Drag Racing analyzer

[Ed Wright]

How could it actually adjust the car? Or did it signal the driver about where it was in relation to the dial? All that came about while I was sprint car racing and then quit.

[7423]

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

How could it actually adjust the car? Or did it signal the driver about where it was in relation to the dial? All that came about while I was sprint car racing and then quit.

I'm sure it did all that plus!! Worked for Connley and look at him now, he's a NHRA Pro Stock racer!! A great competitor for todays youth to look up to.

[Mike Carr]

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

How could it actually adjust the car? Or did it signal the driver about where it was in relation to the dial? All that came about while I was sprint car racing and then quit.

From stories I read, the Matty Box was like a cruise control. If the car was ahead of it's on-track point (running quick), the throttle stop would kick on to slow the car down to run it's number. If it was behind it's on track point (running slow), the N20 would engage, pick the car up, and run dead-on it's dial.

[K Stubbs]

With the Matty box, after the first initial run to record data, you do not need to make another time trial. As long as the run is good (no tire spin, gear change malfunctions etc) The box records that data and uses it to determine the following runs ET prediction by counting the amout of times the engine fires compared to the distance it has traveled, thus the reason for the counter. It will tell you, by led, if you are going too slow or too fast. You can use nitrous, throttle stop, etc to control this. You can also use it on a footbrake car without a transbrake with a motion sensor that is available. In my opinion, with todays consistent bracket cars, like dragsters, the box would be less helpful. You still have to hit the tree and is appears many can do this and run the number.

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by Mike Carr

From stories I read, the Matty Box was like a cruise control. If the car was ahead of it's on-track point (running quick), the throttle stop would kick on to slow the car down to run it's number. If it was behind it's on track point (running slow), the N20 would engage, pick the car up, and run dead-on it's dial.

And tech could not find a throttle stop or nitrous? Must have been used on .90 cars.
Sounds like wheel standers would screw it up. What kind of satisfaction could a cheater possibly have? I don't get it.
Thanks for the explanations.

[Mike Carr]

Yes, it was in .90 cars, running at the Moroso 5 -Day bracket races in November 1999. I'm pretty sure I read that, indeed, a wheelstand would mess it up.

[Jim Kaekel]

Unfortunately, some crooks always seem to be one step ahead of the law. I think that there was a "big name" racer or two that had these devices back in the '90's until NHRA became aware of the technology and actually put the wording in the rule book that it was illegal. I think that the racer(s) got rid of them at that point, knowing that sooner or later the ***** was going to hit the fan (Moroso/Norwalk protests & dirty dozen controversies) and they didn't want to face the suspension or embarrassment. The sad truth is that a lot of winnings were collected with this technology before the NHRA or IHRA was aware of it.

[Signman]

Will throw my .02 in.

During that time there was a showdown at a big money race at Atco.
People were watching in the stands and the culprit was not looking at his opponent at all just staring at the tach going through and going dead on.. When the crowd gathered and officials asked for an inspection the car and driver loaded up and left.

The explanation was that the tach was not a tach at all but an indicator. If when approaching the finish line if it read a predetermined set RPM you would be going dead on. Lower you were slow & higher you were fast.

In this scenario there was no throttle or nitrous controller. The driver controlled slowing down & speeding up.

The Matty Box I believe is still for sale.
It used a wheel counter on a front wheel. The pickup was the tell tale. But why can't you use drive shaft RPM?? Make your wheel stander dead hook and it will work fine.

That's why external inputs other than engine sensors are not allowed to be connected to EFI ECU with internal data logging. Brings this issue on board as well as traction control.