how to launch fast
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,524
Likes: 0
From: Stamford CT.
Re: how to launch fast (Evil-Twin)
You certanly don't have to justify anything to anyone here if you don't want to. But if your sinceare about helping a relative new comer, you might try to help them get an understanding of how to swim before throwing them in deep water. There is an understanding that's obviously not close to compleate, for a lot of guy's trying to do this. Basic's and a more full understanding is needed if were seriously trying to help. If you wanted to, you could try to share that imformation as someone who is a record holder. Remember none of us realy know's the understanding's that someone else belive. Thanks for your efforts. Ric
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,524
Likes: 0
From: Stamford CT.
Re: how to launch fast (crom)
If I drop my clutch at 1500rpm, the engine will bog big time. There's no way that will give me the quickest launch.
-----------------------------
First of all you 'launch' every day from a stop at 1500 or below, without a bog on the street, right? Trying to get the 'quickest launch you can without blowing the tires away is what your after, right? Your car is probbably fine but without a framework of understanding on your part, big launches are likely to fail.
--------------------
I'm still a little confused about the launch though. To get the fastest time you want to keep the engine in it's highest power area. To do so you must either slip the clutch or the tires correct?
---------------
No you want a limited amount of tire slippage(5-10%) to help hold the engion from boging, it's a very delicate ballance between the right amount of clutch slippage and throtle application and the speed of both. There is no one answer to the right rpm,clutch slip,or amount and speed of throtle application with limited traction tire and/or track for the quickest launch.
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Slipping the tires reduces the grip the tires get by switching from the static coefficient of friction to the dynamic coefficient of friction, correct? That would imply that you need to slip the clutch.
So to answer my own question you want to get the RPM as high as you're compfortable(and that won't spin the tires) and slip the clutch until the car speed matches the rpm level.
--------------
----- You have the general idea, but my contention is that if you just would be willing to start at the beggining and build up to the ability for the quickest launches, you would be more likely to acheve one........ it's about practice and an awareness of what happens with your car on a run, that will reward you. IMHO
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Forget about the theoretical best shift point and try differant shift point with your 99, finding the right shift point is not only fun, it's educational and will give you the framwork and understanding your looking for. It's crap IMO to mimick the best advice, without understanding.
-------
Ric
[Modified by crom, 2:50 PM 9/3/2003]
-----------------------------
First of all you 'launch' every day from a stop at 1500 or below, without a bog on the street, right? Trying to get the 'quickest launch you can without blowing the tires away is what your after, right? Your car is probbably fine but without a framework of understanding on your part, big launches are likely to fail.
--------------------
I'm still a little confused about the launch though. To get the fastest time you want to keep the engine in it's highest power area. To do so you must either slip the clutch or the tires correct?
---------------
No you want a limited amount of tire slippage(5-10%) to help hold the engion from boging, it's a very delicate ballance between the right amount of clutch slippage and throtle application and the speed of both. There is no one answer to the right rpm,clutch slip,or amount and speed of throtle application with limited traction tire and/or track for the quickest launch.
------------------
Slipping the tires reduces the grip the tires get by switching from the static coefficient of friction to the dynamic coefficient of friction, correct? That would imply that you need to slip the clutch.
So to answer my own question you want to get the RPM as high as you're compfortable(and that won't spin the tires) and slip the clutch until the car speed matches the rpm level.
--------------
----- You have the general idea, but my contention is that if you just would be willing to start at the beggining and build up to the ability for the quickest launches, you would be more likely to acheve one........ it's about practice and an awareness of what happens with your car on a run, that will reward you. IMHO
---------
Forget about the theoretical best shift point and try differant shift point with your 99, finding the right shift point is not only fun, it's educational and will give you the framwork and understanding your looking for. It's crap IMO to mimick the best advice, without understanding.
-------
Ric
[Modified by crom, 2:50 PM 9/3/2003]
[Modified by Power Shifter, 3:40 PM 9/3/2003]
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 40,999
Likes: 9,764
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Re: how to launch fast (Power Shifter)
My experience was that with stock tires and anything over 2200 rpm launch (dump) I would just sit there smoking the tires while the other guy's bumper disappeared down the strip. If I slipped the clutch a little and let the tires haze just a little then I could slowly let the clutch out as I went to full throttle and got my best times that way. Even then any power developed above 2200 was just turning to additional heat in the clutch.
Bill
Bill
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,471
Likes: 1
From: Pensacola FL
Re: how to launch fast (Bill Dearborn)
I agree. Even if I bog the car a little bit, the 60 ft is usually better than if I spin the tires. Learning to feather the clutch JUST enough is the key. I found if i slip it too much, the clutch heats up & my 1-2 shift is a little mushy. I just got 4.10's and will have to relearn my launch. Still breaking it in. With my 3.42's and 295 BFG tires I found the best launch rpm to be around 2500. As far as shift points, shifting at the redline definately gives me the best ET. You can learn a lot in 1 night at the track. Track prep also plays a big role in how well you hook. SCOTT ;)
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,414
Likes: 0
From: financial-freedom-for-all.com
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Re: how to launch fast (crom)
You could throw this over into the drag racing section. There is some great advice over there too! :yesnod:
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,711
Likes: 2
From: Rochester NY
Re: how to launch fast (VETTENV)
I have seen allot of posts about dumping the clutch and this and that, but I seem to have this problem.
My clutch pedal never returns fast enough and all I do is Smoke Clutch plate,
I thought all Vettes had this problem with stock clutch's installed
How can I get the pedal to return fast, I am so gun shy now I don't even think of trying to launch, since I don't really want o face a new clutch repair bill.
??? Ideas
My clutch pedal never returns fast enough and all I do is Smoke Clutch plate,
I thought all Vettes had this problem with stock clutch's installed
How can I get the pedal to return fast, I am so gun shy now I don't even think of trying to launch, since I don't really want o face a new clutch repair bill.
??? Ideas
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,335
Likes: 76
From: Bedford Va.
Re: how to launch fast (Vampyre)
crom
see Bill Dearborn reply
this is the answer you need. if you can practice some launches in a remote
area i think you will learn alot. Turn that radio off, turn off traction control, open the window and listen to whats happening, start with a 1800 launch, you should bog a little. move it up to 2000 a little clutch slippage the bog should go away. try a 2200 same way, listen for some tire spin, you should hear some. from here its a balance of very little clutch verses tire spin. watch that clutch heat (smell) don't try many launches at one time. your tires and weather/road conditions will effect the RPM you can launch at. If the tire go up in smoke stop and try again. as for red line shifts between gears- this is a waist of time. try someting around 5800rpm.
this is a stock car on stock tires right?
see Bill Dearborn reply
this is the answer you need. if you can practice some launches in a remote
area i think you will learn alot. Turn that radio off, turn off traction control, open the window and listen to whats happening, start with a 1800 launch, you should bog a little. move it up to 2000 a little clutch slippage the bog should go away. try a 2200 same way, listen for some tire spin, you should hear some. from here its a balance of very little clutch verses tire spin. watch that clutch heat (smell) don't try many launches at one time. your tires and weather/road conditions will effect the RPM you can launch at. If the tire go up in smoke stop and try again. as for red line shifts between gears- this is a waist of time. try someting around 5800rpm.
this is a stock car on stock tires right?
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Florence Ky
Re: how to launch fast (Mr. Jones)
I have a question, how hard is it on the motor to shift at red line? When I get on it I usually don't go over 5k, because it sounds like the engine is working so hard.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,335
Likes: 76
From: Bedford Va.
Re: how to launch fast (MojoRisen)
high rpm's betweem gears isn't much of a strain. ride at high rpms for a
length of time is. (from a valvetrain point of view) bouncing off the redline I don't do. just my .02
length of time is. (from a valvetrain point of view) bouncing off the redline I don't do. just my .02
Instructor
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
From: San Diego Ca
Re: how to launch fast (Mr. Jones)
Ok my style is a clutch that usually lasts 100K; I like to pound it after I get rolling; but I'd like to burn rubber like a teenager in front of my brother's house just because; so I tried it, nothing happened; except clutch smell and a lot of rattling which is per usual MN6; on the way home I remembered; I got to switch off the active handling.
Now I want the position that leaves the handling on but takes the traction control off; someone please advise; I'm too lazy to go fight the glove box for the owner's manual, and then I'd have to look for the wheel lock key which has been on my list for about 6 mos; and look for where my front license plate is in case I have to lie again on the way to work. Thanks JWH
Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 421
Likes: 0
From: Bethesda MD
Re: how to launch fast (crom)
CROM -
Here is my two cents worth - from newbie to newbie. The vette below 2500 RPM is a dog. If you let go of the clutch at 1500RPM you will bog the engine and loose about 1 sec until you get into a good power band. My best '60 is 2.00 (stock except for Vortex and Borlas), I don't know if this is good but what I've been doing is finding the equilibrium point where I can ease off the clutch while accelerating. I don't know where that is in the RPM range, I think its like someone here said, just practice and see what works for you. I know the car mags will drop the clutch at 3000RPM for their launches but when I do that I spin my tires all the way up to 50mph. Again, my preference is to accelerate while letting off the clutch slowly.
Here is my two cents worth - from newbie to newbie. The vette below 2500 RPM is a dog. If you let go of the clutch at 1500RPM you will bog the engine and loose about 1 sec until you get into a good power band. My best '60 is 2.00 (stock except for Vortex and Borlas), I don't know if this is good but what I've been doing is finding the equilibrium point where I can ease off the clutch while accelerating. I don't know where that is in the RPM range, I think its like someone here said, just practice and see what works for you. I know the car mags will drop the clutch at 3000RPM for their launches but when I do that I spin my tires all the way up to 50mph. Again, my preference is to accelerate while letting off the clutch slowly.
