I'm gonna be taking my car to the 1/4 mile strip for the first time I'd like some advice on the best way to launch. It's a 94 z28 a4 vert with 2.73 gears, stock TC, and kumho 16" street tires. On regular roads, the tires slip quite a bit when floored off the line, so I've gotten into the habit of easing the throttle from 2/3 to full. anyways...what gear should the selector be on? should I ease the throttle or just floor it, not worrying about traction? and what's the best technique to get a good reaction with the tree? thanks in advance, and pardon my newbie questions!

 

As far as killing the tree, leave on the last amber not the green.
I have 3.73 gears so this technique may or may not help you.
I stall the car up to about 1200 rpms (this was before my stall)
and when the last amber lights up, release the brake and roll the throttle open.
Just flat footing the throttle will make a great smoke show but you won,t go anywhere fast.
Now this is on street tires, so drag radials or slicks will be different, you can hit them much harder.
Good Luck and have some fun cause thats what its all about.

 

I've owned two different LT1s with A4s, one with 2.73s and one with 3.23s, and in both cases I just launch off idle (no brake torquing) and then mash the pedal right to the floor. I've never had a serious problem with wheelspin unless the track isn't prepped right.

 

Its all about track prep, i would suggest doing one run easing into throttle, and if you get no spin, then the next time launch harder, and each time keep adjusting your launch to get the best 60ft time. Sometimes i can launch at 1,600 rpms or so and mash the gas and i get perfect traction, sometimes I can launch off idle and mash the gas and spin all the way to 50 mph....it just all depends.

 

Also, what mods do you have? Let me know how your track runs go!

 

At the track I race at I can just mash it off the line and not get much or any wheel spin. You might want to try stalling the car up a bit (may 800-1200 rmp's depending upon your tires and track prep) to see if you can get some good 60 ft times. It's all about the 60 ft times. Any 60 ft around a 2.0 is pretty respectiable. Good luck and let us know how it goes!


Later,

Mike

PS.... this probably should be in the drag racing forum.... FYI

 

I'd say first off try launching from idle exactly how you mentioned, give it about 2/3 throttle then ease it to the floor when you know your tires are sticking. If you have no problems spinning, try mashing the pedal to the floor. Once again if you have no problems, then try brake torquing and launching. So far my best 60's have been using the first method I listed, I have yet to go to a well prepped track.

 

thanks for the quick responses! i'll try all the techniques this weekends and post my times!