The Demon Comes With a TransBrake

We’ve learned about all sorts of unique features of the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, but few are as exciting or shocking as the factory TransBrake.

In the world of drag racing, a transbrake is a common feature among the quickest cars, but when the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon arrives later this year – it will be the first production road-going car to come with a transbrake from the factory.

If you are somehow unfamiliar with a transbrake, it works by preventing power from moving through an automatic transmission to the rear wheels, so when increasing the engine RPM and the power levels, the vehicle will not be able to spin the tires or push the front wheels through the staging beams with the brakes locked. Launching at a higher RPM increases initial power levels and in forced induction vehicles, it helps to increase boost levels while the car is “in the beams”, all without having to worry about pushing through the beams or roasting the rear tires while waiting for the green light.

In the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, the TransBrake (FCA capitalizes it since it is a unique feature) works in conjunction with the Launch Control system and the newly announced Torque Reserve system. Once the Launch Control system is activated, the driver brings the RPMs up and heads into the staging beams as the Torque Reserve system adjusts the output of the supercharged Hemi. As the Demon is fully staged, the driver holds down the left shift paddle on the steering wheel, engaging the TransBrake and cutting any further power from being sent to the rear wheels by locking the transmission output shaft. The driver can then apply more throttle and although the engine rises to 2,350rpm, bringing the boost levels up in the process, there is no risk of a premature burnout or the car pushing through the beams before the green light.

When the driver releases the shift paddle, the TransBrake system unlocks the output shaft and all of the Demon’s power is instantly transferred to the rear wheels. The result in an increase of 105% in boost levels and a 120% increase in torque levels at launch, both of which lead to vastly better short times and quicker elapsed times in the quarter mile.

Aiding in the hard launches is a unique feature of the Demon’s TransBrake system, which applies a small amount of power to the rear wheels while engaged. This preloading system helps to reduce the shock of all of that supercharged power heading to the wheels at once while also shortening the amount of time needed for the power to get to the wheels. To be exact, it takes just 150 milliseconds from when the driver lets off of the shift paddle to when all of that power meets the road via the Demon’s drag radial tires.

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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