PlasmaBlue
06-14-2011, 05:46 PM
I tried to do a couple of launches (I wouldn't really call them that ... more like a hard start from zero mph).
In one case I KNOW I screwed it up because I unconsciously kept the foot on the clutch a smidge too long and the smell of plastic afterwards that floated in the car for a good 5 minutes was probably my clutch calling me a bone-head.
Which I am, for the record.
So, after much personal shame and self-flagellating for being a complete idiot and promising myself I would NEVER attempt to do another launch in my life because I am an idiot and I don't deserve a car so good, etc, etc ...
... well, of course, inevitably I had to try again.
This time I made as much as possible a conscious effort to pull my left foot off the damn clutch.
This time it went much better (I think) but a tiny smell of plastic still lingered for a minute. It wasn't anywhere near as bad as the first (shameful) attempt but it was still undoubtedly there. Very very little of it ... but still there (no my tires didn't spin ... )
First question: is it normal to "smell clutch" after a launch even if it's done impeccably? Keep in mind ... I don't plan to BURN my car. I just want to try a launch once in a while ... so if that burnt plastic smell is normal ... so be it. It just means I will try to avoid doing launches as much as I can. If it's not normal and a perfect launch shouldn't smell like anything other than adrenaline and fun and chocholate ice cream, then I am doing something wrong and I am going to stop until I can find somebody that can teach me how to do it right.
PS: I am not silly enough to think that a launch is NOT hard on the car. I know it is ... it's just that I have NEVER launched a car in my life. Period. Since I never owned sports car ...
Second question: I don't know why it's so hard for me to pull my foot off the clutch. It's almost some kind of psychological block. I am telling my foot to lift off and get off the clutch and my foot is really not listening very well. Is anyone else experiencing this ... interesting psychological issue? or is it just me?
PS: one thing to add to this is that I have been driving manual for all my life ... been driving manual for more than 20 years (yes I F---ING old). So ... I wouldn't put it past myself to have developed some nasty habits that in normal European beaters (I'm from Europe) don't make much of a difference. With a REAL car? yeah ... gotta change my habits.
Thanks for any light you can shed on my noob-ness!
:)
In one case I KNOW I screwed it up because I unconsciously kept the foot on the clutch a smidge too long and the smell of plastic afterwards that floated in the car for a good 5 minutes was probably my clutch calling me a bone-head.
Which I am, for the record.
So, after much personal shame and self-flagellating for being a complete idiot and promising myself I would NEVER attempt to do another launch in my life because I am an idiot and I don't deserve a car so good, etc, etc ...
... well, of course, inevitably I had to try again.
This time I made as much as possible a conscious effort to pull my left foot off the damn clutch.
This time it went much better (I think) but a tiny smell of plastic still lingered for a minute. It wasn't anywhere near as bad as the first (shameful) attempt but it was still undoubtedly there. Very very little of it ... but still there (no my tires didn't spin ... )
First question: is it normal to "smell clutch" after a launch even if it's done impeccably? Keep in mind ... I don't plan to BURN my car. I just want to try a launch once in a while ... so if that burnt plastic smell is normal ... so be it. It just means I will try to avoid doing launches as much as I can. If it's not normal and a perfect launch shouldn't smell like anything other than adrenaline and fun and chocholate ice cream, then I am doing something wrong and I am going to stop until I can find somebody that can teach me how to do it right.
PS: I am not silly enough to think that a launch is NOT hard on the car. I know it is ... it's just that I have NEVER launched a car in my life. Period. Since I never owned sports car ...
Second question: I don't know why it's so hard for me to pull my foot off the clutch. It's almost some kind of psychological block. I am telling my foot to lift off and get off the clutch and my foot is really not listening very well. Is anyone else experiencing this ... interesting psychological issue? or is it just me?
PS: one thing to add to this is that I have been driving manual for all my life ... been driving manual for more than 20 years (yes I F---ING old). So ... I wouldn't put it past myself to have developed some nasty habits that in normal European beaters (I'm from Europe) don't make much of a difference. With a REAL car? yeah ... gotta change my habits.
Thanks for any light you can shed on my noob-ness!
:)