newbie racer

[ss4equinox]

i have a 2004 celica and i want to take it to the track to see how fast i can do the quarter before i beef it up with aftermarket parts. what is the best way to get the most out of shifting, and what does feathering the clutch mean?

[ShortyDTP]

How can I explain the use of slipping the clutch .

Feathering the clutch is an advanced skill, and can be useful for certain things, but dragging the rear brake is probably to achieve the same effect, with more applications. It's my opinion that you don't load down a new rider with complicated skills. I'd spend my time teaching them about traction control and risk management, predicting hazards and dealing with things like sand, rain, wind, etc.

A better way to approach the subject of slipping the clutch is that of using the clutch, rather than the brakes or throttle, to control the bike at low speeds. It centers around stability, and the fact that the bike is unstable at slow speeds, and the lugging action of the motor can make the throttle have much more effect on balance and speed. In the MSF classes, we teach students to use the friction zone (the point where the clutch begins to transmit power from the engine to the wheel) to control speed. Ease it out enough to get the bike up to a stable (4+ mph) speed, then squeeze it in and coast, easing it out again when more speed is needed.

i got it of google.com , see how easy hope it helps!

[Igovert500]

How did you go from a celica to a bike? My advice, practice your lauch prior to taking it to the track. Find someplace where you can work on this. At a stop you want to put the car in first, but hold down the clutch with your left foot. With your right foot give it some gas, get the rpms up to a steady 2000, then let go of the clutch completely and smash the gas at the exact same time (that is known as dumping the clutch) Now I don't have a celica, but I think its FWD, correct me if I am wrong. But ideally you want to find the exact rpm level that you can do that launch at without spinning your tires. A little chirp from them is good, but spinning them=no traction=sucky 1/4. So if you don't spin at 2000, try 2500, then 3000, keep going up until you find that point. Others prefer to feather the clutch. This basically entails the same thing, except rather then dumping hte clutch, you ease off of it through the beginning of your launch. Now you have to be careful, as you can burn up your clutch if you don't let off it soon enough, but feathering your clutch like this helps with the traction as it controls the power going to the wheels. And is usually prefered for launching, but find what works better for you.
As far as shifting goes...take it to redline in each gear and then shift as fast as you can.

[ridge_runner]

or you could steadly pump the gas as you let out the clutch and then when you see the 3rd yellow light, dump the clutch get on the gas bout hslf way then when you get to like 5 mph punch it

[ss4equinox]

i tried dumping the clutch a 2000 rpm but my tires still spin. it took me almost two seconds to get off the line. them my car lost traction at the 1/8 point. i ended up with a 16.6 quarter. THAT BLOWS!!!

[ridge_runner]

i was at the track last night, pretty much about all the front wheel drive cars spun off the line

[ss4equinox]

i was at the track last night too. thats when i ran my car. at academy in little river texas (i think)

[-The Stig-]

Originally Posted by Igovert500

How did you go from a celica to a bike?

It's the same principle.

I use the same technique on my bike as I do in my Z.

[GTR2b]

Question, is your Celica a GT or GTS?

If not, your ET sounds about right. Getting a stock trim, FWD car to launch without tirespin is trickier that trying to launch a 500hp Fox Body Mustang.

It's really difficult to give some advice on how to launch and shift a car that you personally have never driven. I have driven the GTS, but that's it.

I found that slowly letting up on the clutch from 2100rpms instead of "dropping" it worked well and then shifting 200rpms shy of redline.

I hope this helps.

[ss4equinox]

its a GT.

[BiGRaY1586]

A stock car is not set up for extreme driving (unless its a vette or porshe) so maybe buying some after market tires would be a good way to start, but knowing how to work a clutch right is the most important thing out of all.