Brad Plourd, you were robbed last week!

GarysZ24 · 04-25-2010, 02:45 PM

A thread awhile back spoke about this last week, but I just watched the final of Super Stock between Brad Plourd, and Justin Lamb (ESPN'S coverage of the recent Las Vegas national event), and cameras don't lie...they showed two frozen shots of the finish line between the two cars, and Brad the nose of your car was at the back of the finish line stripe, while Justin's was just getting at the middle of it. However looking at the bodies as opposed to how much they covered the tires I can see why you lost...Justin's frontal area was lower than yours, thus allowing the ground effects of his cars nose to trip the finish line beam ahead of your front tire. You had the reaction time advantage by .007, and if your frontal area was 1-2" lower, than that outcome would've been reversed...that's messed up, because you lost a race you should've won!

The same can be said of the Super Gas final, because Dennis Paz's Willys clearly beat Mike Ferderers Grand Am to the stripe, but since Paz's Willys didn't have the ground effects that Ferderers Grand Am had, the nose of Mikes car tripped the beam sooner that Dennis's front tire...that's a bummer for both Dennis and Brad.

I wish either the rules committee would either ask N.H.R.A., to either raise the height of the sensor at the finish line so that older cars could use their frontal area to trip the finish line too, or that they'd lower them so that the winner will once again trip the finish line with their front tire ONLY...like they used to! Dan Fletcher lost a race he should've won (that he spoke about in is dragster article not long ago), because of the same thing. I spoke with an NHRA tech guy over this last week, and thus now feel they probably won't do anything to equalize this (even though they should), but I think it's messed up...what's fair for some, should be fair for all, right??? How does everybody else feel about it. I think I know how Dan, Brad, and Dennis feel about it!!! My .02 worth

Billy Pires · 04-25-2010, 03:18 PM

These cars with the magical front ends have been around now for almost 20 years. and some of the third gen F bodies can also trip the beams with the nose if the front tires are small enough, so make that 25 years. This is nothing new. Anyways if they lower the beams so the front ends cant trip the beams, great. I'm all for it.

Shawn Blair · 04-25-2010, 07:43 PM

I noticed the same thing, that finish line shot showed it really well. They need to lower the beam for sure!

Dennis Paz · 04-25-2010, 08:50 PM

Ouch

chevy620 · 04-26-2010, 07:30 AM

Put a "stripe taker" flap on your car, if that is legal in the class. Al it takes is a small piece of aluminum underneath the front of the bumper to make sure you get the infra-reds to "see you car".

We put them on the Cutlass and it is about the same distance as a newer Camaro now and it trips the light whether I am on the brakes or on the gas. Needs to be about 5" off the ground in most cases at the stripe.

Try it, you'll like it.

Greg Hill · 04-26-2010, 07:36 AM

That low front end is a two edged sword unless your car does it every time. It can also cause you to break out if you're not expecting it.

Another Friendly Racer · 04-26-2010, 08:20 AM

No "stripe takers" allowed in stock / superstock. Tech will make you take it off right away.

Chris1529 · 04-26-2010, 09:39 AM

We would need to build a retractable one. Do you think Q from the British MI6 squad could come up with something? It surely couldn't be any harder to build than the rotating license plates on James Bond's Aston Martins!

Seriously, maybe they do need to consider lowering the beam.
I was talking to my Buddy again the other night that lost the Pittsburgh Raceway Park track championship when he raced his bike against a car with a stripe taker. I told him it was being discussed on this site.

tex22 · 04-26-2010, 03:36 PM

Anyone know if there is a youtube video of it?

HawkBrosMav · 04-26-2010, 03:41 PM

I'm going to post basically exactly what I posted over on DRR... this should be a non issue. Everybody goes down the same track on any given weekend. you drive YOUR car be responsible for it. take the time to study your car and how it works. Pay attention to other cars at the track. It is completely and totally YOUR responsibility to pay attention to the little details like what is going to take the stripe on any given car. stop blaming others for your lack of effort in studying your sport. There is way more to this sport than hitting the tree and running the number get used to it...

Brad Hawk

04-25-2010, 02:45 PM	#1
GarysZ24 VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Tempe, Az. Posts: 1,270 Likes: 918 Liked 238 Times in 94 Posts	Brad Plourd, you were robbed last week! A thread awhile back spoke about this last week, but I just watched the final of Super Stock between Brad Plourd, and Justin Lamb (ESPN'S coverage of the recent Las Vegas national event), and cameras don't lie...they showed two frozen shots of the finish line between the two cars, and Brad the nose of your car was at the back of the finish line stripe, while Justin's was just getting at the middle of it. However looking at the bodies as opposed to how much they covered the tires I can see why you lost...Justin's frontal area was lower than yours, thus allowing the ground effects of his cars nose to trip the finish line beam ahead of your front tire. You had the reaction time advantage by .007, and if your frontal area was 1-2" lower, than that outcome would've been reversed...that's messed up, because you lost a race you should've won! The same can be said of the Super Gas final, because Dennis Paz's Willys clearly beat Mike Ferderers Grand Am to the stripe, but since Paz's Willys didn't have the ground effects that Ferderers Grand Am had, the nose of Mikes car tripped the beam sooner that Dennis's front tire...that's a bummer for both Dennis and Brad. I wish either the rules committee would either ask N.H.R.A., to either raise the height of the sensor at the finish line so that older cars could use their frontal area to trip the finish line too, or that they'd lower them so that the winner will once again trip the finish line with their front tire ONLY...like they used to! Dan Fletcher lost a race he should've won (that he spoke about in is dragster article not long ago), because of the same thing. I spoke with an NHRA tech guy over this last week, and thus now feel they probably won't do anything to equalize this (even though they should), but I think it's messed up...what's fair for some, should be fair for all, right??? How does everybody else feel about it. I think I know how Dan, Brad, and Dennis feel about it!!! My .02 worth __________________ Gary Hampton '86 Z24,173 V6 CF/S #5824 (#78 in 2021) Last edited by GarysZ24; 04-25-2010 at 02:55 PM.

04-25-2010, 03:18 PM	#2
Billy Pires Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Somerset, MA Posts: 99 Likes: 6 Liked 23 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Brad Plourd, you were robbed last week! These cars with the magical front ends have been around now for almost 20 years. and some of the third gen F bodies can also trip the beams with the nose if the front tires are small enough, so make that 25 years. This is nothing new. Anyways if they lower the beams so the front ends cant trip the beams, great. I'm all for it. __________________ Billy Pires 1414 STK, 1414 SS Last edited by Billy Pires; 04-25-2010 at 04:44 PM. Reason: beer

04-25-2010, 07:43 PM	#3
Shawn Blair Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Everson, WA. Posts: 122 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Brad Plourd, you were robbed last week! I noticed the same thing, that finish line shot showed it really well. They need to lower the beam for sure! __________________ Shawn Blair 6383 SS 634 STK

04-25-2010, 08:50 PM	#4
Dennis Paz Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: stockton ca Posts: 97 Likes: 0 Liked 5 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Brad Plourd, you were robbed last week! Ouch

04-26-2010, 07:30 AM	#5
chevy620 Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 188 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Brad Plourd, you were robbed last week! Put a "stripe taker" flap on your car, if that is legal in the class. Al it takes is a small piece of aluminum underneath the front of the bumper to make sure you get the infra-reds to "see you car". We put them on the Cutlass and it is about the same distance as a newer Camaro now and it trips the light whether I am on the brakes or on the gas. Needs to be about 5" off the ground in most cases at the stripe. Try it, you'll like it.

04-26-2010, 07:36 AM	#6
Greg Hill VIP Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Louisville , KY Posts: 1,995 Likes: 68 Liked 279 Times in 68 Posts	Re: Brad Plourd, you were robbed last week! That low front end is a two edged sword unless your car does it every time. It can also cause you to break out if you're not expecting it. __________________ Greg Hill 4171 STK

04-26-2010, 08:20 AM	#7
Another Friendly Racer Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 152 Likes: 0 Liked 19 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Brad Plourd, you were robbed last week! No "stripe takers" allowed in stock / superstock. Tech will make you take it off right away.

04-26-2010, 09:39 AM	#8
Chris1529 VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 1,366 Likes: 6 Liked 70 Times in 29 Posts	Re: Brad Plourd, you were robbed last week! We would need to build a retractable one. Do you think Q from the British MI6 squad could come up with something? It surely couldn't be any harder to build than the rotating license plates on James Bond's Aston Martins! Seriously, maybe they do need to consider lowering the beam. I was talking to my Buddy again the other night that lost the Pittsburgh Raceway Park track championship when he raced his bike against a car with a stripe taker. I told him it was being discussed on this site. __________________ Chris Bowman The Mountain State Mustang 1984 Mustang GT350

04-26-2010, 03:36 PM	#9
tex22 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 81 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Brad Plourd, you were robbed last week! Anyone know if there is a youtube video of it? __________________ Nolan Grier 4785

04-26-2010, 03:41 PM	#10
HawkBrosMav Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 362 Likes: 6 Liked 302 Times in 73 Posts	Re: Brad Plourd, you were robbed last week! I'm going to post basically exactly what I posted over on DRR... this should be a non issue. Everybody goes down the same track on any given weekend. you drive YOUR car be responsible for it. take the time to study your car and how it works. Pay attention to other cars at the track. It is completely and totally YOUR responsibility to pay attention to the little details like what is going to take the stripe on any given car. stop blaming others for your lack of effort in studying your sport. There is way more to this sport than hitting the tree and running the number get used to it... Brad Hawk

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