I launched my '00 by sidestepping the clutch at around 7500-8000 rpm.

My '00 seems a lot less peaky. The gap from off-VTEC to on-VTEC torque seems a lot smaller (barely noticable, where the '00 came on with a snap).

The tires are also larger and presumably stickier (lower wear rating, etc.).

So, do you still pop the clutch over 7000? Or do you ease it in at 4-5000?

What I don't want to do is burn the clutch!!! While I spun the tires, I was very kind to the clutch on the '00...never a wisp of odor or a puff of smoke.

Thanks,

David

 

I've noticed that once the tires warm up and on asfault it takes more than 4500 rmp to get wheel spin. On a side note I took the rpms up to about 6 or 7 grand once to make a comment to a slow walking pedestrian walking accross oncomming traffic, and brought the clutch out, but not fast enough and smoked the clutch a bit...oops! So my point is don't ease it in, let it out quick, but I think sidestepping is a bit much.

 

I doubt it would be significantly different from the prior models in this regard. I think a sidestep at 5,500-6,000 may be required for the best launch. Someone from the Topeka Pro might be able to tell us how Bob is launching his.

 

Eh, I know that Bob lurks on these boards, so hopefully he'll chime in, but from observing, they were doing the same launch as the BS S2000s. I think they didn't rev it as high (sounded like 6000RPMs vs our 7000 RPMs). But it was definitely a clutch dump start.

I mean, the 04 has a little bit more torque, but it ain't a 350Z. Like Tony said, it isn't much different than launching the 00-03s. Every time I saw Carter launch, I was jealous. He basically floors the car from idle after his clutch is engaged and the wheels spin right up! Torque is good. 9k RPM is better though

 

James, you are correct. For good launches on dry concrete, 5500 worked on Friday. I'm sure we were lauching the 04 at considerably lower r's than you. We were on Hoosiers all weekend.

Saturday in the wet, we tried lower and lower speeds, and I finally discovered that while dumping the clutch at 2000 almost killed the engine, it also caused weight transfer and good hookup to make the car start to move. Of course we lost that grip at every slick spot, when it hit v-tech, and again, for the 1-2 shift. Not much fun!

Sunday, when we had a nearly dry surface, we still couldn't use much more than about 4500. 5000 caused too much spin.

For whoever asked, slipping the clutch is not a useful alternative in ProSolo. It's very hard to time that with the lights.
BK

 

So you are launching below VTEC?

Isn't playing around there risking hooking up the rear and frying the clutch?

 

The clutch doesn't fry unless you slip it. Lower RPM dumps simply reduce the shock going through the system as well as limit the wheelspin which may cause you to drop out of VTEC.

 

What is the launching RPM when the maker of the car is giving 5.3s to 60mph?

 

Its been my understanding if you dump it and you don't have enough revs (torque), the engine can't break the tires loose so the clutch slips.

 

Nope. If you drive off from a stop light but at full throttle, the clutch doesn't slip, does it? The clutch slips if you DON'T dump the clutch fast enough. Since there's not enough torque to spin the tires without the shock needed to break them loose in the first place, the only way to make this work is to rev high enough to not only break traction but also to (essentially) spin them wildly. If you use a lower rpm to launch, the tires will hook up sooner and the engine bogs out of VTEC.

Riding the clutch to keep the engine at high rpms without spinning the tires causes the clutch to overheat and lose grip. A stronger pressure plate helps this.