I was talking to a fellow dragracer at our club Christmas dinner a couple of weeks ago & he said I should be flashing the converter rather than foot braking on the start, what is your opinion?

My present combo is bog stock 383 Barracuda, 1700kg with less than factory compression (8.2:1) at present, auto, 3.91 gears & brand new Hoosier 275x50x15 quicktimes.

For consistancy I always run with an empty boot & a full tank

We only race on crap surfaces (roads & airports) & don't get many 60' & 1/8 times but I still want to go faster.

My best 60' to date is a 2.172 (9.311@75.31 & 14.466@94.78)

My best 1/8 to date is a 9.014 (with no 60' or MPH recorded)

These times were footbraking the car to 1700 RPM then steadily pushing the gas to the floor.

The car will stall to 2600 RPM on the brakes every time tested.

I have tried starting at an idle & flashing the converter a couple of times but went up in smoke (although this was with my old Hoosiers)

Any tips or hints on launching would be greatly appreciated, Cheers

1st what's an "empty boot" and full tank? I'd go w/ 1/2.

You have to do what works best for you. If you flash it and it boils the tires then what good is it. I usually take mine up to 1400 or so then mash it when the last yellow lights. I have tried the "flash" method but with my slow cars I've never seen much if any gain.

Somebody that looks a lot like me, in his younger days, used to street race a 66 Hemi Charger. To impress the kids I could flash the converter and do a funny car burn out. To actually leave hard the car had to be foot braked to 2000 RPM to get maximum traction with the street tires. My race car doesn't care, it will leave hard either way.

Quote:

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1st what's an "empty boot"

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That would be an empty trunk

I agree, find what works best for your car. I had someone tell me the same thing once and it made no difference in my ET.

Not saying that this will work for you BUT if I leave
at low rpm 1800 or so and hit the gas it will blow
the tires off but if I go up onto the converter it
will plant the tires.... in your case its all trial
and error for the best launch

Cheers guys, sorry about my poor "English"

There are a few good points here, I'll get out & do more "testing"

As for Loot in the boot or junk in the trunk, any more than 2 hands full is too much

( . )( . ) on the other hand are not limited in size

My cars have always seemed to repeat the best when I was up against the converter.

I tried flashing it a few times and it didn't work good but that probably depends on the converter and chassis setup.

When you are on the converter The suspension is loaded, which makes everything more consistant. If you flash the coverter you lose time with the suspension reacting.

Is it spinning the tire? If so, add some loot to the boot...and an off idle leave that loads the suspension would be more consistent...

Nice car! And nice view at the track!

Dave

Wow!!

But I don't see ANY sheep!

Dave

It sounds like you are doing the right thing with your launch proceedure. I would start working with rear tire pressure and loosen up the front of the car to get more weight transfer.
Also try different length of burn outs. I run MT ET street radials and if I make them to hot it seems to hurt my 60 ft time.
I'm not real familar with the tires you are running but I am pretty sure my 325x50x15 MT Drag Radials would hook a high 12 second or slower car almost solid.
I am still working on my set up be I've gone 1.68
60 ft times with these tires on a poorly preped track. My son videoed my runs and you can hear the tires sqealing most of the way through first gear but they didn't go up in smoke.
I'm running leaf springs and stock big block torsion bars.
I like your cuda. But I'm not a big sheep fan!