I'm putting this "russell" clown on my ignore list - please avoid quoting his dribble - I'd imagine the better percentage of the forum are doing the same as me right now.

 

You mean like...

"Russell, that's funny you should mention that - Ike said the same thing about you!"

Russell, not only are you ignorant, but you're a jerk.

Regards,
Gordon

 

IkeWRX,
I believe Broker73 was referring to my times that were recorded with a Gtech Pro. At an 8k RPM launch my numbers were almost identical to those published by Road & Track. No, I don't have time slips from a drag strip to back those numbers but you can rest assured that I tried my best to choose an area which duplicated a drag strip (flat, level, and good pavement). As to whether or not you choose to believe those numbers is up to you. If you don't that is no big deal to me because I know that I have a blast when I'm driving my 8 and that's all that matters to me.

 

RussellP,

Yeah but the 325i with options is the price of the RX8. Probably even more. A stripped base 330i starts at $34,800. A similary configured 325i with the same equipment as a RX GT w/o NAV is $37,240!!! The Ultimate Driving machine is an experience in the Ultimate Expenditure.

That is a $6140 diff in the 325 and a 330i is $10K more at least. (source BMW configurator)

For that difference I could do a few things to the RX to tweak it. All the while burning 87 octane and saving about $200 year on insurance and not having to pay for maintenance or buy a special reset key device to change my own oil for $200. There are more races than the 1/4 mile.

 

Eccles,
I'm glad to see that other owners are actually out having a good time with their cars. With a little practice I'm sure your numbers will clean up nicely! :D

 

I think the main problem I had was too much traction. That, combined with the soft suspension, resulted in severe axle tramp rather than allowing wheelspin with progressive hookup. I can get off the line much faster on a clean autocross course than I could on that strip with all its rubber and traction compound.

Stiffer shocks, and possibly springs, would help. Perhaps next time (if there is a next time), I'll put a bunch more pressure in the rear tires to stiffen them up and help prevent their softness from exacerbating the situation.

 

Ok, that's what I thought. Don't get me wrong the Gtechs are really neat and fun to play around with, and they can be pretty accurate. But I've also seen some very improbable readings from some, and have heard others talk about the some freak readings on their gtech. Good to hear you're having fun with the car, that's what's most important.

Ike

By the way, thanks to the guys that backed me up on the sister comment, I didn't feel it warranted a response.

 

No problem, I may be a jerk at times, but there are limits......

 

Hey! I just pushed mine hard twice this past week. Both times, this shift left me coasting. Did you learn something?

 

I have missed the 1-2 shift a few times myself, and the clutch engagement on that shift feels diffrent the the rest, more sudden somehow.......

 

Yeah, when snap-shifting 1-2 at the redline, make sure you give that lever a good hard tug to make sure you've engaged the whole gear, not just the synchros!

 

Eccles.
I am getting a nasty personbal attack an another thread. I sent you a pm, please read it.

Thanks

 

My car goes back to Mazda in the next week or so. If there is a grudge night at the strip I will go and see what times I can turn. I have been able to turn magazine similar times in every car I have owned thus far so I do have some experience on the strip. I will see if I can run it and what numbers I can turn in. I am guessing best I can turn will be high 14's just from driving the car. I had a previous generation MB SL500 walk on me yesterday.

 

i think my car is capable of mid 14s.... throw on my slicks from my old car :P

 

Yeah, I'm pretty sure you're the guy I saw that night...there was a ton of speed bikes dragging that night right? I came up to you and complimented you car, asked how much you got it for, etc. Anyway, I saw how your car was giving you what you said as severe axle tramp. That was killing your times...definitely too much traction :D I also misshifted into second...grinded the hell out of it. I felt like I was in such a rush with all those damn bikes there. Next time I go I'm going on a Wednesday. Do you ever autocross with SASCA? Or just with Spokes...or either :D not sure if I've seen you at SASCA, I've been to Spokes once, way back, last year.
Anyway, good luck, I'm sure the car will get better as you become more acostomed to driving it.
Mike

 

Yep, that was me. Unfortunately I'm having to return the car due to suddent unemployment, but I might get down to the track one more time before it goes away. Wednesday would definitely be preferable - having to wait for the bikes to do their thing every half-hour got old.

I've autocrossed with SASCA once, a couple of years ago. I'm a regular competitor with Spokes - took out the Tire class championship in 2000; 2nd in BS in '01 (behind the BSL National Champion); CS champion last year. Currently 2nd in Tire this year. 3rd in the Houston National Tour (behind tpryor and his codriver) and runner-up in the SW Divisional series last year.

I'm better around the cones than in a straight line! :D

 

damn, sorry to hear about the unemployment thing
Yeah, those damn bikes, I've never seen it done like that before, drove me nuts. I'm about average in the striaght line...I need a lot of practice for the cones :D I'm pretty new at autocrossing. Damn SASCA needs to find another place to have the events...I might end up going to a spokes event soon if they don't

 

I thought SASCA had teed up the Alamodome lot? Spokes was about to run our first event at the Dell Diamond until the BMW club ran their Oktoberfest event there this week, damaged the pavement, and caused the DD management to veto any further autocrossing on their lot.

We do have the use of one runway and one apron at the old Executive Airport just off I-35 (now called Tech Ridge), but the layout is a little restrictive. Still, we never look a gift horse in the mouth.

 

yeah, alamodome kicked them out...season change and all. I heard about the dell diamond thing, that sucks.
Yeah, tech ridge is a little nasty and it's getting worn down pretty bad. but likeyou said, as long as I get to autocross, I'm fine

 

Not quite sure what you mean by "worn down". The surface there is holding up just fine, because it's properly engineered and laid, unlike the cheap crappy "sealed gravel" that they use for parking lots these days (like Dell Diamond).

 

I just didn't think the road surface was that great

 

nice car silver

 

Ok, 330i will most likely beat RX8 in straight line. 325i doesn't stand a chance. Remember, especially if it's a rolling start like 5-60, rx8 was slower than altima. So if you race from standing, then RX8 is super quick, but it might be slower with rolling start because it lacks torque. 330i would definetely beat RX8 in rolling start, but standing start might be driver's race. Anyways, RX8 is not a straight drag racer so dont consider it as one.

 

thanks :D


yeah, I have to admit I was shocked that the rx-8 wasn't faster. But then again, I'm comparing it with a rx-7 turbo. I can't do that! :D I actually raced a rx8 on the street (not like a street race or anything, I try to stay away from that, it was a spur of the momment type of deal). Anyway, they seem like stock rsx type s's to me. The rx8 and I were even until about 30, it started to gain, then left me by 70, we both cut off after that, no since and going crazy on the street. I think the rx8 is probably capable of 14's easily. I'm not very familiar with the rotory engine, but maybe with i/h/e it will get the 14's. I also think those huge rims hurt the 1/4 mile. But that car has got to be awsome in the handling department

 

You talk like an Altima is slow, the 3.5 would most likely beat both the 8 and a 330 from a roll.