Only losers need automatic and launch control to win the 1/4 mile...

[superlative]

I'm surprised this is not a more popular notion, but why isn't it naturally frowned upon to use launch control and automatic shifting in 1/4 mile races?

It's like using robots to swing the golf club for you, or using hyper-hitting ultrasonic tennis racquets. The 1/4 mile to me, and especially for anyone who's participated in it, a very difficult challenge of coordination and reflexes and all these nanny launch controls and automatic shifting takes all the skill away.

I scoff at GTRs because it's only the car that's fast, not the driver.

Am I the only one who feels this way? Who knows, maybe in the future cars will drive themselves and drivers can sit in the audience and brag whose car has the better robot driver?

[J-hop]

This topic has been beat to death over and over and over and over and over again that is why you don't see these threads anymore.

[superlative]

I remember one time in the drag strip line-up, I asked this guy in a GTR what he got, and in his most douche-bag expression he could muster he said "I'm in the 11s". The first thing I thought was "no the Japanese engineers programmed your car into the 11s. You're still a zero."

My point is that I couldn't believe the gall of this guy to feel proud when he didn't require any real skill to achieve 11s, and people seem to still admire this. When someone lines up in a 60s Camaro and gets 11s - that's when I'm genuinely impressed.

[superlative]

Originally posted by J-hop
This topic has been beat to death over and over and over and over and over again that is why you don't see these threads anymore.

oh? I wasn't aware. What was the conclusion?

The reason why I brought this topic up was because I happened to click on a youtube video of a GTR in a drag race, and some owner was going on about how great he was and the time he got. It was apparent that he was completely oblivious to how much skill it actually took to launch and shift manually and that's what makes the 1/4 mile challenging.

On a track, there are many skills being used so nanny controls might be more forgiven; but in a 1/4 mile - the launch and shifting is IT. If you take that away with a computer, you are left with nothing.

[KRyn]

To quote Dom.... "Ask any racer, any real racer. It doesn't matter if you win by an inch or a mile; winning's winning."

Bro, me and my computer driven R35 GTR are going to smoke you and your crappy manual transmission whip.

Originally posted by superlative
When someone lines up in a 60s Camaro and gets 11s - that's when I'm genuinely impressed.

Who cares when you are impressed, you appear to be a giant butt hurt loser.

[lilmira]

Challenge your opponent to a 100m dash. A true test to one's true strength and determination.

[Modelexis]

The name of the game is how fast can you get to the end of the track (and not break out of your time if you're racing bracket).

You could just as easily say, 'only losers need massive turbos and nitrous and slicks to win the 1/4 mile'

If auto's are cheating, what about a dog box? what about a sequential shifter?

This is not 1985 anymore, there is such diversity out there on the track that you cannot impose your subjective preferences on an entire scene.

[rage2]

Why do you use drag tires in a drag race? To me, that's just taking the skill away. You've never experienced a 1/4 mile until you've done it on 4 spare donuts.

[Sugarphreak]

...

[gretz]

Originally posted by superlative
When someone lines up in a 60s Camaro and gets 11s - that's when I'm genuinely impressed.

And the majority of them run Turbo 350/400s or powerglides...

[superlative]

Originally posted by KRyn
To quote Dom.... "Ask any racer, any real racer. It doesn't matter if you win by an inch or a mile; winning's winning."

Bro, me and my computer driven R35 GTR are going to smoke you and your crappy manual transmission whip.

No, the Japanese engineers who programmed your car might whip me but you have done nothing of the sort. That's like saying I beat Tiger Woods in a golf video game. Yawn.

You might get some respect from ignorant people, but none from me and others who actually have to use some human skill to get good 1/4 mile times.

[TomcoPDR]

Originally posted by KRyn
To quote Dom.... "Ask any racer, any real racer. It doesn't matter if you win by an inch or a mile; winning's winning."

Bro, me and my computer driven R35 GTR are going to smoke you and your crappy manual transmission whip.



Who cares when you are impressed, you appear to be a giant butt hurt loser.

You must have NOS


Op it's because in today's world, there aren't as many diehard fans such as yourself. Things are becoming more and more mainstream and people just jump on band wagons. It sounds like you like to live a quarter mile at a time. Once you're in the drivers seat, it feels like nothing else matters in life right? Not the mortgage, not the wife, not the kids. And for those 11 sec of your life, it's like you're free.

[superlative]

Originally posted by Modelexis
The name of the game is how fast can you get to the end of the track (and not break out of your time if you're racing bracket).

You could just as easily say, 'only losers need massive turbos and nitrous and slicks to win the 1/4 mile'

If auto's are cheating, what about a dog box? what about a sequential shifter?

No, because those are still passive mechanical components that don't actually have any active component in the race. They are passive components that still require an active component (the driver) to use them properly.

The shifting and launching of the GTR is in the order of milli-seconds, far beyond the ability of humans and completely programmed and active components in the race.

[sputnik]

Originally posted by KRyn
Who cares when you are impressed, you appear to be a giant butt hurt loser.

I got $20 that he is under 20 year old... or at least has the intelligence of one.

[superlative]

Originally posted by TomcoPDR


Op it's because in today's world, there aren't as many diehard fans such as yourself. Things are becoming more and more mainstream and people just jump on band wagons. It sounds like you like to live a quarter mile at a time. Once you're in the drivers seat, it feels like nothing else matters in life right? Not the mortgage, not the wife, not the kids. And for those 11 sec of your life, it's like you're free.

I disagree. Most racing competitions out of Europe have these rules on what is and is not allowed. Most every other sport have banned some sort of performance enhancer.

In the 1/4 mile, the main factors requiring skill are the launch and the shifting and it's a pretty lame sport if you don't even do that any more.

I'm not expecting everyone to agree with me, but I am expecting the majority of people who enjoy the "sport" of it. However, I seem to be the minority - that's the weird part.

[rage2]

Originally posted by superlative
No, because those are still passive mechanical components that don't actually have any active component in the race. They are passive components that still require an active component (the driver) to use them properly.

The shifting and launching of the GTR is in the order of milli-seconds, far beyond the ability of humans and completely programmed and active components in the race.

How about a LSD? Is that cheating too? Or do you have a 4th pedal that controls torque distribution?

[superlative]

Originally posted by sputnik


I got $20 that he is under 20 year old... or at least has the intelligence of one.

There's always someone who's sole participation in a discussion is making fun of age for lack of any meaningful contribution to the discussion. Well done for that being "that" guy.

[sputnik]

Originally posted by superlative
You might get some respect from ignorant people, but none from me and others who actually have to use some human skill to get good 1/4 mile times.

The majority of the skill you speak of is while holding a wrench under the hood or perhaps milling your own cam shaft on a lathe.

Can you see how ridiculous that this argument can get?

A race is a race. A combination of car against car and driver against driver. If you don't like it, stick to cruising around high schools picking up chicks.

[superlative]

Originally posted by rage2

How about a LSD? Is that cheating too? Or do you have a 4th pedal that controls torque distribution?

The line has to be drawn somewhere, like it is in all racing competitions. What's the line for the 1/4 mile?

For me the difficulty has been getting the timing and pedal position right throughout the launch sequence and then shifting. That's why it baffles me that people will drive cars that have that completely computerized and then they pat themselves on the back when their car wins.

[superlative]

Originally posted by sputnik


The majority of the skill you speak of is while holding a wrench under the hood or perhaps milling your own cam shaft on a lathe.

You've obviously never done the 1/4 mile on a strip.

Can ignorant people please stay out of this?

And if "a race is just a race" - explain why every other "race" competition have rules?

Again: I understand why there are people who think like you do, but I'm just wondering why there aren't more people like me who think there should be some line drawn in the sand against cars doing all the skill part on behalf of the driver for the 1/4 mile.

It's the 80/20 rule. At least 80 should have a "purist" opinion of the 1/4 mile and maybe 20 should have the "no rules" opinion, but it seems to be the opposite.