Launch question
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 685
Likes: 291
From: Omaha, NE
2023 S500
Launch question
I'm asking here, because I figure some of you guys may know more than I do. Give me a second to pull on my Nomex skivvies...
I grew up when muscle cars were the thing -- 60s and 70s. I never owned anything REALLY fast, just fast enough to get a few speeding tickets. Got into a few stoplight to stoplight street races over the years, but nothing really other than two street cars going at it.
I'm driving an unmodified (as far as I know) 2007 S600. Nothing extreme, but far and away the quickest thing I've ever driven, to be honest. I've been getting the urge to take it to the local drag strip where, I am mortified to say, I have never been in my life. I just want to make a few passed to see what this thing will really do... I don't plan on a bracket racing career or anything, and I don't really want to break the car (yes, I know that's a risk regardless).
So... not an AMG, no trans brake, no line lock, nothing like that. Stock motor, stock transmission, stock rear end, street Conti summer tires that will be replaced soon so I really don't care about them at all. What's going to be the best way to launch this barge? I may practice once or twice on a deserted stretch of road before hitting the strip for the last test & tune weekend of the year.
I grew up when muscle cars were the thing -- 60s and 70s. I never owned anything REALLY fast, just fast enough to get a few speeding tickets. Got into a few stoplight to stoplight street races over the years, but nothing really other than two street cars going at it.
I'm driving an unmodified (as far as I know) 2007 S600. Nothing extreme, but far and away the quickest thing I've ever driven, to be honest. I've been getting the urge to take it to the local drag strip where, I am mortified to say, I have never been in my life. I just want to make a few passed to see what this thing will really do... I don't plan on a bracket racing career or anything, and I don't really want to break the car (yes, I know that's a risk regardless).
So... not an AMG, no trans brake, no line lock, nothing like that. Stock motor, stock transmission, stock rear end, street Conti summer tires that will be replaced soon so I really don't care about them at all. What's going to be the best way to launch this barge? I may practice once or twice on a deserted stretch of road before hitting the strip for the last test & tune weekend of the year.
I think I have what I need.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2016
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Likes: 567
From: Milwaukee, WI
2010 C300 4MATIC........ 2011 C63 AMG.............. 2015 CLS400 4MATIC.....
Nah, I want to see what you run in the 1/4
Light burnout
Brake, rev to like 1500rpm I believe for the 600
When light turns green let go and full floor
Light burnout
Brake, rev to like 1500rpm I believe for the 600
When light turns green let go and full floor
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 685
Likes: 291
From: Omaha, NE
2023 S500
Oh... I want to see too, believe me. I won’t be able to get any runs in until Spring around here, the season is pretty much over. But... I’ll be figuring out whether to use ESP or not, all that. And I think I’ll need a helmet.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 685
Likes: 291
From: Omaha, NE
2023 S500
Well, the car is gone, but I did get a night at the drag strip last summer. With an S600 that old, throw out all the "drag racing 101" advice to turn off traction control, floor it when the yellow lights come on, etc. You'll make a lot of noise and some tire smoke that way, but your time will suck. I tried turning traction control off twice, and both times went well over 9 seconds in the 1/8 mile for my worst times of the night.
The strip was 1/8 mile. My first run ever was 8.674, trap speed of 85.28, with .6612 reaction time. My lowest ET was 8.2919, trap speed of 86.5, reaction time of .4951. It was a "test & tune" night, so my son rode with me for the last couple of runs. He has video of us squeaking past a ZL1 Camaro.
For me, the right combination was trac control on, run the RPMs up to about 2000-2500 at most, and release the brake when the last yellow comes on (harder to do than it sounds). Nothing fancy, just nail the pedal and go like hell. I had an absolute ball doing it, and can't wait to get my BMW 540iX to the strip this year. It's got a little over half the engine, but weighs substantially less and is AWD... and it has launch control, so there's that.
The strip was 1/8 mile. My first run ever was 8.674, trap speed of 85.28, with .6612 reaction time. My lowest ET was 8.2919, trap speed of 86.5, reaction time of .4951. It was a "test & tune" night, so my son rode with me for the last couple of runs. He has video of us squeaking past a ZL1 Camaro.
For me, the right combination was trac control on, run the RPMs up to about 2000-2500 at most, and release the brake when the last yellow comes on (harder to do than it sounds). Nothing fancy, just nail the pedal and go like hell. I had an absolute ball doing it, and can't wait to get my BMW 540iX to the strip this year. It's got a little over half the engine, but weighs substantially less and is AWD... and it has launch control, so there's that.
Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 151
Likes: 95
From: Connecticut
2013 E550 Sedan, 2005 E500 4matic Wagon
No burnouts on street tires. Not what they were designed for. The first 16th of an inch becomes molasses on top of Teflon. You can do a brake-sta d but don't over do it. Maybe a 1/4 throttle hold, off brake and hammer down. That will yield the best e.t. on passenger rubber. My 550 doesn't launch worth a crap....but again not what it was designed for. In every other aspect it is awesome.
