Another close race?
 

Is this real?

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=1&theater

Probably something attached to the front of Bertozzi car tripped the light

Ron

Re: Another close race?
 

Photo must have been removed... I can't see it....

Re: Another close race?
 

Its a Facebook post of Helms beating Bertozzi - not even close

Disturbing ..

Its happened before and it will happen again

I shared it from Robert Fazio's Facebook to my Facebook

I am not sure how to get it on here - I have a .JPG

I am Class Racer "challenged"

Ron

Oh there it is

Re: Another close race?
 

He Took the strip with the Front end of the car... whats the problem here? if you own or drive a mid 80's Camaro you know you have a 3 foot stripe taker aslong as you dip the front end right at the lights....

Could show you 3-4 examples of front ends taking the stripes over front wheels... all ESPN 2 sportsman coverage, its saved on youtube I believe.

Key is to know what your racing, your opponents front wheels or their front end...

Re: Another close race?
 

same thing happened to me at the 1991 sports nats the final round i was robbed the same way when Ronnie Cardwell firebird tiped the nose and set off the win light. ESPN showed the finish line and i was clearley the winner.i had a better light and was over my dile in.i was ahead at the finish line when his light came on i figured i ran out.but that was not the case.it was the nose just like with Helms.it is just not right.

Re: Another close race?
 

First thing I do when I determine my round opponent is look at the front end of their car, preferably before getting in my car so I can look under it. This is particularly true in Super classes and with more later model cars in Super Stock it's equally important. "Back in the day" you could always just see where your opponent's A Pillar (or whatever reference point ) was when you were both pre-staged but that doesn't work so well anymore.

Re: Another close race?
 

I don't know Cardwell but saying you were robbed and you were "clearly the winner" sounds a bit extreme. The front end is a double edge sword. Think about it...

Re: Another close race?
 

after that race NHRA was inspecting all front ends for clearance.Ronnie did it by acc. but are we racing by wheels or by spoilers.there has to be some rule.but when you look at that pic of Kevin who do you think really won. just saying!!!! and if we are racing by spoilers LET the games begin. maybe it is time for instant replay like the NFL.

Re: Another close race?
 

I wonder how many "Clear Winners" ended up breaking out (and losing) due to taking the stripe with the nose instead of the tire???
Know your car, know your opponents car. Adjust accordingly.

Re: Another close race?
 

But who has the exact dimension on height of finish line beams ?

Re: Another close race?
 

NHRA sets the finish line beam to approx. 5 1/2"

Exactly, know your car...know your opponent. Nearly every Camaro, Firebird in S/SS can trip the stripe with the nose.

Re: Another close race?
 

I bracket race with stripe takers on the front of my Corvette, if you don't look for them, then you don't know that have to clear the nose of the car with your front wheel. I have the stripe takers there so that the car takes the stripe the same on every pass even if I hit the brakes or not. They are legal at all races.
What the timing equipment companies need to make are lasers that are just above the pavement not more then an 1 inch instead of being 3" or more. This way the front wheel would be taking the finish line instead of the front spoilers.

Casey Miles
248H "F" NHRA Stock!.

Re: Another close race?
 

Yea an electronic win picker the same for all

Not part of the timing system

I am sure lots of people on here will tell us why that can not work

I just do not accept there is no solution

Ron

Re: Another close race?
 

Ron, you just have to lose the "get my wheel ahead of opponent's wheel" mentality. You think Helms didnt know what part of Bertozzi's car he needed his wheel ahead of?

Re: Another close race?
 

IMHO

I have never thought about wheels - I always figured the front of my car has to get there first

I think helms car "nose" crossed first - it was just not low enough

NBD

On to our next crisis - government shutdown - LMFAO

Ron