Alright guys, I'm going to the track tomorrow evening for a T&T night. I've been once before in myrtle beach at Darlington a few weeks ago but thats the only time I've been. My car at the time had just an axle-back, NT555's, and an intake, otherwise stock. My best time was a 13.9 at 101 and a 2.23 60'. I'm looking to improve my launches and ET tomorrow night and would like some tips.

My car is an 05 GT, 5 speed with the fore-mentioned mods above. Since then I've added a TB spacer and an O/R X-pipe. Tires only have a couple thousand miles on them and are pretty much new. How can I improve my launch? At Darlington I was getting wheel hop and spin in first off the line, and I know LCA's and DR's would help with that. Most of my runs I was starting in first gear feathering the RPM's at about 1500-1800 and dropping the clutch.

Should I be revving higher? I tried not slipping the clutch because my car has 98k miles and I'm pretty sure its the original clutch and I don't know how much longer it will last. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

you're gonna have to slip the clutch, w/ street tires that's the only way, if you can afford to break stuff, don't race.

what rpm are you shifting?

are you power shifting?

 

I mean I can afford a new clutch, I have a $100 deductible with my warranty and it covers the clutch, but I'd rather not toast it if I don't have to. Will it significantly accelerate the wear on it by doing so? Im shifting around 6k rpm's and no, not powershifting. I usually can wind it out in 3rd gear by the time I get to the finish line. Stock 3.55 gears. Here's a video from MW at Darlington.


That wasn't one of my better runs either. I ran between 13.9-14.2 that day over the course of 8 runs.

 

You don't have to burn up the clutch, but you have to finesse it off the line. NT555s and stock suspension. It's gonna be hard to get that car rolling.

 

1. sit closer to wheel
2. launch higher and slip instead of dump...you were spinning then bogging...
3. if you're going to go ahead and shift to 4th I'd say shift a little sooner...

Im not certain where the 3V redlines but I'm assuming it's around 5800 or so... try shifting around 5K instead of redline if that is what you did on that pass.

 

I believe my car redlines right around 6300 or so, I'm not positive haha. I'm used to shifting at really high RPM's on my 600cc streetbike so its a little bit to get used to with a V8 that has half of the redline my bike has. I should shift when I make optimal torque correct? I will move my seat up closer, thats a good tip. It was quite a ways back from all the cruising I was doing so that should help with the clutch control!

As far as tires and suspension, I'm looking to improve that, as I would like to do more and more nights at the track since I have a very nice one 15 minutes away from me. I was thinking of getting an extra set of wheels and throwing some radials on the rear for strictly drag racing. And for suspension I definitely want to put on some lowering springs and get some LCA's. Mind you, I'm a college student so my budget is pretty limited in terms of car stuff.

 

I hear you on the college budget.

A spare set of 15" wheels with some Drags will help tremendously.

 

That'll probably be my next mod after a tuner

 

This'll help. And I can help you with the suspension prices.

 

You mean better LCA's? because you have LCA's just O.E.M.(crappy).
Look at Lower Control Brackets (LCB), they'll put a virtual triangle on
your rear, that will plant the tires better. Whiteline on AM = $109.