Just trying to get a consensus: What RPM do you launch at when dragracing?

I got beat by a 5.0 wednesday night. I was pissed because I reved it up right before the light, and got a lot of wheelspin/hop.





[Modified by jond, 9:07 AM 7/12/2002]

 

Roughly 7000rpm on slicks
between 2-3000rpm on street (FD enhanced)

 

!!!!!

 

i raced a mustang 5.0 first time (and last time) at the strip. i launched at 3000 rpms on stock re010s.

The 5.0 got me off the line and i did not catch up until the 1/8th mile ...then i began to pull away from him like nothing. For a second I thought the guy was having engine problems...then someone told me how mustangs are torque monsters but slow down at higher speeds.

by the way, I went with a member from this board. First time on the strip for both of us, and we were going to race the first time against each other (2 stock ITRs).... the moron actually dumped his clutch at 7000's, glazing his clutch nicely and causes some engine problems. what a tool.... sheer idiotcy.



[Modified by Soup ****, 9:23 AM 7/12/2002]

 

I don't claim to be real good at launching but I seem to do OK. I'm bone stock and am rolling on the stock rubber. I rev to about 4K, then drop the clutch pretty hard untill it starts to engage, at this point I floor the gas, then I lightly feather it untill it hooks up.
HTH
M

 

Yeah, when I FINALLY got to vtec in first I flew through it, hit second and just when I'm at about 7000rpm in second he left off the gas, I leaped past. I was pissed. I would have had him is we went through 3rd gear.


[Modified by jond, 12:10 PM 7/12/2002]

 

I heard thats a good way to launch. Sounds like murder for the clutch though..

 

Very true. It's a factory prepped race car with a warranty so I sure don't worry about the clutch at all.
M

 

I don't think the clutch is warrantied though since it's a wear item. It's like going to the dealership to get your brake pads replaced under warranty. I don't think it's going to happen unless it's a major malfunction that can't be attributed to normal wear and tear.

 

Oh, oh well. In that case when my clutch goes I'll have to buy one. A buddy of mine will install it in exchange for beer so it's no problem
M

 

Slip the clutch out at around 3500rpms or so on street tires.
Dump it out at 7000rpms on drag radials.
Slip it out real fast between 7800 and 8200rpms on 15" slicks.

Seems to work for me.

 

At the strip, I've been launching at about 5500-6000 RPMs with slipping the clutch. Is this good or bad as far as 60' times go? I've been hitting 2.28-2.30s by doing it this way. Any other suggestions?

 

i launch at around 4000rpm and let go the clutch graudally.

 

You generally want a fair bit of wheelspin for a quick launch. Feathering the clutch will only overheat and glaze it while giving you crap times. My best launches at the strip on R compound tires were with 6-7000 rpm clutch drops. My best street launches (on snow tires) were with 4500rpm clutch drops. YMMV.

 

jond what was your best time??

i have yet to go to a track with good conditions. It seems that the tracks in the states are a lot better then the ones up here. Everyones 60ft times are a lot better. Ive been to a few tracks, lots of times and they only put traction compound down on event days. So unless your racing on a day with an Event you get NO tracktion. This causes me to launch at much lower rpm's . Usually about 2 500 rpm is what i launch at and then i lightly feather it until i feel the tires hook up, then i floor it. But on the street where traction is a lot better i usually launch at about 5 500.

 

When i slip the clutch too hard or at too high revs, the clutch pedal seems to "jam" and the car just sounds like an annoying lawnmower.. i've stuffed up my launches by doing this afew times and it seems to be getting harder and harder to avoid it. My cars only done 3000 kilometres. I smell smoke everytime after doing that, even after afew minutes of driving.

 

Ditto

 

Haven't taken it to a drag strip yet.