high speed roll race tactics

[Fasta123]

I'm stage 3 and I just got an etune on e30, theres a ton of torque now (vdyno says like 310 at the wheels)
when your going like 80 on the freeway in 6th and rpms are at 3500 or even 70 at 3000, its almost better to leave it in 6th and throttle it (I know you have to be a little more gentle in 6th on the throttle) because of all the torque and the longer gearing it stays in its power band longer and accelerates like a demon have any of you guys noticed this? I know your not supposed to jam the throttle in 6 at low rpms but if its above 3k and you roll onto it gently it cant be to bad right? lol I mean from 80-110 is damn quick like this even at 3/4 throttle

 

[dyn085]

Torque is measured power but horsepower is the mathematical calculation of how much work that torque is doing at a given rpm. Just because you have a higher torque down low doesn't mean it's beneficial (in the street-racing sense) considering revolutions of the engine. Find where your hp is maxed in your rpm range and then plan your shifting accordingly and then disregard where your max torque is.

 

[dyn085]

Also, pertinent-

 

[IrishST]

Acceleration isn't just about torque or horsepower, or the length of power band, gearing also plays a role. Considering 4th gear is good for ~115mph and gives you a better ratio for acceleration, I would say downshifting to 4th at 80 is going to give you the fastest time. Whether staying in 6th is bad or not I don't know for sure, though I've heard it's not ideal when you're highly tuned.

 

[Fasta123]

I know how hp is calculated from torque multiplied by rpm but does the fact that hitting high torque number in a longer gearing make a difference? like having a lot of twist to turn that gearing faster and get up to a higher speed, like 80-100 is faster in 6th at 3500-4200 rpm It feels like then 80-100 in 5th. have u put ur foot down in 6th at 80? do u know what I mean. lol at the pic haha

 

[Fasta123]

id say that at that speed it might be fast in 5th just slightly but if you factor in shifting 6th might be a smidge faster. idk all that torque makes the car feel misleadingly quick and powerful

 

[IrishST]

6th may feel fast because of your torque, but 4th or 5th is going to be faster. 6th will give you the higher speed at the end, but downshifting is going to get you there faster and the rate of acceleration from downshifting is going to exceed the time lost from shifting.

 

[Fasta123]

6th may feel fast because of your torque, but 4th or 5th is going to be faster. 6th will give you the higher speed at the end, but downshifting is going to get you there faster and the rate of acceleration from downshifting is going to exceed the time lost from shifting.

yea but 4th at 100mph your gonnabe quite far past peak tq and past peak hp I agree with what your saying though. on a separate note on the freeway iv beaten stock 2016 wrx's and just yesterday I had this brand new lowered civic si with a fart can cut me off then slow down to like 15mph to go over a divet and almost made me miss the light I pulled up next to him and he rly had no chance from 40 -70 I put a bus length on him I also had a passenger he was alone. from a roll our car isn't to bad.

 

[dyn085]

id say that at that speed it might be fast in 5th just slightly but if you factor in shifting 6th might be a smidge faster. idk all that torque makes the car feel misleadingly quick and powerful

Quite simply, you're wrong. Sixth gear is an overdrive, not an acceleration gear. Notice how actual racecars downshift during a race? The powerband, measured in hp and not torque, dictates the gear used.

 

[frankiefiesta]

I'm guilty of roll racing in the past but it's so funny when people start races at 60mph

 

[IrishST]

It's math. Your argument is sound when talking about some cases in lower gears like 2nd or 3rd, but in 5th and more so in 6th you'll benefit from downshifting almost always. Not sure why you asked the question only to argue against the answers.

 

[Wimp Lo]

With the shape of our power curve, a shift down to fourth can't hurt unless you need to shift up before the "race" ends.

I personally think roll racing is kind of silly but you kind of have to do it for data logging and it does save tires. I'll use these techniques on the freeway when I'm checking out a Ferrari and they decide to show me how fast their car is.

When I have my DHM turbo and shift down to fourth, I doubt many cars will be able to pull away very much.

 

[Fasta123]

I'm guilty of roll racing in the past but it's so funny when people start races at 60mph

cant stop on the freeway in cali...

lol nice pics

 

[Fasta123]

It's math. Your argument is sound when talking about some cases in lower gears like 2nd or 3rd, but in 5th and more so in 6th you'll benefit from downshifting almost always. Not sure why you asked the question only to argue against the answers.

I actually said I agree with you in my last post.....

 

[Fasta123]

With the shape of our power curve, a shift down to fourth can't hurt unless you need to shift up before the "race" ends.

I personally think roll racing is kind of silly but you kind of have to do it for data logging and it does save tires. I'll use these techniques on the freeway when I'm checking out a Ferrari and they decide to show me how fast their car is.

When I have my DHM turbo and shift down to fourth, I doubt many cars will be able to pull away very much.

yea I'm just talking about cruising on the freeway, theres a lot of older wrxs and stuff down here. yea I realise its better to downshift now. most the time your driving though and not stopped at a light and a car will pull along side you. I had a Camaro do this today and an e36 m3.

 

[frankiefiesta]

cant stop on the freeway in cali...

lol nice pics

Don't you guys have a raceway/drag strip? It's safer, legal, and can practice launching

 

[Fasta123]

Don't you guys have a raceway/drag strip? It's safer, legal, and can practice launching

yea ur absouloutely right its dangerous and irresponsible. I really try not to do it at all butt sometimes its clear and I do a quick pull against someone messing around. iv seen ppl racing weaving in and out of traffic though...absolutely insane

 

[Fasta123]

Don't you guys have a raceway/drag strip? It's safer, legal, and can practice launching

yea ur absouloutely right its dangerous and irresponsible. I really try not to do it at all butt sometimes its clear and I do a quick pull against someone messing around. iv seen ppl racing weaving in and out of traffic though...absolutely insane

 

[RAAMaudio]

I prefer roll racing as less hard on the car and it is what I do on road race tracks anyway so more practice for me

Though I understand and appreciate all forms of organized racing if I was going to build a car for drag racing it would be a car more suited for it instead of one designed to be an all around quick car on roads and tracks, autocross, etc with left and right turns in the mix but it is cool to see how fast these cars are getting on a drag strip

It might not be a good idea to say you street race in anyway on a public forum, something goes wrong and you have already admitted to doing things you are not supposed to be doing

 

[Fasta123]

I prefer roll racing as less hard on the car and it is what I do on road race tracks anyway so more practice for me

Though I understand and appreciate all forms of organized racing if I was going to build a car for drag racing it would be a car more suited for it instead of one designed to be an all around quick car on roads and tracks, autocross, etc with left and right turns in the mix but it is cool to see how fast these cars are getting on a drag strip

It might not be a good idea to say you street race in anyway on a public forum, something goes wrong and you have already admitted to doing things you are not supposed to be doing

lol very true. I understand roll racing takes less skill but as you said its far easier on the car and why would I compete in an area where my car is weak.. obviously you do what your car is better at.