http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F8wggsVi74&feature=youtu.be

In the first race, it looks like the GTI reeled in, passed, and then put distance on the Civic and would have continued to do so as speeds increased. In the second run, the GTI was losing ground even before the Civic finished honking it off. To me, it looks like the GTI traps a mph or two higher than the Civic, but he might be starting a gear too low for the speeds you're starting from. He shouldn't be losing ground instantly to the Civic. Either way, fun racing between the two cars.

why does the rsx walk both cars so easily in the first race and then falls behind in the second race?

As for the RSX. The chief told me he started in 3rd on the second run.

Anyway, he's going to Etown on Wednesday so we can keep an eye on what he's going to run, should be a nice night. I'm guessing around 14.1-14.2@97-98mph on street tires. To me this is more like a 185whp hatch.

I know what you're trying to say, but the numbers in your example don't make sense. If torque was dropping off by enough to warrant a gear shift, HP would also be falling, not climbing -- it's not mathematically possible, otherwise.

The question is...how quickly does torque have to be dropping to warrant a shift? To answer that you need to consider the gear ratios -- looking at the torque curve alone won't tell you anything.

I just looked up the gear ratios for a b18c5 dc2. You lose 30% of your torque multiplication from the transmission when you shift from 2nd to 3rd:

30.7% = (2.105 second gear minus 1.458 third gear)/2.105 second gear

Unless the torque output of the engine has dropped off by MORE than 30.7% at any given rpm, you're better off staying in second until it does. It would be mathematically impossible for HP to be increasing if torque was dropping off by >30.7%.

LOL I was RIGHT on the money. 14.2@97mph. LOL
Proof the old man still knows his Hondas, contrary to popular belief... Thanks for posting that.

My cousin raced a guy with a built NA RSX that made 230 some to the ground. Actually I raced him first in my stock Evo from a roll (05 SSL) and beat him 3 for 3.

My cousin raced him with an off the showroom floor 07 Eclipse 6 speed with an intake as it's sole mod. Beat the RSX 2 out of 3.

That said, I still doubt the 230whp figure. Sorry....I just think it's a happy dyno! In the end, it doesn't matter. It's impossible to compare HP figures nowadays...one rsx will run low 13's with 180whp, another will run low 14's with 230whp.

How come you didnt quote this: "It's an excellent tune and I'm sure the car works great but do people really think for a second that it's putting down an actual 208.6 whp to the ground?"
Anyway, he's going to Etown on Wednesday so we can keep an eye on what he's going to run, should be a nice night. I'm guessing around 14.1-14.2@97-98mph on street tires. To me this is more like a 185whp hatch.