I own a 2013 mustang gt. She has some basic bolt on with 3.73 gears and Hoosier drag radials. I have a 2 step from MSD and I'm trying to dial in my launch. Having some difficulty getting off the line. I feel like i am always wheel spinning and having to hunt down the guy I'm racing. I know launching takes practice and is an art and all that, but i would like to know what some of you launch at rpm wise and what exactly you guys do with the clutch and gas pedal. I have tried launching at 3000 rpm i let off the clutch as fast as i can and i hold about half throttle until i feel like my tires grip then once i shift to 2nd i punch it but then i wheel spin again. Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

I assume you have a stock clutch. If so the question becomes just how much abuse are you willing to subject it to? What I am getting at is that in order for a car to accelerate quickly from a dead stop something has to give or slip. It's easier to control clutch slippage than it is tire spin, but slipping the clutch will drastically shorten it's life. This is especially true of stock organic clutch disc linings. This is one of the many reasons drag racers tend to prefer automatic transmissions. IF you're willing to chance frying the clutch I would suggest trying to leave at a somewhat lower rpm [ try 2,500 to start ] and slip the clutch until you feel the tires grip. If you haven't already done it experiment with different tire pressures, just don't go too low or the car will want to move around a bit as you approach the top end traps. Get the tires good and hot before you stage too. Since you're almost certainly bracket racing [ not running a "heads up" class ] it's not important to be the quickest or fastest guy around. Try adding some weight to the trunk if necessary. It may slow you down a bit, but if it makes the car more consistent and predictable it's well worth it. Have fun at the track and good luck.

 

No I have a stage 3 McCloud clutch twin disk. And sorry what exactly do you mean slip the clutch. Does that mean hold the clutch at the bite point before I fully let off?

 

The McLeod should handle the abuse much better than a stocker. Yes, by slipping I mean that you let the clutch pedal up more slowly. It's a matter of feeling for it to become fully engaged. If I understand you correctly, right now you're letting the pedal up as quickly as possible. Probably less than a second to achieve full clutch engagement. If you do it a bit more slowly you might be able to avoid the excessive tire spin you're presently experiencing and still not bog the engine. It's a tricky thing to master and the combination of "fly by wire" throttle and hydraulic clutch probably dosen't help, but with practice it will get easier.

 

Thanks man, I'll try that out and see if it helps. I can't really launch less than 3k bc just not enough rpm to get off the line with my Hoosier drag radials but I will practice that slip the clutch. Thanks for the advice