Launch Tactics

[senna_T]

thanks for the insight I-Tec! because of the nature of this clutch, I'm not sure how it will go slipping much, as I said, I'll try a couple of things, providing we get plenty of track time

[MUZ580]

I've had a few goes at this and although no expert by any means but I'll share my tips that people have told me over the last few years.

1. drop your rear tyres to around 18-22psi (dunlops are pretty slippery but they'll do the job)

2. do a good 2nd or 3rd gear burnout, at least 10 seconds and creep forward out of the water

3. try and stage shallow, gives you a little extra MPH hopefully by the end

4. get the revs at about 4000rpm and slip the clutch till you just start moving then slip it out quickly (you need to get the balance between bogging down and wheelspin - very hard to get right)

5. change gears between 4800-5400rpm - depending on where you power starts to drop off on your dyno sheet

6. don't change into 5th, hold it in 4th till the end - your gearing should allow this

7. watch out for your CV's off the line, if you dump it, they will break, especially with lowered springs.

There was a great topic by F6UTE talking about fast times in manuals - do a search, I tried but am work so haven't got time.

I won't be able to make it either, wedding rehearsal.

[senna_T]

thanks for the tips MUZ! I'm a little wary of the old CV issue, not something I want to break right now! Because of this I'll start with lower rpm and work my way up :banghead:

[JP300]

Street and Track launches are very different.

On the street the tyres will let go a lot earlier and the grip comes back gradually. Nice for the drivetrain.

On the track, the grip level is obviously a lot higher and the cars drivetrain is put under a lot more stress. If you break traction and the car starts axle tramping then back off or risk loosing a CV...

It's all about using the force Luke! ... "Don't worry about the gauges just feel the car" (in a Darth Vader voice!)

[MUZ580]

I should say I got my 13.5 with only 280rwkw so with 300+ you should get a 12 hopefully. Just have to get your launch right.

If you can get better than a 2.1 or 2.2 then you're doing ok. Less than that then awesome for a sedan.

[teeg]

Senna, what extreme clutch version did you go, heavy duty/extra heavy duty clutch cover, organic plates ????

[Ernie]

as a drag racer at WSID the best advice I can give is this:

drop you tyre pressure as low as 15 psi......... even lower if you feel the drifting during the run wont alarm you. short burnouts on radial tyres as they dont like to much heat. its prointless to do half track burnouts on radials as they arent meant to do this.... just get some type of heat and clean the crap off them is more than enough. if your running MT street slick then this is a different story...... get some good heat in these so a little bigger burnout.

WSID is pretty good in track prep but can be lax as times as well........ its a luck of the draw.

in a manual I would try and stage the car in the first beam then just bring it in close to the second beam so you can roll thru and eliminate the wheel spin that may happen if you drop the clutch too fast. have the car at turbo spool speed only as this will also help in avoiding wheel spin.

the first 60 to 120 feet the track will be preped good but will fade during the run so it will feel squirmy and drift from side to side but will be ok to run on.

its all trail and error......... best thing to do is go out and have fun !

Ernie

[F6 UTE]

OK, first - Leave the tyres at road pressure. I ran 12.3 @ 115 full weight ( drove from work ) lined up and went down the black stuff with 40psi in the tyres with under 300rwkw. ( 280 from memory ) Hardcover, spare and all.

Reason - There's absolutely NO flex on the sidewalls, and the flat tyres ( yes, flat ) create too much rolling resistance hence negates any ounce of grip advantage off the line.

Squeeze first out, don't mash it.

Other than that, don't do big burnouts on street tyres. They get too hot and go to mush. ( Ever done a track day?? ) hot street tyres are HOPELESS. They were never designed to grip at there optimum levels over normal temps. Couple of seconds out of the water should do it, second gear. Gives them a clean - that's all.

1-2 shift is critical, the speed AND the point at which you swap cogs..

Practice. Good luck!!

[RIP'S_PATCHES!]

honestly mate try and get urself some decent tyres (mt strett radials) and then go to get the most out of it. after 300rwkw in a T especially sedan trying to get a decent launch can be practically impossible on std tyres. if u go now ul either wheel spin or bog down trying to get it right and if u did end up getting it right ud prob miss 3rd from being to excited. im not crtising u and im definetly not saying u dont know how to drive coz I rekon even craig lowndes behind the wheel of my car will be a sh*t driver. apart from that that, slip ride clutch in 1st at 3500-4000rpm and snap 2nd at 5500rpm and flat change the rest as u said. I wouldnt rev past 5500rpm.

Edited 23/10/07 12:32 PM by RIP'S_PATCHES!

[senna_T]

thanks for all the advice guys, especially MUZ580, Ernie, JP 300 and F6 UTE, experience is priceless As said, I'm just gonna go out there, have fun and see what we can get, I was gonna get come MT streets, but I thought I'd find the limit of my street tyres first and then go for some sort of semi slick, I never planned on going heavily into drag, I have a feeling it will become another addiction like power mods and tattoos!