MikeT 88IROC350

Just wondering how everyone launches their car at the dragstrip. Check out the 4 options. I'm asking mostly street cars who run at the strip, not the pro bracket racers, but that's ok if you post.

IHI

iTrader: (1)

started foot braking, raised the r's to get a good R/T, not necessarily looking for best 60' even though often leaving with the chasis loaded did net the best 60's

moved to 4 wheel line lock and a button on the wheel...po man's transbrake that was allowed back them in street class

moved to a transbrake and will never look back, have tried racing a few different "street cars" my buddies have, and it's soo hard to fine tune consistant r/t's...not to mention it's allot fun letting go of the button...once you have one, you'll never want to go back to foot braking...heck, wish they had them for my works trucks....how funny would that be to see a big cube van blow'n coal, stuttering somehow but cutting fuel off or something, then leave in a flash LMAO!!

AlkyIROC

Love my transbrake. It's the only way to race an automatic. I also use a delay box and let go of the button on the first flash of yellow of the top bulb then sit back and wait for the delay box to release the transbrake. I'd also like to hook up a throttle stop to use as a starting line enhancer.

89importeater

hey guys i dont mean to hi-jack the thread but is it ok to use a transbrake on the street. not actually use it on the street but is it ok to have it in the tranny of a daily driver. and i know that i will need and differnt rear for high hp and was planning on useing a 9inch i am also swapping in a th350 instead of the 700r4. thanxs

5678TA

none of the above..

full stage, line lock/3step on button, pedal to the floor, time the 3rd bulb flash or twitch on single flash from protree, drop clutch and button same time.. auto's suck.. sticks RULE!!!

IHI

iTrader: (1)

all ive had for 4 yrs, not a problem at all.

sticks are fun, but i like winning races and money...give me an auto and i'll drive by that stick for the win light... theres guys that can row the gears effeciently/and consistantly...but they are few and far between..ive only seen 2 that were good at it and lasted 3 or 4 rounds.

1320_Guy

iTrader: (3)

There was a guy a few years ago that was somewhere in the top 5 in points that used to race a stick toyoda truck. I dont know how he did it, dident even have a tach in it.

Back to topic, i just hold the brake and stall it up till the car feels like it is about to move, and i leave on the first flash of the last yellow. The problem i am having is i am changing things inbetween races so the car acts diffrent every time i go to the track hard to get good consistant rt's with it.

Trevor86TA

I stage as shallow as possible, stall the car up to 1700rpm and drop the hammer as soon as I see the last yellow. It doesn't neccasarily optimize my 60' times but I am playing to win. If my lights are consistantly faster/slower than I want on a particular day I adjust the launch rpm accodingly to get what I want.

unknown_host

iTrader: (1)

That is exactly what I used to do, not sure how the new motor will launch though

MikeT 88IROC350

Good posts, folks, keep'em coming. I'm thinking of trying my line lock at the strip next time, just so back wheels are free to go. I wont be able to hold much rpm, been practicing this on my street. But I kinda get the feeling that it will go quicker off line, when I mash gas and release button.

I am just trying things since I got my new converter, a PI Vigilante. I had them build it to 2800-3000 stall, but I am not holding to that with brakes. I talked to them on phone, and they told me how to check the "flash stall". But still that wasnt real easy, and I dont have a good number for that.

But what they were definitely hinting at to me, was using a transbrake for the ultimate way to launch an auto car.

AlkyIROC

Transbrake is the best way to launch a drag car. Don't try it with a 7.5" 10 bolt though. I doubt the tiny ring and pinion can take the shock load. A 12 bolt or 9" should be used. Also recommended are 1350 u-joints and a good driveshaft.

A transbrake allows the tranny to be in first and reverse at the same time effectively locking the transmission and no power comes out. When the transbrake is released, the fluid in the reverse circuit is dumped and the car launches forward.

With a transbrake, you can only bring the engine rpm up as high as the converter's true stall speed. I've never done a full stall with my transbrake. I only launch at 4500 rpm. Based on my replay tach, I estimate my stall speed is around 6000 rpm since the engine never goes below that all the way down the track. Using a transbrake and a 2 step, you can launch at the same rpm every time which improves consistency.

5678TA

i know that consistency is the name of the game nowadays but where i'm from, you get more respect with a stick.. i only know of a handfull of sticks that are in the 11's.. and only one in the 10's.. the best racer i've seen with a stick runs an 02 camaro that rapes the competition at the 12.90 index class.. rape like running a 12.905 in the finals with a .510 reaction(.500tree).. fastest run for him was 11.8xx.. he beats autos like crazy.. i'm workin on the consistency part.. i almost beat the runner up from last years points race in the 11.90 class.. had just under half a car on him through the traps but he tree'd me by .04 and i broke out by .006.. *shrug* what was i to do? he was runnin 12.0's and 12.1's the whole night before..

WheelsUp84z

iTrader: (2)

how does he run 11.8's but consistany run win in the 12.9 index..he spraying to get 11's?

5678TA

no, he uses 275/40-17 drag radials() instead of the normal 28x11.50 et streets he uses for the 11sec runs.. and does a bit of short shifting.. he doesnt want to run the 11.90 class because he has no room to play with like he does with the 12.90 class.. and his fastest was in the mid 11.8's.. 11.9's are a bit too fast since the average for him with the et streets is just under a 12.0..

on spray and the et streets, he's been 11.1@127ish.. i think that was a 100 shot.. not too sure..