Launching at the track with a stick shift...
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 86
Likes: 1
From: Holiday, FL
Launching at the track with a stick shift... My second car is a camaro with a 383 stroker and 500HP. Just curious to see how some of you guys with manual transmission cars are leaving out of the hole. I have only ever raced autos at the strip before and don't want to go out there my first time and look like a total ***! Thanks!
Well, depending on your setup, do not be afraid to break stuff.
In my old 302 SBF, little motor did not make any TQ, so I would leave on the gas. Had it full throttle activated. Pre stage, bring the revs up to @ 5000. Creep in, bump the light. Deck it, and let if fly. 7500 RPM launches on gas (250 Pills). Ladder bars. 28x10.5. Fox Body Mustang. 1.30-1.32's 60' all day long. Car went 9.70's rowing gears. Alot of fun, but alot of maintenance when the HP starts getting up there. I broke trannies, axles, diffs. Just keep upgrading
3rd gear burnouts by the way with 4.56's and 28" tire
In my old 302 SBF, little motor did not make any TQ, so I would leave on the gas. Had it full throttle activated. Pre stage, bring the revs up to @ 5000. Creep in, bump the light. Deck it, and let if fly. 7500 RPM launches on gas (250 Pills). Ladder bars. 28x10.5. Fox Body Mustang. 1.30-1.32's 60' all day long. Car went 9.70's rowing gears. Alot of fun, but alot of maintenance when the HP starts getting up there. I broke trannies, axles, diffs. Just keep upgrading3rd gear burnouts by the way with 4.56's and 28" tire
on my old set up i used to launch right around 5500 sidestepping the clutch and rolling into the throttle. only have bmr lcas and torque arm, qa1's all around, an airbag in the right rear and i took off the front sway bar. used 275/40-17 mickey thompsons, a 12 bolt with 4.10s, hovered around 1.60 60' leaving a lot on the table with the wheel and tire choice.
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Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 86
Likes: 1
From: Holiday, FL
I guess some more information would have been better to give on my part. The car is a 3rd gen F body(camaro). I built it as a street/strip car. It made 419HP/430TQ at the rear wheels. I have a Currie built 9 in in it now with a Detroit Locker, 35 spline axels, and a 3.90 gear. The suspension is all Spohn stuff, tubular adjustable LCA's, Panhard bar, transmission crossmember with a torque arm that bolts to said x member, pinion nagle set to -3 degrees. Not sure about the wheels and tires yet cause I am running Baer brakes all the way around. The fronts require a 17 inch wheel, but the backs might be able to squeak away with a 16. I will probably end up running some sort of 275/xx/16 or 17 drag radial, which I think should be plenty enough tire for this car.
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Verdad Gallardo i would run a 26x11.5x16 st drag or et street on the rear and like said bring the revs up to 5000 or so and hold on 
drag radials are very hard on the drive train trust me on that !
drag radials are very hard on the drive train trust me on that ! So did I! I went C4 then 'glide. My last trip down the track was 10, almost 11 years ago. When Istarted putting my current ride together, I ALMOST went auto. But, I decided that since teh auto stuff is so boring, and I built this car to have fun, that stick was the way to go. Plus, this car will not be a drag only car. Gonna see the Texas Mile and maybe teh Silver State as well. I am building this car to be a "world beater"....drag, street, top end, handling, etc....
There are numerous threads on stick launching tips 