Why Can't I Launch?
 

Let me begin by saying I did not have an all out 'race' per say.
If you want to skip the story, scroll down to the page divide.

It started on my way to my gf's from work when I passed a ricer civic and my gf's brothers '95 LT1 Formula *auto*

He called and said the Civic and a 'friend' of ours in his newly purchased '02 GTI 1.8T were going to race.

I got there right before they took off, back road, just industry, and nobody other than the drivers to get hurt. I believe they said the GTI took the Civic by about 4 cars by the time they were at about 80ish.

So me and my gf's brother followed behind after they were done to go talk, and see what was up/what happened.

As soon as we got down there, EVERYONE wanted the two of us to race, and despite ugent begs from everyone but my gf's brother, I was the mature one and said NO races.
[hr]
[hr]I did however decide to 'launch' practice against him and just run to the middle of 2nd gear *or about 30ish mph*

I did a minuratue worthless skipping burnout just to warm the tires a tad.

We were next to eachother and I told him to say go.

He *as most people accidently do* jumped a tiny bit with squeeling tires. I attempted to slip the clutch a bit around 3500 or so and all I got was spin spin spin........

He put maybe a front tire length on me between the jump & launch and after that, I shifted to 2nd a bit too early. From there it was about even to 30-40 mph, him about a quarter car in front and staying there.

I think from a roll it'd be a good race.

My question is, why do I suck so bad at launching? I know the tires weren't heated up, but compared to an auto LT1 on bald tires why couldnt I do much of anything?

Again, im not claiming death or anything else, it wasnt really a race, we just took off next to eachother to see what would happen.

Mods:
1995 Pontiac Firebird Formula
Auto LT1 recently rebuilt *stock*

1999 GT 5sp
4.10's, o/r H, Borla c/b, MT ET Street Radials

RE: Why Can't I Launch?
 

The MT streets need to be warmed up just like anyother race tire. A better burn out that creates some smoke would give you stickier tires. I would suggest practicing a few times at the track. Also, the guys I know using the drag radials are launching at higher RPM's, "shocking" the tire into sticking to the ground. A cheap way to help your 60' time is to put some anti squat brackets on your car. It relocates the rear lower control arms. How is your clutch by the way? Does it feel like it's slipping? All things to consider.

RE: Why Can't I Launch?
 

Those ET Street radials really shouldn't need to be heated up much unless they are brand new.

RE: Why Can't I Launch?
 

wow... I was thinking you were on street tires at first...

Just warm the tires up good and launch thefukc out of it:D

RE: Why Can't I Launch?
 

You do need to heat them up. Mine are really weird. Depends on where I'm at, but I can be rolling in first and stab it, and it will fry the Mickey's. Other times, I let the clutch out fast and it dead hooks. It's the craziest tire I've ever had on a car. You need to heat them every time.

RE: Why Can't I Launch?
 

Another thing is that you are ona bone stock suspension. I was not convinced that doing suspension work would make THAT much difference on a street car.. it makes a world of difference.

Before the suspension with the 315 nittos they would just go up in smoke any time I went WOT in 1st. Now, I get zero tire spin up to about a 2200/2300 RPM launch, with very little/no heating. Every time it gets warmer outside and I try it it gets better (nittos seem to hate the cold).

Look into some lower control arms, and some adjustable shocks/struts. It was a night and day difference.

RE: Why Can't I Launch?
 

I don't know guys, suspension really is not my thing.
It's like investing money that you only see results from when you are at the track, and since I'm never at the track *once to twice a year* I just don't see the point of it.


But at the same time, I see people time slips with 1.9 and even some occasional 1.8 60' times on Nittos and BFG's and I'm pretty sure we can all agree that the tires sitting on the ass of my car are stickier/better than nittos and BFG's as well.

I don't know. I pulled a 2.05 60' once, and most recently at the track a 2.149 *which is stock tire range*

Hopefully up at Milan MI for our MustangForums meet I can impress everyone with a 1.9-high 1.8 range 60' time and rocket into the mid 13's in the 13.4-13.5 range.[>:]

RE: Why Can't I Launch?
 

don't 4.10's really make launching tricky too?

or is that some BS I was fed awhile back?

RE: Why Can't I Launch?
 

Thats what I gathered about 4.10's aswell.

RE: Why Can't I Launch?
 

Gonna send ya a PM, but trust me the suspension is worth it. Its fairly cheap and it makes a big difference.