M5 DragRace Technique?

[Dominic]

I'm planning on hitting the strip soon in my Camaro - just waiting on it to get broken in well enough that I feel I will get halfway decent times. By the time I go I'll have my torsen installed and hopefully exhaust - do any of you have any good shifting techniques?

I've searched the web, can't find anything really geared towards shifting techniques, so I figured I'd poll you guys. I know its difficult to explain, but maybe this will help everyone including me [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Cale]

For starters, you may consider removing the 2 bracket that hold the front sway bar to the frame. I did that the other day just as I was bored and MAN did it EVER make a difference. Launching was a heck of alot less troublesome. The front end just COMES UP! It REALLY surprised me.

But... I have yet to perfect any sort of a technique - long way from it... but... I think maybe about a 2000-2300-2500 rev while feathering it so it does not spin may be one of the better ways to go. I've been to the track once and only got to run twice with it - I all but dumped the clutch around 2 grand each time and spun like amofo and scored a 2.2 and a 2.3 60'... needless to say - that wasnt the way to go.

GOod Luck

[NBMA4V6]

drive it as fast as you can to the motorsports place and get automatic installed and a high stall converter.. :D [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img]

i really dont know....2500 should be ok with a LSD and the dump the clutch and see if it hiold..if not then feather ..do whatever it take to launch as high as possible with out spinnin and then power shift the sh*t out of it. :D

Jeff W :D

[Dominic]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by NBMA4V6:
drive it as fast as you can to the motorsports place and get automatic installed and a high stall converter.. :D [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img]

i really dont know....2500 should be ok with a LSD and the dump the clutch and see if it hiold..if not then feather ..do whatever it take to launch as high as possible with out spinnin and then power shift the sh*t out of it. :D

Jeff W :D <hr></blockquote>

Thanks but no thanks. I had an automatic, and while I might not rule at the dragstrip in my manual - I am far happier believe you me [img]smile.gif[/img] I sacrificed TTops and Power locks/windows for my manual!!!
[img]graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]

[Skinny]

The only thing that'll make better launches is practice. Of course, "practicing" on the street doesn't help any. The track and the street are two different worlds. I would suggest first launching at about 2000 rpm. If you spin, launch at about 1800 the next time. If you bog, try 2200. Even if you get a decent launch, try adding 200 rpms anyway, you might get a better one. Eventually you'll find the right launch rpm. Track conditions and weather and so many other things dictate what rpm makes a good launch, so it might not be the same next time, but it should be close.

As for shifting, don't try anything fancy, just change the gears. You could try powershifting, which is pretty much leaving the pedal on the floor and "tapping" the clutch just long enough to slam it to the next gear. However, I DON'T RECOMMEND doing this with the stock clutch. It's not even too healthy on the stock tranny.

[navyblue2000]

what i did on my best launch...of course it was a 2.2x, which is pretty bad...i basically dumped the clutch at 1500 rpms and eased into it till i felt (now its a judegement call here) that i could rip and grip...something to try to to (and i'm tryin it tomorrow), load it up to 3000 or 3500...and dump out the clutch but DO NOT move the gas in any more...you'll spin like crazy...i'm gonna try 2500, 3000, and 3500 at the track...on the street i bogged at 2500, which is expected. i guess we'll find out

[-red97rum-]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by NBMA4V6:
drive it as fast as you can to the motorsports place and get automatic installed and a high stall converter.. :D [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img]

i really dont know....2500 should be ok with a LSD and the dump the clutch and see if it hiold..if not then feather ..do whatever it take to launch as high as possible with out spinnin and then power shift the sh*t out of it. :D

Jeff W :D <hr></blockquote>
"Anybody can stall a converter... But it takes REAL skill to bang gears all the way down the track." :D

[Blue Flame V6]

Dominic prewarning you will waste your tires @ the track. I went there use to street racing a stick and dumped it like I did on the street and almost took out the christmas tree missed it by a foot sure scared the guys @ the line he he. But be ready to launch way early and you might get a decent r/t. O and have fun!

[OnixV6]

always dump the clutch. don't even think about feathering it unless you want a new clutch sooner than normal. at what rpm depends on the traction. traction differs for every car and every track. at Englishtown, i launch 2500-3000 rpm. any higher and i would spin. but at the last AIS event, i was launching at 4500 rpm and they hooked. slight spin off the line might be ok but do not go WOT until you're sure your tires grab. [img]graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]