Starting Line Beam vs Rest of the Track

Bobby Fazio · 04-20-2010, 10:08 PM

This has probably been asked before but why can't the beams all the way down the track, and the most crucial of beams (at the finish line), be the same height off the ground to keep old style cars from getting screwed by late model cars with low bumpers who can use the brake to dip the nose and trip the beam?

Billy Nees · 04-21-2010, 06:37 AM

Maybe some racers who have experienced dipping the nose and tripping the beam will post and explain to you the down side of trying to drive like that.

Ed Wright · 04-21-2010, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Maybe some racers who have experienced dipping the nose and tripping the beam will post and explain to you the down side of trying to drive like that.

That's right. At the finish line, if you "dump", you have to get the nose back up before the stripe to prevent breaking out with an even quicker et. Took me twice to catch on. I'm old and a little bit slow.

Chris1529 · 04-21-2010, 07:05 AM

I have seen a few bracket cars put an additional "device" under the nose of their car to trip the beam. If you think you have a wheel on them, you really don't because they are tripping the beam with that whether they dip the nose or not. If I go bracket race at a track for the first time, I like to look around and see who has them while I am waiting in the lanes.

FLEMING · 04-21-2010, 08:02 AM

I raced a 87 camaro stocker a few times and I hated the way the nose was made on those cars.. Atleast 3 times I dropped on a guy only to have the nose trip the beams and I would break out and run like 2mph faster.... I even had it do it on me when I peddeling at the stripe..

I would much rather have an older car that you dont have to worry about that..

Michael Beard · 04-21-2010, 08:16 AM

Sure wouldn't bother me if the downtrack beams were set at 3", the same height as the ground clearance you're supposed to have.

Been on both ends of the spoiler, and they both suck!

Bobby DiDomenico · 04-21-2010, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

Sure wouldn't bother me if the downtrack beams were set at 3", the same height as the ground clearance you're supposed to have.

Been on both ends of the spoiler, and they both suck!

Does anyone know if it is a triggering issue? If not, then they could continue with their high beams for the pros and go with both beams being the same for sportsman right?

Casey Miles · 04-21-2010, 09:50 AM

I have stripe takers on the front of my '01 Corvette, most people don't even realize that they are on the car unless you really look hard. It's a bracket car and in the rule book, it says that the body has to be 3" off the ground from front bumper to back of car. I've had pictures taken of the stripe takers and sent to IHRA and NHRA with no mention saying that they have to come off the car. Do I think it's fair, no, but it makes the front of the car consistant so that if I do stab the brakes, I know which part of the car is taking the stripe at all times.

Casey Miles
248H

X-TECH MAN · 04-21-2010, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casey Miles

I have stripe takers on the front of my '01 Corvette, most people don't even realize that they are on the car unless you really look hard. It's a bracket car and in the rule book, it says that the body has to be 3" off the ground from front bumper to back of car. I've had pictures taken of the stripe takers and sent to IHRA and NHRA with no mention saying that they have to come off the car. Do I think it's fair, no, but it makes the front of the car consistant so that if I do stab the brakes, I know which part of the car is taking the stripe at all times.

Casey Miles
248H

Can you post a picture of them on this thread?

Bobby Fazio · 04-21-2010, 10:29 AM

How about this scenario?

You are racing against Mr. X in his low riding late model car and he is giving you a headstart. Let's say Mr. X spins off the line now he knows he has to make up some ET because he may not be able to catch you assuming you are on an average run, didn't break anything, and had an average light. He comes up along side of you only to be a wheel behind at the traps but dips the nose to cross inches in front of you and not break out because he had already lost ET at the starting line. This gives Mr. X an insurance policy and another weapon in the arsenal if this scenario ever should happen to him. He can manipulate his track position against you in your 69 Camaro.

I've seen it at bracket races and even on Pinks All-out when the early model car clearly had a foot on the other guy and lost.

04-20-2010, 10:08 PM	#1
Bobby Fazio VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Egg Harbor Township, NJ Posts: 1,464 Likes: 1,416 Liked 4,355 Times in 498 Posts	Starting Line Beam vs Rest of the Track This has probably been asked before but why can't the beams all the way down the track, and the most crucial of beams (at the finish line), be the same height off the ground to keep old style cars from getting screwed by late model cars with low bumpers who can use the brake to dip the nose and trip the beam? __________________ '65 Mustang SS/L & L/SA DriverInterviews.com \| App.DragInsights.com

04-21-2010, 06:37 AM	#2
Billy Nees VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: On a hilltop in Pa. Posts: 4,473 Likes: 3,564 Liked 7,594 Times in 1,718 Posts	Re: Starting Line Beam vs Rest of the Track Maybe some racers who have experienced dipping the nose and tripping the beam will post and explain to you the down side of trying to drive like that. __________________ Billy Nees 1188 STK, SS I'm OK..........it's everybody else.

04-21-2010, 07:05 AM	#4
Chris1529 VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 1,366 Likes: 6 Liked 70 Times in 29 Posts	Re: Starting Line Beam vs Rest of the Track I have seen a few bracket cars put an additional "device" under the nose of their car to trip the beam. If you think you have a wheel on them, you really don't because they are tripping the beam with that whether they dip the nose or not. If I go bracket race at a track for the first time, I like to look around and see who has them while I am waiting in the lanes. __________________ Chris Bowman The Mountain State Mustang 1984 Mustang GT350

04-21-2010, 08:02 AM	#5
FLEMING Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 257 Likes: 43 Liked 51 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Starting Line Beam vs Rest of the Track I raced a 87 camaro stocker a few times and I hated the way the nose was made on those cars.. Atleast 3 times I dropped on a guy only to have the nose trip the beams and I would break out and run like 2mph faster.... I even had it do it on me when I peddeling at the stripe.. I would much rather have an older car that you dont have to worry about that..

04-21-2010, 08:16 AM	#6
Michael Beard VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4,060 Likes: 0 Liked 13 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Starting Line Beam vs Rest of the Track Sure wouldn't bother me if the downtrack beams were set at 3", the same height as the ground clearance you're supposed to have. Been on both ends of the spoiler, and they both suck! __________________ Michael Beard - NHRA/IHRA 3216 S/SS

04-21-2010, 09:50 AM	#8
Casey Miles Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 699 Likes: 123 Liked 475 Times in 88 Posts	Re: Starting Line Beam vs Rest of the Track I have stripe takers on the front of my '01 Corvette, most people don't even realize that they are on the car unless you really look hard. It's a bracket car and in the rule book, it says that the body has to be 3" off the ground from front bumper to back of car. I've had pictures taken of the stripe takers and sent to IHRA and NHRA with no mention saying that they have to come off the car. Do I think it's fair, no, but it makes the front of the car consistant so that if I do stab the brakes, I know which part of the car is taking the stripe at all times. Casey Miles 248H

04-21-2010, 10:29 AM	#10
Bobby Fazio VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Egg Harbor Township, NJ Posts: 1,464 Likes: 1,416 Liked 4,355 Times in 498 Posts	Re: Starting Line Beam vs Rest of the Track How about this scenario? You are racing against Mr. X in his low riding late model car and he is giving you a headstart. Let's say Mr. X spins off the line now he knows he has to make up some ET because he may not be able to catch you assuming you are on an average run, didn't break anything, and had an average light. He comes up along side of you only to be a wheel behind at the traps but dips the nose to cross inches in front of you and not break out because he had already lost ET at the starting line. This gives Mr. X an insurance policy and another weapon in the arsenal if this scenario ever should happen to him. He can manipulate his track position against you in your 69 Camaro. I've seen it at bracket races and even on Pinks All-out when the early model car clearly had a foot on the other guy and lost. __________________ '65 Mustang SS/L & L/SA DriverInterviews.com \| App.DragInsights.com