This is how I do it, not that I am by any means, in the farthest stretches of imagination, an expert. I never stage first, not that I don't like to, it's just because of the way I stage. As I am rolling up to stage, I am right at the threshold of clutch being engaged / disengaged. I roll so slowly up to the Staging line that I can get up there without using the gas pedal(after I get relatively close). As soon as the second staging light lights up, I stab the brake and rev to desired R.P.M.s., LEAVING THE CLUTCH RIGHT AT THE THRESHOLD. When the second to last yellow light on the tree lights, I'm on the gas, and "slipping" the clutch(not just dumping it, but letting it slip a bit, so as to avoid wheelhop).
My first time at the track with my bone-stock SVTC (which I am about to tune-up, because I was dissapointed with my times) produced 60' times of: 2.419, 2.311, 2.343, 2.348, 2.370, 2.381, 2.335, and 2.457(in order of fastest run to slowest run). I was trying to get as many runs in as possible at the end of the day, to beat my friend's Integra GS-R. Didn't happen that time.
Sorry for the long post, I got excited.
-Tavis
I get the clutch to the grabbing point with my foot on the brake so I can feel where it is about to engage, then push it in just a hair, then raise my rpm's to where I want them and as soon as the the stop light..... I mean "tree" turns green I feather the clutch out and give it gas as to get the tires spinning just enough to give me momentum and then let the clutch go and stomp on it. Once you are rolling and disengage the clutch you probably won't have enough torque to smoke the tires at that point and you'll be right in your range where the secondaries will open up... It takes practice but is the most effective way to launch our cars, or any car for that matter I believe.