PG Tips

Or anyone else out there with competition experience.I have entered my car in the 0-60 thing at the GT Battle .I'm a complete novice at this so how best to get the thing to the finish quickly but still in one piece ( got to drive it home ,would like a clutch to do it )

lee, a bit of practice would obviously help. For quick launches I normally rev to about 5,500 (to try and get the turbo srinning) and then drop the clutch. I put my right foot to the floor and keep it there just lifting a touch when changing up. If I were you, I'd try and get as much weight out of the car in advance too, like spare wheel, tools, engine cover, glove box junk, etc.

5.5 k
I've been practicing but not brave enough it seems
Dropping at 4/4.5k seems to give a good launch but it's difficult to tell.
Run with just enough fuel /naked/shaved, after a sh** ect, but it's all down to technique I suppose.2nd gear is a botch if the thing is hot,I think a fluid change is in order.

Dump that weight!!!! The back seats weigh loads and come out really easily half a dozen bolts at most. In the dry I tend to do the 5500rpm thing and it goes like a train.....my off the line time at Harewood last year put me 2nd in class behind an Evo 7 that was Grp A rally spec and ahead of the others that beat me. Your GTA will excel in this area.......your best chance to pull out an advantage on the opposition. Practice is the only way!

I think if launched well, GTA's are very quick off the line due to their excellent traction. Performance Car recorded a 0-30 time of 1.9 seconds for my car, which stands up well against the quickest cars even today! 0-60 is a different matter but the initial launch is pretty quick!

0.1 of a second slower than a Mclaren F1, and only 0.2 behind a Carrera GT!

5.5 k
I've been practicing but not brave enough it seems
Dropping at 4/4.5k seems to give a good launch but it's difficult to tell.
Run with just enough fuel /naked/shaved, after a sh** ect, but it's all down to technique I suppose.2nd gear is a botch if the thing is hot,I think a fluid change is in order.

You have to be carefull with 1st to 2nd gear shifts, it can seriously do some damage on an older box. I used to lose all drive and no gears for about 10 seconds on some changes on a hard launch on my old atmo, until I let the engine stop and restart again

The Lotus esprit turbos actually had a pin fitted to the mechanism so you couldnt power shift from 1st to second without going into neutral position first. The 0-60 records of 4.7 seconds for the Esprit Turbo were taken with this pin removed, otherwise it was around 5-6 seconds. (They also ran into an overbost setting of 14psi in 1st and 2nd too instead of 10psi, which is a bit of cheat too! )

It had a new clutch & gearbox overhaul ( new detent springs ) about 40k/1997ago,PJ Autos ( ARR ), so I expect it was properly done .

It had a new clutch & gearbox overhaul ( new detent springs ) about 40k/1997ago,PJ Autos ( ARR ), so I expect it was properly done .

clutch 40k ago........power take offs........i smell disaster (or clutch smoke!!)

If you want to be a little more sympathetic to the driveshafts (now £500 + each remember!) try this way, hold it at about 3500/4000 revs but slip the clutch for a second or two as you leave the line to make sure you keep it on boost, I've always found this preferable to a dropped clutch start which is very damaging in a rear engined car because of the enormous traction.

Sod that!!!!Youre only doing it a couple of times.....youve got to give it all!
P.S. dont blame me if you wreck the thing!!!!!

' If it gets hit by a bolt of lightening ,then I'm gonna blame some of the people here today'
I think it's practice,practice as I don't want to bring shame upon the name of ALPEEN or myself .[/quote]

Lightning shouldn't really affect a plastic car!

By the way, good luck in the comp. Hope u show them all what the Alp is capable of!

Just been out practicing ,on an empty industrial estate road, M'LUD.
Had a few good runs, then looked in my mirror to see a silver Ultima up my asp I hope he stays away, he overtook me

If you want to be a little more sympathetic to the driveshafts (now £500 + each remember!) try this way, hold it at about 3500/4000 revs but slip the clutch for a second or two as you leave the line to make sure you keep it on boost, I've always found this preferable to a dropped clutch start which is very damaging in a rear engined car because of the enormous traction.

Pretty much what we used to do in the metro turbos... main benefit (intention) is keeping it on boost rather than dropping the revs too much