how to do a burnout?

[Longhorn Man]

On a stock auto, I would not recomend starting out in second... assuming have a trans that would actually start in second... older fords do this, and late model GM 4L60E... but even they will kick to first when you stomp it.
if you have a TH400, you'll want to go into second gear as soon as you can, right after the tires start spinning is best. A good burnout is murder to a tranny, and very easy to over rev causing stress to the engine's lower end.
Driveshafts and U joints are stressed pretty good too.
If you have an open diff, then it's not real good to do. If your speedo says 40, then that one tire is doing 80, and that is not good for the diff at all.
Motor mounts are tested too.
I was always tought a burnout is when you keep the vehicle in place and spin the tires, also called brake torque, brake stand, or power braking. A line lock makes it easy, but is not needed.
Just nailing it and going straight (or not straight) is just spinning the tires.
Doing it in a manual shift is the only one that is slightly hard... Left foot on the clutch to the floor, trans in first, right foot, heel on the brake and toe on the throttle. Rev enough to keep from stalling but don't over rev and blow the clutch or a U joint, in a fairly quick motion let out the clutch without stalling the engine.
if you are real good you can nail it into second without letting the tires stop.
It'll impress your friends.
unless you are at the strip, and on slicks, it's kinda pointless.
but fun.