" rims are lighter so it should help me by a tenth or so.
I'm thinking it's more difficult to launch the IS-F over my IS350 due to traction issues in first gear. Hopefully it won't be soooo crowded. We'll see...Oh, BTW, I have ONE mod - I'm using my 18" rims with my old Dunlop Sportmaxx because I don't want to burn out the $349 19" PS2s in the rear. However, the 18" rims are lighter so it should help me by a tenth or so.
04-07-08, 09:00 PM
#6
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Thread Starter
Hey guys, sorry it took so long to respond. Anyways, first the excuses... The tires didn't hook up well. There was a LONG wait for each run. Nobody was hooking up. I got a lot of heatsoak or something. Maybe the DA was not so great.
I only had 3 runs because of the crowd and since my car was going slower and slower, I called it quits.
run 1 run 2 run 3
2.094 2.274 2.179
13.239 13.545 13.507
110.45 109.51 108.77
First two runs was against a 335i with Vishnu V2, downpipes, drag radials, and some other stuff. He was 93 octane.
His runs:
2.002 2.288
12.952 13.341
104.39 108.04
His first run, his car went to limp mode. His second run? I dunno. Technically both times I lost to him so a 335i with V2, downpipes, and drag radials will win. However, even with 18" and drag radials, his 60' sucked as bad as mine - so perhaps the "opening" weekend special of free drag racing was at the cost of track prep? He said he used to have 1.8 60' last fall.
There were other 335i with V2 and one with an automatic did 13.0 at 110 and another 335i with V2 with manual did 13.1 or so also but at 112 mph with 2.1 60' times. The faster one also had 2nd cats removed. My guess is that a 335 chip only is similar to our IS-Fs because we both did 110.
NOW, my third run was against a new M3 coupe (carbon fiber roof) and he had his mufflers off. We only had a chance to run once - my third run vs. his first run. His numbers are bad too: his 60' was 2.519 and his et was 13.844 and trap of 107.81. I found out through some people that he eventually got to 13.1 and 112 or so which pretty much makes us all pretty even. I think the M3 dude was actually pretty pissed - I think he was expecting mid 12's especially because he took his mufflers off. Either way, it sounded loud but looked kinda funny w/o any exhaust.
SO, some odd things I noticed. As with my last IS350, the first run always seem to be the fastest unless I'm able to hot lap over and over again. I also noticed that this car has much less squat and worse F/R ratio so there is less weight and less traction and as a result, more difficult to launch. There is NO way I can just mash the gas unless I have more traction. At home, I was cruising around with no T/C and at 15 mph, I decided to mash the gas - and it left black lines on the street from a rolling 15 mph start!!!
Oh, I didn't mod with the lightweight rims. I found out how crowded it was the day before and didn't think it was worth changing wheels for just a couple of runs. In addition, I was curious to see how it would do stock and with the PS2 tires.
BTW, my best of 13.239 is actually SLOWER than my best with my STOCK IS350 of 13.228 but the trap is a good 5 mph faster. I totally believe that given the same conditions and launch, the IS-F is probably around 8-10 mph faster than my IS350 was for the 1/4 mile. BUT the trick is launching it. I might have to go with 17" and drag radials but then the whole point is missed. If I wanted a drag car, I'd not have gotten the IS-F. I got the IS-F because of the creature comforts, reliability, safety (I actually like that it weighs a lot for safety reasons), it's actually pretty efficient on the HW. Cruising at 80 gave me 25 mpg and cruising at 60 gave me 30 mpg!!!!
I'm thinking that the car will get faster as I break it in more and more. It took me 2 years for my IS350 to get to 13.2 and over 23K miles (started at 13.8) so if I can take off .6 seconds due to better launch, break-in, etc. then maybe I can get it down to 12.6 on the IS-F. I'm actually thinking that if I get the 17" drag radials and can truly launch it hard w/o traction issues, I don't think low 12's should be a problem! We'll see... stay tuned.
If anybody cares to figure the DA out, it was at Great Lakes Dragaway around 11:00 a.m. The temps were around 60degrees F, I don't know the humidity or pressures but I believe they can be found. Caymandiver?
I only had 3 runs because of the crowd and since my car was going slower and slower, I called it quits.
run 1 run 2 run 3
2.094 2.274 2.179
13.239 13.545 13.507
110.45 109.51 108.77
First two runs was against a 335i with Vishnu V2, downpipes, drag radials, and some other stuff. He was 93 octane.
His runs:
2.002 2.288
12.952 13.341
104.39 108.04
His first run, his car went to limp mode. His second run? I dunno. Technically both times I lost to him so a 335i with V2, downpipes, and drag radials will win. However, even with 18" and drag radials, his 60' sucked as bad as mine - so perhaps the "opening" weekend special of free drag racing was at the cost of track prep? He said he used to have 1.8 60' last fall.
There were other 335i with V2 and one with an automatic did 13.0 at 110 and another 335i with V2 with manual did 13.1 or so also but at 112 mph with 2.1 60' times. The faster one also had 2nd cats removed. My guess is that a 335 chip only is similar to our IS-Fs because we both did 110.
NOW, my third run was against a new M3 coupe (carbon fiber roof) and he had his mufflers off. We only had a chance to run once - my third run vs. his first run. His numbers are bad too: his 60' was 2.519 and his et was 13.844 and trap of 107.81. I found out through some people that he eventually got to 13.1 and 112 or so which pretty much makes us all pretty even. I think the M3 dude was actually pretty pissed - I think he was expecting mid 12's especially because he took his mufflers off. Either way, it sounded loud but looked kinda funny w/o any exhaust.
SO, some odd things I noticed. As with my last IS350, the first run always seem to be the fastest unless I'm able to hot lap over and over again. I also noticed that this car has much less squat and worse F/R ratio so there is less weight and less traction and as a result, more difficult to launch. There is NO way I can just mash the gas unless I have more traction. At home, I was cruising around with no T/C and at 15 mph, I decided to mash the gas - and it left black lines on the street from a rolling 15 mph start!!!
Oh, I didn't mod with the lightweight rims. I found out how crowded it was the day before and didn't think it was worth changing wheels for just a couple of runs. In addition, I was curious to see how it would do stock and with the PS2 tires.
BTW, my best of 13.239 is actually SLOWER than my best with my STOCK IS350 of 13.228 but the trap is a good 5 mph faster. I totally believe that given the same conditions and launch, the IS-F is probably around 8-10 mph faster than my IS350 was for the 1/4 mile. BUT the trick is launching it. I might have to go with 17" and drag radials but then the whole point is missed. If I wanted a drag car, I'd not have gotten the IS-F. I got the IS-F because of the creature comforts, reliability, safety (I actually like that it weighs a lot for safety reasons), it's actually pretty efficient on the HW. Cruising at 80 gave me 25 mpg and cruising at 60 gave me 30 mpg!!!!
I'm thinking that the car will get faster as I break it in more and more. It took me 2 years for my IS350 to get to 13.2 and over 23K miles (started at 13.8) so if I can take off .6 seconds due to better launch, break-in, etc. then maybe I can get it down to 12.6 on the IS-F. I'm actually thinking that if I get the 17" drag radials and can truly launch it hard w/o traction issues, I don't think low 12's should be a problem! We'll see... stay tuned.
If anybody cares to figure the DA out, it was at Great Lakes Dragaway around 11:00 a.m. The temps were around 60degrees F, I don't know the humidity or pressures but I believe they can be found. Caymandiver?
Last edited by ToothDoc; 04-07-08 at 10:18 PM.
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04-07-08, 09:19 PM
#8
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I have never been to any track before, and am planning to take my IS-F to one in the future. I drive it around town with the traction control on all th time. I don't really see any need to take it off.
Why wouldn't you leave it on when drag racing? I understand the power loss to the wheels and everything, but I don't feel a difference. I have had some amazing ease in launches with the TC on and I hit 80 in what feels like 3 seconds. Is it stupid to think that this car, or any car, may be faster in a drag with the traction control on? Let me know what you think. Thanks alot
Why wouldn't you leave it on when drag racing? I understand the power loss to the wheels and everything, but I don't feel a difference. I have had some amazing ease in launches with the TC on and I hit 80 in what feels like 3 seconds. Is it stupid to think that this car, or any car, may be faster in a drag with the traction control on? Let me know what you think. Thanks alot
04-07-08, 09:31 PM
#9
So new M3 coupe(E92) is putting down same or barely/slightly better trap number than E46 M3 at 13.844@107.81 and 13.1@112 ???? I mean 2.5 60' is just pathetic. I can put down half dozen 13.2@107 runs in a row in spring/fall with a bone stock E46 M3
Hey guys, sorry it took so long to respond. Anyways, first the excuses... The tires didn't hook up well. There was a LONG wait for each run. Nobody was hooking up. I got a lot of heatsoak or something. Maybe the DA was not so great.
I only had 3 runs because of the crowd and since my car was going slower and slower, I called it quits.
run 1 run 2 run 3
2.094 2.274 2.179
13.239 13.545 13.507
110.45 109.51 108.77
First two runs was against a 335i with Vishnu V2, downpipes, drag radials, and some other stuff. He was 93 octane.
His runs:
2.002 2.288
12.952 13.341
104.39 108.04
His first run, his car went to limp mode. His second run? I dunno. Technically both times I lost to him so a 335i with V2, downpipes, and drag radials will win. However, even with 18" and drag radials, his 60' sucked as bad as mine - so perhaps the "opening" weekend special of free drag racing was at the cost of track prep? He said he used to have 1.8 60' last fall.
There were other 335i with V2 and one with an automatic did 13.0 at 110 and another 335i with V2 with manual did 13.1 or so also but at 112 mph with 2.1 60' times. My guess is that a 335 chip only is similar to our IS-Fs.
NOW, my third run was against a new M3 coupe (carbon fiber roof) and he had his mufflers off. We only had a chance to run once - my third run vs. his first run. His numbers are bad too: his 60' was 2.519 and his et was 13.844 and trap of 107.81. I found out through some people that he eventually got to 13.1 and 112 or so which pretty much makes us all pretty even. I think the M3 dude was actually pretty pissed - I think he was expecting mid 12's especially because he took his mufflers off. Either way, it sounded loud but looked kinda funny w/o any exhaust.
SO, some odd things I noticed. As with my last IS350, the first run always seem to be the fastest unless I'm able to hot lap over and over again. I also noticed that this car has much less squat and worse F/R ratio so there is less weight and less traction and as a result, more difficult to launch. There is NO way I can just mash the gas unless I have more traction. At home, I was cruising around with no T/C and at 15 mph, I decided to mash the gas - and it left black lines on the street from a rolling 15 mph start!!!
Oh, I didn't mod with the lightweight rims. I found out how crowded it was the day before and didn't think it was worth changing wheels for just a couple of runs. In addition, I was curious to see how it would do stock and with the PS2 tires.
BTW, my best of 13.239 is actually SLOWER than my best with my STOCK IS350 of 13.228 but the trap is a good 5 mph faster. I totally believe that given the same conditions and launch, the IS-F is probably around 8-10 mph faster than my IS350 was for the 1/4 mile. BUT the trick is launching it. I might have to go with 17" and drag radials but then the whole point is missed. If I wanted a drag car, I'd not have gotten the IS-F. I got the IS-F because of the creature comforts, reliability, safety (I actually like that it weighs a lot for safety reasons), it's actually pretty efficient on the HW. Cruising at 80 gave me 25 mpg and cruising at 60 gave me 30 mpg!!!!
I'm thinking that the car will get faster as I break it in more and more. It took me 2 years for my IS350 to get to 13.2 and over 23K miles (started at 13.8) so if I can take off .6 seconds due to better launch, break-in, etc. then maybe I can get it down to 12.6 on the IS-F. I'm actually thinking that if I get the 17" drag radials and can truly launch it hard w/o traction issues, I don't think low 12's should be a problem! We'll see... stay tuned.
If anybody cares to figure the DA out, it was at Great Lakes Dragaway around 11:00 a.m. The temps were around 60degrees F, I don't know the humidity or pressures but I believe they can be found. Caymandiver?
I only had 3 runs because of the crowd and since my car was going slower and slower, I called it quits.
run 1 run 2 run 3
2.094 2.274 2.179
13.239 13.545 13.507
110.45 109.51 108.77
First two runs was against a 335i with Vishnu V2, downpipes, drag radials, and some other stuff. He was 93 octane.
His runs:
2.002 2.288
12.952 13.341
104.39 108.04
His first run, his car went to limp mode. His second run? I dunno. Technically both times I lost to him so a 335i with V2, downpipes, and drag radials will win. However, even with 18" and drag radials, his 60' sucked as bad as mine - so perhaps the "opening" weekend special of free drag racing was at the cost of track prep? He said he used to have 1.8 60' last fall.
There were other 335i with V2 and one with an automatic did 13.0 at 110 and another 335i with V2 with manual did 13.1 or so also but at 112 mph with 2.1 60' times. My guess is that a 335 chip only is similar to our IS-Fs.
NOW, my third run was against a new M3 coupe (carbon fiber roof) and he had his mufflers off. We only had a chance to run once - my third run vs. his first run. His numbers are bad too: his 60' was 2.519 and his et was 13.844 and trap of 107.81. I found out through some people that he eventually got to 13.1 and 112 or so which pretty much makes us all pretty even. I think the M3 dude was actually pretty pissed - I think he was expecting mid 12's especially because he took his mufflers off. Either way, it sounded loud but looked kinda funny w/o any exhaust.
SO, some odd things I noticed. As with my last IS350, the first run always seem to be the fastest unless I'm able to hot lap over and over again. I also noticed that this car has much less squat and worse F/R ratio so there is less weight and less traction and as a result, more difficult to launch. There is NO way I can just mash the gas unless I have more traction. At home, I was cruising around with no T/C and at 15 mph, I decided to mash the gas - and it left black lines on the street from a rolling 15 mph start!!!
Oh, I didn't mod with the lightweight rims. I found out how crowded it was the day before and didn't think it was worth changing wheels for just a couple of runs. In addition, I was curious to see how it would do stock and with the PS2 tires.
BTW, my best of 13.239 is actually SLOWER than my best with my STOCK IS350 of 13.228 but the trap is a good 5 mph faster. I totally believe that given the same conditions and launch, the IS-F is probably around 8-10 mph faster than my IS350 was for the 1/4 mile. BUT the trick is launching it. I might have to go with 17" and drag radials but then the whole point is missed. If I wanted a drag car, I'd not have gotten the IS-F. I got the IS-F because of the creature comforts, reliability, safety (I actually like that it weighs a lot for safety reasons), it's actually pretty efficient on the HW. Cruising at 80 gave me 25 mpg and cruising at 60 gave me 30 mpg!!!!
I'm thinking that the car will get faster as I break it in more and more. It took me 2 years for my IS350 to get to 13.2 and over 23K miles (started at 13.8) so if I can take off .6 seconds due to better launch, break-in, etc. then maybe I can get it down to 12.6 on the IS-F. I'm actually thinking that if I get the 17" drag radials and can truly launch it hard w/o traction issues, I don't think low 12's should be a problem! We'll see... stay tuned.
If anybody cares to figure the DA out, it was at Great Lakes Dragaway around 11:00 a.m. The temps were around 60degrees F, I don't know the humidity or pressures but I believe they can be found. Caymandiver?
04-07-08, 09:37 PM
#10
11 Second Club
Thread Starter
No, it was the track and the particular day. My IS350 did 13.228 at 105 bone stock and I did over 1/2 dozen in a row at 13.2 or 13.3. So, can I say my IS350 is faster than my IS-F which did 13.239 and 13.5s? NO. Like I said, it was the particular day, and track prep. I think EVERYBODY was running about 1/2 second slower yesterday than other days when the track prep is better.
04-07-08, 09:42 PM
#11
11 Second Club
Thread Starter
I have never been to any track before, and am planning to take my IS-F to one in the future. I drive it around town with the traction control on all th time. I don't really see any need to take it off.
Why wouldn't you leave it on when drag racing? I understand the power loss to the wheels and everything, but I don't feel a difference. I have had some amazing ease in launches with the TC on and I hit 80 in what feels like 3 seconds. Is it stupid to think that this car, or any car, may be faster in a drag with the traction control on? Let me know what you think. Thanks alot
Why wouldn't you leave it on when drag racing? I understand the power loss to the wheels and everything, but I don't feel a difference. I have had some amazing ease in launches with the TC on and I hit 80 in what feels like 3 seconds. Is it stupid to think that this car, or any car, may be faster in a drag with the traction control on? Let me know what you think. Thanks alot
With my IS350, the difference between traction control and no traction control was usually about .3 second difference in the 1/4 mile. It's hard to feel the .3 second difference but it IS there.
04-07-08, 10:56 PM
#12
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Kind of makes me think that the magazine times were corrected to sea level or whatever they wanted them to be. I would have guessed that you were going to run 12:60s at at about 113 to 115. The ISF has 110 more hp and about 200 pounds more weight. Problem is, the weight is on the nose. It almost sounds like you guys were running on an ice rink, not a drag strip. Thanks for the info, Skip
04-08-08, 10:41 AM
#15
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It's just with daily driving and redlight racing, my traction control has really solidified my launch without bogging it down. As long as you slightly ease into it and don't just put the petal through the floor.
I guess it's just something different to try. At least we know that with bad track conditions and poor launches the IS-F is still running low 13's. There is a ton of potential with this car. Take it easy
I guess it's just something different to try. At least we know that with bad track conditions and poor launches the IS-F is still running low 13's. There is a ton of potential with this car. Take it easy