[Nevin]

If you're automatic still, it's fairly easy. Obviously you don't want to be taking your car drag-racing if it's not in good mechanical shape, but here's what I do to get the best launch when I'm at the strip.

1. Put left foot on brake
2. Right foot on gas all the way down
3. Let off when the tree turns green
4. Enjoy going down the dragstrip in a heavy, cumbersome, altogether sexy car

Then, let it cool off as much as you can between runs. In the 2 or so years I've had my SVX, it's been down the strip maybe...15 times, and if I let it cool down while I'm in the staging lanes, it can make up to a tenth of a second difference. Heatsoaked manifolds are NOT your friend, so just turn the car off and pop the hood to help it let out the heat. This is where a set of phenolic spacers or a bag of ice would come in handy. (or both!)

Putting your right foot all the way down on the gas while you're on the brake... well that's your torque convertors "stall speed." On my SVX this occurs at approximately 2600 rpm. It may vary from car to car a few hundred rpm, but that'll be the general area.

Anyway, my best so far is really not even that fast, (15.5@89) but considering the weight, the fact that it's an AWD automatic, and how few mods it had at the time, that's not awful. A manual swapped car would be faster because of less physical weight, better gearing, and a more efficient driveline. Consistancy is the SVX's friend though. When I could keep it cooled down to the same temperature run after run, it was within .05 seconds each time. My 60' times are generally right around 2.3 seconds. I don't know for sure, but that's probably normal-ish.

And that's how I do it. Now honestly, you can't go drag racing and expect no ill-effects to happen. Unfortunately, that's just the nature of the beast. However, keeping your car in good shape, and knowing the warning signs of catastrophe can keep you going back time and time again!

I'm hoping to crack 14's this season on the stock tranny. I have yet to install a shiftkit, ECUtune 2v7, and I recently added my tomsvx style intake. I know it's a bit of a stretch, but I also think this car's got plenty more power in it to open up!