[Z06] launch technique?
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,050
Likes: 229
From: Oxnard CA
St. Jude Contributor
Re: launch technique? (FD boy)
First thing to do is turn off TC. As I'm staged I rev the engine to about 3500 rpm (this might be a little low for some people, but on stock tires it's a little tricky). Once the the last yellow is lit, launch the car. I wouldn't reccommend dumping the clutch. You'll just smoke your tires. Instead let it out easy, but not too easy. You'll then feel the tires break a bit. But once you hook up, time to drop the hammer. When you drop the hammer in first, there is a lot of feel that goes into it. Depending on track conditions, you might fishtail a bit. Once you hit 2nd, just floor it. You should be in 4th when you finish. Good luck. :cheers:
BTW...A good burnout before the race is always good too.
[Modified by pk2401, 12:13 PM 1/16/2004]
BTW...A good burnout before the race is always good too.
[Modified by pk2401, 12:13 PM 1/16/2004]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,454
Likes: 0
From: Ventura County CA
Re: launch technique? (pk2401)
First thing to do is turn off TC. As I'm staged I rev the engine to about 3500 rpm (this might be a little low for some people, but on stock tires it's a little tricky). Once the the last yellow is lit, launch the car. I wouldn't reccommend dumping the clutch. You'll just smoke your tires. Instead let it out easy, but not too easy. You'll then feel the tires break a bit. But once you hook up, time to drop the hammer. When you drop the hammer in first, there is a lot of feel that goes into it. Depending on track conditions, you might fishtail a bit. Once you hit 2nd, just floor it. You should be in 4th when you finish. Good luck. :cheers:
BTW...A good burnout before the race is always good too.
BTW...A good burnout before the race is always good too.
:cheers:
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,684
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville Florida
Re: launch technique? (FD boy)
I recommend you do a search, some pretty experienced drag racers have offered views (not all the same I might add), so you can try what works for others to see what works best for you.
Good luck and enjoy :yesnod:
Les
Good luck and enjoy :yesnod:
Les
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 34,299
Likes: 1
From: [Enter Unoffensive Comment Here]
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Re: launch technique? (FD boy)
It depends on how slick the track is too...even that might be to high of an RPM to launch if it's cold or greasy. Have fun! :cheers:
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 31
From: Central Florida
Re: launch technique? (FD boy)
Launch Techniques
No claim my technique is best. But here's what I'm doing on the F1SC tires. [Note: I only have 18 runs in my 02 on the stock tires and 112 on BFGs].
First off, select the best prepared and professionally run track in your area, even if it's a longer drive. Your times will be better; the racers will be more experienced; and someone will usually have a pocket weather station to give you the density altitude at the times of your runs.
Stage: Windows up. COMPETITIVE DRIVING mode. Radio off. AC off. I spin the stock F1SC tires for a second or two to clean them off. I run 23-25 lbs in the rear and 45-50 lbs up front. I shallow stage, just barely tripping the second set of bulbs. There is a school of thought that says heat up the F1SCs by doing a full burn-out. I have tried this and found that it does make for 60Õ more consistently in the 1.8s than just the simple clean-off that yielded an average in the low-mid 1.9s.
Launch: I hold 1800-3200 rpm, depending on traction/track conditions, and quickly release (not pop) the clutch with full engagement occurring in the first 4'-10' of forward movement. I let the tires hook before going to WOT, and the progression to WOT is a squeezing of the acceleratorÉnot a stomp. Goal is to not overpower traction and thereby make them break loose again. I can usually get to WOT leaving less than 10' of rubber. This takes practice that's best done away from the drag strip.
I adjust the launch rpm up or down in 200-300 increments depending on what happened in the earlier runs. On a well-prepped track, if the launch rpm is too low, the car will bog. If this happens raise the launch rpm.
Wheel Hop: This occurs when you overpower available traction and the wheels begin to spin freely. This kills your times. Two things can be done. (1) apply the power after the shift (slightly) more gradually or (2) do a full burn-out to warm up the F1SCs and make them sticky. This is what I began to do on my 02 before switching to drag radials, which, by the way, never seem to suffer wheel hop.
Two other things. I wear thin-soled shoes and believe they give me a little better feel for what the rear wheels are doing. Finally, I'm using the AC in recirc mode to fire up both fans before I enter the final staging area. I find this brings the H2O temp down to 194 just fine.
Ranger
No claim my technique is best. But here's what I'm doing on the F1SC tires. [Note: I only have 18 runs in my 02 on the stock tires and 112 on BFGs].
First off, select the best prepared and professionally run track in your area, even if it's a longer drive. Your times will be better; the racers will be more experienced; and someone will usually have a pocket weather station to give you the density altitude at the times of your runs.
Stage: Windows up. COMPETITIVE DRIVING mode. Radio off. AC off. I spin the stock F1SC tires for a second or two to clean them off. I run 23-25 lbs in the rear and 45-50 lbs up front. I shallow stage, just barely tripping the second set of bulbs. There is a school of thought that says heat up the F1SCs by doing a full burn-out. I have tried this and found that it does make for 60Õ more consistently in the 1.8s than just the simple clean-off that yielded an average in the low-mid 1.9s.
Launch: I hold 1800-3200 rpm, depending on traction/track conditions, and quickly release (not pop) the clutch with full engagement occurring in the first 4'-10' of forward movement. I let the tires hook before going to WOT, and the progression to WOT is a squeezing of the acceleratorÉnot a stomp. Goal is to not overpower traction and thereby make them break loose again. I can usually get to WOT leaving less than 10' of rubber. This takes practice that's best done away from the drag strip.
I adjust the launch rpm up or down in 200-300 increments depending on what happened in the earlier runs. On a well-prepped track, if the launch rpm is too low, the car will bog. If this happens raise the launch rpm.
Wheel Hop: This occurs when you overpower available traction and the wheels begin to spin freely. This kills your times. Two things can be done. (1) apply the power after the shift (slightly) more gradually or (2) do a full burn-out to warm up the F1SCs and make them sticky. This is what I began to do on my 02 before switching to drag radials, which, by the way, never seem to suffer wheel hop.
Two other things. I wear thin-soled shoes and believe they give me a little better feel for what the rear wheels are doing. Finally, I'm using the AC in recirc mode to fire up both fans before I enter the final staging area. I find this brings the H2O temp down to 194 just fine.
Ranger
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
Likes: 38
From: Fremont CA
Re: launch technique? (Ranger)
I launch our 02 at around 2200-2400 RPM, higher RPM will get axel hop like crazy! My best time (on a hot day) 12.76@115 MPH. I have to constantly live down the fact that my wife ran the first 12second quarter mile with our car! She claims my 12.76 dosen't count because I red-lighted, I can't argue too much or she won't let me borrow her car! (she=02 Z06 me=low 12 sec 1972 LT-1)
