Big potential race coming up - SL55 AMG
 

First off..... I feel like such a kid doing this but here it goes.

I have some cocky ass guy in his AMG SL55 Benz that wants to race me. Let me give you some history on this guy....
A couple of weeks ago I went to my uncle's house to wish him a happy birthday. I pull up to his house and all of his gambling buddies are over and the drive way is filled with $100k+ cars. After I go inside and talk to my uncle for a while, I go out to see this guy eyeing my car. He immediately starts talking shit and calls me out to race. I kindly declined since he was drunk and it had just recently stopped raining earlier in the evening. Well it turns out that he went back inside and started talking shit to my uncle and saying I'm slow and all this bs. My uncle has been in my car and has driven this clown's car before. He thinks it would be a good race and he has a gut feeling that I can beat him since I know how to drive. Since my uncle has a "lil" gambling problem is is fixing to bet $5,000 on the race. The race will take place at the track and for added piece of mind he'll give me a good amount of C16 race gas.
My questions is this. What do you think would be the turn out? Who would win and by how much? I think I can take him, since I dynoed at 375 to the rear wheels (in 3rd gear and only reved to 6800rpm) and my car weighed in at 27XX lbs, last time I took it to the track. Here' are the specs on his car.

Curb Weight: 4235 lbs.
5.4L supercharged V8 rated at 493 hp and 516 ft/lbs of torque

It looks like I have about a 1400+ lb advantage and maybe like 50 less hp to the motor. What do you guys think?

If you use race gas, it wont even be close. Hey, if not, raise the boost : )

Also, have you launched your car before? Like hard at the track? You need to keep in mind about your rear end, if it is stock. If you launch it so hard, could break it and than you will definitely lose. Also, what rubber you running out back?

practice launching. You will be faster (hp:weight. you have like 6lb per hp, hes around 8-9 per hp). Just remember, a V8...not just any V8, but a supercharged V8...he WILL have shit loads of off the line tq as soon as he touches the throttle. If he does pulls ahead (which most likely he will unless you outlaunch him)..you can be pretty sure that you will reel his ass back in once you hit your powerband. Plus add in redlines. You will be shifting later than he will which will help you gain some ground and if you dont mess up your shifting and shift quick you wont have to worry about him gaining it back when you shift. on C16 you should take him, but it might be pretty close. but than again, the RX is a shit load more aerodynamic ;) tell us how it goes

I've ran it at the track before my latest tune. Last time I took it I ran a 12.90 @ 116mph, and my highest trap is like 117mph. My car has been retuned since and it feels much better. I can lauch the car with stock wheels, and I've cut a 1.904 60ft before with those, but I was on stock twins and bolt ons. This new clutch set up and rims/tires, and the power I'm putting down is a whole different ball game out of the hole.

will you be video taping this race? gl...take him down!

Yeah, we'll get it on tape. I don't know when it will be taking place but my uncle wants to cash in! :)

I don't usually post here, but I thought of one thing you might want to consider.

Are you SURE he is stock?

Cause if not, just a pully I think gets those things into mid-high 11's. For $5000 bucks that might be worth it to him.

I'd find that out for sure.

Also, practice launching a TON.

Good luck, Can't wait to see the race.

Dan

Dont those car have a computer controlled launch so the wheels dont spin?

i'm inclined to say that you will win. if he can even launch it, his best 0-60 will be around 4.5 seconds. your car can demolish that, i would think. good luck.

He's not the type of person that mods his cars. He bought this Benz on an impulse buy. He's not a "car guy", he's just a wealthy dude that likes to show off.

The AMG SL55 is pretty quick off the line due to its torque and traction control (maximum traction). All he has to due is punch it & his Benzo will take off out of the hole like a scalded dog.

I would think you can take him if you drive well, but it will be close given your posted times & trap speeds (assuming he's stock). Here is a simulator for your enjoyment which has an AMG SL55 (although they run 12.5 quarters....this sim is a little conservative :) ).

You should be running faster times & traps for 375 RWHP unless your turbo is LAGGY and/or you are not keeping your revs high for max time duration/power under the curve? Stock twins aren't bad for quick acceleration, just not so strong as bigger singles on a roll (but I think having the stock twins for this run might help you get out of the hole more efficiently :) ).

Good luck!

-Matt

When I ran those times I think I was boosting around 10-11psi. I plan on running 15-16psi, which is currently my high boost setting that I use on the street now.

jesus!! 516 lb of torque!! at what rpm ?

Crank up the boost, lower the tire pressure in the rear, and hope to god you show him up. Good luck.

what no one has chimed with the forum motto....." THE 7 CAN'T LOSE"......:D

Seriously tho this should be a good race. Don't take those benzos lightly...theres quite a few I know of that are complete sleepers, they can move!!...plus that traction control is a big plus in his favor. Good luck. Let us know the results.

With your new setup you better go practice launching, because it is a different monster from your twins at 10-11psi and running single 15psi. I hope you dont wheel hop and snap your rear that would suck... Tell your uncle to give you cash, so you can mod your car some more and tell him you guarantee you will win and up the ante to $10,000.

You will DESTROY that Mercedes...

Lets hope so...

hey rey ive seen your car in action and i think you will get him as long as you launch good. if you need a camera to record it also i have one...are you goin to the corner tonight? if so then well talk more about it there.

The thing to remember for this race is this -- with the Mercedes, he can get a perfect consistent launch everytime. I bet even a novice drag racer could nail very close to the potential of the car their first run -- AND EVERY OTHER RUN. If you don't launch perfectly, you may very well have a higher trap speed but he might beat you across the line, therefore winning. Remember, all he has to do is stomp the gas pedal to the floor -- no wheelspin/clutch control at launch, no shifting, nothing. Stomp and steer straight.

What are the rules for the race? Street tires only? Drag radials allowed? Or "run what ya brung"?

Good luck, i'm looking forward to hearing how this turned out.

It's run what you brung. I have a set of ET streets at my disposal. I do need a diff brace before I give those a shot. Also the track that we'll be racing at is called Orlando Speed World aka Orlando SPIN World because it's so aweful to get some traction. Granted he has traction control, I've seen some cars out there barely get out of the hole because it's so "slippery". BTW David, I'll be at the corner tonight if it's not raining.

you'll take him for sure, your top end will dominate him....

like everyone else said though, get a good launch, i would put your tire pressure just under 20psi, it spins for a second and hooks up REAL fast, trust me, the track out here was terrible and thats what my friend did, 16psi and no traction issues....

smoke him....

Well my buddy is his 520+rwhp FC with stock springs and some KYB struts cuts like 1.4s and 1.5s 60fts with these ET streets I could only hope I could do a 1.8 ;)