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"Acceleration techniques from a stop or standstill. 0-60 times, 1/4 quarter mile, sprints, off the line, race starts, or getting and gaining traction."
63 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window coupe pictures - dragtimes.com
Have you ever wondered how to move your vehicle from a stop to a certain speed or distance in the least possible amount of time? 0-60, drag racing, or just having the ability to get the most out of the awesome power and straight line traction of your Corvette is a great skill to add to your portfolio as a driver. Later articles will look at other driving techniques.
Most of these acceleration techniques are good for almost any vehicle (law abiding of course).
Of course, different weather and road conditions may call for a driver to modify their technique.
Corvette Z06 burnout (burn out) pictures - z06corvette.com
The best way to find your ultimate acceleration is to be on a race track or drag strip where the measurements will be the most accurate. Just practicing these launching techniques are very hard on the vehicle and tires (or the points on your drivers license if done on the public roadways), and with many cars the engine could be blown from over revving, but in the case of the modern Vette you should be bouncing off your rev limiter at max revs instead, which should be 6,500 rpm on the (base) LS2 and 6,600 rpm on newer LS3. There are kits to adjust this, but since we deal with street friendly vehicle here, the max rpm will probably not want to be modified.
With any engine you will want to be in, or close to, the maximum horsepower RPM range at take off in order to transfer the most power to the pavement.
Ron Fellows Z06 manual transmission Corvette picture - musclecarspecs.com
We'll deal with the manual transmission first. The method is generally to keep the engine in the peak horsepower (sweet spot) RPM range while balancing the clutch slip and wheel spin to the level that provides maximum traction. With some of the high output motors you can actually slow down, at speed, if the wheels loose traction with excessive wheel spin. With the manual tranny the launch moment itself is controlled by locking the parking brake and then releasing it at the right time. By using the parking brake the vehicle will remain stable (not roll) while you are positioning the clutch and throttle for a launch aimed at maximum velocity.
Perri Nelsons 1979 Corvette pictures - perrinelson.com
Many racers also power shift the gears, which means the throttle is held to the floor at all times on the way up the gears. I think it is easy to imagine a "not so smooth" shift causing severe stress on the drive train. For the street, the Vette can pretty much get up to Interstate highway speeds in 1st gear anyhow.
Here is a great article on Manual transmission driving technique.
Corvette Steering Wheel Automatic shift paddles w/ custom trim images dashrestyle.com
Now with the automatic transmission we use a different style. Don't just dismiss the auto tranny as being for grandmother. Pro Drag racers make great use of them, but the forces are greater on the drive train than with a manual, so things will break at some point, and if you find yourself loving the launch there are heavy duty parts and torque converters available as well as shift point kits and other parts.
Z06 Corvette Burnout images- z06vette.com
A brake-torque launch is what you will shoot for with the auto. Basically, you want to pre-load the drive train.
With the transmission in neutral, and the brake pedal mashed to the floor, rev the motor, or blip the throttle and you will feel the brake pedal drop to the floor. Now your brake force is at its maximum.
Bring the revs up and then launch the vehicle. There is generally little wheel spin with the auto as the shock is absorbed by the viscosity available through the use of an automatic transmission.
2005 Chevy Vette Warm-up burn out pictures - dragtimes.com
Here is a good article on Drag Racing Launch Techniques.
Old School Hot Rod Chevy Vette pictures - geocities.com MotorCity
Here is a listing of Chevrolet transmissions, both manual and automatic.
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Chevrolet Corvette racing Videos:
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C5 Corvette "Shredding the strip" on the quarter mile video
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Fast Fil's drag racing Corvette Y2k C5 ready to race video
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This series is dedicated to the Chevrolet Corvette C5 C6 C7 enthusiast. We include news and details on the base Chevy Vettes, the Z06, and new ZR1 SuperCar model. The LS2, LS3, LS7, LS9, a racing engine, crate motor, or hot rod tuning subject is always game for discussion. Factory stock General Motors Corvettes, the engines and options, performance and horsepower specialty tuners, and aftermarket parts to make a modified Vette the fastest or quickest are what we are all about. The main years of interest are 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and beyond for the GM future.
Read through the American Metal site archives for more high tech info on the exotic Corvette. The sites index will also display archive info on the coupe and convertible sport car Corvette. The sports cars design, concept, and high performance aspects are all explored. See the site wallpaper galleries for both the Camaro and Corvette via this free wallpapers link.
Also, please use any information with caution. These articles contain information from many sources, and it is impossible to verify the accuracy on each of these sources, so please do your own research before reacting to anything, and consult your local professional for guaranteed information.
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Corvette "American Metal Racing" by Zorly aka Paul Malessa
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