So I've finally went to the 1/8 mile track down here and thought I did pretty well. I ran a few low 8 second passes on street tires first time out. I didn't have a clue on how to launch it at the drag strip so I just did like it was a street run. I would launch at about 3500rpm and slip the clutch for either a massive burnout or a decent 2.1 60ft time (Varied on lane and how aggressively I slipped the clutch).

My best run ended up being a 8.2 @ 91mph with a 2.16 60ft time. I am hoping to get some Hoosier tires here soon and was wondering what kind of launching techniques you guys would recommend for me. I get a lot of wheel hop at the track but I never get any on the street. I have upgraded trailing and toe arms and delrin diff bushings. I seam welded and reinforced my PPF as well when I broke it last time at the 1/4 mile track. I don't have a diff brace but do you think that would help and what kind of diff brace? A T-brace or a pinion angle kind of brace?

I know that a fresh set of DR's would help if I can get the wheel hop eliminated. How should I launch with DR's? Should I just burn the Hoosiers in 2nd for about 10 seconds and launch at 7k and hope nothing breaks? I've read a lot of threads and PM'd a few people and maybe I need more practice but I just want to get the technique down before I go out again. Some people say slip the clutch at 4k others say 8k and drop the clutch. What PSI do you recommend for DR's as well? I was running around 18psi on old worn out M/T's and still couldn't cut better than a 2.0 60ft. I really just want to hit a low 7 second pass and I don't think I'm too far off if I can cut my 60ft times down.

Thanks anyone and everyone for all/any advice you can provide. I really want to get into drag racing but I just need a few pointers!

Oh and if anyone else is in my boat, heres a thread I found somewhat helpful but I hope this thread turns into something helpful for anyone else starting out as well! https://www.rx7club.com/rotary-drag-racing-167/rx-7-launching-techniques-529471/

 

Don't get any T-brace. It'll do more then harm then good. Get a PFS gurdle or something similar. Get some et streets on stock wheels. (26x11.5's) and go have fun. Start out at around 14lbs of air. Any less and you may break axles. Don't use drag radials as you more likely will get wheel hop and then you can kiss that diff goodbye. Good luck and have fun!

 

And don't drop the clutch unless you have a tilton flow control valve, or you like breaking stuff. Slipping the clutch a little is better all around, try 6-7k rpms, and preload the drivetrain. I've never broken an axle, the only time I broke something was when I tried dropping the clutch and had low air pressure (bad combination) and broke the stock rear diff.

 

Thanks guys!

Any ideas on why I'm getting wheel hop? I was using street tires with about 20psi so do you think it will get worse with better tires?

 

Do NOT use street tires or drag radials. Get ET streets. Otherwise you WILL break driveline parts.

 

Thanks guys, I'm kind of excited to go out and see anything in the 7's.

Oh I meant ET streets when I said DR's originally. That's just what the locals call them (strangely enough). I had a used set of Mickey Thompson ET Street Radials (II).

 

I ran 18" rims with falken fk452's. If your getting wheel hop, dumping the clutch will get you towed home. Slip the clutch with the street tires. I managed a 1.9 60' slipping the clutch with 16psi in the tires. You def have the power to get a 1.9 60'.

 

when they say to use "ET streets" they mean use the mickey thompson et streets that are bias ply not the et steet radials, the radials are stickey but have zero give and that is what breaks stuff really easy, bias ply will give you some play and kind of like a shock absorber for your drivetrain, but the can/will skate a little down the track but as long as you can drive its fine

 

You guys can tell I'm in for a learning curve.

Thanks everyone so far!

What kind of clutch are you guys using? Do you use a scattershield?

 

I second this, i ran the t-brace and split my diff clean in half. And say start @ 16psi, @ 14 i could break inner cups… The PFS girdle is the way to go!

With the TFC my 60's went form 1.4x's to to 1.5x's but I stopped breaking stuff, this is with dumping the clutch @ 7800 on the 2 step. I prob could have got them back down tweaking air pressure and what not. Its alot of trial and error, usually more errors. Write down you launch rpm, and tire pressure on each slip. you will start to find a pattern of your driving style/ variables

 

i would recommend 26x10.5 on stockers unless the OP has gobs of power like you did?

ACT 6 puck sprung

 

So you can actually run the 11.5s on the stock rims? I may need those for better traction in first gear. Spec stage 3+ clutch. I've been using a Banzai racing diff. brace.

 

yeah sk8world has a set of stockers on 11.5's. pm him for details. i run 10.5

 

A++ Def do this when racing. Started doing this on the back of every slip and, for me, I noticed slipping the clutch I had a lower 60' average. Also, since the time (like 7:00pm) on the slip is sometimes cut off depending on how the timing box splits the slip, write down the time of the run too. I also number my slips consecutively.

A typical back of one of my slips will read:

18psi
light burnout
short clutch slip from 5500 rpms
zero tire spin

Also, after a day at the strip, I like to staple all my slips from that day together. On the back of the first slip, I also note the temperture, humidity, and any other relevent info that I might forget like how much tire thread I had at the time (street tires), rims, and some relevent mods. After years of drag racing, it is possible to forget what you had on your car when you ran a certain time.

No matter how slow you might think your car is, doing these kinds of notes now will make you a better drag racer later and when your making goobs of power, you wont be at the track scratching your head wondering why your running slower with more power.

 

Great tips! I'll look into a diff brace and definitely write down info on my slips! I'll probably just run 26x10.5x16's and use my street tires up front. I'm only running the 1/8 mile track.

 

yeah....................that won't work. you cannot run both bias and non-bias tires on your car at the same time. your car will be all over the place once you get up to speed! ask me how i know even int he 1/8 mile it gets really scary when you get into 3rd

 

So you mean these tires, right?

 

I've heard it's sketchy on the 1/4 mile with non-bias and bias-ply tires but I didn't think the 1/8 would be that bad. Anyone else tried this out? I don't mind a little sketch but I don't want to wreck her because of some tires.

dznutzuk, That's the tire we're talking about.

 

I run stock rx8 spare with 17x4 skinnies and stock 16x8 with 11.5 E.T Streets. Rolled fenders and they fit perfect. No rubbing.

I also run the T brace with the Tweakit Racing Differential Brace. Dropping the clutch at 7K with 14psi in the tires and fine so far.