Quick_lude

I have never driven or launched a rotary powered vehicle. My Prelude has to launched at about 4K rpm or more. I know the S2000 has to be launched at 5K or more for optimum results. I don't drag race very much and I know this won't be a drag car but still I would to know how to launch it. Any feedback on this?

Sputnik

I would think that there's going to be more difference between launching a RWD vs. your FWD, then there will be launching the high-rpm rotary vs. your VTEC engine.

---jps

Toadman

Take a look at the HP/Torque curves someone posted here somewhere. or the 3rd gen RX-7, optimum launch RPM was 3500rpm, but that was for the turbos benefit

danger

when you launch what are you talking about? Depress clutch, rev up to rpm, clutch in. This it?

i dunno what im talking about.. someone explain launching to me please.

ZoomZoom

danger,

Sounds like you’ve already got it down pat.

danger

sweet sweet. sweet...

sounds to me all this would do is burnout? isn't the point of a launch to get moving as fast as possible? not move, spin tires, and then jet like a bat out of hell?

Grimace

Danger, the optimum launch gives maximum acceleration without spinning the tires excessively, but at the same time not bogging the engine. This is trickier than it sounds, and pavement quality is a variable.
Basically, a smokey burnout is impressive but gets you nowhere, while a low-RPM launch saves your tires, but doesn't exactly catapult you forward until the tach swings north of 5 grand (for example).
(Very) generally speaking, about 1-2 seconds of brief wheel spin is optimal, on most cars.

Edit - forgot to mention that some people side-step the clutch (let it out abruptly) while others slip it (not recommended unless you like the stench of crispy clutch in the cabin).
Fortunatly the 8 is rear wheel drive, probably the easiest car to launch vs. FWD or AWD. Well, some AWD are easy to launch, but most have too much traction, and bog horribly. Or you can be like my friend with his WRX, and try a high-RPM sidestep to avoid bogging. <BANG> Differential went to the big wrecking yard up in the sky...

Sputnik

And some of it ended up over in the bushes, and some of it ended up in the other lane, and some of it...

---jps

BlueAdept

LOL, a few of my friends and I went to a deserted parking lot (My god I'm speaking american).. to have a play... which ended up in one of them doing exactly that to another's car!!! Differential in pieces on the floor... Mind you it stopped us all getting arrested since when the police turned up we were all sitting round discussing this pool of oil on the floor, not messing around with the cars...

It was a while ago, when we were at college, and we had this rule of thumb... if you can't spin the tires you need a bigger engine... and if you CAN... then you need bigger tyres. Both myself and the guy above found a way out of this cycle by breaking parts of the drive train.

I broke a half shaft!... Bang... oops, no drive!

wakeech

but hey danger, if you do wanna burn-out, you just side step it from a high rpm on a road WITHOUT tremendous grip in a higher gear (lots o' wheel speed)... like poppin' it from 5.5K or something in 3rd... hopefully the tires loose ALL grip, and you're just floatin'... then the heat builds up and rubber burns.

danger

thanks.... hey i see you're from vancouver... around what parts?

wakeech

oops, i should change that to "Greater Vancouver"... i live in the suburb Surrey... ya ya, i know the jokes, it's not like i was born here...
but not a bad place to live, in the nicer areas...
why?? where're you from?? canadian of some sort i suppose...

danger

im from the east sive of vancouver.. no not hastings.... but the better area. Im near Queen Elizabeth park, but not by the government housings, a little further than that. hehehee...