This is a newbie question but here it goes... I'm wondering how everybody launches there 6 speed to get the fastest 1/4 mile time. It seems that getting the RPM's to about 3000 then riding the clutch till you're going fast enough to not need the clutch anymore (and keep the engine above 3000rpm). Then for all other shifts just get in out and in the next gear as fast as possible and dump the clutch.

Does that sound right?

 

You might end up buring the clutch out doing that...

 

[QUOTE]This is a newbie question but here it goes... I'm wondering how everybody launches there 6 speed to get the fastest 1/4 mile time. It seems that getting the RPM's to about 3000 then riding the clutch till you're going fast enough to not need the clutch anymore (and keep the engine above 3000rpm). Then for all other shifts just get in out and in the next gear as fast as possible and dump the clutch.


I found I was able to hit the 2.0's regularly using the clutch to modulate the power to the rear while holding the rev's at 3000. Was never able to get any better than high 2.1's using the throttle only.

Vampyre's right, you will burn out your clutch quickly though.

 

That depends a lot on the car and how it's setup. It's something you have to work out with the car. Whatever makes IT happy.

Bob
:flag

 

By using the throttle do you mean spinning the tires to keep the rpms up?

 

Launching like you would on the street.
Just dump the clutch at low rpm, i.e. 1500, and slooowly apply the throttle, just enough as not to spin your tires.
It is a fine line between applying enough throttle and loosing traction by applying too much.... :mad




[Modified by tlaselva, 5:28 PM 9/2/2003]

 

Crom, Here is the 'newbie' advice I would try. You build on what you already know how to do. What you already know you ask?Yup, You already know how to 'slip' the clutch, you do it EVERY time you leave a trafic light. How about when you NEED to get across heavy trafic? You raise your rpm and slip the clutch a bit more than just leaveing the trafic light? Yes you already do know how to do this!! and it's true driveing the car harder will excelerate wear on the car, but it's more fun than polishing for some of us. What you surmize in your post will work with the right ballance of clutch slip and throtle application. But IMHO if you want to 'realy' learn to get the most from your car, you will slowly build up from the get across trafic quik, rather than the 28-3000 launch. So yes what you say is about right for an experienced drive, plain wrong IMO for a newbie. Hope that helps. Ric

 

6500 rpms...dump the clutch and let the rev limiter do the work! :lol:

 

wow .. Not one person knows how to launch...
slowwwwwwly apply the throttle???
1500 rmp launch??
shift as fast as you can?
wow
On a stock C5 the torgue peek is 4400 rpm to achieve 350 ft pounds of torque..
Spinning the tires it the reason you use competition mode... getting the motor to 4400 rpm is where the power is...
The term hook.. comes from spinning the tires up enough to heat them so they grab.... Ideally that will be right around 4400 rpm.. the tires Grab (Hook ) your rpms drop... you watch the tach and shift at the red line.. the tack drops in second gear .. you run it up to red line... same with third... same with forth....you wont need another gear ...anticipating the light and how long it takes to hook is critical to a good launch... some guys go on the last yellow.. some on the next to last yellow... if you wait until green... your sleeping the tree....with stock tires you wont red light.. launching on yellow...

 

I just have to ask your, 'real world' drag raceing experience? Oh and is your advice with 'stock' tires? Is your post a joke? I don't get it,help me out? Ric


[Modified by Power Shifter, 7:07 PM 9/2/2003]

 

 

A Joke???
I held the NHRA Nationl Record for a class called B factory Experimental {BFX}.. the car was called Mister Twister... 1966 chevelle.. 427 ... this was back in 1967... as for helping you out... I dont get it...

 

For someone who set a record heres why I think you missed the point and forgot what you must have knowen at some point.[QUOTE]wow .. Not one person knows how to launch
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...(The question charicterizes it self as a newbie question. Right? What to assume it's on street tires?
slowwwwwwly apply the throttle???
1500 rmp launch??
shift as fast as you can?
wow
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Good advice for someone starting out. And build up from there, to available traction.
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On a stock C5 the torgue peek is 4400 rpm to achieve 350 ft pounds of torque..
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So what? What to misslead a new racer with a big launch? With a C5 on street tires? or even drag radial? Very helpfull friend.
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Spinning the tires it the reason you use competition mode... getting the motor to 4400 rpm is where the power is...
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A guy that sets records knows competion mode on a C5 has no function in straight line acceleration.
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The term hook.. comes from spinning the tires up enough to heat them so they grab.... Ideally that will be right around 4400 rpm
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Hook is when the tire get's traction, heating the tire may help that,depending on the tire and track temputure and prep.Ideally has very little to do with traction limited corvettes, or reality, now does it.
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.. the tires Grab (Hook ) your rpms drop... you watch the tach and shift at the red line.. the tack drops in second gear .. you run it up to red line... same with third... same with forth....you wont need another gear
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Well maybe, but I prefer power shifting enough below red line as to not hit the limiter, but your closer to helpfull corect imformation.
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...anticipating the light and how long it takes to hook is critical to a good launch... some guys go on the last yellow.. some on the next to last yellow... if you wait until green... your sleeping the tree....with stock tires you wont red light.. launching on yellow...
------------------
A bunch of variables your not includeing,like how deep your staged, not a full or as helpfull a description as a record holder could give but it's been a long time, right?
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Hope that helps you see why I wondered if your responce was meant seriously or as a joke. Thanks for the 'help'full advice from a former record holder. I don't mean to be harsh but Geeeeee
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Ric

 

:thumbs:

 

Powershifter you teach well! Old school racing is a little different than todays new school & technology. My friend has a 03 Z06 and he kept dumping the clutch and could only cut 2.0-2.1 60fts. I showed him how to slip the clutch and he cut a 1.931 60ft and ran a best 1/4mi @ 12.310 on F1 super tires in high 80 degree weather. His best that day before the change was a 12.54 with a 2.0+ 60ft. Practice makes perfection! :steering: :thumbs: :steering:

 

This was a helpfull thread to me...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=515770

Carleton

 

If I drop my clutch at 1500rpm, the engine will bog big time. There's no way that will give me the quickest launch. Or is there something wrong with my car? I have a completely stock 99 coupe with 65,000 miles on it. Should it give good power at 1500rpm?

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? 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. Then shift at redlines.


[Modified by crom, 2:50 PM 9/3/2003]

 

Come and join us here and find out. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=624868

 

I disagree on shifting at redline. I think you should shift at the half way point between max HP rated RPM and redline. Give that a try. I think you'll see your best et's.

Bob
:flag

 

The Guy asked how to launch fast at the track..... there are a million variables... tire pressure , humidity, air density... I gave the guy a few tips... a few ideas... Most newbie racers sit at the tree waiting for the light to turn green before droping the clutch... If a newbie has some idea about what happens when... he can refine his launch... if its about winning ... then you cant sleep the lights..realising that using a low launch rpm could bog you.. then............... you know IM going to stop.... I dont have to justify my offer to help this guy.....