You just completed the second school of thought on this.
I always slipped the clutch off the line and aimed for the dimmer switch, side stepped on every gear while trying to put my right foot through the floor board.
This is what I do. On the line, you may want to keep the rev's low and slowly lift the clutch pedal until you figure it out. Get used to it. The launch can be hard to voilent throwing you back hard into the seat. When your not ready for it, believe it or not, the foot can come off the pedal.
Another thing is the carb, if a Holley, will need jet extentions to insure fuel when you go to W.O.T quickley. Even so, you can still stall at the line.
Walking it out, AKA easy up on the clutch, is a good way to start until you iron everything out.
