Launching the Prelude 101
I keep getting repeated emails from dozens of people on how to launch the prelude so I've decided to start a discussion and then faq it after everyone shares their inputs and techniques for both street and strip.
Street Method
Note: I only do this to ensure wins against fast competitors. Tires ARE expensive not to mention a new clutch
- 1. Bring revs up past crossover at 5200-5500RPMS
2. Release the clutch to 60% distance from complete depression.
3. Quickly release the remainder 40% of the clutch as to keep your tires spinning towards 6500RPMS. At this point your clutch should have been released pre 6200RPMS as the tires spin and grab in the next few hundred. Complete traction should be maintained from 6500-8000 on the tach in first gear.
4. Shift at 8000RPM on the tach in 2nd to get the most power out of third gear. This is a crucial mistake made when racing and costs several tenths when shifting at 7400RPM on the tach.
!Remember practice makes perfect!
If you are spinning through the tach you released the clutch to high. The first motion is a drop so it determines your launch. If you start to move but hear no spinning you used too much clutch. Its important to get that 1500-2000RPM of wheel spin. Its where your tires are moving faster than the car but there are enough contact spots that the car is moving near the speed of the tires.
Drag Strip Method
This is where it gets real tricky. Every track is going to be different so hopefully my experiences will aid you seeing as how I have had to launch on one of the worst tracks in the world. The ever sticky, never clean, Texas Motorplex at Ennis, TX!
- 1. Make sure the track is clean. I find it best to go early and be in the first few dozen runs. After the big muscle cars run they deposit lots of gunk that make the track sticky and rip my axle apart through wheel hop.
2. Burnouts are left to debate. Last Feb we compared this seeing as how the track was freezing and cars were spinning. (Wish I had that problem in summer!) It seemed to drop about .1 seconds in the 1/4 after warming up the tires for a bit.
3. After staging the first time bring your revs up to 4000RPMs. When the 3rd yellow light appears. Drop the clutch and go. I net .5xx reaction times this way. This will determine your track conditions
4. If you are lucky and get traction launch higher and higher till you find the spot where the car is being stressed. For most of us you'll either spin in which case I recommend launching even higher. Yes higher but slip the clutch. This way I spin but I'm in a higher powerband when I DO get traction. At anytime if you experience wheelhop lay off the gas to get some traction then go. Breakin an axle is not worth it 
Every track is different so keep working at it till you hit those 2.2 60 ft times. Tach shifting at 8000RPM is still in effect people, I can't stress how much that affects times in conjunction with quick fast shifts. I usually ride 3rd out to about 8100RPM right before fuel cutoff in that gear and try and get over the finish line. If I must I powershift to 4th at the end. Keeps things sort of balanced I'm not sure which is better so any input is welcome.
Tires are a major factor. Stock tires probably won't work well with this method but I've had kumho ecsta 712s and they wore out fast but they gripped well. I'm currently on the Bridgestone Potenza RE730s. These tires take a beating, get traction and still have tread left!! I highly recommend these.
Welp, that's my write up. Hope it helps, this is a discussion so feel free to contribute your own experiences and methods and as I always say. Enjoy your new 14 second car
the Lude too much
Linear Mode
