need help with launch

[galaxie]

Advice please! I have a date at the drag strip to race my neighbor and his new 300 M hemi. I think I can make it a race if I can launch properly. I am driving a 66 coupe 289 with about 290 hp at the fly wheel, 350 (non posi) 9 inch rear end with a top loader 4 speed. shrug: 14 inch tires 205r ) Please advise what techniques to use. Thanks!

 

[stangonline]

The absolute best thing you can do is sneak a trip to the track BEFORE you guys meet up. Get some practice in! Cars hook up completely different at the track compared to the street, so any experience you have off-track isn't going to help much, and could even hurt.

Any chance of borrowing someones wheels/tires? Drag radials would be great!

Jeff

 

[302 coupe]

well, your launch is gonna suck, no matter what you do. Skinny tires, manual trans, 3.50 peg legger, be prepared to be disappointed. That setup just isn't likely to jump off the line without massive tire spin. You'd be doing good to cut a 2.20 60 ft, which is probably about what the 300C will do also. However, if you really have the hp you say you do, you'll have the advantage once rolling, your car is way lighter than his. Just try not to screw up the launch too bad, and nail all your shifts afterwards, you'll be ok.

 

[FORCED2DV8]

Throw in a LSD or posi unit, That will help you the most, Your launch will never be that hard with a open diff. You should do pretty good though, your car is light and with that HP it should be close.

 

[Cannoball888]

well, your launch is gonna suck, no matter what you do...manual trans...be prepared to be disappointed.

Why do you say a manual transmission is worse for drag racing?

 

[rbohm]

the good thing about a manual trans at the strip is that you can set your launch rpm anywhere you want in the engines rpm range. the bad thing is that manuals, rather the drivers, are inconsistant with the launch as well as shifting. it is easier to miss a gear with a manual than it is with an auto.

best to launch your car at about 1500-2000 rpm, and roll the throttle on as quickly as possible while avoiding wheelspin. you also want to let the clutch out quickly, but also avoid either wheelspin or bogging(dont embarrass yourself and stall the car on the line ). if you can get your 60ft times down into the 2.0-1.9 range, which is doable on street tires, you will have an advantage.

one more thing, you want to leave on the last yellow, and squeeze the light hard as that is how you get your best reaction times. just avoid lighting the red bulb. every advantage you can gain at the light and in the first 60ft, is more that your opponent will have to make up down the track, which is harder on cars that are fairly equally matched.