Drag Race Central closing???

[Larry Sullivan]

Originally Posted by Chris Williams

Live Timing has nothing to do with NHRA or the CompuLink timing system. It is a completely separate deal.

Not quite. There are at least two "live timing" sources out there - 1320go and NHRA's Live Timing. NHRA's Live Timing comes from the CompuLink timing system data feed, the same feed that goes to the TV production truck at national events. 1320go also uses that same data feed at CompuLink tracks. In addition, 1320go taps into the timeslip printer feed at non-CompuLink tracks. The data available in that latter case is limited to whatever appears on the track's timeslips.

[Bobby DiDomenico]

Larry,

How difficult is it to show the actual qualifiing session results rather than the "Official" list? Don't need all the text like for the Pro cars but it is interesting to see a car ran .001 slower for two sessions or .3 slower when the official postion time remains the same.

Thanks

[Larry Sullivan]

It's possible, but it would be a very long report and we wouldn't be able to validate the numbers. The timing system is pretty good and the clock operators are pretty good, but you'd be surprised at how often the raw numbers are bogus.

[Larry Sullivan]

Originally Posted by RacingRicki

I find it sad that it is such a manual process in the information age that we live in. In this day with so much technology and a computerized timing system, why would someone need to be at the track entering in all the information from the logs. Perhaps some tracks don't have CompuLink but those that do should be able to provide an export of the qualifying and eliminations files at the very least.

There is a magical way to get instant data. It's called Live Timing. Yes it costs a lot but that's because NHRA is probably getting a cut.

BTW, thanks to Summit for providing the data all these years with relatively no cost to me.

a. Unless the track does not have CompuLink, we do not manually enter data from logs. The "notes" reports are posted within minutes of the last pair for each round and the numbers in those reports come directly from the timing computer, on a data feed that 1320go and NHRA's Live Timing have started using in the past couple years. We have been using that data feed since the last century. We also automatically capture data from some other timing systems, but that hookup is more difficult to achieve without screwing up the timing system and it's on a track-by-track basis.

b. Live timing is great, but it's not filtered and often doesn't even show what category is running, let alone whether or not a particular run is valid or was disqualified for some reason. That's why we need reporters at the track - to do the most accurate job. That's why we do not post qualifying results until we get the official qualifying sheet, even though we have the raw numbers well before the sheets are distributed.

c. We have the capability to get end-of-day files from CompuLink systems and produce accurate reports from those files. However, unless somebody tells us what happened, we can't tell you much other than the numbers. Those numbers are more accurate than live timing because they come from the edited and validated times, not the raw runs. Bear in mind, no matter what system you use, without human eyeballs
reviewing the reports, there's a strong GIGO effect.

[Brett C]

Originally Posted by Bobby Fazio

I don't really look for results from the other organizations but seriously why can't the NHRA website offer timely, almost live, NHRA national and divisional results to anybody with a membership? Why are DRC/Summit "responsible" for posting results and scolded when they don't post them 5 minutes after the runs are made?

Very legitimate line of thought. However, I don't think that any of us are holding our breaths. After all, we are MEMBERS!

[jmcarter]

At the National Events NHRA already has audiocast and live timing so why do you think they would do more?

Emailed the Summit Communications contact provided on an earlier thread and trying to get a phone number of others to try and convey my concerns about them curtailing their support of DRC and this great service. I'm not giving up on them, I really do value their service and support of other programs plus great parts delivery and prices.


ARebescher@SummitRacing.com

[Dwight Southerland]

I don't see DRC as "responsible" to report. They saw an opportunity because of a need and market interest. The problem is how to make it financially practical. NHRA would say the same thing, and in their case would look at different options (maybe raising the membership fee to cover the expense, looking for corporate sponsors, etc.). If DRC chooses to charge a fee for their service, then each one of us would have to make the decision whether it was worth it. Remember that DRC reports a lot besides just NHRA. Possibly the revenue from a service charge would allow them to offer expanded services. Information is not free, nor is it a right.

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by Dwight Southerland

I don't see DRC as "responsible" to report. They saw an opportunity because of a need and market interest. The problem is how to make it financially practical. NHRA would say the same thing, and in their case would look at different options (maybe raising the membership fee to cover the expense, looking for corporate sponsors, etc.). If DRC chooses to charge a fee for their service, then each one of us would have to make the decision whether it was worth it. Remember that DRC reports a lot besides just NHRA. Possibly the revenue from a service charge would allow them to offer expanded services. Information is not free, nor is it a right.

Dead-on. Another thing to consider is the staffing pool. Larry might actually want to retire sometime in the next 15-20 years.

Add up any kind of hourly wage and travel expenses times the number of events they cover, and I think you'll find the cost to maintain DRC is pretty astronomical.

While there are other services out there like 1320go (which you pay for and isn't available everywhere), and fully produced live video like we'll have at the Auto Meter Northern Class Nationals through MotorManiaTV.com (which you know NHRA wouldn't have at a National event competing with ESPN, and wouldn't pay for it for a Divisional). DRC really has its own niche, not only for live results, but also as an amazing repository of archived research material. I use it extensively when writing race coverage for events.

Regardless of what happens, a heartfelt thanks to the whole crew for all their hard work over the years.

[Dwight Southerland]

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

Regardless of what happens, a heartfelt thanks to the whole crew for all their hard work over the years.

Amen to that!

[Michael Beard]

Summit increases its commitment to IHRA sportsman racers bringing you live broadcast of all Summit Pro-Am Tour races in 2014

http://www.ihra.com/pro-am-tour-news...-races-in-2014