new to forum, new to racing, new to standard, need help

[newracer]

hello all, i recently purchased an 05 GT mustang. it is my first mustang, and my first stick shift. have always wanted both. im getting pretty good with normal driving, but i want to eventually get into some weekend drag racing with it. being new to driving a standard, i have some questions. :confused:

1. what is the best way to launch? i have heard to slip the clutch and i have heard to dump the clutch

2. i am assuming that slipping the clutch means revving the engine up to 2500 or so and just letting out the clutch slowly, taking off fast. and i am assuming that dumping the clutch is revving the engine up and letting completely off the clutch. am i assuming right?

3. with either of these methods, how do you hold still at the starting line?

4. what will cause clutch damage so i know what to avoid doing. ( i know "riding the clutch" or resting your foot on the clutch as your driving is bad, so i am wondering what else i need to know.

5. do you press the clutch all the way in when you shift, or just enough to shift. will this hurt anything

and finally 6. what is double clutching. i have heard this term but no one has explained it to me.

any info would be greatly appreciated. thanks, and from what i have read so far i really like the forum. very informative. :)

[Fast Orange]

I'm no expert, but here's my Opinion on this.

1) the best way to launch depends on the tire, and set up of the car. A sticky tire and a car that hooks can be "dumped". If traction is limited, then it's time to slip it. I'm a clucth dumper, but I probaly should change my driving style.

2) Slipping the clutch is reving the motor to a high rpm and slowly (and smoothly) letting the clutch out. It's hard on clutches.

3) there usally isn't a problem holding the car at the starting line unless you run a small clucth gap (pedal close to the floor).

4) ???

5) just enough to get the job done... If you drive it hard, sooner or later you will break something. (My moto => It can always be fixed)

6) My take on duble clutching is when the car starts to bog at launch and you push in the clutch again to bring up the RRR's.

[J.Pulaski]

Double clutching is from the days when transmissions did not have sychros. There is no need to double clutch a modern trans. Double clutching involved getting both trans shafts spinning the same rpm so the gears would mesh.

As far as the rest of your questions the best answer I can give you is practice, practice, practice. Tires, conditions and driver skill all play a part.

Slipping is hard on the flywheel and clutch disc because of the heat generated. Dumping causes more shock loading which is also damaging to the rest of the drive train.

Any type of racing is hard on parts. Replacement will happen at much sooner intervals then if you drive it conservatively. (notice I didn't say normally. For some of us that is quite brutal.)