Top End Throttle Stop
 

Looking to make a change in my program this year. Anybody have any advice/experience/suggestions on how to set up a finish line throttle stop? I'll be running SST in a car that, at min weight of 2800#s, runs 6.20s. I use a #1 Stop Pneumatic throttle stop.

Re: Top End Throttle Stop
 

I would try to get ahold of Chris Garretson, I'm unsure if he's a CR member. He does or did very well in Super Comp, going slow on the top end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M6gk9ZqabU

1700/781L :)

Re: Top End Throttle Stop
 

Chris is a wealth of knowledge on the Top End Throttle Stop deal, he taught me alot with our program and like any engineer he can get somewhat technical on how he teaches it....lol. It's basically keeping your RPM stall between 2,800 to 3,200 when you check it in the morning, the hotter the weather the higher the RPM you want to go, so like DA at 3,000 feet you want to be at 3,200 - cruises at like 5,400, always keep the first number the same and adjust the second number to the weather and always hit the playback tach or racepack if you have one so you can see what the cruise speed was.

Re: Top End Throttle Stop
 

Wait wait wait. Are you saying you come back off the stop before the finish line? Or are you adjusting when you go on the stop and leave it on until you cross the finish line?

Re: Top End Throttle Stop
 

I would, here?s something I did at the Winternationals back in the 90?s.
I was crossing on the stop and tried setting up high 9.80?s because you only have brake pedal (unless you have an on-off switch) to drive the finish line. As I approached the finish line the car in the other lane was right there and slowly coming around me. I hadn?t practiced hitting the switch to turn off the throttle stop so I was at the mercy of the timer and the other car took the stripe. I left on him and my 9.94 lost to a 9.92, if I had run just a little quicker I would have forced him into a breakout to take the stripe. Having use of the throttle at the finish line is easier and quicker than a decision to go for a switch to shut down the throttle stop.

Re: Top End Throttle Stop
 

Yes, we have our come back on with about 200 feet left in the track to give you some wiggle room incase you feel like your going a little quick or if they try to wheel race you, they get quite surprised when you jump back out on them after they think they have you right where they want you

Re: Top End Throttle Stop
 

Not an answer for your question but some thoughts and view from Luke Bogacki.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=792661139585716

Re: Top End Throttle Stop
 

Nick Vogelsang In D3 has had good success and I don?t recall him coming back off the stop?and some seem to even have spot dropping pretty much mastered but sure don?t know how they can do it consistently (barring some sort of ?aide? LOL).

Re: Top End Throttle Stop
 

Interesting.

Re: Top End Throttle Stop
 

I agree; I don't think Nick is coming back off the stop near the finish line. I can't say I'm a strong student of his game, but there wasn't anything confusing happening when we ran in St Louis last October.

With that said, he is real good at putting it on or near the number.

Re: Top End Throttle Stop
 

Alan Claunch used to TS on topend in IHRA years ago running 9.90 at 102, in a final in OKlahoma his opponent blew out a front tire against him.

Re: Top End Throttle Stop
 

IIRC, the late Jim Harrington set up with a top end stop back in the day, might have been the first.

That said, that was a long time ago and the majority of S/ST, S/C and S/G cars make a lot more HP and are much faster now.. It’s not a strategy I think works well today.

Re: Top End Throttle Stop
 

And I would think that a gust of wind can knock you down .03 and you just lost LOL

Re: Top End Throttle Stop
 

Oh yeah, I never said it was a good idea, just wanted to try it and see if it's worth pursuing further. Also, Ed, given the state of .90 racing these days and the big ci and big mph, I tend to think it's more effective now than it ever has been. The big mph that many cars are running now exacerbates the top end stop, taking both competitors out of the finish line game. That's sort of my goal since I'm already about 25-30 mph slower than everybody else in SG. Why not make it 50 or 60? I can't finish line drive 30 mph slower effectively, few can. So why not just make it impossible for both parties?

Re: Top End Throttle Stop
 

^^^this^^^

1700/781l :)

Re: Top End Throttle Stop
 

Dawson,

I like your thoughts, I thought the same. I ran a car 2 years ago and I was going 93 mph at 10.90, only ran it a few times before the car sold..
Made it to 3 cars at the divisional and down to 6 at the National in Phoenix

Message me if you'd like, I can tell you how I did it if you're interested

Re: Top End Throttle Stop
 

One example of the set up I ran