Drag Strip Shifting Advice

[06SRTCoupe]

Greetings!

I have an Arrow/Nth Moto Gen IV heads/cam Viper. However, the tranny is out if a Gen V and the rear is built with a 3.55 gear, so that is why I am in here.

I am looking for shifting advice at the drag strip. As you all know, because of that long first gear, I am shifting 4th right before the traps. My rev limiter is at 6700 but I am shifting closer to 6300 to try and get into 4th quicker.

What tips can you guys offer for shifting? My best time was an 11.4@127.6 with a 1.91 60' on a Nitto NT05R. DA was 4800ft.

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: I should have been more specific. I can shift really good but am looking for the RPM's that you guys are shifting at. Thanks again!

[Steve M]

Here you go:

https://www.dv8motoring.com/technical-articles/precision-shifting/

[Redx]

You gotta get a better 60’, you should be cutting 1.60 60’s, launch @4k+ while slipping that clutch not to blow the tires off.

[06SRTCoupe]

Good link Steve but I have most of that down...except my horrible launching skills. :smilielol: I don't powershift so I'm curious as to what RPM others are shifting at...at the track.

[06SRTCoupe]

You gotta get a better 60’, you should be cutting 1.60 60’s, launch @4k+ while slipping that clutch not to blow the tires off.

I agree! First time out with the car so hopefully that will inprove.

[Steve M]

Good link Steve but I have most of that down...except my horrible launching skills. :smilielol: I don't powershift so I'm curious as to what RPM others are shifting at...at the track.

Shift as close to the rev limiter as you can without hitting it. If you can cross the traps in 3rd, leave it in 3rd. Short shifting gears will definitely cost you time and speed at the end.

[06SRTCoupe]

Totally agree with that Steve but with my Gen V setup it is impossible to leave it in 3rd. Man I wish I could though! Even with redlining it at 6700, I would still be shifting before the traps.

[Rare Snake]

Yeah 3rd is impossible in the 1/4. My Gen 2 was just getting to the limit at the end, but even a stock V needs 4th.

If you're running 11.4 with a 1.9 60', you could make up half a second if you get that down. It sounds like you've almost got the shifting down from 1-4 though. You're the opposite of me... I'm awesome out of the hole, but I cant seem to stay off the rev limiter in 1st and 2nd. With a 1.7 60' I ran 11.5, but my speed was way down.

If that's your 1st time out, all you need is some more passes to perfect it! I was a mess for my whole first summer at the strip.

Keep us posted, not a lot of guys drag race these cars, so I'm always excited to hear when people try it out.

Dason