Launching a stock Marauder

[Eric91Z]

Well, I am taking the Marauder to the track for the first time this Saturday. Looking like good weather. Anyway, it has been about 3 years since I was to the track and all my experience on the track has been with manual transmission cars.

So, my question is, those of you running stock or close to stock Marauders, what is your launch technique at the track. Do you clean the tires off at all? And what about the traction control? I was actually driving to work today in the rain, with the Traction Control on, and got on it coming off a stop sign, it lit the tires up, the Traction light on the instrument panel was coming on, but it never really backed off or anything. I let off a little, got back in it, and still doing the same thing (kind of fun and not as hard on the tires as on dry pavement).

So, any and all launch techniques would be appreciated.

[Marauder2005]

Good luck with the track run, how many miles on her now? I hope ya hit the

14s:)

[04funmerc]

O.K. , Just stomp it!
At Milan during MVIII

I tried the wet box and also dry(by going around the wet box), It really made no difference.
I tried brake tourqe and just stomping on the gas. so the numbers tell it all.

I did 5 runs and the 60ft. times were all within 2.2 and 2.33, that was the only constant. My reaction times were all over the place, the best was 1.92, 1/4 was 14.93 @ 94.56, I haven't been to a track in about 40 years, so to me that says practice,practice and more practice.
This was on stock tires and the only mod was an SCT Tune by Lidio.

Hope this helps.

JIM

[Eric91Z]

Good luck with the track run, how many miles on her now? I hope ya hit the

14s:)


She now has 8900 miles on her. Just about 3000 miles on her in the last month. Between daily commute, 3 car cruises, and just getting her out and enjoying her, they have racked up pretty quick. Hoping that slows down after the trip to the track this weekend.

Since picking her up, I have done the following:

- Pro Gard
- XCal2
- JLT CAI
- Tinted windows
- Ungo remote start/alarm
- Trunk organizer
- CVPI wheels with Pirelli Snow&Ice winter tires (mounted, balanced and ready to put on the car when the time comes)
- Silvania Silverstar Headlights
- Initial clay bar and Zaino application (more to come)

I have defnitely been enjoying the car and hope to turn some respectable times at the track this weekend. If I could hit at least the high-14's I would be very happy. It would be at least as fast as my old '91 Camaro Z28 in the 1/4 mile and would probably eat it on the top end (that TPI didn't have much up there).

Other than that, plan on driving the car as is for a while. Maybe going to do full exhaust next year. I have thought about gears, but might not since I want to do the Trilogy at some point and have had good input on driving with the stock 3.55's for a daily driver with the Trilogy. Then again the SC will be a while and the 4.10's could be a nice "fix" in the meantime. Who knows.

Anyway, thanks for the thoughts. Should I just pull to the line, and hit the gas on the last yellow or brake torque it up a little then hit the gas on the last yellow? Just wondering what works best with a close to stock setup.

[merc]

Track and conditions are variables that must be considered. Regardless of your rear wheel power, launching a 2ton vehicle on cold tires will net you marginal results. This is why making a few runs, reducing tire pressure, and adjusting launch technique is important. There are other considerations to review, such as weather. Cool and overcast conditions are great for the car, but lousy for the track especially if it rained hard the day before. Turn off the traction control, and pay careful attention to RPM indicator during your launch. The car next to you maybe louder, so depending on your ears to indicate slippage is not a good habit. There is no golden rules for launching a stock Marauder, but I would recommend a mid to hard pedal at start, without loading up the R.P.M’s

[Eric91Z]

Track and conditions are variables that must be considered. Regardless of your rear wheel power, launching a 2ton vehicle on cold tires will net you marginal results. This is why making a few runs, reducing tire pressure, and adjusting launch technique is important. There are other considerations to review, such as weather. Cool and overcast conditions are great for the car, but lousy for the track especially if it rained hard the day before. Turn off the traction control, and pay careful attention to RPM indicator during your launch. The car next to you maybe louder, so depending on your ears to indicate slippage is not a good habit. There is no golden rules for launching a stock Marauder, but I would recommend a mid to hard pedal at start, without loading up the R.P.M’s


Yes, I know track conditions and traction will have a lot to do with the best technique. I am not looking to be perfect, just want and idea of how it will do. I am guessing I will start with the following:

1) Drive around water box and stage on tires without cleanoff
2) First run will have TC off, and apply firm pressure to WOT - instead of just mashing it
3) If that hooks up well, will slowly increase application of throttle and go from there on successive runs

Not looking to make a ton of passes. Actually, only looking to get some good baselines down so I know where the car stands. Then planning on doing a lot of video taping of the other cars there (396 LT1 Firehawk, couple of Supercharged C5 Corvettes, Heads/Cam LS1 WS6 Trans Am, GTO, etc, etc). And weather is looking to be high-60's to low-70's with part sunny skies (at this time anyway). With rain planned for today and tomorrow.

[Badger]

I just posted my timeslips in the galley two weeks ago.

I bypassed the H2O and just mashed it from the start. About a 1/2 second slip then the weight transferred.
Having the 04 TC and dual knock sensors might help. I have the stock 3.55 rear gear.
My best time was 15.15*. I had a co pilot from the CV community (Andy) and a bunch of stuff in the trunk. I was down to almost 1/8 tank when I started.

[Paul T. Casey]

Try this Eric
1) deflate your tires to 24 or so psi.
2) drive around water box, but do a little "brake stand" to clean your tires
3) Turn on both staging lights
4) Rev motor to 1200-1500 rpm, keeping left foot on brake
5) When it's time, try to put your right foot on the backside of the motor, do this as fast and hard as you can. At the same time as this, try to strike your left knee to your chin, also as hard and fast as you can.

A little tongue in cheek, but it seems to work with a stock or close to stock Marauder. Mash the throttle, you've got 2 plus tons to get rolling. I've run my best times with just a little wheelspin. If traction is good, I'd try launching right at the edge of breaking the tires free (just under your stall rpm). Seems to me, until you get near that 350 rwhp number, you can't launch this car too hard. I don't know about this technique for the 4.10 geared cars.

[QWK SVT]

My usual launch goes something link this:

Lower the tire pressure, to 27/28-ish cold
Let the engine cool down - I definitely go slower with heat
Traction Control and Overdrive both go to the off position, until the end
Go AROUND the water box
Once I get around, I spin the tires (brake down, gas slightly pressed) to just CLEAN them. I don't need to see plumes of smoke, just a quick push of the throttle part-way down, then release the brake and ease forward a bit.
Try to line the rear tires in some sticky rubber left from sombeody with slicks. Their left over rubber will help you hook up.
Just barely trip the staging light (the second light that trips as you line up) you'll get more rollout before the timer starts, but will slow your reaction time.
Once staged, blip the throttle - not enough to spin the tires, just to pre-load the converter.
Raise your RPM to about 1100, on the last yellow, ease into the gas (about 0.5-0.75 sec until fully depressed).
Point it straight and keep it that way.
This was how I ran 14.8's stock (2.2xx 60's), 14.2's with chip, gears and filter (2.1xx 60's).

[Breadfan]

These are good tips! :)