Inexperience and bad driving or flat out faster car?

[daevo]

Hey everyone I just got an evo VIII 05 brand new, i've had it for about 3 or 4 days and its my first car, i learned stick about 3 weeks before i got it so im still tryin to catch on, but i pulled up to a car tonight and it appeared to be a honda accord v6, i think the 05 but im not sure, but itw as pretty fast iw as jus driving next to him cuz i love playin with the power of my evo, we pulled up to the stop light on a street off 123 and he floored it when it turned green, i've never raced before so i said why not and i tried to race him, he stayed about 2 or 3 cars ahead of me, but i wasn't flooring and i shifted very poorly, then at the next street light it happened again. I know I i shifted pretty poorly and i think thats why i didn"t keep up with the car plus inexperience. Did i lose because inexperience and poor driving or because the other car was jus flat out faster?

[SPEED]

Did you even break the car in yet? That's too soon to be messing around with it.

[Warrtalon]

Hey everyone I just got an evo VIII 05 brand new, i've had it for about 3 or 4 days and its my first car, i learned stick about 3 weeks before i got it so im still tryin to catch on, but i pulled up to a car tonight and it appeared to be a honda accord v6, i think the 05 but im not sure, but itw as pretty fast iw as jus driving next to him cuz i love playin with the power of my evo, we pulled up to the stop light on a street off 123 and he floored it when it turned green, i've never raced before so i said why not and i tried to race him, he stayed about 2 or 3 cars ahead of me, but i wasn't flooring and i shifted very poorly, then at the next street light it happened again. I know I i shifted pretty poorly and i think thats why i didn"t keep up with the car plus inexperience. Did i lose because inexperience and poor driving or because the other car was jus flat out faster?

Sounds like bad driving to include poor shifting, poor shift points (rpm), and almost certainly a horrible launch. The 60' time is the most important part of drag racing, and from the sounds of it, you were probably losing a full second just from a standstill. If it was the 255hp v6, then it wasn't a slow car, but you have almost that much hp to all 4 wheels, so you're still quite a bit faster. You just need practice, but I suggest you get your practice at the drag strip.

[g6civcx]

When you shift gears, simultaneously let off the gas and push the clutch all the way to the floor. Then select your gear with a smooth motion using a light touch. You can shift more quickly if you don't try to use too much force and slam it. After you're done shifting, ease on the gas as you ease out the clutch.

It will take a lot of practise, but after some time you will be able to do it quickly with very little effort.


I will not give you tips on launching because that's a sensitive subject. Everyone has their own opinions.

Good luck.

[MadMsheen]

I find that with my car the clutch bites fairly high on the pedal, so I set the seat far enough back that I only depress the clutch about 1/4 of the way down to right when it disengages. This is the fastest way for me to shift. I rarely press my foot all the way down on the clutch. On my 99 eclipse the clutch grabbed really close to the floor, so it really depends on the car.

I find this method to work well with the long throw on the MR. By the time I get the clutch depressed to the 1/4 point I am already moving into the next gear. Then I just reengage the clutch while reapplying gas. I can't say anthing about launching, because I suck at it, but I do shift fairly quickly once I'm moving.

[Pure Evo]

Well, first of all I hate to say it, but your clutch will be gone soon, so start saving. Secondly, Secondly, like SPEED said, you have to take it easy in the car for a while. I know it's hard, but you'll be glad you did. 3rd, you definitely need to practice a lot. After you break your car in, come out to the track on a test 'n' tune night and practice getting the launch down if you really want to race. I'm serious, though, about saving up about $1000 for a new clutch/install, especially since this is your first stick car. Also, until you've got driving/launching an AWD stick down, try to avoid racing people, because then they're going to beat you and go to their buddies and brag about how they smoked an Evo... Especially don't race an SRT4 - you'll never hear the end of it LOL

The answer to your question is: You lost from inexperience. Even the quickest 2005 Accord takes 7+ seconds to get to 60 and runs the 1/4 in the 15s. What this basically means is that (once your car is broken in and you've practiced a bit) you should be able to pull on him like crazy off the line, and beat him in the 1/4 by maybe 15-20 cars (every second in the 1/4 is roughly 10 cars...)

[cotmfk]

You should have crushed him. It should not have even been a contest! So... I would follow what Steve says. He is old and wise. (j/k Steve!) :p

[g6civcx]

Steve is older than God. That means he has managed to eat, and avoid being eaten long enough to grow senile... I mean wiser in his old age :)


Technically, you don't need to use the clutch to shift. You can shift clutchlessly. Preload the shifter and get off the gas. It should slide right into neutral. Double clutch by blipping the gas to bring engine up to appropriate speed. It should go into the next gear without too much grinding if you did the blip just right.

But if you do it wrong, you will destroy your synchronisers instantly. Helical-cut gears (for noise reduction/smoothness) aren't as tolerant to abuse as straight-cut/dog gears. You have to revmatch just right and let engine speed rise/drop accordingly.


Not a technique I practise often, but good to know in case you experience mechanical failure with your clutch for whatever reason. It should be enough to get you to safety.

[MadMsheen]

Give it a little time, you'll get it. Practice driving normal. Once you get proficient at that, then you can practice shifting quicker. It's easier to shift fast once you know the clutches contact point, and when you get used to the throws of the stick. It's a fine line between shifting really fast, grinding a gear, and eating up some clutch life.

The Evo is not the easiest car to drive, and being your first doesn't make it any easier. However, what a fun car to learn on. I learned on an old 70's datsun. :p

BTW: Get that $1000 ready. The Evo clutches are under-engineered to spare the rest of the tranny.

[Pure Evo]

Actually Ken, God is 256,302,005 years old, and I'm only 30 LOL daevo: definitely start coming out to our meets, especially the BBQ on the 17th (see front page for details). Other guys will be more than happy to show you things they've learned about the car. Probably the best thing about having an Evo is discovering each day another amazing thing it's capable of :D

Also, here's how to launch (look at the white car in the far lane) :

right-click-save-as http://www.shepracing.com/videos/shep876.avi

[g6civcx]

Really? I thought you were much older than that. Well, you look it any way :D


I'd take it easy on the launches unless you're prepped your car for it.

[daevo]

Hey thanks a lot everyone, looks like i've got a lot to learn, i'll just focus on breaking my car in and getting smoother with shifts, i will definitely try to make it to that bbq, is anyone invited? and hwo much doe sit cost? thanks a lot everyone next time i post somethign it will be something good!

[Warrtalon]

Hey thanks a lot everyone, looks like i've got a lot to learn, i'll just focus on breaking my car in and getting smoother with shifts, i will definitely try to make it to that bbq, is anyone invited? and hwo much doe sit cost? thanks a lot everyone next time i post somethign it will be something good!

Only Dc Evo members are invited, but you can bring guests. There is no charge...everything is paid for by our generous sponsors, plus there will be a raffle for cool parts donated by sponsors.

[Pure Evo]

here's another "how-to" for launching:

http://www.undergroundracing.com/video/Dr%20Roof%20at%20Rockingham.wmv

[daevo]

Excellent, so am i a member if I have registered to this website?

[cotmfk]

You are a member! :) So am I, even though I have no Evo!!!! Muahhahahahahaha :D

[Warrtalon]

Excellent, so am i a member if I have registered to this website?

Yes.

[daevo]

Alright awesome, Thanks again everyone hope to see you at the bbq, hope i can make it haha