Here's the sitrep: the strip we have in Hell Paso, TX has 60ft of concrete from the tree, then we transistion onto asphalt. Depending on wind, weather, and the mood of the racing gods, that strip can take away a good 5/10ths off our runs !!
My question is, how does one learn to launch a modded 6 speed, on Mickey ET's, off of a skating rink? I've tried dumping the clutch from 3000 rpm's, easing into it from idle, and everything in between. Nothing seems to work, and I'm getting tired of smelling my clutch fry! I spin, and spin, and spin some more! All you hot foots out there, some advice, please!

 

Two things:

1) Do a very hot burnout with 16-18 psi in the tires.

2) Tell them to prep the track better! e.g., more VHT

 

16-18 psi? Are u on crack?
You def. wont be hooking with that PSI

I would set it between 10-11 PSI, do a healthy burnout and let off the brakes but keep it gased till you feel the tire "dry" or snap and grab ya.

 

The burnout and "snap & grab" isn't the problem. the burnout box is, of course, asphalt... Linen' up on the tree thru the 60' is all concrete tho. That's where my problem lies, gettin thru the 60' without spinnin' the tires. The lowest psi I ran was 14psi, tires nice and gummy.

 

Naw, I'm not on crack, not even any weed. Just a little allergy meds Maybe I just know how to do it better than you?

Hmmm...I run 18-20 psi in my 16" BFG DR's and pull 1.6x short times with only a 2800 stall and a 3750 lb. race weight. Like I said, track prep has a lot to do with it, but so does the driver and his technique. Of course I'm not that good.....any more

 

Asphalt is always slippery. That's why the more concrete on a track, the better. 60' only is a poor track. 330 is much better. Very good tracks go to the 1/8 mile and the ultimate is the full 1/4 mile. Our local track will be trying for the 330 mark for the 2005 season.

As for practicing, it's better to practice on asphalt. Although concrete is better, a launch pad is made from a different mixture than a skating ring plus a launch pad needs VHT for traction. Trying to launch off a concrete pad with no VHT equals no traction. The VHT will stick to concrete better also. A properly prepped track needs to be washed before any VHT is applied. All the sand and dirt needs to be removed so that the VHT can stick to the concrete. If not then the VHT will just be pulled off the track by the slicks.

 

Welcome to the club of 'unprepped track racers', dude!
You can try as hard as you like, but you won't get better sixties than 1.8s...that's the borderline with rear wheel drive cars, slicks and unprepped track, believe me...

 

Hooking on concrete...sounds like a street racing lesson.

The best thing I can tell ya is warm those ETs up real good and carry the burnout out. If nothing else, try to get lined up behind a fat tire car. Unless he craps all over the track, it'll leave a real good groove for you to run in.

 

Do you have a line lock? or do you do brake stands when heating your tires?

 

Most of the tracks in the Southeast start as concrete then fade to asphalt after the 60' mark and the main reason for that is if someone is going to break ...it usually happens within the first 60'. If you blow oil all over the starting line and it was asphalt then it gets absorbed deep down and makes launching nearly impossible. They heat up spilt oil with a torch and cant do that on the asphalt or it will melt it and create a lumpy ,whoopty doo pothole effect to the track that will eventually break your driveshaft or rear from hopping.



Also to the comment about Raptor being on crack...
I gaurantee Mark knows more about drag racing than 85 percent of the people on this board with me included. He is not on crack when he tells someone a personal experience pressure that has netted him a championship. Go ahead and drop your tire pressure on down...I saw a car pull the damn tire clean off of the rim trying to run 10 lbs of air in them.

 

All very good advice, gentlemen, thank you...
I'm going to run the car this weekend as well (bracket races for purse) and try increasing the pressure in the rears. My past runs started with 18 psi in the tires, I'll start with 22 and see where that takes me.
No, I don't have line lock, I brakestand until she starts creeping, then release the brake and ride the spinning tires through the start line, trying to lay down some rubber. The starter hates that!!
I'll keep you all posted on my successes, if you care...

 

This must be quite a trick to do - brake standing a 6 speed on the starting line and then leaving at 3000 rpm.

 

I think me means he brakestands on his burnout and then when he releases the brakes he spins the tires across the starting line. No wonder the starter hates it!

 

And it'll get you an automatic DQ at most tracks.

 

This I know, which is why I wasn't even thinking that he might be carrying his burnout past the starting line