What's the best way to do a fast start from the street light? I've been working on some smooth shifting and comfrotable driving techniques for when there's one or two passengers in the car, but when I am alone, I'd want see what the car can really do but without damaging it too much. More than once, I've seen a car driving up to the light, that I know I can smoke on the highway, but they often beat me on the start..so I figure I must be doing something wrong there...

 

That makes sense, but I notice that I get jerk instead of jump. By that I mean, it jumps and then decelerates really quickly with RPMs going back down. Should I keep pressing the gas pedal or something? And then go to an equivalent of 4K RPMs for the 2nd gear, then shift and so on with other gears to follow?

 

for your launch you generally want to be at an RPM where your boost starts coming on line, then slip the clutch a little, gas it, and release the clutch. Don't dump you'll bog.

 

SacWagon, when I said "equivalent of 4K for 2nd gear", I meant ~6500 RPMs on 1st right before shifting after start. Theoratically, I'd want that to get maximum torquage out of the next gear when I shift (since that happens at 4K RPMs). That is if my gear ratio calculations are correct for the 2003 WRX model. I was just trying to confirm whether I need to be doing this to get optimal performance at the start. I mean it makes sense in theory, but I want to know if htat's really necessary for the first couple of gears..given that it probably causes some stress on the engine.

I mean do people actually drive this way when they are racing?

 

what's feathering? heh

 

feathering is when you don't just let go of the clutch. You rev up, the drop the clutch a little so it engages then depending on the amount of power and your clutch you either release more or you push the clutch pedal back down a touch to get nice smooth traction. Also so your car doesn't jerk off the line. It basically means that your boost will stay up because your not giving the engine a real quick clutch hit which would drop your RPM's.

 

doesn' that "burn" the clutch? if you play it half way like that?

 

Only if your on the clutch for a long time that whole process should take you less than 20 sec tops. Plus I should hope your not doing this every time you drive. But yes it does burn the clutch a little, it will burn it more if you ride it for too long. Investing in a high quality clutch would be a good idea too, for two reasons. One better wear on the clutch, two a high performance clutch will grab better and require less feathering to really launch.