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Old May 1, 2018 | 06:30 AM
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Default A6 launch advice

Hi,

After some advice,

I've had a few high powered automatics before, but not had launch problems, (nothing official, just some back road fun and testing) but I'm struggling to get my 2006 A6 off the line, so rather than wear my tyres out I'm hoping you guys can give me some short cuts.

So in the pouring rain and very wet roads I'm pretty happy, regular 4-5 seconds 0-60s and 1/4 mile in about 13 dead with 112 final speed. Didn't think that was too bad in the wet, however in the dry I'm up nearer 6 or even 7 seconds on the 0-60. Tried in comp mode, too much wheel spin, and full traction, just bogs down a bit even holding the brake and revving to about 1200.

So for best launch presumably I need a little wheel spin and maybe better throttle control. No launch on this model I don't think.

Obviously I can practice until I get it right but interested in opinions to save wear and tear.
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Old May 1, 2018 | 06:58 AM
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13’s in the rain.... you must have frog fins for tires...
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Old May 1, 2018 | 07:01 AM
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Originally Posted by Judgebull
13’s in the rain.... you must have frog fins for tires...
And probably 14s or 15s in the dry !!! A little confused to say the least. just checked and actually my best was 13.12, and that is just using Torque to measure, but it should be within a coupe of %.

I do get a lot of practice in the rain over here of course, in the 73 days since I got the car it has rained on 54 of them according to the local weather reports, and I'll be surprised if it's that few!

Last edited by Kimball; May 1, 2018 at 07:03 AM.
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Old May 1, 2018 | 08:16 AM
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app is calculating distance traveled... rain = tires spinning = overestimation of traveled distance. dont punch it in the rain or your 3 mo old corvette will be a 4 month crashed vette. just my 2c
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Old May 1, 2018 | 08:55 AM
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Originally Posted by Ahrmike
app is calculating distance traveled... rain = tires spinning = overestimation of traveled distance. dont punch it in the rain or your 3 mo old corvette will be a 4 month crashed vette. just my 2c
Good explanation - I hadn't considered that, doesn't explain my ***** 0-60 times though. And I won't lose it in the wet, got way too many years driving behind me and driven a lot of powerful cars LOADS more twitchy and unstable than this awesome thing. That's what is annoying, 5 second times in the wet without really pushing at all, then trying quite a bit harder 6+ seconds.

Last edited by Kimball; May 1, 2018 at 08:56 AM.
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Old May 1, 2018 | 12:11 PM
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Kimball, I don't know how you can say "won't lose it in the wet". The only thing you can say is "Have not yet lost it in the wet". You must realize that every drag strip in the world shuts down when it rains, and most of those drivers have capabilities well beyond most folks on this forum. If they won't race in the rain....

But, I digress...

All the nannies off (comp mode). I powerbrake to about 1300, release and walk it just 3 or 4 feet, then nail it. I get a little wheel spin, but a pretty good hook. I have not been to a track to get actual results. If I brake until 1700, then nail it, I spin all the way into second, plus a bit. I do not consider myself above average on launches, so you might get better or worse results, and many on here are certainly better than I. And, so much depends on tires. If you are running the OEM Goodyears, they are too old to give you a good launch.
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Old May 1, 2018 | 03:04 PM
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Originally Posted by buckmeister2
Kimball, I don't know how you can say "won't lose it in the wet". The only thing you can say is "Have not yet lost it in the wet". You must realize that every drag strip in the world shuts down when it rains, and most of those drivers have capabilities well beyond most folks on this forum. If they won't race in the rain....

But, I digress...

All the nannies off (comp mode). I powerbrake to about 1300, release and walk it just 3 or 4 feet, then nail it. I get a little wheel spin, but a pretty good hook. I have not been to a track to get actual results. If I brake until 1700, then nail it, I spin all the way into second, plus a bit. I do not consider myself above average on launches, so you might get better or worse results, and many on here are certainly better than I. And, so much depends on tires. If you are running the OEM Goodyears, they are too old to give you a good launch.
No what I mean is after testing the grip I'm really not pushing it anywhere near its capabilities. But it is all aids on. I never do in the wet, having spent 20 years on big engined kawasakis I have a lot of respect for wet roads!

Anyway that is great advice, I think the 3-4 feet is where I'm going wrong, I'm trying to feather the wheel spin and once it goes in the dry I find it either than catches and boys down or just starts sliding sideways.

Tyres are 1 month old bridgestone non run flats. The good years I had on it were scary and dangerous. Thought my suspension was broken at first!

That's great advice thanks and a good starting point.
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Old May 1, 2018 | 05:30 PM
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1/4 mile-ing in the rain ??...... Hey...theres a thunderstorm on the course....a little Golf anyone ??.....
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Old May 1, 2018 | 05:59 PM
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Originally Posted by windyC6
1/4 mile-ing in the rain ??...... Hey...theres a thunderstorm on the course....a little Golf anyone ??.....
went 11.80 in the rain at "Race the Runway" Smith Falls 2 years ago with Chevy SS.20ft rooster tail behind the car
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Old May 1, 2018 | 10:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Kimball
Good explanation - I hadn't considered that, doesn't explain my ***** 0-60 times though. And I won't lose it in the wet, got way too many years driving behind me and driven a lot of powerful cars LOADS more twitchy and unstable than this awesome thing. That's what is annoying, 5 second times in the wet without really pushing at all, then trying quite a bit harder 6+ seconds.
Again, when a car snaps it snaps hard even when you're prepared for it - all that needs to happen is a little more gravel on one side of the road...

Anyway, my lecturing aside, If you have all the nannies on, it will detect wheel spin and pull timing (TQM - torque managment). If you want a good 0-60 or 1/4, you will have to get grippy tires and at least put it in comp mode to allow for some spin before the TQM gets engaged. I think all the guys getting really good 1/4 times are running drag radials at the very least with a high stall torque. Im sure a good drag shock setup helps corvettes a LOT since corvettes are sprung pretty hard and don't transfer much weight to the back stock. A lot more knowledgeable guys will probably give you some tips on how to launch/what to mod for the best times.

for a quick list of mods to get you quickest, fastest check out:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...challenge.html

But take all those times with a grain of salt - the quickest guys are probably in very optimal conditions - cold weather, low altitude, sticky track...

Last edited by Ahrmike; May 1, 2018 at 10:49 PM.
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Old May 2, 2018 | 03:07 AM
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Originally Posted by Ahrmike
Again, when a car snaps it snaps hard even when you're prepared for it - all that needs to happen is a little more gravel on one side of the road...

Anyway, my lecturing aside, If you have all the nannies on, it will detect wheel spin and pull timing (TQM - torque managment). If you want a good 0-60 or 1/4, you will have to get grippy tires and at least put it in comp mode to allow for some spin before the TQM gets engaged. I think all the guys getting really good 1/4 times are running drag radials at the very least with a high stall torque. Im sure a good drag shock setup helps corvettes a LOT since corvettes are sprung pretty hard and don't transfer much weight to the back stock. A lot more knowledgeable guys will probably give you some tips on how to launch/what to mod for the best times.

for a quick list of mods to get you quickest, fastest check out:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...challenge.html

But take all those times with a grain of salt - the quickest guys are probably in very optimal conditions - cold weather, low altitude, sticky track...
There is no gravel on the road already been over it and checked.

Anyway, I guess in the rain the nannies are getting optimum times with the reduced grip, just need to practice more in comp mode from the sound of it.

Not going to be doing many mods I don't think, it was more about a best technique. Which you've given good pointers on.

Doubt I'll ever even take it on a drag strip just a little frustrated at getting worse times in the dry than wet.

And if optimum conditions are cold and low altitude that will be good, lol, 1st May and it's 3 degrees C and pretty much the whole county is at about 400'. We need some good weather, it's been a horrible year so far.

Thanks.
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Old May 2, 2018 | 05:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Kimball
There is no gravel on the road already been over it and checked.

Anyway, I guess in the rain the nannies are getting optimum times with the reduced grip, just need to practice more in comp mode from the sound of it.

Not going to be doing many mods I don't think, it was more about a best technique. Which you've given good pointers on.

Doubt I'll ever even take it on a drag strip just a little frustrated at getting worse times in the dry than wet.

And if optimum conditions are cold and low altitude that will be good, lol, 1st May and it's 3 degrees C and pretty much the whole county is at about 400'. We need some good weather, it's been a horrible year so far.

Thanks.
With about 500 passes in the A6 LS3, I can assure you that turning TC off is the safest way and will result in better launches than any other mode. With street tires, if you attempt to power brake over 1200 rpm, the chances are strong that you'll spin a lot. On a real slippery track, I've left TC on for the first car length and then turned it off.
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