So I went to dragstrip for my first time yesterday and had a great time. My fastest time was a16.7 which is okay considering it my first time drag racing my car but I was disappointed because another tC there (completely stock) ran 15.7. I know I need to work on launching quick, but I was also a slow shifter because on my first pass, i missed second, grinding the gear a bit and redlining. I was pretty bummed about that :-(. I took it easy on the shifting after that, not trying to shift in under .1 seconds or anything :P . I'm wondering if I had trouble shifing only because I'm not used to quick shiften while pushing the car so hard or if because I put in a clutch pedal bump stop and my clutch doesnt disengage enough in order for me to to shif quickly under such high torque... any one got any ideas for me?

Hey it takes time. Is this your first car with stick? But just keep at it. You will get there. Plus you just gotta have good hand and foot timing. GL next time though.

Practice and upgrades!

thanks, yeah its my first stick car. I feel that I'm pretty good and I can shift very fast wehn I'm only doing like 75% throttle in each gear. That was really my first time going all out in every gear. It was pretty fun, can't wait to get out there again.

Yea it takes awhile. It took me a while to get shifting down since this was my first stick as well. Plus you gotta find the sweet spot for launching.

Yeah I was holding the revs at about 2k, I think I'll try 2.5 k next time. Oh also how do you like to launch it, do you just hold the revs at a certain point and drop the clutch then floor it, or do you slip the clutch while slowly adding throttle?

Slip the clutch while adding throttle is the best for me. but the RPM is not always consistent cause track conditions vary and it depends on your tires. You just gotta try a few things and see what works best. I say just go cruising around town and practice your launching but do it safely. Plus stop lights help with reaction time.

Thanks for the tips, I've gotta get to a strip again soon :-). Oh also when I shift should I try to be smooth like slowly letting out the clutch while adding throttle or really just slam the pedal down while getting off the gas, shift gears, and then drop the clut again and floor it

Dont slam the gas pedal man but dont be slow about it. But when you go to shift i always mash the clutch and shift like as simultaineusly as possible and back on the gas if you are good you can do it in a second. Its not to easy to explain just practice man. And if you can get in the car with someone who can do it good and watch them.

Alright, thanks man, I really appreciate the help :-)

yea no prob man.

i went to the track on Saturday and my first run ever was a 17.4 lol i almost got beat by a xa i was racing lol so dont feel bad

what i found out is that its best launching this car just like you were just taking off on the street normally none of that holding at 2k crap.. i would get massive wheel hop if i did that and bog the heck out even if i did feather the clutch. track conditions were not the best though

on my second run i ran a 16.1 and then for the rest of the day i was running consistently 15.8 @88-90mph i was still getting wheel hop in 2nd gear though

i figure with a engine dampener or motor mounts, short throw shifter and a clutch bump stop i could manage atleast a 15.6 run

you will get there buddy dont worry most the guys running tC's at the track when i went where running 16's and there where alot of tC's there racing as it was a scion VIP event. i think only 2 other guys other then myself where able to get it into the 15's .. of course im talking about the non boosted ones lol

lol yeah thanks for the support. I've already got a CAI, Header and short throw. I'd like to get down into he 15s before I put on a torque damper just so I can be a better driver. But then the damper is going on for sure after that lol

Nice improvement unexpected.