This goes out to those who track their cars

I was on the long back straight @ firebird a few days ago... I couldnt break 152 MPH. Usually I can hit 160+ (pin speedo). We had a 35 mph head wind. Is this enough to REALLY slow the car down that much? I asked a few people and they said its probable, but strange considering the G's coefficient of drag. I've never felt the car act so weird before. It WANTED to go but it felt like it was holding back..... Usually, its pretty quick from 140 to 160, but this time it felt like I wasn't getting all the power down....

Opinions?

 

isnt there a govern at 155-160 area?!

 

No, I have no top speed limiter. The TS flash I have allows me to hit 7200 RPM's in 6th (although 160 is 500-600 rpms shy of the stock redline).

 

I think it's all subjective, I'm sure a strong wind could slow you down in a track scenario where as on the highway I don't think it would really matter

 

What people tend to forget is that your top speed depends not upon your speed relative to the ground but instead your speed relative to the air flowing around the car. You have to think as if the car is stationary and the air is flowing over the car at the speed, not that the car is moving through the stationary/moving air.

If you are traveling at 145 mph against a 15 mph wind, it's the same as traveling at 160 mph with no wind. In both cases, the drag force exerted on the car by the air is equal.

 

mm so top speed for a 03 04 is around 165-170? theres still 1,000 more RPM left after an 05 tops out

 

msd thank you, thats kinda what I was figuring but I've never tracked in that strong of wind before (it was an experience, lemme tell you)

Klum.... Yeah, I have about 1000 rpms left @ 160 mph (my redline is 100 more than an 05). The 03/04 with the TS will top out right around the same as an 05, however, stock for stock, the 05 rev up should get there slightly quicker (slightly meaning a few fractions of a second).

 

more of a drivers race but yeah same driver it'll be quicker just because its setup for top end.. especially the shape of the curve at the top few RPMS.. theres a stock vs modded dyno in my sig.. so you pretty much have your limiter set to the same as an 05 - 7,200.. how long have u had your reflash? how often do u hit 7k? we top out at 6,100rpm stock. u have a dyno sheet with the reflash?

- sorry curious =)

 

Well, when I track the car, Ill use the full rev band. I very rarely shift at 7200 on the street or drag racing. If you go to my350z.com and look up a guy named Alberto you can see why I have my limiter set to there. He, as well as I, firmly believe in this menality...
"Never lift to shift"

I ususally cut out of every gear between 6800 and 7000 rpms, the extra little bit is there for reassurance that I dont bounce off the limiter powershifting. I honestly don't think that I've ever actually hit the limiter powershifting yet, but I like knowing it wont happen. I've had the reflash for approx. 1 year now (last summer). So, if your curious as to how the motors holding out, pretty damn good IMO.

Im going down to Intense on Monday (gotta talk to Han/Darren and pick up and engine torque bar) and if they have the time, I'll get my car on the dyno.

 

I remember a long time ago watching an interview with an engineer for Lamborghini. They were talking about trying to get a Countach (I think) up to 200 mph - they were hitting about 180. At these speeds, it's mainly wind resistence holding you back. They said that for every 1 mph they wanted to go faster, it took an addiotional 5 hp. They needed another 100 hp to get that 20 mph.

 

+1... Physics =)

 

post the dyno sheet when you dyno yeah? curious how the curve looks beyond 6,500.. cause the 03 and 04 starts to dip down around 6,500RPM so at 7,000 you might be making the same as shifting normally

 

Yes, but also, I do it for where it brings me into the next gear.