Yesterday I took off of work early so I could try my luck at the strip.
What a learning experience it turned out to be. I had the butterflies and the usual case of "stage fright" that goes along with doing anything in front of hundreds of people.

I quickly ended up as a casualty within 2 seconds of the first launch of the time trials. My car that runs perfectly on the streets, spins the tires when it reaches around 4,000 RPM if I just step on the gas with no clutch action. If I shift into second hard, it also lights up the tires.

My problem is that the track was so sticky, thateven when I launched very easily, just like leaving a stop light, that when the car hit 4,000 RPM, instead of the tires going up in smoke, the clutch went up in smoke. I made 2 different runs and the same result. I actually beat the Mustang GT I was racing off the line pretty badly until my car reaches 4,000 RPM and then the clutch starts slipping badly. After I let the car cool down, I drove it home and the clutch worked ok, but not like before. I now have to change out my clutch. My car is making over 410 hp at the wheels.....is the C-5 clutch known to be weak? What clutch should I go to?

The best part was meeting 3 Z06 owners and 1 C-5 owner. The Z06 owners said I was maing too much power for the stock clutch, is there any truth to this? Every Z06 turned 12.6's and 1 guy had 1 run @ 12.565 sec. Nobody had traction problems because there was a national there 2 weeks ago and the track was in tip top shape.

Thanks for any input

 

I've done the same as you.
You probably just glazed your clutch...but with that much power, you may want to at least throw a Z06 set-up in that. Getting used to track conditions can make a difference also for you.

 

what i had to do in my trans am was a controlled slip on the clutch as i came out. come up to about 3200 and slowly come out as you feel the tires grip. got some 1.89's that way on gsc's.

but with 410 at the wheels, you will probably spin easily in a vette.

 

Well at least you enjoyed yourself. That's the main thing. And a new clutch should get you going the next time.