Getting Off the Line Quickly

[bemo]

Calling all racers! My conservative break-in period is nearly through and I'm curious.

Could someone please lay out their method/technique for getting the quickest(and safest for engine and driver) start from a stop using a 5 spd GT? If anyone wants to throw in their automatic transmission method, that's fine too.

Example:

1. Traction control set to ON/OFF
2. Clutch in held to the floor/ in but released to some tension
3. Heel on brake pedal or use of parking brake maybe?
4. Toe on gas pedal take revs to ???? RPM
5. Release clutch quickly, instantly, or something else
6. Simultaneously let heel slide off of brake pedal, falling onto the gas pedal
7. Shift to second at ??? RPM

I couldn't really do the heel/toe thing today when I tried due to the pedal spacing. I suppose it would help starting from a flat surface and you could forget about the brake unless the quickest way involves slipping the clutch a little.

Would I expect to get squealing tires? I have yet to hear this, but I'm still too gentle I suspect. Shouldn't I have been born with this knowledge? Thanks in advance.

[Cal Cruzer]

You really don't have to worry about heel/toe driving at the strip, that is more of a roadracing technique. I usually rev to about 2200-2400 rpm and don't dump the clutch. You want to slip the clutch as speed increases until rpm and speed are about the same. You can't just rev and dump the clutch and floor it or you will just smoke the tires.

I would turn the traction control off on the 5 spd. My clutch engages pretty low so I go almost to the floor with mind. I shift once I see about 5500 RPM

Inferno Red GT, chrome wheels, chrome AMP fuel door, chrome side spears, PT Cruiser 3rd light diffuser, silencers removed from airbox...ain't this car fun?!?!?

[renichms]

I don't have a GT but for mine...you leave traction control ON. In fact, you leave it ON for all of them. It PREVENTS wheel spin. I've had it prevent spin up to a 3500 RPM dump of the clutch. But 2500 or so is a better place to dump it, then floor it because the RPMs drop right when you dump it if you don't stomp it.

In a month or two I'll have video after my engine build...I'll show a good start.

RN

See Mephisto


2001 Silver LE 5-speed with: way too much to list here (255 character limit)

[Gary C]

What works for me, coming from the drag and road racing camp and being able to consitantly nail 2.0 sixty foots at the strip on true street tires and hitting 1.7's on slicks, is clutch slipping.
This weekend if the weather breaks I'll be heading off to the drag strip just to see what i can pull out of the car before modifications start.

Edited by - Gary C on 04/04/2003 18:10:27

[bemo]

Dumb question #1: How does one hold the car in one place while slipping the clutch?

[OurPTGT]

quote:
Dumb question #1: How does one hold the car in one place while slipping the clutch?

bemo,bemo,bemo tisk,tisk,tisk

That's a good question<img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle> nota dumb one....<img src=icon_smile_sleepy.gif border=0 align=middle>

Kevin & Donna's Elec Blue GT

Pictures of our PT GT

http://www.dreamcruisers.org/index/Page_1x.html

[Jeff V]

Kevin, I don't know what to thank you for the most - your good questions, your sense of humor, or inviting me to join the DCs. Never had an automatic before my GT, so this thread is making me salivate, thinking what might have been.

[rburton]

I have a 5 spd. and would agree - rev. the engine to about 2500rpm and then slip the clutch. I couldn't believe the result- the front end lifts up and before you know it, your tack is at 5000rpm. Had to let off the throttle abit, got a little nervous. Seemed like I was getting some wheel hop that worried me. Has anyone else experienced this? I wondered if it could be due to the cold weather up here in Canada and the pavement and rubber very cold? From that experience I don't think I'll dump the clutch. Has anyone dumped the clutch at 2500rpm in first gear?

[Cal Cruzer]

Even at 2500 rpm if you dump it your tires will just go up in smoke or it will bog, neither is the desired result.

Bemo, "slipping the clutch" means that you begin to engage the clutch when you want to start moving. You hold the clutch depressed to just before your engagement point till the light goes green ( well actually then the last yellow light comes on you can pretty much go is you stage real shallow and with practice you will cut a real close light, are we talking about being at the stip here?).

Anyhow, you are not engaging the clutch while sitting still. You rev the engine watching the tack and get it to the desired RPM, then hold it there while watching the christmas tree. You will have to apply more right pedal as you release the clutch to keep the RPM's up or you will bog, just don't drop the hammer and release the clutch all at once. It will take some practice to understand and get the hang of it. Don't get discouraged by a couple of bad starts. It is more of a feel thing that you will have to guage. Different tires will change this equation also. As mentioned above, slicks or drag radials will help you a lot ir you are going to the track. YOu will be able to launch a lot harder.

Okay, I am rambling. Later.

Inferno Red GT, chrome wheels, chrome AMP fuel door, chrome side spears, PT Cruiser 3rd light diffuser, silencers removed from airbox...ain't this car fun?!?!?

[Ian-PT-GT]

Hey jeff,

automatic ones are as hard as the 5-speed ones to control at the line.
mine is automatic and if you hit the brake, charge the turbo and preload the converter you will spin the tires and make a horible 2.55 at the 60 feet mark. This is with the boost controller set at 12-PSI or more.

I will post my usual extremly long posts on this topic on monday. I tried to reply to this topic on Friday and coudn't get it thru so it is saved in my office computer.

Ian