My VQ35 at the track... slow...

[spiromax]

2003 Maxima SE automatic with Berk intake and BlehmCo ground wires.

1st Run (15.465 @ 90.93):

R/T .312
60 2.511
330 6.679
1/8 10.080
MPH 73.61
1000 12.981
1/4 15.465
MPH 90.93

2nd Run (15.336 @ 91.45):

R/T .432
60 2.439
330 6.591
1/8 9.982
MPH 73.87
1000 12.866
1/4 15.336
MPH 91.45

Needless to say, I'm quite disappointed by these numbers. My Maxima is running slower than the "true stock" time listed in the sticky post here. I doubt my MAF is dead, because the car doesn't display the symptoms of a bad MAF as described by some board members here, but who knows? I was running with a third of a tank of gas. I did NO weight reduction. I still had my spare and jack and everything. Still, I feel that I should've been faster. Some of the guys in the Southeast forum say that the Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, GA is notorious for turning out slow times, but how could it be off by a full second?

I'm very disappointed.

[steven88]

those times do seem like on the slow side....you should be trapping 93ish with a 2k2 autotragic.....but if the people around u say the track u ran at is notorious for bad times...don't feel bad....becuz they are probably right

btw what altitude was this track at? temperature and humidity? those play a vital role in what times you get too...i realize track prepping plays very important roles too.....but from the sounds of it....the track u went to was either.....terribly prepped....or atmospheric conditions aren't up to the norm (cool sea level tracks)

[mingo]

that's kinda slow man.. what was ur tire pressure set at? was your air filter clean?

[bgates1654]

Those are craptacular 60' times. That is why you are running slow on time. Every 0.1 off the 60 is about 0.2 of teh 1/4 time, probably slightly higher. So if you hav gotten a decent 60' (2.2) your times would be 14.7-14.8 on both. If you got closer to a 2.100 like the excellent auto drivers you could lop anotehr 0.2-0.225 off. I would say that is pretty normal. So in conclusion its not the car's fualt you are running slow. Practice.

[Ceasars Chariot]

dont be disapointed man, i have read on the org the same things about Atlanta's dragstrip in Commerce, GA. 60 foot is also aiding in you singing the blues. i think you can improve for sure but im not sure you will see 14.4 with this car.

good runs though, i wish i could get out and race my 4th gen somewhere, i would even settle for Commerce which is in the running for Americas slowest track !

[GusMaxGLE]

I would have the timing checked. Stock Max is set from the factory @15 deg., but some Max's have been checked @13 deg. Also, like I heard mentioned check ALL other engine/tune-up components(ie-plugs, wires, air-filter, etc....).

If everything checks out then I would say its the track! If none of that works out for ya I would go with a NOS or a turbocharger-thats sure to shave a few seconds off your ET, he he.

[MAX 2NR]

are you brake torquing when your launching? that might help your time a bit. first thing i would check is spark plugs because when i had my 92 max the spark plugs were crap when i got the car and one of my cylinders were misfiring. changed the plugs and it ran like it was supposed to. (faster)

[JClaw]

I would have the knock sensor checked (Pull your codes). A bad Knock Sensor has been known to slow you down sometimes by as much as half a second in the 1/4.

ALL VQ35-powered maximas should be running 14s, no mater what.

Do you fill your car with 87 octane? 91? 93?

[spiromax]

I was using 93 octane like I always do. I did NOT brake torque when I launched. I think that may have contributed to my craptastic 60' times, which consequently reduced my overall time. I cleaned my filter less than 2000 miles ago, and it is still looking pretty good. I will clean it before I hit the track again, and I will also check my spark plugs. I've never replaced my plugs, and I'm the second owner of the car. It has 45k miles on it now, and I think the original OEM plugs are still in it.

There was a 5spd 4th gen there (VQ30), and he had intake, header, exhaust, and nitrous at WOT. He ended up running mid-14s at the track that night. I expected him to be faster somehow...

[Nealoc187]

Sounds like your track sucks bad. Get to a different track and work on the brake torque technique and you will run much faster I think.

[spiromax]

Originally Posted by Nealoc187

Sounds like your track sucks bad. Get to a different track and work on the brake torque technique and you will run much faster I think.

The Atlanta Dragway in Commerce is the only 1/4 mile track in Georgia as far as I know. There are many other strips, but they're all 1/8 mile tracks.

[96sleeper]

Originally Posted by spiromax

The Atlanta Dragway in Commerce is the only 1/4 mile track in Georgia as far as I know. There are many other strips, but they're all 1/8 mile tracks.

Silver Dollar in Reynolds, GA
AID in Steele, AL

Both are alot faster tracks than commerce. Your times are ok for the 60 ft time, your launch needs some work and you are in the mid-high 14's.

[Indigo beast]

hahaha, why blame it on the track??? this is simple. You will get better times with time and practice. Even though its an auto you still have to learn how to launch the car. Try deflating your front tires a little and maybe practice on a "closed course" of somesort.

[JClaw]

True, but look at his trap speeds... I was pulling 91.5-92 mph with my stock 190 hp 4th gen. I'd guess either his car has a problem or his track out-and-out sucks, or both.

[spiromax]

Originally Posted by Indigo beast

hahaha, why blame it on the track??? this is simple. You will get better times with time and practice. Even though its an auto you still have to learn how to launch the car. Try deflating your front tires a little and maybe practice on a "closed course" of somesort.

This is my Maxima's first time at the track, not MY first time at the track. I didn't "brake torque" or "power brake" on those two runs because I'm not used to my Maxima. I always used to do it in my Sentra, but I was worried that I would just get mad wheel spin if I did it in the Maxima. Even without brake torquing, I had some wheel hop in first gear. As for my tire pressure, I think I would benefit from lowering it slightly.

[96sleeper]

Originally Posted by Indigo beast

hahaha, why blame it on the track??? this is simple. You will get better times with time and practice. Even though its an auto you still have to learn how to launch the car. Try deflating your front tires a little and maybe practice on a "closed course" of somesort.

apparently you have never been to Commerce. It is always a few tenths slower than Steele or Silver dollar. Most of the time bad times are due to a bad driver, but sometimes, it is the track.

[spiromax]

Originally Posted by 96sleeper

apparently you have never been to Commerce. It is always a few tenths slower than Steele or Silver dollar. Most of the time bad times are due to a bad driver, but sometimes, it is the track.

I keep hearing people say that Commerce is a slow track, but a few tenths of a second is a lot of time when you're talking about the 1/4 mile. Why is Commerce such a slow track?

My times are nearly a full second slower than they should have been. I'm sure part of it was because I launched badly, but I'm interested in knowing what about the track itself could case slower runs. Of course the track is in Georgia, so it was humid, but it wasn't that hot.

[96sleeper]

Originally Posted by spiromax

I keep hearing people say that Commerce is a slow track, but a few tenths of a second is a lot of time when you're talking about the 1/4 mile. Why is Commerce such a slow track?

My times are nearly a full second slower than they should have been. I'm sure part of it was because I launched badly, but I'm interested in knowing what about the track itself could case slower runs. Of course the track is in Georgia, so it was humid, but it wasn't that hot.

It has always been a slow track, everyone I know that has been there runs slow. Partly due to elevation. It is around 1000ft, Reynolds is just over 400ft, Steele, is around 500ft. It is always humid there, and the pressure never gets as high. I don't know what the exact cause is though, probably all these little things combined.

[Nealoc187]

Some tracks are slow. There is a track I go to that I always trap 2mph slower than the other tracks I go to.

[Indigo beast]

how do u know this track is in-acurate??? becuase the others gave people better times??? Its ither driver or weather. Tracks are tested on a daily basis and are not in-acurate. Elevation has alot to do with it also.

[NmexMAX]

Originally Posted by Indigo beast

how do u know this track is in-acurate??? becuase the others gave people better times??? Its ither driver or weather. Tracks are tested on a daily basis and are not in-acurate. Elevation has alot to do with it also.

Also the manner in which they prep the track, means a lot for the launch IMO. One wrong move and there goes your 60' time, also killing the end 1/4 ET. Some tracks typically are just "slower" than others. Elevation has everything to do with it also. 3 tracks closest to me are all above 3k'.

[anthunny]

do u guys believe in manually shifting?

im just hoping to get 2.2 60ft and like 14.8 9s, left in drive.
bad for the tranny.

[Gears & Crosses]

Originally Posted by NmexMAX

Also the manner in which they prep the track, means a lot for the launch IMO. One wrong move and there goes your 60' time, also killing the end 1/4 ET. Some tracks typically are just "slower" than others. Elevation has everything to do with it also. 3 tracks closest to me are all above 3k'.

Ya what he said +1

Starting line prep is extremely important!!! Ask others about who has the best track nearby. Give your car a tuneup, try 26 psi in the tires and maybe switch brands of gas. Then go take a road trip to another track. I gained 0.2 by switching tracks than another 0.2 by more practice on that track (not in a Maxima though).

Gears

[bigdo26]

launching an auto well is not that hard, the only time i havent had 2.2 second 60' times is when the track was damp and it was like 55 degrees out. every other time i've been i've hid 2.2xx and 2.1xx. definatly work on the launch, the trap speed of 93 is about right

[Nealoc187]

We're not saying the timing equipment is wrong we are saying the track is slow. Maybe it's on an uphill grade a little bit, or is at higher elevation. There ARE tracks that are slower than others, and there ARE tracks that are faster than others. The reasons are too many to list, but I've raced at 11 different tracks in 5 different states and I can say with reasonable certainty some tracks are faster and some tracks are slower for any number of reasons.

[JClaw]

At some tracks they're afraid of the glue. I've got two tracks within 30 minutes of me, and both are at a very low 165 ft. elevation, yet one is consistantly .1 faster than the other, even with more frequent headwinds.

[NycePants]

what was your tire pressure at? did you notice where the tranny was shifting?

[s0ber]

wow those times are weirdly slow for any vq35, thats what I run on my 95 :[