going to the track for my first time

Well, start off easy and slowly push the envolpe in getting aggressssive at the line. Do your burnout in 2nd gear, roll up to the line and get ready to go, at the last yellow. hit the hammer.

As far as staging at the light, I'll assume your foot breaking it. I didn't read/see trans. break equipement in the car. So, just rev it up to a few more hundred RPM more than last time (If there was a last time, IDK.) and go from there. Next time up at the line, try a few more hundred RPM over last time. Soon enuff, you'll find a point where things work best.

If you have never been to the line before, I suggest reving it up to a point just below where the stall rating is. Since the engine is small I would try starting at 2500/2600 RPM just to see how it reacts. Then go up in RPM from there.

It's all a learning experiance and it's all about fun. So, have at it and by all means, DO! report back what you have found!

Good luck, have fun!

(OH, P.S. Ya, ya might spin if you punch it. Start by rolling your foot into it quickly, quicker each time you go to the line. Like said above, one step at a time. Adjusting starting line RPM and hitting the hammer at different rates are 2 things. Just try one and then proceed to the next. You'll be knocking down the time each time you do this. And if you don't knock time down, you went to far and need to go back a step to where the car reacted best.)