The definitive Launch thread.

[wilky]

Right, there is a wide and varied set of opinions as far as launching a subaru off the line is concerned, the aim of this thread is to open up a debate on how you do it, and how your experiences have taught you to adopt the technique that you have.

Its not an attempt to steal anyones secrets, I for one am pants at it and would like to learn then go away on my own and practice.

We have a very wide spectrum, from the Squirrel handbrake method to the 4 wheels spinning on the revlimiter, then drive it like you stole it method, which lunched my gearbox last year.

So with that in mind, tell us all what you think works.

Callum W

[Rice Rocket]

sit in first at the line, rev to 3.5 - 4k and floor it when the light turns green and the 19s grip like buggery and your lunched into HYPERSPAVE!!!

Ricey

[colin_ross]

I dont't think you'll find a "definitive" lauch technique that'll work for all cars and all drivers.

For example, if I try to lanch my car at any less the 5k it'll bog down very badly because I have an extremely lightweight flywheel. Someone with a standard one may well be able to get away with less but not me.

Them you have to account for available grip and rotational masses.

With my old 16" Rays wheels there was bugger all weight in them and the Yang Tong tyres on them were not the grippiest. This meant that the best launch technique for me was to spin all four tyres halfway up the strip. If I'd tried this with heavier wheels and grippier tyres I might have gubbed the clutch or box.

There is other factors to concider also, dccd (if you've got it) and engine power bands would factor also. 

[st3ph3n]

What about a pre-launch burnout? Recommended?

I've had my car since December 04 and I've still not launched it for fear of destroying something. Either myself or on the car.

[zeolite]

"from the Squirrel handbrake method "

Stolen from Stig Blomquist no doubt. []

Stig developed that technique when he was dong hillclimbs and used it to great effect for stage starts.

 

[Rice Rocket]

Says alot of things, reading and watching can tell you alot!

hey ho!

RR

[colin_ross]

What about a pre-launch burnout? Recommended?

Can you spin the wheels on your car? If not then you'd be wasting your time and giving your clutch 2 pastings instead of one.

[p1ggm]

no tried since having the front mount, but i find 5-5.5k get a wee bit wheelspin but you get off the line well, unlike when i went up against jc and bogged down and was totally gutted, i think classics can launch better down the revs over the new age ones

 

last time at crail was a waste of time so i was launching at 6-7k and having fun going sideways off the line

[Gumball]

As you and i discovered a couple of months ago after several times smoking the clutch for shite times, i now have the launch control mastered.

This operates as you hold the clutch FLAT to the floor at 5000rpm as it bounces off a phantom limiter ready to go.

Now i have this sorted and know how to use it, i dont have any choice with my car than to hold launch control flat to the floor and slowly let the clutch up.

too fast and it bogs down, too slowly and the the car spins too much.

Looking forward to 12's

[1488]

Drill a small hole through your handbrake handle with the button pressed in and slide a pin straight through it, now you've got a fly off handbrake. Build the revs up to 4000 rpm and fettle the clutch till you can feel the car tugging on your handbrake. When the lights change let go of the handbrake and floor it. Just before you redline it slam it into second and hit the NOS button, then change up to 3rd just before you redline it and turn off the NOS.  It worked in my 230bhp peugeot 205 anyway. It used to beat subaru's everytime, but now I've got an impreza.  At least I dont have to worry about someone else, in my old car smoking me at the lights, because I wrote the bloody thing off. After I'd spent almost £11k on it mind

[the squiggle]

"from the Squirrel handbrake method "

Stolen from Stig Blomquist no doubt. []

Stig developed that technique when he was dong hillclimbs and used it to great effect for stage starts.

 

 

Close but no cigar.

Twas stolen from Mr McRae as shown on the "No Limits" DVD and further developed in the works van

Grant

[wilky]

Ok, how do you all work your clutch? is it a sidestep or are you more mechanically sympathetic?

 

Wilky

[the squiggle]

Ok, how do you all work your clutch? is it a sidestep or are you more mechanically sympathetic?

 

Wilky

Helluva a lot of factors

Tyre grip at point of launch.

Clamping pressure of the clutch factored against the torque curve of the engine

Final drive of the differentials

Quality and condition of gearbox components. 

Surface quality

If we are talking about your car in particuler then probably all the way in one swift go with a very rapid upshift to second and swiftly followed by another upshift into third 

Std car with std clutch and std gearbox internals then i would gradual release to minimise the strain on the first motion shaft and minmize wheelspin.

Grant

[jcscoob]

OK i do 5K'ish and sort of slip my foot of in a fairly quick manor, just got to try and get it to launch with out the big BOG happning and so you dont light up all 4wheels like a teenager on ice, its a fine line but im sure you will find it !! []

[Edinburgh-Chris]

Side stepping will almost kill the cutch if done a couple of times!

Not recomended in my opinion, hold the biting point at the point of boost just kicking in, 2750-3000rpm and let it up gently, my classic has only been exposed to crail once and i did not like it at all. You can't beat corners, straight lines are'nt exposing your 4 wheel drive.

Chris

[zeolite]

My technique in the Pug.

Dry...5k in 2nd gear. drop it in quick and feather it for the wheelspin.

Wet...2.5 k in 2nd gear. Feed in gently as there will be mega wheelspin depending on the condition of the mud. []

Smooth tarmac is for wimps!

[Andy N]

Everybody seams to have ther own prefered method, i think practice finds perfect and you will find your own style. I prefer to create wheel spin of the line as apposed to applying all the load to the clutch, tyres are easy to replace and a clutch is a bitch

[p1ggm]

has anyone tryed to launch a 6 speed in 2nd?? as first gear is a waste of time, would the gearbox take it?

[FastScooby]

me i just get to 4grand dump the clutch ... and off we go.. maybe thats why i have the slowest time [:S]