How to Launch S2000 Well
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Joined: May 2004
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From: washington
How to Launch S2000 Well
i have read about the necessity of lauching
but now i want to know the proper technique when lauching
and also how to practice lauching while minimizing rear diff damag
(assuming conditions are good, dry, warm etc)
do you just rev to 5000-7000 and side step? rinse and repeat till you find the best rpm?
also i read you should try to make your tires lose grip a little so the diff doesnt take all the stress?
how would i go about practicing launching while minimizes damage to the car?
but now i want to know the proper technique when lauching
and also how to practice lauching while minimizing rear diff damag
(assuming conditions are good, dry, warm etc)
do you just rev to 5000-7000 and side step? rinse and repeat till you find the best rpm?
also i read you should try to make your tires lose grip a little so the diff doesnt take all the stress?
how would i go about practicing launching while minimizes damage to the car?
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Joined: May 2003
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well launching isnt a good thing, wears down a lot of components, but i'd say rev to around 5500 to 6500(i forgetwhat the best rpm was, but i know there was a 500 in it somwhere...) and drop the clutch and yes, some tire spin is good, but you need to find the right rpm so you get the perfect amount.. just practice in like a huge parking lot or something 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 34,131
Likes: 126
From: Canton, MA
I launch between 4 to 6 times at every autocross with folks pointing and yelling all around me, so I think I have it down. It is very easy and much like down-hill skiing. Once you get over the fear, there is nothing to it. First, I recommend a good rear gear lube, just to get whatever little extra protection that might afford. I used that LE stuff and it seems fine. Remember, there are no gaurantees, except that eventually you will blow your diff.
Anyway, line your car up straight. Bring the rpm up to 6,000 to 7,000 rpm. Dump the clutch. Floor the gas.
Need more details? From the time you hit your launch rpm to the time you floor the gas (I mean foot on the floor) will be about half a second or less. In other words, get your foot off the clutch quickly. You don't have to side step it, just lift you leg and foot as quickly as you can, under control (don't lift your leg so fast that your knee hits the steering wheel ok?) Once your foot is off the clutch, you hit the gas. Don't wait a half second after your foot is off the clutch. Start mashing the gas with your right foot as you reach the top of the clutch travel with your left foot. If you don't floor it at 6,000 to 7,000 rpm launches, there is a good chance the engine will bog.
The above method will result in about 15 to 20 feet of controlled wheel spin and you can modulate the gas as needed to hook up, or keep the spin going a little longer. You can launch at higher Rpms, but it is unnecessary and results in excessive wheel spin.
When you get good at it, it becomes one fluid motion such that you hit your launch revs, dump the clutch and floor the gas as one seamless move.
If you have any questions about this, post away.
Anyway, line your car up straight. Bring the rpm up to 6,000 to 7,000 rpm. Dump the clutch. Floor the gas.
Need more details? From the time you hit your launch rpm to the time you floor the gas (I mean foot on the floor) will be about half a second or less. In other words, get your foot off the clutch quickly. You don't have to side step it, just lift you leg and foot as quickly as you can, under control (don't lift your leg so fast that your knee hits the steering wheel ok?) Once your foot is off the clutch, you hit the gas. Don't wait a half second after your foot is off the clutch. Start mashing the gas with your right foot as you reach the top of the clutch travel with your left foot. If you don't floor it at 6,000 to 7,000 rpm launches, there is a good chance the engine will bog.
The above method will result in about 15 to 20 feet of controlled wheel spin and you can modulate the gas as needed to hook up, or keep the spin going a little longer. You can launch at higher Rpms, but it is unnecessary and results in excessive wheel spin.
When you get good at it, it becomes one fluid motion such that you hit your launch revs, dump the clutch and floor the gas as one seamless move.
If you have any questions about this, post away.
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,316
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From: Little Elm, TX
Legal Bill - What differential and tranny fluid are you using? RedLine?
Also how many of these launches have you gone through... and are the parts holding up ok? Have you broken a differential yet? How about your clutch, had to replace it yet?
Also how many of these launches have you gone through... and are the parts holding up ok? Have you broken a differential yet? How about your clutch, had to replace it yet?
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 34,131
Likes: 126
From: Canton, MA
This doesn't seem to hurt at all. I have launched at almost every run start. I get an average of 4 or 5 runs per event. I have entered the car in about 11 or 12 events, so that is something like 40 or 50 launches. Most launches were on SO2s, but the last three events were on Hoosiers. So far, everything is fine. Other S2000s that race with me have also been fine, including an '00 model year that had a lot more launches than I did before the owner stopped racing it this year. As stated above, I am using LE 607 in my diff, but I only just put that in. Before that it was the factory fill. Tranny fluid is Honda MT fluid.
When done right, the rear wheels just break loose right away and I assume a significant percentage of the "shock" is avoided through the wheel spin.
That said, I know one local owner who loves to burn rubber and he does it in every direction. Straight ahead, sideways, in circles, etc. He blew his diff.
When done right, the rear wheels just break loose right away and I assume a significant percentage of the "shock" is avoided through the wheel spin.
That said, I know one local owner who loves to burn rubber and he does it in every direction. Straight ahead, sideways, in circles, etc. He blew his diff.