Alright, finally planning my first drag race. I've never gone down the strip in a Camaro before. I really don't want to break it, its my daily driver. Recomended launch rpm? Recomended shift rpm? Drop the clutch or let it slip a little? I want to learn a few things ahead of time, just don't want to break it. Thanks y'all.

 

launch - 2500 to 3500

shift - 5000

those are what i use ( not on strip never been yet ). but usually i whine through the rpms.

 

Launch it at 2500, or even just 2000 RPM the first few times, to get the feel of it.

Concentrate on being smooth and on makingeach shift well(without any harsh shock on the drivetrain, rather than trying to make them as quickly as you can).

Once you get "smooth" down, gradually work on launching at a higher RPM, shiftingright before the rev limiter intercedes and shifting quicker.

Initially your times will be unimpressive, but you'll get faster each time. You'll also build reactions and instinct to be smooth and consistent, which ultimately will win you more races and make for far less wear and tear on the car.

I didn't think of this myself: I learned the "smooth" thing at the Jackie Stewart Driving School years ago, and his point was "a winning race car is being drivewn as fast as it can, which means it is right at the line where it is about to spin out of control or break traction. If you aren't smooth and consistent all the time, you'll cross that line and wreck the car or lose the race."

 

Very nicely said Lee Willis! Listen to him, most people, will sugjest you just pound on it, and hope for the best. Dont do that, dont listen to your friends telling you to power shift it, a 2500 RPM launch will not hurt your car, and it will give you the confidence to get faster as time progresses.Dont expect your best #'s on your first day at the track, try to time the light, You'll see what I mean, when the last light turns yellow, thats when you launce, cause by the time your brain tells you to react, its already green. Dont redline your car for the first few runs, get used to the way it reacts on the track. Your car will hook better on the track than on the street, so dont think somthing is wrong if you dont spin them in second lol ( i only say that cause that was my dumbass when I first started racing in my 88 GTA )....Dont let off the gas till you pass the finish line, lots of people make that mistake, they see the finish line, and they let off the gas and hit the brake right away, dont worry, there is PLENTY of room to stop... Good luck, and let us know how you did.

 

Im guessing you should run high 16's to start, and as you get a few runs in, you may dip into the 15's with your 3.8. I love the guessing game!!!!

 

That's the times I'm hoping for. I was going to go up to PIR today, but it's snowing. Freak weather. Last weak it was 80 degrees out. Thanks for the info y'all, this is very helpful. Gonna try some et racing, if I can stay consistent. Gonna go to a test and tune first.

 

Listen to Lee Willis, he knows what he's talking about!

One thing you want to consider, if you're breaking the tires loose you're losing time. You need to learn the car enough that you can push the tires just to their breaking point, but not past it. I could explain all the physics behind why this works (it has to do with the differences between the static and dynamic coefficients of friction), but that's more info than most people need to know. With a 3.8 on the track you're probably not going to have too much trouble with wheel spin if you get it off the line correctly, but pay attention to what your car is doing.

 

like everybody said about 2000 rpm launch is good beyond that you dont really need to worry about breaking youin street trim man as much as it hurts me to say it us 6ers really dont have the power to break much unless you do somthing stupid like rev it up in N then shift into D that will mess you up pdq

 

Got a 5spd, so that's why I ask. I had a corolla that I used to rev to the limiter and drop the clutch. Didn't care about breaking it, because I knew that car inside and out, and had access to amazing amounts of parts. That is not the case with this. I understand the physics slvr, you make a good point. I really wanted to run it tonight, but this blasted weather killed the thought. Rain, sun. snow, and hail all in one day. This morning I woke up to snow, and its dry outside and sunny right now. but there are rain clouds in the distance.