Re: worst red light debate, again!
 

Ed,my friend....Maybe this will explain .
Take your Suburban to a test and tune night and ask for a 5 tenths pro tree. Or better yet ,get a track person to unscrew the first two ambers.
This is what the fast cars see..blocker or not.

Go in shallow , stand on the converter and let us know what your reaction times are.

Re: worst red light debate, again!
 

Mark, we don't race off a pro tree. What does that have to do with anything? You can bump in deeper without the pre stage going off.

Re: worst red light debate, again!
 

You do if you use blinders...like several of the consistent winners do.

Bumping in is somewhat inaccurate...Turning off the top light? Not so much .

Re: worst red light debate, again!
 

X1000 Mark!
Adjust the car to change the reaction time, not yourself. If your consistant with a .600 light, then change air pressure, go deep, etc are all things to bring it down towards .500. If you want to try leaving at the end of this bulb this week and bottom of that bulb next week...uh, yeah, you won't get far. Some vehicles can be changed enough with stage rpm etc to make the difference, most slower cars can't.

As far as things that benefit fast cars, what about the auto timer? Low power U car can sit on the converter a lot longer than a screaming A car, so now you have to get in quick so the fast cars don't cook waiting for a slow car to stage? Another "subtle" advantage given to the "$$", oops, I mean, "fast" cars.

Re: worst red light debate, again!
 

Mark, if red lights aren't a problem, why In the world would anyone want to use a blinder? That's the whole point, right? I certainly would not use one if I didn't have problems going red.
I still do if I don't keep my launch RPM turned down to 3000, (my car runs quicker leaving over 4000, but I can't get a green light), low air pressure in the rear tires, and my Trans brake button spring stretched to slow it down. Night racing would sure be better with no blinder.
If you think all the race winners use blinders, ask Scotty Richardson to see his.
Many guys that win races adjust their lights by how many "bumps" going in.
And, if leaving EARLY enough is the problem, how can you be the first red? :-)

Re: worst red light debate, again!
 

Blinders are more for consistency than just because of red lights.

You can buy valve bodies that will slow down car reaction so you can leave higher.

Night racing? Different story

I did say several racers for a reason (not "many" or "all" ).

Take a look at the top of the SS points


I don't understand this

Re: worst red light debate, again!
 

If you can't make it leave early enough without deep staging that kinda makes going red moot, right? I would not expect a rule change.

Re: worst red light debate, again!
 

On the contrary..It's easy to go red, often, if you have to move up in between bulbs.

I don't expect a rule change either..
As I said earlier..It's the numbers.

Re: worst red light debate, again!
 

Mark is making great points and I know I agree with him. However, driving style can be debated til the second coming. This thread is not about where you should stage your race car or what launch rpm you should leave at, it is about a lopsided starting line rule that benefits the quicker car in a drag race, plain and simple. Let's not get off course.

Re: worst red light debate, again!
 

"...it is about a lopsided starting line rule that benefits the quicker car in all handicapped drag races."

In all other races, (which would mean heads-up) nothing is lopsided. Both drivers face an absolutely equal opportunity at leaving the starting line too soon.