WHY can't I launch my car

Everyone raves about AWD launches and how any AWD car should dominate a FWD car off the line. Yet my starts are still so slow! Maybe it's just because I've only been driving stick for 5 weeks now...still, it seems like I should have it down by now :(

OK, on an AWD drag launch, you either do a redline drop (breaks shit), or let the clutch out slow while holding high rpm's.

Give it more time, drive it around more, I didn't get launches for a couple of months. I still don't get great track launches, too much wheelhop.

I'd also like some tips on launching my GSX. I JUST got the car, but I launched my RS better than this! =\ I've read a few guides, but I still can't get it either.

Don't be ashamed, it's hard to manage a launch on my almost new stock clutch. Make sure you bring the car to a good 4000-5000rpm, and avoid 'redline drops' as you will not want to drop your clutch on an AWD/car you care about. There are a few ways that you can learn from your launches, here are a few I can think of:
1. If you bog, you either let the clutch out too fast, didn't floor the throttle, or didn't have enough RPM.
2. If your tires spin, I'm impressed... but you are most likely not having launch problems, but you will have some broken car problems. A good but hard launch will be like this.
3. If your clutch slips/spins (your RPM's go up and hold.. while the car accelerates, THEN the RPM's go up again. Mostly happens near 6000 rpm for me) then you let the clutch out too slowly, and gave it too much gas before the clutch was out. If you start smoking your clutch, you won't regain the launch, so stop and try again. Also if you think your clutch might spin (you're letting the clutch out too slow) I would recommend letting off the gas to save the clutch.

The problem I have is that the clutch doesn't hold as well as I'd like it to. It only has 12k miles on it now, but it did the same thing at 5k miles. My current method is going WOT, then letting the clutch out fast (but not dropping it/tire spin) as the car approaches 5000 rpm. I don't practice much in an effort to save my car.

If you have a method to the throttle, the only variable is the clutch speed. Go faster or slower letting out the clutch depending if you're bogging or slipping. Have fun.

Ive launched my car 1000 times perhaps, and have still only run two 1.5s. So I'm still learning. I wouldnt expect to be terribly good after a few weeks...

Here is my take on it. I use a stutterbox of course, which changes things a little. I set launch rpm to 5000 or 5500. I let the clutch out quickly to the point where it just starts to move the car then stop. Let it out very slowly as the car starts to get moving, then when the car's speed has about matched the rpm let it up all the way. That part in the middle where you are slipping the clutch is the most important. On my best launches I can jsut barely smell clutch, very faintly. If I dont smell clutch, its usually in the 1.7s. If I smell too much, I make my #2 at mcdonalds afterwards a regular size, since I'll be saving for a new clutch soon. ;) 2600 used to last me a whole season, even slipping it. At the current power level (and still heavy) they dont last as long.

If you look at the two videos on my site, I'm bogging the launch a little bit (not slipping the clutch enough), but its still hits the tires hard enough to spin the tires. On a 14b and pump gas no less. Those were most likely 1.7 60 foots. Take away that little bog, and thats what a good launch should sound like.

Awesome, thanks for the tips guys. I think it is going to take more time, but I will experiment with various clutch release points. So when you rev to 5k rpm with the clutch in, is it all the way in, or do you begin to rev with the clutch only part way in so you can release it more quickly?

I launch my awd at 5k, i dont hold it there i just bring the rpms up fast and let her rip. Usually i can smell my clutch just a little not much to worry about it.

Oh hey 95 gsxracer, what site is your videos on?

i'm no AWD guy, but i do it exactly like Kevin says. i hold the clutch just barely past the engage point, then when i let it out i only let it out just enough to grab, and hold it there. then let it out a bit more, flutering to compensate for rev/engage, and on a good one you get a gut feeling that you are taking off really good, then let it out all the way when you are in the power 'curve' [most likely you will have fluttered it to full engage anyway]. oh and practice practice practice. and before you know it you will need a new clutch and still have no idea how to lay down a nice luanch ;)

95 GSXracer's site is www.posracing.net

Thanx joe

when i launch i take the tach to 5500RPM, and slip the clutch untill i feel like i have good traction. then i let the clutch out the rest of the way. i smoke people off the line all day long. :thumbsup:

95 GSXracer's site is www.posracing.net


Yes, thanks. And just for those not aware of this feature, the "www" link under all my posts points to my site. Same should go for anyone who has entered the URL in the profile, or whereever the hell I put it... :icon16: