Extreme Wheel Hop
 

I took my car to the 1/8 mile track down here last night. The best time I could get out of it was a 10.1... My 60 ft times were absolutely horrid, ranging from 2.5 to 2.6. My trap times were 71-75. I launched everywhere from 3k to 8k rpms. From 3k to 4.5k rpm launches, no wheel hop, very little tire spin, bogged launch. 5k and above launches, extreme wheelhop, but those were when I had my "best" E/T's. DSC was fully disabled, held it in until the squiggly lines showed up. Do you think it could have been the excessive amount of water they would pour in front? Or the massive amount of burnt rubber on the strip? When I would lwarm the tires up, they would spin with no problem, but once I got up to the line and launched, wheel hop was present until I would shift to second. What's the deal?

practice makes perfect

I ran 10-15 times, I used to have an S2000 and I never had this problem.

I could be wrong, but my understanding is that with street tires you don't need to "warm them up" in the water box. In fact, I've been told to avoid the water box like the plague. Now with drag radials, it is a different story...any thoughts?

I've had the same problem! Only tried 3 launches with DSC off, but couldn't get burn-grip-take off. I got wheel hops. I did not try a high rpm clutch drop, but I did try a 6000 rpm release. I am a novice and have never "raced" before so all advice (links to websites, hint hint) is welcome.

I have also heard you're just wasting rubber (and clutch) with street tires if you try to warm up the tires.

Typically warming up radials just makes them harder, thats more for R compound race tires and drag radials/slicks.

However, "dusting" them off with a quick couple rotations cant hurt.

The problem is that with low torque motors (such as the rx8 and s2k) your going to have to come off with alot of revs and slip the clutch quickly.

Too much release would either give you wheelspin/hop or a nasty "bog"...either of which wouldnt be good for your times.

IMO, like said before, you pretty much have to abuse your clutch and keep the revs up at all times...its your only real shot at a hot 60'.