Anything is possible and tech inspection isn't going to be able to tell. I wouldn't doubt that driver could just adjust rection time around to not get caught. If they are running "electronics" class pretty much anything is a go....definitely takes the fun out of it......IMO
I swear Bruce, I am going to buy you a delay box.. and then come out and install it with a transbrake in your car. You will quickly find out that is just as much of a challenge to stay in the razor thin window that box racing requires, as it is to foot brake.. actually for me anyway, foot brake racing has always been easier, because there is so much more room to play. Your a god if you an cut a .020 light consistently in a no electronics class, but in bracket one, if that is the best you can do, that results in a trip to the trailer after the first round, very often. And "everything or anything" is not allowed.. No device that manipulates the vehicle's performance on the track is allowed, just like in foot brake racing. What you can do is use a timer to react to a different light on the tree, and various controls that allow you to floor the throttle, without the car moving. Nothing else is allowed, that will make the car cut a light, or run the number. Throttle stops allow precise timed control of the throttle, but are not allowed to be "smart".. to compensate for track or air conditions.. they have to be manually set before the run. Every drag strip I know of, has a box and no box class, so you don't have to complete with the box cars.. if you chose to compete with a box car, then bringing a knife to a gunfight is your problem. Sure you will go a few rounds, but it's unlikely you will have dependable success. Once you narrow up your window to .010 or less of a second, hitting that every time, is influenced by so many factors, it's a real challenge. From the driver, to the car, to the track, to the weather.. everything makes a difference. And the ever present red light shines on these guys way more than it does on foot brakers. I constantly sit here and shake my head, at the folks that badmouth electronics in drag racing.. Thinking that it's "too easy" or takes the fun out of it. It changes the game certainly, but in a lot of ways, makes it harder, not easier. Your pre-pass prep has to be spot on, from the burnout to your concentration on the tree. Button release has to be on time, more importantly, the exact same every time.. None of this is easy. Don't beleive that?..OK, now your a sportsman racer at a National Event.. take your car out of the trailer in the morning, read the air, get a sense of the track conditions, and the lighting conditions on the starting line.. then sit down, and spin the dials on the boxes, to cut a .010 or better light, and run right on, in a .90 class. With no time trial.. The only folks that say that is "easy" are the ones who have never tried it. I am building 2 cars to come back to drag racing.. a Stock eliminator GS, which is a footbrake car, and a Super Street/Gas 84 Regal.. From watching the sportsman eliminations in divisional and national events via NHRA TV for the last couple years, it has become apparent to me that the much more difficult class to win in, will be the electronics laden .90 classes. No offense intended Bruce, I just couldn't bite my tongue here any longer. I understand why you think what you do, but your missing half the information to formulate that opinion. JW
No....I get it Jim....just don't want to be part of it...I guess I'm just old and a purist. In the beginning there were rarely delay box red-lights since people were setting up for teen or 20 bulbs. It was actually intended to prevent red-lights originally. You would have to see a fantom flash or just plain anticipate to red-light. Now people seem to go for a .00 setting and I'm seeing more red-lights. A friend of mine did it for a few years and started redlighting more often and I said just set it for a .020 and run the number. He started having trans-brake and throttle controller issues....and sold it all. What I enjoy lately is the 10.00 index races with PRO tree....kinda like a box for me....I can't red-light....especially without a transbrake.
We run no box, no trans brake and we don't even have a foot brake in one car. Try a hand brake once you have mastered the foot brake . 1800rpm idle, leave off idle, any more the clutch will engage (not good). 6.0 Pro (1/4) is a blast. The Supercat has a trans brake only as you can't hold it on the line. No stops or boxes. It is a blast to drive as it is loud and obnoxious and plenty quick to keep you focused.
You're right on Jim, you're an experienced racer. I also have raced both footbrake and box. In box you better have a "teen package" or your on the trailer. Even footbrake is getting tough, locally the guys are hitting teen and .020 packages quite often.I've been successful but only after a lot of seat time. I like index racing but the .90 series is extremely tight. I won the local 10.90 series points championship in 2019, but haven't been close the last 2 years. I particularly like the Renegade series my son and I run in. Down track stops are not allowed,so no 10.50 at 155mph. Fender to fender from start to stripe,and protree.Similar to GSR at the NATS. Electronics make racers more consistent,but certainly don't make it easier to win when competeing against the same rules.
Purist? It's all relative. My grandfather never had any respect for any racer that showed up to the track with an automatic transmission. Me, I stuck to my automatics. Tommy
About as fun as watching an elevator on the outside of a building go up and down, WHIRRRRRRRR, WHIRRRRRRRRR Or is it SHOOOOOOO SHOOOOOOOO???
I love drag racing, but u will be totally honest sitting there watch 10 and 12 second bracket cars isn't highly engaging to the fan........it about like watching golf.....its a much better sport to participate in than watch......once the novelty factor of an electric car glass wears off the class will fade away......much like pro stock trucks did....
I agree, it's a lot more fun to participate than watch until something breaks. I like watching, especially bracket racing. I think a lot more people would enjoy it if they understood it, and the skill it takes to win at it. I think a lot of people watching have no idea about dial ins, reaction times, and such.
A track I used to race at had a finishline light as well as a WIN light. Made it better for the spectator to understand what happened. You could see the dialins and the ET and sum it up in your head. Made it more enjoyable. But yeah my exgirlfriend never understood it after countless explanations over 13 years.....
With more restrictive neighborhood noise requirements being the norm these days, the electric car may end up being the future of racing. Tommy
We're starting to see Teslas show up at the road courses as well, though the lack of charging infrastructure means they can usually only get a couple 20min sessions in on full power. I think that tracks are going to slowly start becoming more EV friendly, and if this helps save tracks like Laguna Seca, which is constantly under threat of being shut down due to idiot neighbors who moved next to it and complain about the noise, then it's a good thing. Not saying it'll be anywhere near as cool as tracking gas cars, but hopefully it'll save some tracks!
