Im very new on racing at the track, I have only raced a car on a prepped track a few times and that car had BFG radials on it, it DIDNT HOOK period. I have a centerforce clutch and the demon has Mickey Thompson drag radials on it, it hooks way better. It also has a pinion snubber, and Super Stock springs, and QA1 shocks. Do I roll through the water, and burn off the water, or do a good burn out. I realy dont feel like A, breaking anything, and B destroying my clutch. Its got 3:91 gears, and 295 60 15 tires. It hoods quite hard on just plain highway after a good burnout by reving to 3500 and driving through, then launches hard, Im just nervous of hurting something.

thanks guys..

Kasey

This must be a stupid question... I figured you guys would be all over this one. Can anyone help me out. I have done a lot of street racing, and it always involves tire spin, Ill be dealing with a sticky track, and tires that should hood. Any sujjestions..

Kasey

In a hurry..... you gave it all of 20 minutes

I suggest you do a good burnout in the water box. I always use 3rd gear for the burnout. You can't get enough wheel speed in first or second gear. You do not need a John Force burnout, just make sure you get some tire smmoke and you are good to go. Do not do any dry hops on the way to the line. You will not break anything by doing a good burnout.

Raul

Try driving around the water first, burnout is not always necessary. You will really just need to experiment. Do a dry hop or test launch in front of water box as you approach the line. My suggestion to you is that you not launch this car over 2500 rpm, with the 3.91 gear it might wanna rip the tires off of it at higher launch rpms, however if it hooks then you can try upping it the next time. Just know that if it hooks you are flirting with disaster on the driveline at high launch rpms. Do you have a driveshaft loop? Hope your tech is leinient. Around here if you have drag radials you must have loop.

Humm, Drive shaft loop, that came to mind just after good u joints and checking back lash

Im with Smack doggie! Leave easy then get into it, if you leave to hard it will spin and you will have 2,4 short times. If you leave easy you will have 1.9 to 2.0 short times. I use to leave at 6800 and dump the clutch with sticky tires. Man what a rush.....Phill

Everything you always wanted to know about 4 speeds but were afraid to ask is on the www.umtrnorth.com forums. This is a website dedicated exclusively to the lost art of stick shift drag racing.
Check it out !!!

Here is my take on it. I used to race a 4-speed 340 Dart that ran low 12's and high 11's. I used 4.56 gears and 29" tires and I felt that if I am racing with a stick car I want to launch it as hard as I can with some hook. On 9" slicks and SS springs I would bring it up to about 6000 and on the third yellow pop the clutch and floorboard the gas pedal. It would hook fine on a decent track but it was hard on the driveline. I hate to see a stick car launch at 2500 and then just bog down because you know it dont have enough gear. Thats just my take as I like to have it on the floor when the clutch comes out. Thats why my 63 is an auto because it leaves as hard as a stick would in it but it dont break driveline parts like a stick car as the driveline is already loaded when you floor it. Good luck , Ron

Whats your low gear in the trans? If you have a 2.65-2.66 gear then I would suggest a 4.10-4.30 gear to keep the clutch alive launching with traction.The best way to leave when you have marginal to little traction and you don't want to just "let it fly" then you will compromise the life of your clutch by slipping it to keep from bogging.I say let it fly and adjust tire pressure until you start breaking driveline parts then replace as needed with stronger stuff Then if you cant handle that then don't race it or put an automatic in it
There really is no "perfect" magic set-up for good bite and long clutch life in a street/strip car.There has to be slip somewhere so I suggest tires
Gus