A few weeks ago, a Switzer Performance R1K-X set a new pump-gas quarter-mile record at Michigan’s Milan Dragway. It was a great afternoon for us and John Shepherd from Sheptrans, who drove the car on that run. This past weekend, we went back to Milan to develop some new traction and launch control strategies for the R1K-X and Ultimate Street Edition Switzer GTRs.
In addition to collecting a few 8.9x and 9.0x second runs and recording 60-130 mph times in the 3.3s, the trackday allowed Switzer Performance to dial in some new launch control ideas. The goal of spending a full day gathering data and focusing development on a single area, of course, is to enhance the customer experience and to make the performance of Switzer’s 1000+ hp GTR Nissans even more consistent. “The customer experience,” explains Tym Switzer, “is everything.”
The new traction control and launch control strategies that were finalized at the trackday have already made their way into the most recent Switzer software updates. The new software should allow the super-high output cars to perform better in the first 1/8th mile, and help make the most of the mph gains (nearly 40 mph) on the back half.
While the guys were busy tuning and testing the Switzer R1K-X GTR, I took about 160 pictures of this weekend’s test sessions. I’ve included my favorites, below. Enjoy!
