I went to a 1/8th mile track last night and had lots of trouble launching and getting low 60' times. I know tires make a difference but even with drag radials, I still could only manage 60'=2.1 sec. I know that is pretty good for FWD but these are drag radials.

I thought maybe it is my technique. How do you launch?

 

2.1 is a darn good 60' time. You are doing just fine

 

that is the 2ND best i have seen. the best being 2.0. so i think YOUR DOING WELL

 

Was that with street tires or drag radials? My street tires, Kumho 712, could only get like 60'=2.3+sec. I saw my friends in Z28s and Mustangs consistiently get 1.9-2.0 60' times on not that great street tires. Or is it just because of the FWD set-up.

 

FWD has a lot to do with it. 2.1 in a max is pretty good. 2.3 on street tires is till pretty good.

You are at a disadvantage because when you launch, the weight of the car transfers off of the drive wheels, costing you traction.

 

I dont want this to be a flame but a 2.1 with drag radials isnt that great. I pulled a 2.1 60 foot last time at the drags on 225 50 16 BFGoodrich V rated Comp TA street tires. This is also with the stock SE suspension, stock motor mounts, and my 2 15" woofer stereo in tow and spare tire.

 

Yeah, I agree with you about my 60' times which is why I am looking at my technique. So how do you launch?

 

it was the nitto drag tires.. was the 2.0 , on RWD firebird. i have not run my car down the track just seen times at the track and from people here. 2.3 is good as well off street tires.

 

I net 2.20s with a 3000 rpm clutch drop on some crappy Kelly Chargers at 20psi, 205-65-15. 2.1s with drag radials is pretty poor. If I was you I would just start experimenting with different techniques. I've never been on drag radials or slicks, so I don't know how they behave. Just try say 3000 rpm drop, see how you do, and then the next run try 3500 or 4000. try dropping and slipping both, see what works best. It will take a while to get your best method worked out. I think SprintMax gets 2.1s on his street tires with a 5000 rpm clutch slip launch. The rear drive cars that were getting 1.9s on streets is because of the physics of rear wheel drive. They will always be able to net .2 or .3 second faster 60's than FWD cars on similar tires, theres no way around it.