Launching an RWD car with no torque?

[humjaba]

Mine has an LSD (it works) and 400 series all-season tires... It will power slide in second through turns in parking lots But a standing burnout (in the typical smokey-brake-stand American way) is not something I think could be accomplished.

On water... that would be a blast.

[Hraefn]

Hrmmm... I never tried with my old Miata, but the Crapoge (same engine, FWD, open diff) would smoke the one tire. Maybe that's the problem... you might do it without the LSD. I might have to mess with the Spyder and it's 400 treadwears sometime.

Come to think of it, the Crapoge had 14" wheels and the tires were pretty old. Who knows.

[humjaba]

Well yeah any FWD car with an open diff and a decent clutch can spin the tires... if I'm turning I can roast them through second in my Geo Weight transfers to the back when accelerating, so less traction in the front and more traction in the back.

[michaelreich]

The official answer for the fastest start is as follows:

1. Find the rpm where your car produces the peak torque.
2. Rev the car to this point and release the clutch at rate that it maintains this rpm as you increase throttle.
3. This will involve slip in the clutch, so I would not do this everyday.
4. If you have wheelspin, you must apply power slower, but the maintanance of rpm at the peak power point is still essiential for a fast start.

Practice and it will come natural and your starts will be suprisingly fast. You will run out of first gear quick.

[dave99rt]

michaelreich Wrote:The official answer for the fastest start is as follows:

1. Find the rpm where your car produces the peak torque.
2. Rev the car to this point and release the clutch at rate that it maintains this rpm as you increase throttle.
3. This will involve slip in the clutch, so I would not do this everyday.
4. If you have wheelspin, you must apply power slower, but the maintanance of rpm at the peak power point is still essiential for a fast start.

Practice and it will come natural and your starts will be suprisingly fast. You will run out of first gear quick.

i wouldn't call that an official answer, it's a respectable idea.

miata's sometimes have weak clutches, so don't be surprised if you have some natural slip.
peak torque in a 1.8 miata is typically 4500-5000 rpm.
the lack of torque and weight transfer to the rear requires launching a Miata very high.

for the best launch, you want the tires to lightly be spinning partially through 1st and then gain complete traction at high rpm.

the smallest amount of clutch slip is alright.
you basically want a 2 stage launch, the initial stage is to transfer weight to the rear and get the tires moving, the 2nd is to completely engage the clutch.
competely dumping the clutch typically stuns the tires and drivetrain and can cause wheelhop and/or -spin then bog- launches.
anymore slip than this is unnecessary and costing you time.
mostly a fast lift of the foot accomplishes this....

just remember, it's better to launch too high in Miata than too low.
it is much easier to lightly pedal it if you launched too high.
if you launch too low, you are done, you've bogged the car.

expect to launch around 5000+ rpm if are on sticky tires.
on crappy tires? who cares, get some better tires!

[humjaba]

Thanks for the tips guys. I'm bummed I'll only get one more autocross in before I leave for clemson, but hey, then I'll have my Mustang back and bogging will no longer be an issue.