LAUNCHES

[MACHMAN]

It seems that there is a lot of discussion launching these cars. How about sharing your experience. Approx. how many launches, any mechanical problems? Do you use T/C on or off? What RPM's are you leaving at? I'm referring to "stock" suspension and tires. This is intended to help novices like me to get better at leaving the line. thanks

[croz98gt]

It seems that there is a lot of discussion launching these cars. How about sharing your experience. Approx. how many launches, any mechanical problems? Do you use T/C on or off? What RPM's are you leaving at? I'm referring to "stock" suspension and tires. This is intended to help novices like me to get better at leaving the line. thanks

 

launch low...... about 2200rpm......lower rear tire preasure to about 25-29psi.

 

I had a 2.02 60ft 12.16@117.91 w/ 503rwhp & 489rwtq

 

I now have 530rwhp & 513rwtq and I couldn't hook with stock suspension and stock tires. I was also on a track that doesn't prep as good.

 

hope this helps.

 

JJ

[phr3121]

13 Second Club - Stock vehicles:

 

Alloy Dave -------------- 2.331 13.194 @ 110.05 S Gateway International, St. Louis 4/20/07

phr3121 ----------------- 2.247 13.437 @ 108.54 (stock) - Tulsa Raceway Park, Tulsa, OK 09/01/07 - Alt: 636 ft

stpracer43 -------------- 2.170 13.486 @ 105.35 "stock" Firebird Raceway PHX, AZ 6/08/07 - Alt: 1,140 ft

 

Yeap, me and a few others are having problems launching this baby without spinning in place (stock!)

IMHO this car is 800 lbs too heavy....basically having four 200 lbs individuals riding in the car. Still, I would not trade it for anything else.

I also don't think of it as an rpm issue but more of a how you work the clutch/gas issue. Let the clutch out fast (don't pop it) and give it controlled throttle increase.

 

Here is an interesting fact:

 

Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Curb weight: 3,132 lbs

 

Subaru Impreza WRX STI

Curb weight: 3,300 lbs

 

Ford Shelby GT500

Curb weight: 3,920 lbs

 

What I do is turn the T/C (traction control) off and launch @ or around 2000 rpm. It took me a whole afternoon of playing with it to get the feel of the car, throttle, and tires. Just work on 1st gear and 1st gear only! After hundreds of launches it still comes out wrong once in a while – but always improving. I’ve set my “light” and “beeper” for 5500 rpm but don’t really use it – more of a warning of reaching high rpms. I’ve usually shifted my lower gears before I reach that mark.

 

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Drag Racing 101:

 

"With a stock vehicle you can affect the way the car performs by launching at different rpm's. (800 rpm, 1000 rpm, 1200 rpm, 1500 rpm and so on). The main thing that varying you rpm will do, is affect your traction. Your vehicle may like a higher or lower rpm depending on the rear-end gear and tire you are running. To be consistent with a 6 speed, it will take a lot of practice. Consistent runs will require that you maintain the same shift points once you have determined where the best shift points are."

 

"You don't have to have the fastest car at the track to win a bracket race. It is very important for you to practice your launch and work on your reaction time. If you want to win races you need to be as consistent as your vehicle, or you might as well just sit and watch. Practicing your launch means, working hard to come off of the starting line the same way every time! All of the stuff above will mean nothing if you can't get off of the starting line consistently. This takes lots of practice."

 

"When launching a car with a manual transmission come to a complete stop after the car is properly staged. Press the clutch in all the way with one foot while pressing the accelerator peddle down with the other foot, raising the engine RPM to a constant moderate level for the first launch. Lift up on the clutch peddle to the point where the car is just about to start moving and hold both peddles still. When the christmas tree lights reach the last amber before the green, slowly release the clutch while quickly applying the accelerator peddle enough to launch the car quickly, but not too much to induce a large amount of wheel spin. Start conservative with the first launch and keep increasing the RPM at which the car is launched at during the subsequent runs."

 

"Use the factory line lock (parking brake) to keep your car from rolling out of the lights once you're staged. Unless you have an extra leg to operate the brake pedal, this is the only way to keep your car stationary while you work the clutch with one foot and the throttle with the other. That way, you can use your free hand to disengage the parking brake as you launch, and you won't redlight because your car crept forward after you staged."

[guystillwaiting]

I've done a few launches where I've dumped the clutch at a little over 3,000 rpms, without getting much wheel spin and without getting any wheel hop. Anyone have any thoughts on whether I am going to damage the clutch or on more effective ways to launch. My G-Tech tells me I'm getting a 0-60 time of just under 4.9 seconds, which I think is not too bad for a stock (except for LCAs)convertable.