i plan to take my car to the drag races soon just to see how well i run and i wanted to ask you guys on your launching/accelerating techniques so that i can try them and pick the best one...

so far, what works best for me is dropping the clutch at 2.5k and once i feel that the tires have grip, i floor it then take 1st gear up to 5.5k and redline the rest of the gears...

i've been told by a race car driver that another way to launch the car would be to drop the clutch at 4-4.5k then quickly letting off the gas and flooring it once you feel that you'll have traction...

third and final way is to burn the clutch and let off it slowly but i dont want to do that...

so yah... how do you 6mt guys launch and what rpm do you take 1st gear up to? discuss...

 

i've tried many differn't rpms to launch at. i found that 2.5 or less then 3 is the best. i just drop the clutch, which is also bad for your tranny......but o well~ just don't do it too often!~ but it is fun ehhhhhhhhh~

 

If you go to the strip it will most likely be a test & tune event where everyone & his brother will be there. The track will have a lot of rubber and water tracked out of the burn area.

I doubt you will be able to get any kind of a launch over 2k, assuming you are on stock street tires.

Anyway, this has been my experience.

Good Luck!

 

Turn off VDC.

 

drop rear tire pressure to 21psi

 

I wanna know why you taking it up to 5500 RPM in first and not to redline? I would think because you're doing this, when you shift into second your RPM will be in a lower range where the car makes less Tourque and HP. If you redline it they'd drop into a higher range and higher torque and HP numbers. Unless there's something I'm missing here

 

Yea LOLLLLLLLLL, why are you doing that? Wheel spin shouldnt be an issue unless you are heavily modded or dont know how to control it!

 

my dad's friend is a pro racer for forumla rus and i let him drive my car one day.. i noticed that he always took 1st up to about 5.5-6.. i asked him about it and he started telling me something about how my car has the most power in that range of rpm and about how 1st gear is powerful but isnt fast so it would be a better move to switch before redline.. i cant really remember the explanation too well.. i've been told by a few Z drivers that they do the same thing and thats the only reason i still try to drive like that.. i guess i'll just go to the track and test both ways..

as for launching.. like i said on the street 2.5k works best for me.. should i reallly drop the tire pressure down to 21psi? that sounds kinda low.. if i do that i'd have to launch at least at 3k i think...

 

are you serious? shift at 5.5 in 1st? hmmm. intresting.

 

Exactly, you will be launching the car at rpms where the power is greater. Just like the shifting thing, when you go, try it both ways. Then combine the best shifting and launching methods and you should get the best time you are personally able to run.

 

the only problem i have is that the only track around here is cali. speedway, and thats usually soo packed that within the 10 or so hours that you are there, you will only get 3 runs... haha its hard to practice all the methods thats why i asked for some advice thnx for the input guys..

oh yah.. one more thing... do you ever get passed 3rd gear at the 1/4 mile? i'd imagine you wouldnt have a chance to use 4th and would just top 3rd out..

 

ive only run the 1/8th mile, and i used 3rd, so i figure you would need 4th in the 1/4

 

Yes you will need 4th gear and almost all of it. I am actually shifting into 5th about the time I hit the trap light.

 

That's a lot of shifting you doing there... What RPMs do you shift at?

 

I'm at about 106mph at redline in 4th. 6600rpm