Damn good driving. That's how you launch and shift.

 

Excellent times man, and great driving. It's quite a feeling, isn't it? Get any odd looks at the track?

I don't have any pointers, and obviously you've done well enough on your own. But - if you do end up replacing the clutch, stay with the OE flywheel.

By the way, I haven't been on the site in like a month, so I haven't had a chance to update the list. I'll get your time in there shortly.

 

Its funny you ask that. Both track events I have been to I have gotten strange looks and people coming up to talk to me after i run. I did a track day a TGPR about a month ago and was the only Sedan out there with coupes, porsche's, 335i's, 350z's and a few other cool cars - I thought i was going to get slaughtered but ended up doing very well (Actually lapped a few Coupes). After my first session a lot of the other drivers came over to ask me about my car (was running 1:13 around the track). That was an awesome day and I cant wait to go to another road race event: Road Atlanta would be lots of fun. When I went to the drag strip it was a 9 second bracket racing shoot out so i wasnt all that special but there were a few other cars out there for the test and tune. On the first run I raced an old Nova and after we ran he came over and looked my car up and down (I had the hood up to let it cool while wating in the staging lanes). Later that night a few of the track officials asked me about the car. For some reason i have always liked being the underdog. Nothing quite like suprising someone in a 4 door luxury sedan.

Im glad to hear you recommend to stay with the OE flywheel, I just ordered a JWT Clutch and had decided to stay with the stock flywheel... more because of the chatter I hear people complaining about than anything. What reason do you have to suggest keeping it OEM? Did you find launching with it was easier?

 

There are many reasons to keep the OE fly. Lightweight flywheels definitely kill your launches. I had read that before, but I always thought "what's the big deal?" I figured that any loss of momentum from the flywheel could be overcome by more revs and decent clutch/throttle action. But I was wrong, at least in my case. I could never launch on street tires. I had a few good nights where I could cut an occasional 2.1, but I hit more 2.2's than anything else. After the clutch+flywheel upgrade, I simply couldn't get out of the 2.3's. Seriously. That might speak to my incompetence more than anything else, but, well, there it is.

And although the flywheel is nice when you're rowing the gears and rev matching, it also makes day-to-day driving much harder. It's harder to start in 1st(requires more revs, at least in my case), and the revs drop way too fast for my comfort with the a/c on. If you're a casual shifter in day-to-day driving, ten a lightweight flywheel combined with the a/c makes everyday driving a chore.

And the noise absolutely sucks. But, I have to say that it's the least of reasons to keep the OE unit.

You were at TGPR? That's awesome. Next time you venture this way, let me know, and I'll try my best to come out.

 

I doubt the word "incompetence" will ever be used to describe your driving habits. Your numbers speak for themselves.

I have heard everything you have talked about and previously owned a car with a lightened flywheel... thats why i decided to stick with the OEM. I love the way the motor revs with the LFW but it just isnt worth the negatives that come with it (to me at least).

I'll let you know next time I'm heading that way, would be nice to not be the only sedan out there.

 

Is there a particular reason u can't launch on a light weight flywheel? Is it something that can NOT be done or is it something that u have to get used to? For me it took me over 2 years to consistently pull 2.1 60ft times with this car on street tires with stock clutch and flywheel. So does LWFW change that? If it does, do u know the reason behind it? Is it just clutch slipping or what?

Thanks Trey.

 

I'm not exactly an authority on the technical reasons, and physics is not my specialty. DaveB calls it the "loss of the moment of inertia". It's my understanding that the spinning flywheel basically stores energy, and that energy dissipates as it spins down. A lighter weight flywheel will spin down more quickly, which obviously means the energy is dissipated more quickly.

That's my understanding. Sorry if I haven't explained it well, and it my very well be incorrect.