I did my first launch tonight.. actually did two.. the first one i think was pretty good (close to excellent) again. i think, because i have never done it and never seen it first hand.. but i revved up to 6k and let my foot off and hit the gas.. tires spun a little leaving about a foot or so of tire marks and a pretty loud screech.. felt pretty good to me .. i didn't stay on the gas hard, let off after hitting second..
second i don't think came out as good.. i don't think i let the clutch fast enough.. the tires didn't screech and it really bogged a little bit.. i also smelled something (was it the clutch??).. overall i was pretty satisfied with the outcome, well not so much the second launch..
does the first one sound right? and the second one i'm for sure wasn't, but wondering what the smell was and if it is the clutch, how bad is that?
thanks
jay

 

dump the clutch

 

although i've only launched once, the smell was indeed the clutch and it will happen every time and just means you'll need a new clutch sooner. it should still last a while though. i think you should take it up to 6500 depending on the condition of your tires to make sure you don't bog and break your rear end.

 

if you ever smell clutch, then you did not dump the clutch fast enough. (in an ap1. ap2 have the delay valve which can cause the clutch to slip on a dump)

 

i didn't dump the clutch.. that's what i figured..
wisconsin.. i know you have launched plenty.. is the tire squeal in my first launch what should happen, or should there be no tire marks?

 

there will be squeal, I never smell clutch, however if you got immediate traction you wouldnt be in vtec. Your basically spinning a little but still getting some traction at the same time....the trick is to find traction around 25 mph (in an ap1). Its harder to explain then to do. I was able to average about a 2.3 60 foot and got 2- 2.2's at a slow track (palmdale 2700 ft elevation)

 

I seemed to get better launches on the sreet than at the track, I do not think it was adequately prepped or someone layed some oil or something on the track because I would spin to much and was letting off a little on the gas to try to find traction and then would bog.

 

true 9K that track is not to good as far as launching goes for our cars, but if you ajust to it you can et some sweet launches. I've been able to hit high 2.1's a couple times there and usually will average low 2.2 60 foots. It's a bit harderfor me with my flywheel though. Also I've had times were they have wet the starting line( wtf!!) before my runs. haha believe me I got no traction what so ever on those runs.

 

can you take out the delay valve on an ap1 also?

 

there is no delay valve on the ap1.