My First Launch Control Run
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Instructor
Joined: Jul 2020
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From: Las Vegas, NV
My First Launch Control Run
To start I have a stock 2019 A8 Z06. I have to admit I was a little nervous because I'm still new to the car and getting used to her. With that being said holy S%&T!!! I now personally know what the feeling is like after reading you guys rave about it on here! 
However, I'm wondering if my tires might be a little too low on their tread (4/32) or if the road I was on wasn't in the best shape for launching? The reason I say this is because as soon as I let off the brake the *** end kicked out to the left a fair amount while the wheels spun a bit. Then as I was starting to zoom down the road the car just felt unsteady and like I was going to lose control at any moment. As soon as I hit 60 I immediately came off the gas and started braking. Needless to say my adrenaline was going pretty good at that point but underneath that was this uneasy feeling that the car was right at that envelope edge. Is this just me not being used to the launch control experience? Or could it be something physically related to the car or road I was on? I realize unless you were there it's almost impossible to tell but just trying to get a little more info before I try it again.
Matt
However, I'm wondering if my tires might be a little too low on their tread (4/32) or if the road I was on wasn't in the best shape for launching? The reason I say this is because as soon as I let off the brake the *** end kicked out to the left a fair amount while the wheels spun a bit. Then as I was starting to zoom down the road the car just felt unsteady and like I was going to lose control at any moment. As soon as I hit 60 I immediately came off the gas and started braking. Needless to say my adrenaline was going pretty good at that point but underneath that was this uneasy feeling that the car was right at that envelope edge. Is this just me not being used to the launch control experience? Or could it be something physically related to the car or road I was on? I realize unless you were there it's almost impossible to tell but just trying to get a little more info before I try it again.Matt
Last edited by mattya9; Dec 26, 2020 at 11:40 AM.
Le Mans Master
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Using launch control is driving the car at close to the edge of the envelope. Things can go bad fast, especially with a Z06.
The warmer and stickier the surface and your tires the better the launch will be.
The warmer and stickier the surface and your tires the better the launch will be.
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As you stated without being there hard to offer a precise response. A lot does depend on road service and tire temperature, weather, etc.The rear end kicking loose a bit is normal, along with some wheel spin. Once launched and over the wheel spin however the car should feel stable and pull strongly like a train as they say. I have been well up in the triple digits in my Z and it felt stable. Mine being a M7 there is a bit of looseness up to 3rd gear where you definitely are feeling you are on the edge.
Last edited by dvilin; Dec 26, 2020 at 02:51 PM.
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I watched a few videos of this before I did it . There was one by an older guy in Fla. in his white z06. He did about 3-4 runs and I did not see his breaking loose any time .
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Be sure your front wheels are straight. Being a little off can have that effect.
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Matt
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This is how many Corvettes end up in the nearest ditch when the car feels "on the edge". Utube is full of these exploits
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Launch control cannot overcome conditions, as mentioned above it depends on a lot of things .... . I personally use it a lot at the track with my Bolt ON LT1 , the car would be faster launching without it but I prefer the consistency it provides me when using the factory runflats , I leave on the last yellow and I can't count the number of the many much higher horsepower cars I left sitting on the line smoking their tires trying to play catchup as i was already 60 ft down the track .....
In the summer time when it's warm it's like getting shot out of a cannon , when the temps drop you can feel the ECM pulling power as the tires fight to maintain their grip .
Dave
In the summer time when it's warm it's like getting shot out of a cannon , when the temps drop you can feel the ECM pulling power as the tires fight to maintain their grip .
Dave
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As you stated without being there hard to offer a precise response. A lot does depend on road service and tire temperature, weather, etc.The rear end kicking loose a bit is normal, along with some wheel spin. Once launched and over the wheel spin however the car should feel stable and pull strongly like a train as they say. I have been well up in the triple digits in my Z and it felt stable. Mine being a M7 there is a bit of looseness up to 3rd gear where you definitely are feeling you are on the edge.
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Not to long ago a car that did 13 seconds in the 1/4 mile was considered crazy fast and to get it any faster required a lot of money and skill
There are not to many people that can drive a 10 second car that has street tires on it ... and these are the guys you see getting in trouble, Some of the same guys that have enough money to buy a 1,000 HP ocean racer .......
It is going to feel loose and it is going to spin the tires into 3rd gear if you let it , the object is to give it as much power as the tires can handle and keep it under control for the conditions
Dave
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This covers it in a nutshell.
Traction control and stability control are mere aids, but you remain the driver.
My suspicion is there are many more crashes of high horsepower cars now involving misuse of power than there were before the nannies. Before the nannies you knew you had to take responsibility and listen to the car or you would instantly be spit off the road.
Too many drivers now put their foot to the floor and expect the nannies to not only give them the best performance but save them from disaster. This is not how it works.
Traction control and stability control are mere aids, but you remain the driver.
My suspicion is there are many more crashes of high horsepower cars now involving misuse of power than there were before the nannies. Before the nannies you knew you had to take responsibility and listen to the car or you would instantly be spit off the road.
Too many drivers now put their foot to the floor and expect the nannies to not only give them the best performance but save them from disaster. This is not how it works.
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I highly recommend practicing launches in large and empty parking lots, until you can run the first 100' in a straight line. Then hit the dragstrip (1/8th mi) to get higher speed experience. Public roads are never the same, so you don't know what works and what doesn't. When you learn the basics in a controlled environment, you'll have a better chance of correcting problems in the wild vs experiencing bad results.
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The LT1 can get away from you if you are not careful - I can only imagine how easy it is for the LT4 to do the same.
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Instructor
Joined: Jul 2020
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From: Las Vegas, NV
This covers it in a nutshell.
Traction control and stability control are mere aids, but you remain the driver.
My suspicion is there are many more crashes of high horsepower cars now involving misuse of power than there were before the nannies. Before the nannies you knew you had to take responsibility and listen to the car or you would instantly be spit off the road.
Too many drivers now put their foot to the floor and expect the nannies to not only give them the best performance but save them from disaster. This is not how it works.
Traction control and stability control are mere aids, but you remain the driver.
My suspicion is there are many more crashes of high horsepower cars now involving misuse of power than there were before the nannies. Before the nannies you knew you had to take responsibility and listen to the car or you would instantly be spit off the road.
Too many drivers now put their foot to the floor and expect the nannies to not only give them the best performance but save them from disaster. This is not how it works.
Matt