[zlathim]

If everything goes right, here is how I do it:

I stage as shallow as possible. I try to barely turn on the second bulb on the staging lights. I pre-load the drivetrain just as acammer has described in a bunch of the threads in this sub topic.

I start my pre-load hopefully just before (or just after) the first yellow bulb illuminates. In other words, don't sit there slipping the clutch as soon as both cars are staged if you are racing a 16 second car.

As soon as the 3rd amber light illuminates, I'm off the handbrake and hopefully letting the clutch slip enough that my RPMs stay in the healthy range as I launch. By the time I've rolled far enough to break the beams, the green light has hopefully only been on for 0.0xx seconds, but no longer than 0.15x, or I just lost the race.

I'm still working on it. When my staging routine gets interrupted (delay on the track, etc.) I usually screw something up. I treat it like a basketball free throw. Do everything, starting with my burnout exactly the same each time. When I'm dialed, I can win races. Usually I'm not as dialed as I'd like to be, but this is my first season of racing in 30 years, so I'm happy with the progress I've made.

Keep after it. I've looked at most of your posts in this section and it's obvious that you have the spirit. I was lucky enough to get into a small tight class of racers, and those guys helped me a bunch. The best help I got was from my imaginary internet friend acammer, who helped me immensely. Not only with racing, but also building my car. Otherwise, I would have been in here asking all of the same questions you are.

Keep at it and good luck.