Last night I decided to bring my car to the dragstrip. It was roughly 78-80 deg. in FL so pretty humid, it rained earlier. First run, 15.4 at about 88 I think? Next run after that was a 15.7, to pissed to look at he speed? I think I got decent launches but I think i'm not shifting fast enough? I'm really not stupid I just don't race AT ALL, and haven't really payed attention at what rpms to shift, anyone got pointers for me?

anyone got pointers for me?


practice

shift just before you hit the redline.

88 is pretty cool, I was running 14.9-15.2 in 95 degree heat :)

Post the times from your timeslip...

your 60' will tell you if you got a decent launch or not. Anything over 2.4 is not a decent launch ;) 2.2 - 2.3 = decent; 2.0 - 2.1 = excellent; below 2.0 on street tires = You are the King of Launching.

60' = Launch & 1st Gear
330' = How well you're car hooks in 2nd gear.

Same here in Canada Ive never seen a SS in the 14 secondes like many Mags recall. ive only seen SS in the 15.30sec on the 1/4.

if this car doesn't do 14s i am going to be pissed for buying it when my last car did 15.3s with little work.

I'll offer some insight. These cars are very hard to launch well. They have a tendancy to wheel hop something fierce. Mastering the launchs will be key. I don't know how the tach is on the cobalt but on my redline in 1st gear is 1400 rpms behind actual rpms. That makes for very difficult shifts. I have actually benefitted the most from getting good shifts. Work on it, you very likely won't do as well as you hoped at first but most people can usually improve there times with just more seat time.

It's you're driving that's keeping you in the 15's, not the car.
I hit a 14.88 @ 95mph when it was 102 degrees out in Az, with a horrible 2.4 60'.

The SS/SC loves to be powershifted(don't take your foot off gas while shifting), and do NOT shift into 4th, you should be in 3rd at the end of the track!

Keep practicing, you'll get better. Also keep in mind that these cars are more oriented for autocross style racing, not drag racing. Take it around some twisties at a more than brisk pace, you'll forget all about you're 1/4 mile times. :cssNET:

practice is the key. everyone struggles the first time at the track. the more launches you take the better you will get.

Trust me, your car is capable of better. I ran a 14.7 at a track temp. of 90 degrees and a 14.8 on a different date with a track temp. of 119 degrees. When you race try not dropping the clutch at all. That is when I get my best times! When the air temp. gets to 50-60 degrees, I'm thinking 14.5's. For you, it would be a cold day in hell for you to get that kind of air temp., but with practice, you will get better! Also let your rpms build up to at least 6300 before shifting in each gear! I would like to post pics. of my time slip, but when I tried last night it said something about the pic. taking too much memory? Please help!

P.S. All the times I have done, have been done without power shifting. I'll have to give that a try next time! ;)

YOu just have to keep practicing .

Im still struggling on just how to launch this car , and I know full well how to get a car down the track . Errrr , just not a FWD one . I started pathetically in the mid 15's the first time I went . The mph has ALWAYS been great for my car though ...96-99 mph . Over time I have worked it down to 14.7's just rolling out 1/2 throttle and easing into it gradually and shifting at the last possible second before it crashes the rev limiter . That method also got 60 ft.s in the high 2.20's , which is still pathetic . I really just need to say screw it and get some slicks for the track , I dont trust the transaxle yet though . This car is taking continued beating on , but HOOKED up is a different story .

Keep at it , youll get there .

I really just need to say screw it and get some slicks for the track , I dont trust the transaxle yet though . This car is taking continued beating on , but HOOKED up is a different story.

Compromise, get some drag radials. I used the BFG gForce 225/50R15 drag radials to get pretty consistant 1.9 60's. They don't hook up as well as the slicks, so you still have to "baby" it off the line. But they definitely hook up better than street tires... and they grip like mad on the street :D

Went to the track again last night, much more pleased with the results. I'm still not satisfied with my 60 time. 81 degrees out in FL..

http://cobaltss.net/gallery/files/2/3/4/4/9-10-05016.jpg

got a 15.0 twice after that, got less traction because it was getting wet out.

yeah my car runs like poo in the heat :cssNET: but the weather now at night here in maryland is the shiz shes running like a dream! :cssNET:

no car loves poweshifting. Do not do it.

Nobody in Canada running 14's? man you gotta look at this site more often.....I ran a 14.5 at 98.55mph with a 2.274 60 foot at Toronto Motorsport Park in Cayuga on a Wed. the car is capable of low 14's for sure just ease it out of the hole for a good 60' and stay in 3rd gear at the end it should be a 6000-6200 RPMS at the end..... :nuts:

Went to the track again last night, much more pleased with the results. I'm still not satisfied with my 60 time. 81 degrees out in FL..

http://cobaltss.net/gallery/files/2/3/4/4/9-10-05016.jpg

got a 15.0 twice after that, got less traction because it was getting wet out.

thats wierd... me and you have the same exact 1/4 time but i trapped faster.... looks to me like you hooked up better ... have to check my slip.

what do you mean by trapped?...........noob question

what do you mean by trapped?...........noob question

Your speed. ;)

:( Oh, when i went it was a lot slower :cry:

no car loves poweshifting. Do not do it.

You must not race much huh? Sure the car may not like it too much, but its not as damaging as everyone thinks. (yes, i do have experience working on transmissions thank you) If you want the fastest times possible, POWERSHIFT THAT THING!

i race with a 2.2 L nuthin done to it yet except for 17"s, and i kill a lot of the done up civics and integras around just because of my launches. thats all that makes me happy is beating the other 4 bangers around my area. now that i got the better tires on it thats improved it a little as well.

I too have run 14's In canada! 14.6 actually with a 2.22 60ft at 98MPH, still have some improvements to make, track sucked ass!!

where are you goin bithlo?

You must not race much huh? Sure the car may not like it too much, but its not as damaging as everyone thinks. (yes, i do have experience working on transmissions thank you) If you want the fastest times possible, POWERSHIFT THAT THING!


I bet I have raced alot more the you buddy (13 years). I am not just not a sadist and into to wrecking my car.

Hey if you want the best times possible, strip out your interior to bare metal. All the weights holding you back from your best time!! :lol:

You WILL acclerate wear on components and eventaully cause damage faster. And guess what? That'll cost you money. Just say no

Suggesting people do that is dangerous advice. I am trying to help them preserve there trans/clutch. Have nice day eh? ;)

You WILL acclerate wear on components and eventaully cause damage faster. And guess what? That'll cost you money. Just say no

But seeing that boost gauge take a nose dive in between shifts sux , Ive been powershifting mine since day one . The Saab trans is surprising me with its willingness to suck up the abuse and keep on truckin

It's you're driving that's keeping you in the 15's, not the car.
I hit a 14.88 @ 95mph when it was 102 degrees out in Az, with a horrible 2.4 60'.

The SS/SC loves to be powershifted(don't take your foot off gas while shifting), and do NOT shift into 4th, you should be in 3rd at the end of the track!

Keep practicing, you'll get better. Also keep in mind that these cars are more oriented for autocross style racing, not drag racing. Take it around some twisties at a more than brisk pace, you'll forget all about you're 1/4 mile times. :cssNET:
had no choice to shift into fourth would have hit the rev! my trap speed was 99.352

I bet I have raced alot more the you buddy (13 years). I am not just not a sadist and into to wrecking my car.

Hey if you want the best times possible, strip out your interior to bare metal. All the weights holding you back from your best time!! :lol:

You WILL acclerate wear on components and eventaully cause damage faster. And guess what? That'll cost you money. Just say no

Suggesting people do that is dangerous advice. I am trying to help them preserve there trans/clutch. Have nice day eh? ;)
So in 13 years of racing you still like to go slower then everyone else??? Powershifting is faster then letting off the gas between shifts.

So in 13 years of racing you still like to go slower then everyone else??? Powershifting is faster then letting off the gas between shifts.

Yeah and it'll break your car faster. Drag racing is hard enough on the car without making it worse.


You'd be amazed at the cars I have beat. Where they powershifting? I have no idea.
But most people at the track cannot drive their cars very well. I have no problems on that front. Just have to get used to this silly FWD ;)

Also powershfting can cause the clutch to explode sending shrapnel into your leg

So in 13 years of racing you still like to go slower then everyone else??? Powershifting is faster then letting off the gas between shifts.
its a prefrence, personally I do both just not in the first 2 gears cause the cobalt cant handle it but found it to be verry effective in third and fourth if you get to it.

Yeah and it'll break your car faster. Drag racing is hard enough on the car without making it worse.
Got to pay to play.

You'd be amazed at the cars I have beat. Where they powershifting? I have no idea.
But most people at the track cannot drive their cars very well. I have no problems on that front. Just have to get used to this silly FWD ;) Thats cool, but especially with turbo cars you have to powershift to go fast.

Also powershfting can cause the clutch to explode sending shrapnel into your leg
Not in a stock car and especially not on a FWD car, think about where your clutch is located. ;) Then think about where a RWD tranny is located. Also it takes A LOT of power to do that. That is why once you reach a certain speed or time(9.99 I believe) you have to add a tranny guard(or whatever its called) to your car.

if this car doesn't do 14s i am going to be pissed for buying it when my last car did 15.3s with little work.

if it doesnt go 14's its you not the car.

Same here in Canada Ive never seen a SS in the 14 secondes like many Mags recall. ive only seen SS in the 15.30sec on the 1/4.

its been done, but i have to admit our car is no track star with these 18's.

its been done, but i have to admit our car is no track star with these 18's.
18's look great but thats about all they are good for. Im trying to find some g6 16" rims with some sort of "street slicks" should help out alot

Got to pay to play.

Thats cool, but especially with turbo cars you have to powershift to go fast.


Not in a stock car and especially not on a FWD car, think about where your clutch is located. ;) Then think about where a RWD tranny is located. Also it takes A LOT of power to do that. That is why once you reach a certain speed or time(9.99 I believe) you have to add a tranny guard(or whatever its called) to your car.

Never say never on a clutch exploding on a stock car! My friend at work has the scares to prove it! His clutch let lose in his MG during a race, broke through the bellhousing and hit the fuel lines. The car caught fire and burned his calfs and shins. I don't think a stock MG has alot of power, or does it?

Never say never on a clutch exploding on a stock car! My friend at work has the scares to prove it! His clutch let lose in his MG during a race, broke through the bellhousing and hit the fuel lines. The car caught fire and burned his calfs and shins. I don't think a stock MG has alot of power, or does it?

No they don't have a lot of power <200, but that was probably from another problem not from the shifting going on.

No they don't have a lot of power <200, but that was probably from another problem not from the shifting going on.

Lets see, he shifted hard and the clutch broke. It doesn't matter what the root cause was, just the fact that by putting extra stress on something, things are bound to go wrong.

Story for ya, when I first got my car I ran 15.8s and 15.6s @ 101-103 MPH. Soon got that down to mid 14s, then on one of my last runs I got a 14.001..@ 102 how BS is that...After that I got it down to 13.6s etc. The main thing is just learning how to launch the car, I got my 60s down to 2.3 (only so much you can do with 430 FT LBS of torque and 8" wide rear tires.

The good driver mod is the best bang for the buck you can get.