Question Please

[Michael Beard]

I'd be okay with heads-up runs and scales at Combo races. I know fuel check would be far more difficult to do on such a small level (equipment, knowledge, resources, time), and I really don't think someone's got a drum of 10% Nitro sitting in the trailer just for a heads-up run at a little Combo race. I think people pretty well police themselves on that level.

While I bracket race my Volare and Turismo, I very much enjoy running S/SS races for something different. While bracket racing the Turismo, I deep stage and use a stripe taker. At Fayetteville's S/SS Combo on Saturday, I'll be shallow, the stripe taker comes off, and it will be dialed welllll below the index! (Thank God for 1/4-mile racing, in this instance!)

[Adger Smith]

It would be nice to have some in our part of the country because all the No box races don't allow transbrakes. I can't even enter to get seat time/testing time. All I can do is go with the Electronics classes and that means only 3 time trials, if lucky) and one round of real competition. In my book, You guys that have S/SS Associations are very fortunate.

[R Brown]

and use a stripe taker. ?????????????????
????????What's this?

[Ed Wright]

Deleted.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Mike Carr

Chip, I can;t answer for the others, if I had to venture a guess, I would say most racers like racing against other Class cars, as opposed to a true Bracket car. I've done both, had no problem doing either. I guess I prefer S/SS races for the reason I stated, plus most S/SS combo's are a better entry/payout ratio, or pay more to win, potentially (Hagerstown last weekend was $100 to enter, $2,000 to win).

As far as the S/SS Association races I put on, most tracks we run at don't have scales or fuel check equipment. Plus, I don't have the money to pay someone (like a Terry, Duane, etc) to show up and do the tech and post-run checks. Because of that, we don't have qualifying or heads-up runs. The only real rule is that a racer must dial the Class Index or quicker, and I would say 99% of the racers at my events over the past thirteen years have been safely under, with no need to cheat (weight, carburetor, etc). I guess you just assume if one is not 100% legal, they all are that way. Hence, no advantage to it, with the no heads-ups/qualifying rules.

Gezzz Mike....I would have done it for nothing although I got to watch and BS more by just coming up with "Dyno" Don....LOL. Now Im all the way down here in the land of sun and warm weather.

[Mike Carr]

The one nice thing about no heads-ups (aside from being easier on me/us to do the races) is that being a millionaire or having the advantage of an underfactored combo is nullified. Anyone can compete, as long as it's NHRA/IHRA-legal, and can run the Index. These races, the average Joe Stocker guy can have a chance. When I polled a few racers in my series, they preferred that I leave it as is (and yes, some were fast guys/girls that love heads-ups). And like was said earlier, you can test, gauge yourself (though not 100% accurately) against fellow competitors, race with your peers, win some good money, have a better entry/payout than a Divsional race, and only need to take one, at most two, days away from home, and it's a low pressure, fun way to race without all the costs, points and xHRA hassles. I guess if you prefer the heads-ups and all that, there is still National/Divisional events.

Terry, I could have paid your in water/diet Coke/Gatorade and a premade cold sandwich, had I known that. LOL

[Marc Kinton]

Personally...I can't run a two-step at a bracket race unless I run with top et...some/most tracks i can't run top et unless i run quicker that 7.99.

i would love to run more bracket races but my car is very finicky and trying to foot break it is very difficult for me at this point.

so....i say that we have a LEGEND bracket race all run and just follow safety rules...i'm in!

Chad: I got some extra room as long as I can drive on the weeks you can't make it!

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Mike Carr

The one nice thing about no heads-ups (aside from being easier on me/us to do the races) is that being a millionaire or having the advantage of an underfactored combo is nullified. Anyone can compete, as long as it's NHRA/IHRA-legal, and can run the Index. These races, the average Joe Stocker guy can have a chance. When I polled a few racers in my series, they preferred that I leave it as is (and yes, some were fast guys/girls that love heads-ups). And like was said earlier, you can test, gauge yourself (though not 100% accurately) against fellow competitors, race with your peers, win some good money, have a better entry/payout than a Divsional race, and only need to take one, at most two, days away from home, and it's a low pressure, fun way to race without all the costs, points and xHRA hassles. I guess if you prefer the heads-ups and all that, there is still National/Divisional events.

Terry, I could have paid your in water/diet Coke/Gatorade and a premade cold sandwich, had I known that. LOL

Yeah....but in reality the way you, Dave and others are doing it is probably for the best for the very reasons you mentioned. It gives the guy just starting out a place to play without the heavy expense and a lot of the fast guys/girls like it this way also. Its a no pressure way to have some fun with a chance to make a couple of dollars enjoying time with friends and competitors. Different tastes for different people. If you dont like the no heads up runs then stay home or race else where. Theres lots of that with the XHRA programs. No big deal. Hope to see you and your mom and dad next season.

[Dave Ribeiro]

Chip,

I think that most racers will attend that race because of the Warren's, who do a great job putting on this race .... I am sure it has to do with getting car counts up & keeping everyone happy ... But racers do like heads-up and would add to the car count ...

Chip, when will the new stocker be done , in time for 2011 opening day ..... Ha, Ha, Ha,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by R Brown

and use a stripe taker. ?????????????????
????????What's this?

In bracket racing, it it legal to have a stripe taker, a fixed piece of metal located under the nose of the car that trips the finish line beam. Some cars naturally trip the finish line with the nose, spoiler, front fascia, air dam, spill plate, etc., while others trip the finish line with the front tire. In the case of my Turismo, the nose is pretty low, but it passes over the finish line, except when I lift or hit the brakes, then the front end drops low enough to trip the beam early: if I hit the brakes right at the stripe, I'll go a couple hundredths *quicker*, because I hit the finish line with the nose instead of the tire. The front end is so low on the car that my stripe take is only about 1-1/2" tall... that's all it takes to trip the finish line consistently. When Class racing, I remove the stripe taker and have to change my finish line driving style (and have to go back to shallow staging and change my starting line driving style.)

Study those Super Stock Cobalts, and late model Camaros in Stock, and see what's hitting the finish line, the nose or the tire? And is that answer the same if the driver hits the brakes? Just stuff to be aware of.