Clutch break in - car not street driven

Say your sh*tbox Subaru RallyCross car needs a clutch... clutch manufacturers all suggest a break in period of gentle driving for several hundred miles. The car isn't street driven (not tagged) and will see well under 100 miles all season - none of them gentle. 

My thinking is that I'll drive it around a little to put a couple of heat cycles in it and send it. It only does a launch and a single 1-2 shift per run. It'll be fine. 

What do/would you do? 

Idle on jackstands dragging the brakes with some occasional shifting?

I've heard of pro drifters doing some procedure that involves standing on the brakes and slipping the clutch for some period of time.

In reply to Motojunky :

I would try and call the clutch manufacturer. I had this exact issue back in the day with a ClutchMasters clutch, I called and they gave me a slightly altered disc material that needed no break in.

GameboyRMH said:

I've heard of pro drifters doing some procedure that involves standing on the brakes and slipping the clutch for some period of time.

That reminds me of something. I had a former friend who worked unloading new cars from trains for delivery to dealerships. He used to brag about putting new 5.0 Mustangs in 5th and dumping the clutch at a standstill. All this time I felt bad for the purchasers of those new cars. Maybe he was just breaking in their clutches? 

I'll do the Googles and see what I can find about the drift guys. Thanks. 

Slippery said:

In reply to Motojunky :

I would try and call the clutch manufacturer. I had this exact issue back in the day with a ClutchMasters clutch, I called and they gave me a slightly altered disc material that needed no break in.

Stock class - has to be an OEM type replacement. That's really just an excuse for me to say that I already ordered the clutch and didn't think to consult the manufacturer in advance. :) 

In reply to Motojunky :

From what I can find, clutch break-in is similar to brake pad break-in, in that it's about wearing in the surfaces and completing some heat cycles without overheating the material. Obviously it's a lot trickier to do that with a clutch though...

I figure just drive it.  It's not like you are asking your non street driven vehicle to make the clutch last another 200,000 miles.  And it doesn't matter if it is a little juddery.  And if it slips, maybe the transmission will last longer.

Motojunky said:

Slippery said:

In reply to Motojunky :

I would try and call the clutch manufacturer. I had this exact issue back in the day with a ClutchMasters clutch, I called and they gave me a slightly altered disc material that needed no break in.

Stock class - has to be an OEM type replacement. That's really just an excuse for me to say that I already ordered the clutch and didn't think to consult the manufacturer in advance. :) 

Stock oem clutch? Go and have fun. No need to break in. Rip through the gears as soon as you are done changing it. 

I thought you had an upgraded disc with kevlar or something. 

I have never broken in a clutch.  I have beat the piss out of oem type clutches from the first shift.  No issues.

This includes racecars.

Go beat on it.  You won't notice any difference.

I've had 2 new clutches and they both only got a hint of street driving for break-in, neither had any problems. One was a stock-spec clutch and one was an Exedy Stage 1.