tips for the track

mustangkid05 · Jul 2, 2007

going in 2 days, and i need some tips like on how to launch it right, and how not to break anything, so all help would be appreciated

Stan Weiss · Jul 2, 2007

Stick or automatic? Stock rear end gears? What size tires? What HP increasing modifications.

I have a stock 2000 GT 5 speed 3.27:1 rear and toyo 245-45-17 tires. I leave the line at about 2600 RPM and drop the clutch, and have traction control turned off and have run a best of 2.056 60' times.

hotmustang331 · Jul 2, 2007

Just ride the clutch out, but very quickly. Let it catch, and everything in the drivetrain connect, and then at the same time start going wot and release the clutch all the way at the same time. It just comes with practice. However with a near stock GT on non DRs, launching like stan should not do any damage....you really must be on DRs or better to break the rear with a dumping launch.

I have dumped the clutch before from about 3K on street tires...it works ok, but it really shocks the drive train. Also you tend to bog badly if it hooks, so better 60's come by way of riding it out a bit and launching closer to 3500RPMs, just work your way up from about 2800. JMO
With 479RWHP, combined with nitto DRs, and the stock rear (- 3.73 gears) it is still 100% fine...so im going to say that riding the clucth a bit works at keeping the rearend alive. Alot of stock mach 1s with 17 inch nitto DRs have lost the rear, and IMO its all in how you drive it.

Mike97gt · Jul 2, 2007

Just ignore the car next to you I know it's hard but forget about trying to nail the tree and getting a good R/T just get good at launching the car then work on do it correctly with good R/T's

Remember the R/T does not effect your times or trap speed since the clock does not start until you are moving.

04GTMustang · Jul 2, 2007

what i usually do is slip the clutch around 3grand and as i am letting the clutch out more i am applying more gas. my best 60' on 245 street tires was a 1.9 but after she launched well i guess she decided well crap i am running street tires i shouldnt be hooking and every gear there after first it spun lol it would have been my best run to date but no it wanted to spin alot in 2nd and 3rd like the track was wet. still ran a 9.1 though which was pretty amazing cause i def spun it to the limiter in 2nd lol

o well just worry about ur launch dont worry about r/t it wont affect u anyways.

mustangkid05 · Jul 2, 2007

ok so since im basically stock i shouldnt be worried?

04GTMustang · Jul 3, 2007

no u should be fine. most people with boltons can launch pretty hard all day long on drag radials and be fine. if you are geared and have slicks and are hooking really well then u should be worried.

mustangkid05 · Jul 3, 2007

ok, im pretty nervous since i've never been to a track, let alone driven at one. im just going to baby it a little out of the hole then just go wot. sound good?

COramprat · Jul 3, 2007

Once you get used to launching you'll find what works. Don't be nervous and don't worry about what anyone else will say or think. Everyone has a first time. Just have fun...

Try to drive around the water box. You don't want water on your tires. Your burnout should last long enough just to clean the pebbles off the tires. About 3-4 seconds. Do you have a 5 speed or auto?

When you stage make sure you roll to light the second light. First light is the pre-stage. I can't tell you how many new guys I've seen roll up and light the pre stage and stop. The the track guy has to get them to roll a little bit further.

04GTMustang · Jul 3, 2007

COramprat said:
Once you get used to launching you'll find what works. Don't be nervous and don't worry about what anyone else will say or think. Everyone has a first time. Just have fun...

Try to drive around the water box. You don't want water on your tires. Your burnout should last long enough just to clean the pebbles off the tires. About 3-4 seconds. Do you have a 5 speed or auto?

When you stage make sure you roll to light the second light. First light is the pre-stage. I can't tell you how many new guys I've seen roll up and light the pre stage and stop. The the track guy has to get them to roll a little bit further.

last time i tried to go around the waterbox the asshat i was racing got pissed off cause he thought i was taking his lane when i clearly told him that i was going under to miss the water lol. guy was so pissed at the end of the track pulled his helmet off adn all and he wasnt even a professional racer. if he was a pro i would see where he was pissed but hey i actually did him a favor he ran a better time in that lane anyways. or he was pissed off cause i got a better 60' than him on street tires. but then spun the rest of the way.

mustangkid05 · Jul 3, 2007

lol^ and what should i do about my tire pressure? lower it?

mustangkid05 · Jul 3, 2007

oh and it is a 5 speed, what should i expect to run my 1st time? like 14.8?

Bluffing024 · Jul 3, 2007

14.8 is pretty slow even stock. But if you keep you expectations low, you will be surprised at your results.

mustangkid05 · Jul 3, 2007

^ lol im not expecting a whole lot, since its my 1st time

Bluffing024 · Jul 3, 2007

I think you will end up running around a 14.5-14.6 your first pass.

mustangkid05 · Jul 3, 2007

^ maybe lol

Tim2002GT · Jul 3, 2007

If this is your first ever pass on the dragstrip, I would just leave the line off-idle. That way you won't boil the tires off as easy. Even leaving at idle, with good traction, you can run a mid-low 14. As you get used to the track, then try leaving at a little higher rpm.

40th GT · Jul 3, 2007

mustangkid05 said:
lol^ and what should i do about my tire pressure? lower it?

Yeah lower them to 26-28. What you want is a full contact patch, meaning all treaded parts of the tire should made contact with the ground. The contact area should not include the sidewall (this means your air pressure is too low), nor should it be concentrated to the center (too much pressure).

04GTMustang · Jul 5, 2007

yea i would say mid 14s would be reasonable for a first time. 26-28psi is a good place to put teh tires. i would leave off idle ur first run down the track just get the feel for it and then slowly start launching higher and higher so u can get use to slipping the clutch and applying more gas as ur letting it out. dont want to just sit and smoke ur tires the first time u go out there. although it does make a pretty good show for the people on the side watching.

mustangkid05 · Jul 5, 2007

well going tomorow wish me luck lol, hoping for mid 14s

tips for the track

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it doe snot

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...I can take it. I think.

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