Stockers....buttons.....check This Out

How about If NHRA allowed Deep staging again but not holding the tree for them. It's there job to be in and if they are not oh well. Let's leave the 2 step alone, and allow deep staging, will that keep the crybabies happy?

Todd Hoven
1035 NHRA Stk

[Bernie Cunningham]

Thx. Todd and Michael.

Tim G, thankyou as well but I must explain my racing philosophy, this not directed towards you only but contains to the 2-step and button issue.
Racecars are nothing but a tool that we use in a contest between ourselves to negate 1320' as accuratly and consistently as we can. Truth be known, what the heck are we using cars for, this is like bringing a knife to a gun fight! To define the correct tool for the job it would be one that doesn't spin the tires, is not reliant on weather or changing of any conditions, ie. tire pessure, timing, gear ratios, track prep, tune-up, etc. etc. and have no human input.
Because we use these ill equipped tools, (we do drag race cars and not robots) it's in our best interest to prepare our tools to complete the job the same everytime to the best of our knowledge and skill. If you think about it, it's not very easy with all of the scientific variables out there. Now the contest, this is where the human factor counts and because we are human you'll never, never get the same result twice just like in any other contest whether it's a board game or an athletic sport. We try to do our best and as always, there are people that are better at it than others. Drag racing is something that you don't want to be perfect at every time, .000 on the tree and dead-on with a zero is not how to keep winning rounds one after the other. It's more like 'he who screws up the least, wins'

OK, your probably wondering about this rant.

We race and win/lose using thousands of a second to decide the contest. We all know that our starting line parameters (there are a ton of em) are important. A couple of the most critical are stall RPM and accuracy leaving the last yellow. This is why most racers have gone to two steps and hand operated buttons (just as it's allowed in the rules). Pedal mounted buttons have been found to be inconsistent just as true footbraking can be. A lot of drivers prefer to footbrake and manually stall their cars and there are some very good ones out there, can't take anything away from them and it's a personal choice, just like the car combo choice you made as to what tool you'll bring to the contest. Therefore, 2-steps and buttons have been used to limit some variables and have helped a lot of mediocre racers get better at the job, who has a problem with that. We've also seen how the LED's have helped but there will always be the human factor in the equation to level the playing field and decide who wins or loses each contest.

Thx. B

[tgriffith]

""" will guarantee you that Tim would not have won nearly as many races with the Cavalier without deep staging."""
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mike,,I can say will almost certainy, that the only race IVe ever won footing was one about 5 or 6 years ago,,,,went to a dump in tn and after time runs was notified that I couldnt deepstage,,,,,got lucky anyway,,,but thats the only race in anything Ive have ever won WITHOUT deepstaging in any footer car,,,,,


I guess when I got interested in stock years back, I really thought it was a pure class,,,,where the cars were kept as close to stock as possible without the aid of the modern day electronics,,,,,Ive just come to realize that the local brackets have less electronics than a stock class........Hope they change them BUT if they dont....as bad as I hate it,,,guess I need to get with the program

Hey Todd Top Fuel And Funny Car Can Go Deep But A 13 Second Stocker Can't??? Does This Make Sense??

Joe Mocci

[Michael Beard]

Very well-put post, Bernie, and a good explanation of the how's and why's.

Really, the only place where we differ in opinion is whether the statement "2-steps and buttons have been used to limit some variables" is a good thing or a bad thing for the long term in our sport. I think it puts my view in a nutshell -- I enjoy learning, driving, and overcoming the challenges of our sport without an electronic variable-limiting aid.

Two guys this year have won track championships in delay box categories, off the foot: Billy Kirpins, Jr. at Lebanon Valley, and Chris Plott at Mooresville (who won Stock in his one and only attempt at it last year). I used to hoof it in Super Pro now and then. I think I may go try it again next year.

[Ken Miele]

Michael and tgriffith, since you guys are the most vocal on this subject I will direct my question to both of you.

So much has be said on this subject that it has become a little clouded to me.

What is the reason you do not want buttons and 2 steps in stock.
1: You want stock to be a no electronics class
2: You want NHRA to be able to control possible cheating.
3: You want stock to return to what stock was intended to be.

You guys know how I feel about the issue, I want it to stay the same.
The poll suggests that most want some type of 2 step to be used. I say there is not enough consensus to change the rule. I know its only a small sample, but they are current racers and you can only vote once.

Please just give a simple answer, the long posts seem to go off topic.

[Robert Pare Racing]

They way my season is going, I just assume get rid of all that stuff, but I wanna keep trying with it.The only thing I haven't done this season is stage with my back tires. Is it possible to have a button on the brake pedal, and not engage it while going down the track, while riding the brake pedal?. That would kinda mess things up.

[Harry 6674]

The two steps are also used to scrub off closing speeds in fast cars. More reliable than lifting. Been there done that. Sounds like a gunfight.

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by Kenny Miele

What is the reason you do not want buttons and 2 steps in stock.
1: You want stock to be a no electronics class
2: You want NHRA to be able to control possible cheating.
3: You want stock to return to what stock was intended to be.

All of the above.

Originally Posted by Kenny Miele

I say there is not enough consensus to change the rule.

I agree.

[Rich Biebel]

Robert all you need to do is run the button thru another switch that opens after the car is launched. It could be a shifter mounted switch if your shifter moves..... as far as buttons and 2 steps go.....I don't use any of this stuff in my present stocker and am just finding a comfort zone after about 50 runs off the footbrake in my LT-I. I lost last weekend with an 010 Rt on a double breakout. I really don't care how you launch your Stocker...... Just so long as your leaving off the bottom bulb and that's my only concern on this one.