What is the best way to race in an automatic? Just stomp on gas right away and don't let up?? For me it seems like I can squeeze the most power when I go half throttle, wait until my powerband (3k) then hammer the gas then it jolts foward much better. Is that the best way to do a street race? (I plan to get a stick conversion soon but in the spring)

That's netral-dropping, right? "Power-braking" is a common method... but this can be damaging to your tranny. I usually just use my left to brake then use my right foot to mash it... still have that SC300? How's that going? I believe that they have hi-stall torque convertors for your car... something I gotta get. I also have the HKS Automatic Line Controller... but I'm not sure if they make that for your car... only Z's and Supra's as far as I know! Thes should help you out a bit! I say stick with your AT!

naw not neutral dropping, that's bad for your transmission. I mean while driving, i'll go half throttle then mash it on my powerband. I never had an s300 (I wish), brother has an sc400 though. I have an s14 240sx w/ a lightly modded KA engine

Hmmm... I must'a confused you with someone else...

On my eclipse, I hold down the brake w/ my left fot, and get the RPM's up to around 3K, where I let her go. I shift at 5100.... (I have a sportronic) and that seems to work best for me.

I don't have sportamatic shifting :(, just manual overdrive

doesn't matter, sporttronics aren't any faster anyway.

So my question is... what is the best way to apply an AT powered car when drag-racing?

brake-torque launch

explain this technique... please.

Brake-torque launch/start: (1) roll to starting line and apply brakes (2) left foot firm on brake, right foot on gas (3) 3 to 5 seconds prior to the hot(start/launch/green light/checkered flag) press on gas to build up torque (4) slide brake foot off & floor gas at launch/start point. IMPORTANT NOTE: this is a bit of a strain on the tranny. BEST METHOD is to get the brake mod that allows you to lock ONLY your front wheels with a push button after you get to the starting line ...then you apply gas until the rear wheels start to slowly spin...hit the button again, stomp gas, and you're gone! (Downside is this modification only works on rear drive cars)

yup thats called a line lock

interesting... where can I get a kit?

Thanks for the info BTW....

yea thanks for the info. How about what's the best method for not straining your tranny? Also how bad is it on the transmission?

brake torqueing isn't terribly bad for your transmission as long as you don't hold it for more than 5 seconds, holding it too long puts alot of temperature into it. You can reduce these effects by getting an aftermarket transmission cooler.

in conclusion brake torqueing > neutral drop

I'm having a hell of a time finding a line-lock for my car....

Another thing you may want to take into account is the Overdrive function. Turn it off if you have the option. I ussually set my AT in 1ST gear or LOW, and brake torque untill I see green (On the street) or the second from last yellow on the track. I shift at around 5500 or 6K depending on the weather and road/track conditions. I hit second then throw it into D.... Sometimes Zs have a tendancey to lag a bit when you do this into D so I double punch the throttle and this getts its going hard again. A bit of work but I found it gives me the fastest times in most my cars, and hell, if I can get a AT ZX2 Escort to run 15s with some mods, I know I can get a Z to run alot faster with the same amount of mods.

how much damage DOES it do to the tranny?

As is my tranny's too weak for my engine... a problem that will be remedied as soon as my tranny dies so...

and no pain for the brakes?

also, my orange line is at 5500rpms, red at 6000, where should probably bring it to?
'91 Buick Regal 3.8L V6

shifting your automatic transmission won't help your 1/4 mile times.

left foot brake
right foot gas
bring the rpm up to about 3k
let off the brake and punch the gas
DONT TOUCH THE SHIFTER
just keep it in drive and go

heres what i read/heard. this is for drag racing, mind you. at the line, push down the brake as hard as you can (left foot), throw it in N, then give it a quik, hard rev. make sure you get your foot out of the gas right after. this will cause a vacuum spike, which will cause the brake pedal to sink further, giving you a better hold. throw it in D, rev it up, then dump the brake when its go time. its a lil hard on the driveline, but much easier than a neutral drop.