r3v1ls

Nope you won't. Anyone will admit that the S4 can outhandle the M3 and c55 with absolutely no problem. And saying you could outdrive Kimi or any of those pro drivers just shows how ignorant you really are on such a topic.

pshek

I'm leaving early tomorrow morning for Fontana since I heard it queues up very quickly. Be there before 9am if possible for those who are going. It will be my first time to a dragstrip.

TopGun32

I wanted to go.. but I rather wait until we make a reservation during the week.

I would hate to get up so early just to run a few times... besides my buddy with the IS350 is out of town and he won't be able to take his new almighty Lexus.

I'll probably take the family to the LA Auto Show instead.

Let's rent the track fellas... and we will have a much better time and less wait.

Who ever goes tomorrow, please take pictures and let us know how crowed was the track.

pshek

So, I went to the Auto Club Dragway at the California Speedway in Fontana last Saturday morning and had my first drag racing experience. It was a little disappointing, to say the least. I spent most of the time waiting in a long line of cars, mostly mustang, camaro, civic, rsx, subaru wrx, nova, charger, (honda insight ) etc. There were a few BMW E46 and Audi A4. I had the only mercedes benz there. Basically, by the time I got to the drag strip and lined up at the marker, my engine was already heat soaked since I had been driving it to the lanes. Other people were pushing their cars, which I thought was weird. Now I know why... I had a 15.9 ET, and lost to a turbocharged RSX. Paid $20 and waited for 3 hrs to have one race, since it started to rain and I left.

I hope we can arrange a date to reserve the dragstrip so I can have another try with the new motor. I also signed up for AAA auto club membership today at the LA autoshow; there might be discounted tickets to the Speedway events for AAA members.

Vadim-SoCal

Sorry about your experience, but this is the reality of drag racing in SoCal.

The only other venue is Palmdale, but for most people it is just too far, too slippery and at 3000 ft. does not reallly represent times at sea level.

Your 15.9 is OK, but 88 MPH seems a little low. Several years ago I ran my wife's E320 station wagon at Fontana and it was doing 15.8s@90 all three times in six hour period. Good car for bracket racing.

TopGun32

I rather pay $100 and run 5 times and not wait...

than wait 3 hours for 1 run of $20.

let's get the track rented guys!

PC Valkyrie

I don't think that's entirely true if you look at the the objective handling numbers seen on various road tests from North American magazines.

As an example, here are the numbers from Road & Track, who performs the skipad and slalom tests for their road tests.

December 2003
M3 SMG
200ft skidpad: 0.87g
700ft slalom speed: 68.3mph

November 2004
S4 B6 version
200ft skidpad: 0.82g
700ft slalom speed: 66.1mph

November 2004
C55
200ft skidpad: 0.86g
700ft slalom speed: 67.6mph

November 2005
S4 Avant (wagon) B7 version
200ft skidpad: 0.85g
700ft slalom speed: 68.7mph

And here are some track times from Germany
Nurburgring track times:
M3 (2000): 8.22 minutes
C55 (2004): 8.22 minutes
S4 avant B6 (2003): 8.29 minutes

Hockenheim track times:
M3 (2000): 1.17,6 minutes
C55 (2004): 1.18,6 minutes
S4 avant B6 (2003): 1.19,1 minutes

The numbers definitely don't support the S4 "outhandling" either the M3 or C55.

Anyways, I doubt most people can ever take these cars to their handling limits. If any one of these cars overtakes the other on a curve, it is more likely to to driver skill/courage than the actual car.

The RS4 is another story, as the preliminary numbers on that car really do seem superior to the M3 and C55.

AMG_55

i dunno where u got that the s4 handles better than a m3?
b/c it doesnt
if handling to u is outright grip then it just shows how ignorant u really r on such a topic

BTW:
i have raced an s4 (well driven, on the street, modified w/ coilovers and sticky tires) and i still kicked his *** in the corners, it was pretty even on the straights.(he had exhaust and most likely other engine mods)
ive also raced many m3's and beat them but it was b/c of the drivers, not the cars.

AMG_55

i read an article in evo magazine (m3 cs v. c55 v. rs4)
the m3 won (again) hands down, the rs4 got 2nd and the c55 3rd (stupid esp and auto tranny)
u just cant make a 4wd as enjoyable to drive as a proper rwd car

r3v1ls

Uhh it's a quattro. You ever seen the Topgear episode of M3 Vs. S4? Now i'm not saying that Topgear is a very valid source but 4wheel drive > 2wheels.
Also depends how many straightaways and twisties there are on a course cause the M3 and C55 are much faster than a S4 in a straight line.
PC Valk those numbers are definitelly intersting but the S4 is an Avant version, and i'm not sure how much that affects it.

And you're apparently a pro driver who should be driving at the DTM. I've already heard you bragging about your driving skills in other threads. Saying that you could outdrive Kimi and other pro's is just plain stupid.

sdsilverm3

Come on guys. Stay on-topic.

AMG_55

just cause the car is 4 wheel drive doesnt mean it handles better, to make a car 4 wd they sacrifice balance and the weight, its heavier, the balance is way worse and the engine must sit in front of the front axle. i dont need to watch top gear, i raced a s4 and it was understereering to the point where i could tell visibly on almost every turn in point of the turns.
shows how much u know about cars :v

btw,
when i get a 230 loaner ill let u know, we can meet up and and hit up teh canyons

r3v1ls

I'm done arguing with you about this mainly cause this thread went off-topic and your ego is just way to big for such a discussion as everytime you just challenge everyone to race you.

TopGun32

this thread was for the LA-Fontana drag strip and not Laguna Seca road course correct?



just for a reference:

If you watch the SCCA GT in 2004 and the year before. Audi took 1st place with the RS6 for the season.
They had great launch, and they were really good in the rain. They had enough power to keep up with the CTS-V, Vipers, Corvette C6-R, but when it came to handling, they still could not match the Porsche or the M3. Those cars had better braking and actually would give the RS6 trouble in the turns.

The main cause for the RS6 lack of handlling was the weight and it would wear out the tires too soon. The RS6 still won the series due to its numerous 1, 2nd, and 3rd finishes. It did not win them all, but had enough points to stay on top.

The car was driven by one of the best drivers Randy Pobst.

My point being that AWD is great and will make the car stick to the road, but there is no substitute for a light, 50/50 weight distribution, balanced, RWD sports car.

I wont' make a blanket statement that AWD is better than RWD, since both have their pros and cons. In the end, it will come down to the driver and their skill.

When are WE RENTING the DRAG strip???

EpicAMG

I have tried calling Cali Speedway, left messages with no luck...not even a returned phone call...strange.

Anyway, I will go if someone else sets it up. Can anyone call and actually coordinate?

TopGun32

we need somebody to host registration and hold the funds to pay the rental...

any body?

RawAMGpower

Why not you??

AMG_55

i didnt challenge u to a race, a friendly canyon run isnt a race.

btw,
i have a c240 station wagon as my loaner car right now and i really hurt my left arm mountain biking, u just might b able to keep up :p
let me know if ud like to go on a friendly run... any1 else?

r3v1ls

Ah least I can agree with you that mountain biking is a great sport . And a canyon run would be nice...

TopGun32

don't have a website, or web server...

don't know HTML that well and definately don't know java script that well to create the registration to keep funds and take credit card transactions...

I don't have an account to process the credit cards transactions (merchant account)

shoud I go on?

how about you?

E55Cent

I'm ready when ever it happens. I'm willing to pay $100 for five or so runs and not wait, plus it would great to meet all of you

naadp

I can predict with some level of accuracy that, while the S4 is a fine handling beast, it would not win either competition. It might edge out the C32 with a softer suspension, but I even doubt that. The RS4 is a completely different story.