I think you can get away with starting in 1st if you have a generic 727, but when you add some stall, MVB and such you really should start in 2nd. The Turbo Action instructions give you a good idea why. You can go to their website and print it out. I typically start in 2nd then hit 3rd at 5k and roll out of it and up to the line. You tires will spin faster and heat better in 2-3 than 1-2.