OFF. at the line, hold the brake until the tires are about ready to break loose. just before the light hits green, punch it. practice will give you the best launch. the quicker the 60 ft. times, the better the launch.
bigcat hit the fundamentals - Trac Control ON. Let it do what it was designed to do, keep the TQ on the pavement where you need it.
Keep in mind that you should only hold the torque load with RPMs steady up to about 2,200 RPM. The torque converter will be loaded and be ready for launch. Don't hold too long, the AOD fluid will cook quick.
Practice makes perfect. I prefer to hold the break with my left foot, accelerator with right and loading tranny, when I feel him "lurching" and @ green- lift left foot and stomp on accelerator. WOOT.
Have fun. Finding the "G" spot for launch on the 5 speed tranny takes some work.
guess it depends on how good of a driver you think you are. if you can control the wheel spin yourself, leave it off. if you just have to lay into it and burn the tires off the line, leave it on. if it is on and you start to loose traction, it will cut the throttle a bit and give you some wheel hop as well (at least if it is stock still). this will slow you down.
I have not driven the AOD stangs yet, but I would think that running with the TCS OFF would be the best option. If your tires spin even a little bit at high RPM it will kick the TCS in and cut power to the rear wheels and in the manual, at least, the car shakes and the tires hop in the rear. I am assuming the same thing happens in automatics.
DRIVE and control the throttle yourself with the TCS OFF. Don't allow the TCS to drive the car for you.
ALL IMO.