1/4 mile Drag with MS3

SKY

Member
:
Mazdaspeed3
Going to do my first 1/4 mile drag with the MS3, any tips how to launch this animal properly? (thumb)

The only performance mods I have so far is MS CAI and TWM STS.
 
Launching our MS3s can be a joy but you have to earn it. I have my own thoughts on it but here is Car and Driver's take from their 2007 review:
The Mazdaspeed 3 is only a bit less tricky to launch than a space shuttle. Most of the runs up the drag strip vanished in excessive tire smoke. Or they deflated when the driver, trying to stanch the wheelspin, inadvertently cued the waste gate. Or grabbed the wrong gear with the spongy shifter. Calls to Mazda yielded tips: Pop the clutch at 2900 rpm, upshift at 6000 redline is 6700 and flat-shift through second and third (which means don't lift at all the mechanical equivalent of dropping a Steinway on the clutch and half-shafts and violating our test procedure).

"Don't worry," the engineers said, "it won't break."

  • Be sure to hold down the traction control button when you are starting her, to disable the assists and regain some boost in 1st and 2nd.
  • Your tires will slip, if you're doing it right, but if it's too much just barely ease off the gas until they can find traction. If you come off too much you'll lug and have to wait for the turbo to spool again.
  • On shifts, be very mindful of actual gear engagement before letting the clutch out. Grinding a gear when you're being timed makes it an even worse experience.

And you know, have fun (headbang) Good luck!!
 
Launching our MS3s can be a joy but you have to earn it. I have my own thoughts on it but here is Car and Driver's take from their 2007 review:


  • Be sure to hold down the traction control button when you are starting her, to disable the assists and regain some boost in 1st and 2nd.
  • Your tires will slip, if you're doing it right, but if it's too much just barely ease off the gas until they can find traction. If you come off too much you'll lug and have to wait for the turbo to spool again.
  • On shifts, be very mindful of actual gear engagement before letting the clutch out. Grinding a gear when you're being timed makes it an even worse experience.

And you know, have fun (headbang) Good luck!!

If its your daily driver I know I've blow the trans up in my daily driver on more than one accusation in my days of drag racing every weekend in the summer. Launching it on the safer side of the RPM's is better then breaking something. And Its better to make sure you have the clutch in when you shift then to try and shift it as fast as you can. Getting a tenth quicker time for no other reason then a faster time is not worth 500 bucks.
 
This car is horrible for drag racing and that Car and Driver explanation on how to race this car down the 1/4 is a great way to break stuff fast. I don't care if they said they went down the strip 30 times, stuff does break on this car. Besides, Car and Driver probably didn’t even test on a real drag strip but that’s be sides the point.

I’ve had to have my transmission rebuilt, broken 2 rear engine motor mounts, 2 passenger side motor mounts, driver side motor mount / bracket, and driver side axle caused by when the engine dropped after a little bit of wheel hop after a light 2500rpm launch at the drag strip. I’ve made plenty of successful passes but it’s still not a fun car to drag race.

I’ve ran a 13.9@100 stock and a 13.58@105.9 w/ intake/ TP/ AP stage 1 tune. The last time I went this past February it cost me over 2000.00 in repairs. That’s when the motor dropped after a little bit of wheel hop off the line.
 
Is everyone here assuming SKY doesn't know that driving his car hard might result in something breaking? So many threads in this forum get derailed by killjoys feeling the need to constantly repeat "If you do that, something might break."

We bought the car to drive it I presume. SKY is talking about taking it to the local drag strip not ragging it out at a track week. Go take it down the drag a couple times and have fun. I'll be so bold as to say the worst you'll come away with is a little clutch and tire wear.
 
Is everyone here assuming SKY doesn't know that driving his car hard might result in something breaking? So many threads in this forum get derailed by killjoys feeling the need to constantly repeat "If you do that, something might break."

We bought the car to drive it I presume. SKY is talking about taking it to the local drag strip not ragging it out at a track week. Go take it down the drag a couple times and have fun. I'll be so bold as to say the worst you'll come away with is a little clutch and tire wear.

No, the point is that drag racing is especially damaging to this car. This has nothing to do with being a “killjoy” it’s called “reality”. If you want to race enter events this car was more designed for like road racing or autocross. The motor mounts, axles, transmission and other components on the MS3 aren’t designed to withstand the stresses drag racing puts on them.
 
launching and 1/4 mile the MS3 is just ******* stupid. enjoy the high performance car but don't try to make it something that it's not. it's never gonna break 12 seconds without massive mods. IMO the MS3 is a great daily driver. Making it something that it's not will only end in pain and expensive repairs.
 
launching and 1/4 mile the MS3 is just ******* stupid. enjoy the high performance car but don't try to make it something that it's not. it's never gonna break 12 seconds without massive mods. IMO the MS3 is a great daily driver. Making it something that it's not will only end in pain and expensive repairs.

With some drag tires, intake, MM, FMIC, plugs, boost controller, Cobb AP you can hit 12's. You make it sound like this is alot???
 
No, the point is that drag racing is especially damaging to this car. This has nothing to do with being a “killjoy” it’s called “reality”. If you want to race enter events this car was more designed for like road racing or autocross. The motor mounts, axles, transmission and other components on the MS3 aren’t designed to withstand the stresses drag racing puts on them.
This thread was started by someone who simply wanted to go to the local drag strip for an evening. So the "reality" is the engineers at Mazda designed the Mazdaspeed3 to not be able to handle that? I think that's ridiculous. But, of course, do what you want. Me, I'll enjoy my car. She's awesome.
 
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Thanks for the replies guys. Yes, this is my first 1/4 mile and I wanna try it on a drag since the MS3 is a fast car, but not the cars I had before (4cycl MX6 and MP3).

Yes, launch and grinded gear was my problem! My best reaction time was 0.412 and my best time is only at the 15s (what a shame!). I either have a bad launch or grinded at 2nd or 3rd....It wasn't fun at all....

No worry, I'm not a hardcore racer and wont go back every week or 2.
Is only that since you have a fast car, why don't bring it to a drag and try it out for an experience.

My car is a truly Daily Drive, I use it to go to work and get groceries. LOL

Someone took this pic for me while I'm doing my run and I love this pic! Is already set as my wallpaper! -)


TT9.jpg
 
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This thread was started by someone who simply wanted to go to the local drag strip for an evening. So the "reality" is the engineers at Mazda designed the Mazdaspeed3 to not be able to handle that? I think that's ridiculous. But, of course, do what you want. Me, I'll enjoy my car. She's awesome.

So you can't enjoy your car without doing something it wasn't designed for?

It doesn't matter if you go 1 or 100 times, the car is simply poop for drag racing.
 
With some drag tires, intake, MM, FMIC, plugs, boost controller, Cobb AP you can hit 12's. You make it sound like this is alot???

All that?

Wow I've seen this done with just tires, CAI, BOV and angry driving. FMOS Racing on here did it.

They aren't any worse at the drags than any other FWD car.

Tips,

Drive around the water box

Do a quick rolling burn out in the rubber just past the water box to clean the tires off.

Leave at about 2,500 to 3,000 RPM quickly let the clutch out and bring the gas in.

Let off for the 1-2 shift, flat shifting this one will just blow the stock tires off.

2-3, 3-4, 4-5, should all be shifted flat. This is worth almost .5 sec with the drive by wire throttle in this car.

DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH WHEEL HOP! Let out and get back on it later, your just gonna break stuff. The run is shot anyway so your not gonna prove anything.

With a CAI, Bov and stock tires you should be in the high 13s and trap just over 100 in the summer air.

If you want to run a tire GET A MOTOR MOUNT! (Driver's side) Thats how I broke mine.
 
Well, congrats on your first runs down the track. It does take practice. The post immediately above is good advice.

BTW: Op, what was your altitude? That can affect your numbers.

Yes, fwd cars with high horsepower are tricky to launch. Yes, you can, but usually do not break things if you drive the car sensibly on the strip.

My 60 ft. times really suck (2.2's and 2.3's) probably because I am tryin gto save the equipment by launching at lower rpm (2500) and feathering the car in first gear, granny shifting on the 1-2 shift and still feathering in second to avoid wheel hop, then flat shifting the thing on the 2-3 (still tricky), 3-4, and 4-5, with the flat shifts coming at indicated 5.500 rpm but actually at 5,800 rpm considering reaction time.

Results with mods below 13.4's at 106 in decent weather on the stock tires. I have run this car hard with multiple passes and a lot of practice runs with an accelerometer, at least 50 or more. I'm still on the stock rear MM!

Nothing has broken. Nothing.

I think wheel hop is what breaks things. Recognize that fwd transfers weight away from the front wheels at launch. That's a bad thing. It's not just that you lose traction. This unloading of the tires is responsible for much of the wheel hop problems. I just baby the thing getting under way, sort of rolling on the power in first and feathering in second until things settle and then getting serious with the 2-3 shift and on up.

There are guys here doing much better than me on launching this car, so take their superior advice. I can say that as long as you avoid wheel hop, your chances of doing major damage to the car remain, as with any run down the track, but are really pretty modest.

Go back to the track and have fun. The MS3 is not the best platform for drag racing, but with a little practice you can lay down some pretty respectable numbers.
 
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Drive around the water box

Do a quick rolling burn out in the rubber just past the water box to clean the tires off.

Leave at about 2,500 to 3,000 RPM quickly let the clutch out and bring the gas in.

Let off for the 1-2 shift, flat shifting this one will just blow the stock tires off.

2-3, 3-4, 4-5, should all be shifted flat. This is worth almost .5 sec with the drive by wire throttle in this car.

DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH WHEEL HOP! Let out and get back on it later, your just gonna break stuff. The run is shot anyway so your not gonna prove anything.

With a CAI, Bov and stock tires you should be in the high 13s and trap just over 100 in the summer air.

If you want to run a tire GET A MOTOR MOUNT! (Driver's side) Thats how I broke mine.

+1 except for the burnout, burnouts are simply unnecessary with street tires IMO. Also try some runs with the traction control on, it will do most of the work for you. Ya you may lose some horse power but its less wear and tear on the car if it prevents some wheel hop and tire spin.
 
+1 except for the burnout, burnouts are simply unnecessary with street tires IMO. Also try some runs with the traction control on, it will do most of the work for you. Ya you may lose some horse power but its less wear and tear on the car if it prevents some wheel hop and tire spin.

He did not say just sit there and do a burn out. He said to clean the tires off. meaning just spin them over.
 
He did not say just sit there and do a burn out. He said to clean the tires off. meaning just spin them over.

Yeah, try and lay down mabye a 5' or so black mark.

When you do this in the rubber after the burn out box it sticks to the tires and kind of adds grip. You just want the tires warm and clean for a good launch.

If you do a big smokey burn out you will just overheat the tires and make them "greasy" which totally defeats the purpose and wears out the tires.
 
I have made many passes and have found my best times are with all controls on. No water, just a quick spin to clean the tires. Launch smoothly to avoid wheel hop and don't go WOT til the top of 2nd, flat shift all the way down. Unless you are racing someone then don't worry about your reaction time, camp out if it helps you with a better time.
 
So the "reality" is the engineers at Mazda designed the Mazdaspeed3 to not be able to handle that?

The reality is that the engineers at Mazda designed a balanced road car.
This car belongs on a drag strip as much as an average minivan does.
The proving ground for any Mazdaspeed vehicle is a road course.
 
I have made many passes and have found my best times are with all controls on. No water, just a quick spin to clean the tires. Launch smoothly to avoid wheel hop and don't go WOT til the top of 2nd, flat shift all the way down. Unless you are racing someone then don't worry about your reaction time, camp out if it helps you with a better time.

Even if you are racing someone else. don't worry about your reaction time. work on launching the car first then work on getting your RT's lower. Its no fun if all your doing is blowing the tires off and still getting beat by the other car.
don't worry if people tell you not to drag race your car. I was drag racing a 92 ford escort for years and people asked why I did and its simple. Its fun. then you get the bug and your turn your 14sec car into a low 12sec monster.
 
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