With respect to Steve Taylor, racing for package

[Dragsinger]

Yes, the math is based on .500 so any numbers other than .500 totals your package. the numbers each side of .500 are added together.

A time slip with .490 red reaction and .010 over dial is a package of .020

A time slip with a .510 reaction and .010 over is a package of .020

[the win would be carried out to four or more decimal places]

Some years before his death Steve stayed three days at my shop and slept in my motorhome. During those three days, we talked constantly about drag racing and his thoughts and ideas. He was an interesting guy, sharp, and a good racer. He even did a powerglide build under my supervision

Steve was friends with the Accutime guy and was making a tour of the South, stopping at several tracks along the way.

Steve and I connected because his Drag 2000 idea was printed in the Texas Raceway at Kennedale race newspaper.

[Dragsinger]

http://dragraceresults.com/fullstory.cfm?id=3924&type=9

[Dragsinger]

http://classracer.com/classforum/showthread.php?t=30517

[4406mopar]

Makes no sense at all. The guy that redligts is declares the winner. That's Baloney.
I've never won anything going red, and I've tried it many times, LOL.

And to help us understand the comparison the lights should be listed as 520 and 498.
Or -002 and 020

[CMcAllister]

So, it would basically be making time runs all day since it wouldn't matter who actually crossed the stripe first?

[Mike Schwartz]

Basically, the idea removes red lights and breakouts from the equation but retains the goal of being the closest to having a 'perfect' run as the determination of a winner in eliminations. Yes, it may seem like "time trials all day long," but you still have to have the better time trial than your opponent.

This is something that I have thought about before, especially when it comes to the Super classes. Someone qualifies at 12.50 (2.600 off) on the SG index of 9.90 and they get placed higher in the ladder than someone who goes 9.899 (0.001 off)? It always seemed counterintuitive when the goal is hitting the index as close as possible. For the same reason, a run of 0.399/9.900 feels more 'worthy' of a win against a run of 0.425/9.957 in the other lane.

The suggestion probably won't fly in S/SS because of the "performance-based" boogyman, but it's an idea to consider in Index and straight ET racing.

[Dragsinger]

During the days when Steve was strongly pitching the concept, he had [as would be expected] both lovers and haters.

Now, some years after his death, half of his idea is being widely implemented.[worse red light]

[rognelson777]

Originally Posted by CMcAllister

So, it would basically be making time runs all day since it wouldn't matter who actually crossed the stripe first?

Actually it dial in racing it is not always who crossed the finish line 1st. if you are 1st across line but break out or break out by more you lose

[Lenny5160]

It completely removes the danger from trying to be perfect. Under the current system, there is a lot of risk in setting up tight. Everyone finds their own risk/reward balance.

[CMcAllister]

Originally Posted by rognelson777

Actually it dial in racing it is not always who crossed the finish line 1st. if you are 1st across line but break out or break out by more you lose

I understand. But it removes the "race" part of it, the finish line skill and strategies, the chase, the game of taking the stripe or not, and staying green and not breaking out. Even in the pro tree .90 classes, that's drag racing. Who would be in favor of that? Want to do that? Some places run a best package round in time trails, with breakout and red lights enforced. But that's not racing.