86 3.2L vs. 99 Boxster -- who won?

[86Carrera]

Came across a Boxster last tonight on an empty road with lots of stop lights (why does everyone want to race guys in 911s?). Anyway we went at it, about 10 times.

I don't like to be hard on the clutch knowing how expensive they are to replace. He was a young rich guy and apparently didn't care about the Boxster. He revs the engine drops the clutch and pulls away 1/2 a car length almost every time.

Q #1 -- I've never dropped the clutch at 4,000 rpms before becasue I heard these cars hop and believe it is bad for the clutch / trans. Is that OK to do in a 86 3.2L with new clutch and trans. rebuild?

Q #2 -- A quick, non abusive launch is pretty slow in my 3.2. What's the best way to launch it? I slipped the clutch a little on one run and he couldn't touch me, but I smelled a little burning.

Q #3 -- Upshifting at red line the car always went into next gear easily, pausing slightly in nuetral. Is there a non absuive way to upshift faster?

Q #4 -- Who won? I thought Boxsters (he had a manual non-S model) would be faster than old 3.2s, but here's what happened...

At the 1 -> 2 upshift he's still ahead of me but by less than 1/2 car length. When he needs to shift to 3rd I still have 1,000 rpm to go in 2nd and here the 3.2 is pulling like a freight train. I would pass him everytime after his 2 -> 3 upshift and keep advantage til the next light. I won right?

Pete
86 Coupe

[Milu]

A Porsche is not built to be a dragster. However, the following was my technique when I was more aggresive and competitive at the traffic light grand prix. Drop the clutch at 2000 rpm, start to shift up about 700rpm before redline. However, serious launching is a different technique and abusive to the car.
I'm biased as I love 3.2s but I think evan an American 3.2 should blow the doors of a boxter.

[beepbeep]

Hehe...i have a friend with a brand spanking new 2001 911 C2.

He walks away from me from dead start (6-speed) and over 200km/h (better aerodynamics) but on a straight road my 1-bar boosting, almost-non-muffled 20 year old 930 would run from him w/o problem.

[expat]

Just for adding info to the subject...

Today I was on my way to work. Coming up to a bend in the road at about 70kmph I saw a bus at the apex (travelling the other way) that had pulled up on the other side to let passenger alight. Seeing passengers who had alighted and were now either crossing the road or waiting to cross (illegally) I slowed down to about 40kmph. Two idiots however just didn't look to see cars approaching (me). I hit the brakes hard and moved away from the direction they were walking, until I came to a stop in the middle of the road. I just gave them an evil eye...I was so mad at what could have happened...I looked ahead at the clear road and floored the 87 cab stoking about 4000rpms. The tyres just let loose and I hung a nice fishtail down the road for maybe 10-15m. Didn't get any negative vibes from the car! I know its not good for it, but just once I wanted the full power takeoff. The car was fitted with a new clutch a few months back and driving it for another three hours in traffic directly afterwards, there was no feel of slippage, smell or bad vibes.
I've done some drag racing in Australia and I know the 911's not a dragster, but it gets up some oompha anyways!
I guess I don't mind driving the 911 hard sometimes, as others put it so eloquently - its just metal made of parts that bolt off and on. It just takes $ and passion.
Just my 2 cents.

Cheers
Mark

[This message has been edited by expathk (edited 10-29-2001).]

[firecall999]

"on paper" the 911 you have is faster than the Boxster. At least the Euro is.

So yes you won.

You cant get a "good" launch without burning the clutch and some rubber.

Fast upshifting isnt abusive. So dont worry about it. Forcing it into gear is. If it glides in its fine.

Alex.

[Milu]

The fastest 0-60 times posted in magazines are usually from Car & Driver, does anyone know their technique? I bet it would hurt on your own car!