>> 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
Staging Light Graphic Design & Printing
Duck Tape/Loctite Racing
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