I might be going to the track tommorrow and I'm wondering what people have found to be the best method of launching and shifting to get the best 1/4 time.

I am stock besides a Stillen intake.

1)What rpm do you hold before launch?
2)What tire pressure do you use in the FRONT tires?
3)Do you side step the clutch on 1st,2nd, or 3rd?
4)What FINAL gear do you HOLD for the end of the track?
5)Is there ANYTHING I should watch for, like bouncing the REV limiter in the final gear?
6)Should I try to shift at 6400 RPM, since 6500 is redline right?

I'm not too concerned with weight reducing tactics, since I don't plan on doing it every time I race.

 

1. Try holding 2200-2700 rpms before launching the car. You will have a couple of runs to find out which rpm is better for launching...the temperature will make all the difference for the launch of a front driver.

2. If you a racing on your street tire then 22-25 psi should be good. Try not to go lower then 20 because the side walls of the street might not hold up.

3. Slipping the clutch is ideal but can desrtoy your clutch. Be agressive and dump the clutch and feather the gas.

4. You will only need three gears for the 1/4 mile.

5. I just raced my car two weeks ago and here is what I found about where to shift. Because the 2K 5-speed cars have the throttle issue of to much air coming in after the throttle is closed. You need to shift at 6300rpms because the rpms when shifting between gears will jump to 6600rpms and if any closer you will hit the limiter. The new 2K limiter is jolting, if you hit the limiter in a 2K it sends you forward.

6. Shift the car at 6200-6300rpms.

Weight: make sure that the car is not full of junk and don't run with a full take of gas. One gallon if gas is equal to about 8 lbs. Good luck and remember it's a 4-door sedan not a rear wheel drive drag car so don't get upset if you get beat.

 

Others of us have found that the best launch is to rev to about 4000 rpms and walk the clutch out while bringing on the gas. The goal is to keep traction at the point just before the tires break loose. It takes a bit of work but will get you your best 60ft. time.

In my experience, if you dump the clutch, you'll get bad wheelhop (which is very bad for the car) or you'll bog.

I would also say to shift as close to redline as possible since that is where your max hp is. Ideally, you would shift past max hp to keep it in the sweet spot but we can't do that. You shouldn't hit fuel cut because when you shift you will be coming off the throttle (unless you are powershifting).

Just my opinion.

 

Exactly what I was going to say...
Slip the clutch out at about 3500-4000 RPM...DO NOT DUMP!
And shift just before redline (6500RPM)...
Revs should NOT jump up and hit the redline...
If they do...you're shifting WAY TOO SLOW...
You should be at the VERY TOP of 3rd when u hit the traps...
PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!
That is they key.

 

I did that the first time I went to the track....BAAAAAD. the best I got was 15.4 @92... that was with wheel spin & wheel hop like crazy!... plus I had my trunk full of **** plus my two 12's in the box with my full sound system... on my 18" rims. I could probably do better next time...

I'll try the 4k launch technique with some nice tires and lightwheight rims, octane booster, and I will take my **** out of my trunk.

 

From what I understand, octane booster won't do much in our engines (provided you are already running 93) except foul the plugs. Same for race gas.

 

What is "slip the clutch"? Do you hold the clutch right before it grabs and the let it out faster than normal? I'm new to the limit wheelspin idea. I just LOVE dumping the clutch and spinning the wheels(not good for time, but fun!) or is that one wheel(NO limited slip).

Is this advice before or after the SC? Just wondering incase I'm nearing the end of the 1/4 and my stock Max will be needing 4th gear. Your supercharger probably gets you there a little quicker, but you probably go through the RPM range quicker also. I dunno.

 

i want to know what he asked!!!

 

Ditto!

 

Yes. Shift a blink before 6500 rpm. I have found that my car will actually allow me to slightly exceed the indicated rev limit (6600 rpm or so) if I shift very fast. Going through the traps you should be knocking on the rev limit of 3rd gear. Dont shift to 4th as its not necessary unless youve got a power adder and will be doing more than mid 90's trap speeds. You should be able to get close to 97 mph traps while staying in 3rd.

I leave the line at about 4500 rpm and ride the clutch out like Max Gator described as he does, just at the edge of traction. Thats given me the best results. Dumping the clutch hasnt worked for me.

About 20-22 psi of front tire pressure seems to work pretty well with the stock Potenzas. Ive never really fooled with the rear tire pressures, but typically the higher the pressure the less rolling resistance and the less squat your car will have off the line. But, in our cars, Id suspect the differences wouuld be almost meaningless by adjusting the rear tire pressure upwards.

As an aside, I made a run where I shifted at about 6100 rpm instead of 6500. I ran over 0.2 slower by doing this. The 5th gens need to be revved to the limit to run their best times. One look at the torque/power curves will reveal this.