Rule book

[John Lang]

I've not raced for the last two years due to health issues and was told that the higher ups have changed the rules for staging in the Stk. and SS. guys ! He's trying to tell me that after both cars have pre-staged, the last to stage have to stage in 7 seconds, or get disqualified ? I looked in my rule book but could not find any thing as courtesy staging ? I thought some one could answer this ? I guess I could have called Div. 3, but I'll try those who would know !...Thanks, don't laugh ! John

[Jody Lang]

Sounds about right John.

Also be prepared if you haven't seen the blue stage lights. They're not as easy to see as the amber ones.

[Lenny5160]

Originally Posted by John Lang

He's trying to tell me that after both cars have pre-staged, the last to stage have to stage in 7 seconds, or get disqualified?

Close, but not quite. Both cars prestage, and once the first car has gone fully staged, the second car has 7 seconds to also be fully staged.

Both cars can sit there forever if they are only prestaged, in theory.

Also, I'm not 100% confident on 7 seconds being the time. Many bracket tracks use 10 seconds. But there is some time limit in that area.

[John Lang]

That is not real good news, because this person who told me this news is such a butt head, now I'll have to tell him he's right ! I really hat to eat crow ! ...Thanks, are we related ? Did your father and mother ever travel to Wisconsin ? ...Thanks again ! John

[Lew Silverman]

If I remember correctly, "courtesy" staging just means one competitor will wait at pre-stage before his or her opponent prestages. Theoretically, you could both stay pre-staged until your motor melts! Once one of you stages, the other has 7 seconds to stage before the "Autostart" system starts the tree down. Sitting on the chip for that long seems like FOREVER!!

Good luck and "Welcome Back"!

[Greenlight]

http://sportsman.nhra.com/content/sp...2564&zoneid=85

"For 2005, the total timeout parameter will be adjusted to 10 seconds for all Sportsman categories, down from the 15 seconds the system had been set the previous years of the AutoStart system."

" As part of the system, courtesy staging is in effect for Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street. Both contestants must activate their pre-stage lights before either may advance into the stage beams (this is considered a courtesy rule and the starter has the option of backing out both drivers and re-staging to assure a proper start)."

[Bob Mulry]

Originally Posted by John Lang

I've not raced for the last two years due to health issues and was told that the higher ups have changed the rules for staging in the Stk. and SS. guys ! He's trying to tell me that after both cars have pre-staged, the last to stage have to stage in 7 seconds, or get disqualified ? I looked in my rule book but could not find any thing as courtesy staging ? I thought some one could answer this ? I guess I could have called Div. 3, but I'll try those who would know !...Thanks, don't laugh ! John

Hi John,

This rule has been in place for 10 to 12 years......

If you have only sat out a few years you have raced with this system in place and just didn't know it.....

Bob

[Cdncarnut]

I love the 10 second rule.

As a rookie in a new car, the veterans love to try and hurry me to stage, after we prestage.
As soon as they stage, I start counting and will not pull into the stage beam until I hit 7 seconds or so.
When you are on the starting line, that 7 seconds seems like an eternity.

[FireSale]

I have heard 7 seconds from your competitor's stage to your stage, but no official pre stage to stage time limit. Here is all the 2016 book says:

A reasonable amount of time will be permitted for drivers to
stage. The time limit will be determined at the sole and absolute
discretion of the official starter. Failure to stage upon the starter’s

instructions is possible grounds for disqualification.

I'm a new racer in a new car, too, and there is way too much going on up there to play games with anyone.

Dale