Launch control
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,822
Likes: 442
From: Boca Raton Florida
Launch control
Having waited (patiently) to break in my 11 GS properly before I start horsing with it, I had not utilized the launch control until now. Today I experimented with it, one needs to slam the pedal for launch control to activate, mine first tried to get up to over 5000-6000 rpm but than ECM took over and brought it back to 4600 RPMs and held it there (few tries, same 4600 RPM). I know it supposed to take into consideration of many factors but I thought (heard) that it was supposed to settle around 4200 rpms.
I also love to hear opinions on launch control VS manual launch control from forum members who have a preference of one over another. Which one works better?...(and for the life of the clutch)
Thank you all!....
I also love to hear opinions on launch control VS manual launch control from forum members who have a preference of one over another. Which one works better?...(and for the life of the clutch)
Thank you all!....
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 279
From: Muscle Shoals, AL
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Launch control requires from a stop the wheels pointed straight, trans in 1st, competitive mode, and stomp the accellerator. I haven't tried it on the new Centennial Z06 yet, but I thought it was supposed to settle around 3500-3800 rpm.
I've seen videos of it, and it looks pretty violent. Of course any wide open launches tend to wear a clutch. But then, we didn't really get a Vette to drive slow, did we?
I've seen videos of it, and it looks pretty violent. Of course any wide open launches tend to wear a clutch. But then, we didn't really get a Vette to drive slow, did we?
Last edited by arcticblast; Feb 19, 2012 at 08:13 PM. Reason: clarify
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,037
Likes: 9,801
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Having waited (patiently) to break in my 11 GS properly before I start horsing with it, I had not utilized the launch control until now. Today I experimented with it, one needs to slam the pedal for launch control to activate, mine first tried to get up to over 5000-6000 rpm but than ECM took over and brought it back to 4600 RPMs and held it there (few tries, same 4600 RPM). I know it supposed to take into consideration of many factors but I thought (heard) that it was supposed to settle around 4200 rpms.
I also love to hear opinions on launch control VS manual launch control from forum members who have a preference of one over another. Which one works better?...(and for the life of the clutch)
Thank you all!....
I also love to hear opinions on launch control VS manual launch control from forum members who have a preference of one over another. Which one works better?...(and for the life of the clutch)
Thank you all!....
Did you hold it to the floor through all 4 gears? When in launch control you don't lift when you shift.
Bill
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,608
Likes: 13
From: New Rochelle N.Y. 2013 Grand Sport
i dont drive my car hard at all but i did have to try it once on my 2012 coupe. put it in first and stomp it in comp mode and my car stayed at 4100 rpms no higher. let the clutch fly and that was it. in my opinion it comes out of the hole pretty meekly with launch control but then again im no racer. i think the car would serve you better to leave it off if you really know how to launch a corvette which by the way i don't!
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 508
Likes: 1
From: North Reading MA
The machine will lengthen the clutch life over a human. On a regular basis the machine will outperform most humans. Some humans will be consistently better than the machine but they will be people with many drag strip passes.
Did you hold it to the floor through all 4 gears? When in launch control you don't lift when you shift.
Bill
Did you hold it to the floor through all 4 gears? When in launch control you don't lift when you shift.
Bill
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 57,408
Likes: 164
From: queensbury ny
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 13,298
Likes: 14
From: Somers NY
If you are a "competent" drag racer (experienced) when you shift from 1st to 2nd you do NOT lift the gas pedal from the floor... the same goes when you shift to 3rd & 4th (if you have to shift to 4th in the 1/4 mile..
You have to be "SURE" of your shifting abilities.. because if you miss a gear the rpm will go to the rev limiter..
Back when I was young, we didn't have rev limiters, and the rpm would go to the moon
and bend a valve or break a valve spring.... at best.. or it could be real bad & break the motor.. 
You have to be "SURE" of your shifting abilities.. because if you miss a gear the rpm will go to the rev limiter..
Back when I was young, we didn't have rev limiters, and the rpm would go to the moon
and bend a valve or break a valve spring.... at best.. or it could be real bad & break the motor..
Last edited by jpee; Feb 19, 2012 at 10:40 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 45,265
Likes: 8,538
From: Rochester, NY
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,822
Likes: 442
From: Boca Raton Florida
Excellent question. I have read everything that came with this car (in minute detail plus I have all shop manuals for it), naturally I am familiar with power shifting but no where in any of the documentation (and the youtube videos I have watched) says that the launch control must be utilized this way (other than having the gas pedal on the floor before launch). Anyhow I am not much of a dragster, I prefer closed circuit racing, I would probably break something so I wont even try it..
How did you fare with this method?. No I have not launched the car yet, just experimented with putting it in that mode ready to launch.
How did you fare with this method?. No I have not launched the car yet, just experimented with putting it in that mode ready to launch.
The Consigliere
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 22,992
Likes: 6,041
From: 2023 Z06 & 2010 ZR1
I've deployed launch control on my ZR. RPMs settled north of 4k. And yes, you can shift without lifting the throttle. Once you lift the throttle any amount at all, it pulls you out of launch control mode. It's a little unnerving the first time you use launch control as it goes against everything you may have been taught - like flooring the throttle with clutch in, and not lifting throttle during shifts etc.
But it definitely works.
But it definitely works.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,822
Likes: 442
From: Boca Raton Florida
I've deployed launch control on my ZR. RPMs settled north of 4k. And yes, you can shift without lifting the throttle. Once you lift the throttle any amount at all, it pulls you out of launch control mode. It's a little unnerving the first time you use launch control as it goes against everything you may have been taught - like flooring the throttle with clutch in, and not lifting throttle during shifts etc.
But it definitely works.
But it definitely works.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,608
Likes: 13
From: New Rochelle N.Y. 2013 Grand Sport
I've deployed launch control on my ZR. RPMs settled north of 4k. And yes, you can shift without lifting the throttle. Once you lift the throttle any amount at all, it pulls you out of launch control mode. It's a little unnerving the first time you use launch control as it goes against everything you may have been taught - like flooring the throttle with clutch in, and not lifting throttle during shifts etc.
But it definitely works.
But it definitely works.
The Consigliere
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 22,992
Likes: 6,041
From: 2023 Z06 & 2010 ZR1
Thi is most intertesting!...let me try to understand this. I thought the launch control was strictly for the initial launch, and you were entirely on your own after that, your shift points and methodolgy. What RPM's do you shift at, how does the shift RPMs are controlled (if any) on 1-2 and 2-3 shifts?...
No, it's not strictly for the launch, altho you can use just for the launch if you want. I.e. you can launch with it and then lift throttle for the 1-2 shift, tho once you lift throttle for that shift you are out of launch control mode.
Or you can launch with it, and keep the throttle buried, don't lift at all, and you can shift with throttle buried and it will manage the rpms b/n shifts. I've actually shifted all the way into 4th gear without lifting in launch control mode. I shifted just before redline.
The Consigliere
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 22,992
Likes: 6,041
From: 2023 Z06 & 2010 ZR1
Or you can use LC for just the launch and lift throttle for the shifts. Once you lift, tho, you're out of launch control and on your own.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 584
Likes: 2
From: Gilroy Ca.
My Drag Racing experience is 40 years old. But I did learn some things in the 60's. Power Shifting can get ugly. Best not to go to Red Line before shifting, because it will rev even higher during the shift.
Practise power shifting at half throttle. Shift at 4000 rpm or even 3500 rpm. Go through 4 gears. You will never need more than that in a 1/4 mile. If you do, you have a very fast car.
During this practise you will not be accelerating that fast. Don't worry about that. Just practise your shift. Never push the throttle to the floor. When you feel confident that you will hit every shift every time, add more throttle and gradually get faster. Even when you are at your best, shift about 4500 rpm. This is in your best torque curve and it give you a little room if you are too slow on the shift. Acceleration is all about torque. How well an engine increases it's RPM under load. You don't need to over rev to get good times. Go ahead and red line accross the finish line. That's okay, just not on the shifts. Have fun.
Practise power shifting at half throttle. Shift at 4000 rpm or even 3500 rpm. Go through 4 gears. You will never need more than that in a 1/4 mile. If you do, you have a very fast car.
During this practise you will not be accelerating that fast. Don't worry about that. Just practise your shift. Never push the throttle to the floor. When you feel confident that you will hit every shift every time, add more throttle and gradually get faster. Even when you are at your best, shift about 4500 rpm. This is in your best torque curve and it give you a little room if you are too slow on the shift. Acceleration is all about torque. How well an engine increases it's RPM under load. You don't need to over rev to get good times. Go ahead and red line accross the finish line. That's okay, just not on the shifts. Have fun.
The Consigliere
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 22,992
Likes: 6,041
From: 2023 Z06 & 2010 ZR1
One last thing I should point out. Having used LC a few times and getting a good sense of how it behaves, but not doing any back to back comparisons b/n LC and me doing myself, I don't know whether I could beat LC or not. I'm just an average Joe pilot and haven't done any back to back dedicated experimenting with it. My sense is, I may be able to do better than the system with enough practice.
That said, being familiar with how LC behaves, I have zero doubt in my mind that if I lined up against Fartpipe, Kyle Lemish, Ranger et al - that class of hot shoe 1/4 mile guys - that they would smoke my *** with me using LC.
I also have zero doubt that if I lined up against those guys and I wasn't using LC, that I get my *** kicked there as well
.
That said, being familiar with how LC behaves, I have zero doubt in my mind that if I lined up against Fartpipe, Kyle Lemish, Ranger et al - that class of hot shoe 1/4 mile guys - that they would smoke my *** with me using LC.
I also have zero doubt that if I lined up against those guys and I wasn't using LC, that I get my *** kicked there as well
.
