Originally Posted by tom2112
Steve, you mentioned your losses due to the traction control kicking in, is that the two dips in the graph that you're talking about? Or are those dips where your car shifted? How much better do you think it would have been with TC off?
The reason I ask, is that I just got my helmet and I'm planning to do my first 1/4 run this weekend. I haven't figured out how I'm going to launch yet. Some say leave TC on and just mash it. Some say turn TC off, rev to 2000 rpm, hold the brake, release the brake and mash it. Another said to have the car in 2nd gear for launch and then shift down for better acceleration after the car has taken off.
My first run, I will probably just mash it, since I'll be nervous and concentrating on watching the lights and not running into the wall. But after a couple runs, I'll need to figure out a good technique.
The two big dips are when the car shifted, the TC kicking in is at the very beginning of the graph. I done my runs with the TC on so I was comparing apples to apples. IMO, if you are running street tire's - TC off and roll into the gas pedal, don't stomp it. I would think if you are running slicks it probably wouldn't matter, but I'm not the guy to ask about lauching since I've never had my car at a track yet. But when I've tried to launch with the TC off, I wouldn't get much out of 1st gear because I would spin too much and the car went to 2nd gear.