Stagger the tree. Never thought of that. So why doesn't NHRA do that. Thinking out loud and knowing that Compulink and other systems have hard wired "software," it might be complicated to make the switch......

On the surface it seems like a great idea.

I miss my '58 New Yorker and its 392 Hemi.......

Thinkin' about it some more.....the staggered tree is the better idea as opposed to a five tenths pro tree. You can still use a delay box on a pro tree.....

But, how much stagger?

It seems we're so used to the equal countdown that I think my brain would pop trying to follow an unequal sequence.....


I miss my '58 New Yorker and its 392 Hemi.......

Bruce, It was brought to NHRA's attention many years ago. I do not know why they did not adopt this simple way of defeating delay devices.

Bowtie, Its not rocket science, their system could easily be programmed to stagger the tree. All you need to do is vary the stagger from race to race. Anywhere between .020 to .060. Most racers will never know the difference.

Ed Brice

Sounds very simple. I wonder what the flipside of that debate is.

?





I miss my '58 New Yorker and its 392 Hemi.......

>> A couple of years ago some racers had a guy busted in Div 4 for using a delay box.

That was Ron Muncy.

>> I hope the NHRA SS and Comp. racers vote properly because it can eventually affect NHRA as well as IHRA Stockers.

Myron's dead-on...

>> The top bulb deal would eliminate a lot of the problems

In my opinion, allowing something on that kind of basis would be like allowing ported cylinder heads in Stock. Yeah, it'd "level the playing field", but all it would do it raise the cost for many people.

>> it appears NHRA is having a hard time policing this stuff

They are? Who's using a box? And it's their own fault they legalized the AX button.

>> Mr. Baker was in the tower & was watching the Modified cars run. [...]So does there need to be a spotter looking for early release?

I have frequently seen Baker on the starting line at National events, specifically watching over drivers' shoulders for just that type of thing. IHRA will also throw random inspections after a qualifying run from time to time... one time they checked everyone for loose ballast, one time they were checking tire width, and last year they checked all the Stockers for transbrakes.

>> STAGGER THE TREE..............all delay devices now become ineffective.

...and so do people who count the tree. With enough stagger in the tree to make any kind of a difference, even a bottom-bulber CAN see the stagger, and it WILL effect them, unless they're blocking the tree (which is similar "first flash" driving like using a box in the first place). I raced on a staggered tree before. NHRA Div. 1 used it the first year that they legalized delay boxes in Super Pro. They used it in all the classes, though. It made it look like the tree came down fast sometimes, or come down slow sometimes. It was wierd. I think Chip Johnson has run into it in more recent years.

>> Anywhere between .060 to .120. Most racers will never know the difference.

Holy cow! You'll pick it up if it's more than .02! The stagger is an available option in the Compulink. I think the spec back in the early '90s when we used it was a .001 to .050 variance. Some tracks used the max, some the min.

Stagger wouldn't do anything to guys who block the tree and use an adjustable button to leave off a flash.


Michael Beard
<u>Staging Light Graphic Design & Printing</u>
Duck Tape/Loctite Racing
H - I - J/CM '80 Volare 360 Magnum

I guess I don't get it but if you stagger the top bulb wouldn't you just change the box to leave off the bottom and block the first 2? Sounds like what's going on now. The only way to counter this is to flood the starting line with RF and UV in wide spectrums and see which cars leave on thier own, All you need is to catch a couple of people and it will decrease to a point.

I was wondering how long it would take.....YOUR F*** kidding right mike. Can't you make a post without writing a book.

Staggering the tree is the answer, you don't know what the F*** your talking about. Counting the bulbs down, get real man.

And Mark, I don't no how to answer you, if you can't figure it out, there is no hope that you will ever get it.

My god, are class racers this stupid. How can you all race for so many years and still not figure it out. You all bitch and cry that people are cheating to justify your lack of skill or the understanding of how to bracket race.

Ed Brice

Ed, I raced on a staggered top bulb for many years, and I don't see how it would affect a bottom bulb leaver. Am I missing something?

,

Well, I for one understand that nothing will affect a bottom bulb leaver.

But, if in fact there are more top bulb leavers with advantages it seems NHRA ought to use as many ideas to thwart their efforts.

With the idea being we'd see a change in who's a frequent wiener.....
winner.....

eh?


All I know if Glendora says, "You guys said levae it alone," and they do, not a thing has been accomplished.








I miss my '58 New Yorker and its 392 Hemi.......