How to launch for a race?

[ihaveacamaro]

haha true the rx-8 was very slow at acceleration... i cant wait for the upgrade (torque, horsepower, beauty, girls hehe) from the rx-8 to the camaro

[Carlos Garza]

There is a threat around here somewere about that topic... I'll look for it...

[MSG']

Very well said Dan3 I know if I would have bought this car 15 years ago, I probably would have been killed or killed someone else, glad I didn't, I only plan on racing on the track. 15 years ago, I would attempt to race anyone that wanted too anywhere on the road lol.

Originally Posted by Dan3

Ok, I'll be that guy...


It's great that someone your age actually wants to learn how to drive the car, and realizes that there is more to driving than making the tires squeal in corners. For a good basic takeoff from 0, dump the clutch from around 3k rpms and adjust on following runs. You will have to experiment with your car, but a good launch will have very little to no wheel spin. Be careful how many times you do this in a row, don't overheat your tranny and break something. A very safe guideline would be 2-4 launches, then wait 15-20min at least. (i'm talking just launches, not full 1/4mile runs. If you're doing full 1/4 runs allow time between each run, don't do them back to back)


If by "pretty well" you mean that you know where all the gears are, you don't stall the car, and you dont hit shit while driving without meaning to, then ok, I'll buy that. If by "pretty well" you are attempting to say that you are a good driver to in some way justify the next half of your post, then no. No you are not

About half the drivers on the road today fall in a range between bad, and legally retarded while driving. Most 17 year olds fall in this catagory. Assuming you are an above average 17 year old driver you would fall in the next bracket up that would classify as "unlikely to be the cause of injury or death" AKA "acceptable". This catagory only classifies as "good" drivers to insurance companies and people who fall in the bad to retarded catagory. Ask 95% of the men on this forum, most of us thought we could drive pretty damn good at 17. Almost all of us can probably say now that at 17 we were not near as good as we thought.
Only about the top 20% of drivers are honestly good or better drivers, and I strongly doubt you are there. Part of being a good driver is responsibility and good judgement. "Smokin' haters" mentality knocks you well out of that bracket. Confidence is important while driving, we al hate being stuck behind chickenshit drivers. Cockyness will result in damage, injury, or death. There is a line between the to, find it.

Leading to...


If they hate, then let them hate... or take it to a track. Road racing will not prove a damn thing. You will just wrap your car around a tree and we'll get another "Another one down" thread, or you'll wrap yourself around someone's family member or friend. Racing the dumbass beside you from stoplight to stoplight just proves that you're a faster idiot than him.


In closing...
You never know for sure who is actually in the car beside you or what their situation is.
Possible positive outcome:
No one gets hurt, you get to go brag to your friends what a badass you are.

Possible negative outcomes: You're road racing Joe Cool and...
... you lose control and hit a tree/pole/building destroying your car and injuring/killing yourself.
... someone or something steps/drives/rolls out in front of you. Best case, your car is damaged. Worst case, someone is dead and its your fault.
... you do everything right, but Joe is drunk/high/a bad driver and HE hits and injures/kills someone (or multiple someones). You're still a big part of why this happened and the cops and the victims family(ies) will be coming for you.


If you can consider all this and you're still considering "Smokin' Haters" you may now classify yourself in the "legally retarded" category, get the hell off my roads.

[ihaveacamaro]

Originally Posted by Carlos Garza

There is a threat around here somewere about that topic... I'll look for it...

i searched and couldnt find one so any link would be appreciated!

[multiSS]

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30849 follow this link to corvette launch control. camero has the same thing.It doesnt work that great on cold roads.You need a really hot day and sticky road, a drag strip would be perfect

[multiSS]

launch control on my 2ss holds rpm at 4500 for launch.thats a little too hi for the temps we are having in canada

[ihaveacamaro]

Originally Posted by multiSS

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30849 follow this link to corvette launch control. camero has the same thing.It doesnt work that great on cold roads.You need a really hot day and sticky road, a drag strip would be perfect

Great link very entertaining and informative

[wrek]

Possible negative outcomes: You're road racing Joe Cool and...
... you lose control and hit a tree/pole/building destroying your car and injuring/killing yourself.
... someone or something steps/drives/rolls out in front of you. Best case, your car is damaged. Worst case, someone is dead and its your fault.
... you do everything right, but Joe is drunk/high/a bad driver and HE hits and injures/kills someone (or multiple someones). You're still a big part of why this happened and the cops and the victims family(ies) will be coming for you.

The jury would not have sympathy for you. Just saying.

[tom692010]

Originally Posted by iwantacamaro

Could anyone give me tips/suggestions for how to get a good launch in a manual? like for any situation (drag racing, street racing)...

And what are the differences in the launch when starting from 0 mph compared to a rolling start?

and yes before anyone calls me out on this, i am an inexperienced driver. im only 17 and only been driving a year. however, the only car ive been driving is a manual rx-8, so i know how to drive manual pretty well.

anyways, im just trying to get better driving skills

So now that you have been given all the advice you need to stay alive I'll get back to the original question.

1st if you really want some answers from people who are doing the 1/4 mile there is a topic for that on the forum:
Dragstrip, Tracking, Autocrossing, Driving Techniques Discussions

excellent posts in there for just about every launch you would want to try. I have experimanted with them all and the best for me as far as time was to treat it like you were at a stop light. I roll off until the clutch is fully disengaged and them floor it.
I've tried the 3000 rpm deal and I would say that worked the 2nd best. Just don't pop the clutch out though. Reving over 4000 and popping the clutch brings nothing but tire spin. Under 3000 and you could stall.
The other thing I do is turn the traction and stability controls off. Good luck. Hopefully they have a test and tune night where you live so you can go every week. Out here in Colorado we have Bandimere speedway and it really is a blast.

[Carlos Garza]

this thread might help... http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showth...ghlight=launch

[V1c1ous]

Well I gotta chime in here. Cars and racing dont kill people. Street racing doesnt kill people. Idiots kill people. I've driven, raced, and road raced muscle cars for 35 years. Their is a time and place for every thing. Road racing is a part of being a teen ager. You guys that jumped on this kid need to go buy a Volvo. You pull beside me, you'll be choking on my tire smoke. Pull your panties up and be a man. And don't kill anyone for Gods sake !

[Kelso]

Originally Posted by V1c1ous

Well I gotta chime in here. Cars and racing dont kill people. Street racing doesnt kill people. Idiots kill people. I've driven, raced, and road raced muscle cars for 35 years. Their is a time and place for every thing. Road racing is a part of being a teen ager. You guys that jumped on this kid need to go buy a Volvo. You pull beside me, you'll be choking on my tire smoke. Pull your panties up and be a man. And don't kill anyone for Gods sake !

[1meanss]

Must be pretty cool parents if you have this car at the age of 17!
I envy you!

[V1c1ous]

My final response iwantacamaro, I never ever raced on an interstate (still dont). Those who do, need a $500 ticket and beat w/a night stick. Like I said, idiots cause accidents/kill people. We had a straight stip out side town, where everyone raced for generations, and we had look outs.....for other cars, and the law. We never killed anyone, but we did tear up some cars. Have fun, be carefull, and NO intersate/surburban racing....that will put you in the "idiot bracket". You are young, and you will learn like the rest of us, prolly tear something up, but dont be foolish. These guys pull beside me on an interstate and I WILL NOT race them. I know I can smoke em....and so do they...that why they call them idiots!!!! ps let the haters go on hatein.....most of them are in that bracket anyhow....You got a state of the art muscle car...drive accordingly....or buy a Volvo....lol