Ran the Speed3 at the track today...learned what NOT to do!

[justa4banger]

I agree bean counters shouldnt have a say but to leave the engineers out of it.. if you dont want engineers having a say in the car design then who?

Its not so much who should be left out. Engineneers and testers know the issues the bean counters then lean on them to look the other way or make it acceptable/"good enough " to last the length of the warranty.

Theres always a trade off, and in the end the car enthusist will get left out. Mainly Becuase their isn't enough of us to warrant an entire fleet of Strictly "race" cars.

 

[justa4banger]

I say we pitch in and make a "from a roll drag strip" so wheel hopping fools like us and other stupid high powered cars don't break s***. Who's in?

 

[LinuxRacr]

I say we pitch in and make a "from a roll drag strip" so wheel hopping fools like us and other stupid high powered cars don't break s***. Who's in?

What, will it have a conveyor belt at the beginning, that lets you roll up to 40 MPH, and then when you launch, it stops, so you go?

 

[clos561]

What, will it have a conveyor belt at the beginning, that lets you roll up to 40 MPH, and then when you launch, it stops, so you go?

ive seen videos of a roll race track...porsche vs a m5...they stay even until they hit a cone setup and they floor it...it wasprety badass...they didita fewtimes seemed to work fine

 

[chaos4]

This is NOT NOT NOT a dragster!! You wannabes really frost my butt! You wanted to turn a what?? A 13.6? Read the road tests rookie, a 14.2-14.4 by drivers who know what they are doing!!(flame2)
Put your money into some High Performance Driving Schools and run the road courses, that's what this car was meant to do.
Here in the Northeast there are at least 3 Sports Car groups that offer excellent instruction and a chance to run solo on great road courses. Here is one:

2007 Track Days in the Northeast with COM Sports Car Club

http://www.comscc.org

COM Offers Performance drivers education and time trial series at these prestigious road courses for less then $200 per day. We have top level instructors available and welcome drivers of every experience level, including first timers. For first time participants attending a non-NHIS event, COM will waive its initial membership fee.
New Hampshire International Speedway (April 9 & 10, July 7 & 8, August 20 & 21, October 20 & 21)
Watkins Glen, NY Long Circuit (April 23 & 24)
Calabogie - Ontario, Canada brand new track (May 28 & 29)
Mosport Ontario, Canada (June 11 & 12)
Mont Tremblant Quebec, Canada (July 30 & 31)
Lime Rock Park, CT (November 16 & 17)

 

[spedwards]

Eh-hrmmm, 13.9 3 MPS, first time at the track with NO performance modifications:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xumk_VbvcNM

Just cause the people who road test cars drive all the time doesn't mean they know how to drive this one... 13.6 is definitely possible!

 

[fourthmeal]

WTF? Some of you need to get off the soap box. Some of you get what I'm saying (which isn't much, its just a post about what happened, and that I hope its not an everyday occurance for other MS3 owners), but others need to STFU.

I went to the drag strip because there IS one here, and to let a little steam off after a long day at work. I'm not trying to turn sub 12 second times here. I can tell you that getting the car to run under 14 will not be a problem at all, though. My second run had a nearly perfect launch at a lower RPM, with slight clutch feathering and full PSI on the tires. Much better compared with my first attempt. My failure, however, was that I forgot to turn off the DSC. So, as soon as a tiny bit of wheelspin started at the end of 1st gear, the computer cut the engine power, and as you can see in vid 2, that caused a huge loss in momentum and acceleration. So, as I shifted into second with my right hand, I tapped the DSC off with my left, and the rest of the run was acceptable.

Note that I am not saying I'm good at it. I have nothing to prove. If I wanted to, I'd have bought a Mustang or something, because they do well on the 1/4. However, I do want to try to make a solid 14.0 or better, if for nothing more then to know that the car is capable of it, with good driving. Don't preach to me about skills, or about schools. I'm not 12, or 18 either. I'm 27, married, and out to have a good time and keep excess speed off the streets.

Why do you think I can turn a 14.0 or better, if the journalists only turn 14.2-14.4? They ran it bone stock, and I cut my airbox. IF they'd done that, I think they'd run 14.0 or better. Simply put, the engine has more power now, and doesn't choke off at higher revs. This has been proven, and is not up for debate. The only thing up for debate is whether or not I can keep the wheel hop and rubbery shifter feel under control on the next run. I'm looking into an upgrade route that should take care of that.

Thanks to those who've complimented the car. Its virtually stock, but about to see a very nice stealth audio upgrade, and some other niceties.

 

[CTGrey02]

Theres nothing wrong with drag racing this or any other car. If you want to see raw acceleration, the strip is the best way to do it. You'll do better on your subsequent runs. Live, learn and try again.

 

[chaos4]

You are correct, there is nothing wrong with drag racing this or any other car. The fact is, this car, and many other sports sedans were not designed to take the tremendous forces involved in that sport. Why do the drivers always blame the auto makers when something breaks (the Mazda motor mounts were not designed to to take the forces created when you wheel hop the car)?

Mazdaspeed also recognizes the limits imposed by the stock intake and will be releasing a factory CAI in later February/early March.
The part number will be GRMS-8M-L29 (Mazdaspeed3 only)
and for the serious road racer, a Coilover kit Part Number RAMS-8M-L10 (bet that will loosen your teeth fillings on the frost heaves of the Northeast(cheers2)

Actually, I began my auto racing drag racing in the 1970's (OK, maybe in the later 60's?) and still enjoy the acceleration and thrill of a well thrown shift. Is my Mazdaspeed3 such a car? Nope, not as delivered, but it sure does rock your booty once underway!
Get out on the road courses, that's closer to what this car was designed for. But here again, realize that the factory supplied brakes, tires and suspension are not IDEAL, but a good compromise with a decent riding road car.
In any event, enjoy your car, but face it, hard driving does not come without breaking things!(headshake

 

[CTGrey02]

I'm not concerned with breaking things as I have several other cars to drive when things break and I do the work myself. My mustang has been my drag car of choice until I put the independant rear onto it along with the bigger brakes and other suspension goodies. I plan on getting that out to LRP during a rental next season as well as back to the drag strip. The Mazda can and will be drag raced as well when I pick it up, despite not being ideal. I'm not competing with the vehicle as much as I am satisfying my own needs to see what I can do with stock performance - I don't street race so the strip is the best test facility available. It will be occasionally autocrossed as well, but again, nothing competitive. Above all though, it's going to be a daily driver/beater for me.

 

[SwampAss]

engine mounts make a huge diffrence with shifting. Both in my GTI vr6 and my 88 mr2 shifted so much better after replacing the engine mounts.

Same here. I also replaced my manual transaxle fluid with GM syncro mesh and never had another shifting issue. (on the VW)

 

[SwampAss]

FWIW fourthmeal, I appreciate the story about your experience at the track. Why you went and what the car is or isn't designed for really doesn't matter. I didn't get the impression you bought the car to bracket race. I got the impression you were just telling us what happened.

 

[Dpwhitehead1]

whatever the case may be, you have a car, brand new, under warranty. these are the times you wanna take the car to the track. if you break it, it's free!!

aside from that, your second run- the WRX sounded BADASS. Your run wasn't horrible but, here's something to maybe help you out. The guys that test cars, don't always know how to drive the best.. each car is different. My protege, in stock form was tested at like...17.Xx or something. i ran in stock form, 16.63. not huge, but good enough for me w/ no mods. gave me something to work on. I now did an engine swap and what not, and haven't had the time to check out the new motor, nor have i broke it in yet.

anyways, +1 for trying, +1 for a supportive family of yours, and +1 for going back. just try again next time. get used to the car and you'll do fine. i see a definate 14 next time if you try hard enough, and if you continue, maybe you'll hit 13s.GOOD LUCK.

 

[WTF MATE]

I've ran a 14.01 with mine, best thing was launching at 3k and slowly disengaging the clutch, no wheel hop and no crazy noise. As for drag racing or road racing if it's your car do whatever you want with it. I'm sure the engineers at chevy weren't planning on there cobalt to turn into the fastest street legal fwd car in the world. And honda sure as hell was planning on there EG sohc hatches to be running 10sec passes on boost.

 

[zoom-zoomhatch]

I just made another thread about it, but check your passenger side motor mount, cause mine sounded alot like that and that mount is toast.

 

[chaos4]

I've ran a 14.01 with mine, best thing was launching at 3k and slowly disengaging the clutch, no wheel hop and no crazy noise. As for drag racing or road racing if it's your car do whatever you want with it. I'm sure the engineers at chevy weren't planning on there cobalt to turn into the fastest street legal fwd car in the world. And honda sure as hell was planning on there EG sohc hatches to be running 10sec passes on boost.

The Cobalt is the fastest street legal fwd in the world? Surely you mean when modded to the gills? I think STOCK, you will find the MS3 and the Neon SRT4 at the front of the pack.

 

[mazdarodi]

I have wheel hop on lanch, too. But that didn't sound like wheel hop. Good luck

 

[Brannon]

Thanks for the info. I haven't had a chance to take my ms3 to the track yet. I think the point of this thread was to learn from another's mistake. So I appreciate you sharing your experience. I bought this car because I wanted a car that had plenty of room, performance, good gas mileage at an affordable price. Not because I want a 10 second drag car. I feel I got all that and then some. This car is leading it's class in every way. I agree 1/4 mile is fun and so is a road course. Unfortunately road courses are expensive and not as prevalent. The only strip I know of here in San Diego is the 1/8th mile strip at Qualcom. If anyone knows of another one let me know. I just broke my ms3 in so I haven't even gotten on it at all really. So DSC off = less wheel hop? After reading this thread I think one of my first mods will be motor mounts. Thanks for sharing your experience. Very helpful. (rei)

 

[fourthmeal]

DSC off means the electronics won't cut power to the engine when wheelspin occurs. I leave DSC on when its raining (here in Vegas, that ain't often), but pretty much turn it off any other time.

 

[Brannon]

DSC off means the electronics won't cut power to the engine when wheelspin occurs. I leave DSC on when its raining (here in Vegas, that ain't often), but pretty much turn it off any other time.

Cool. Good to know. Doesn't rain much here either. Although it's raining today.