The bump box, is it legal?

[James Sessoms]

Ok Fellow Super Class racers since we are always the ones being questioned about the use of electronics I would like some opinions and I apologize if this has been covered in a previous thread. Over the last 2 years or so I have being seeing a staging action that I wondered about. And to let me point out I have not seen it in the Super classes. It might be there but I have only seen it in other classes of racing. The product being used is called the bump box. I just read an article on Dragzine.com Under the electronic section about it. It explains how it works, Very good article too. You can go to the companies web site and watch videos of it in action. Most of the videos are pro mod style cars. One video is of a bracket car. I understand that this device was developed to overcome the turbo lag in staging a turbo combo car. With that in mind I have a question. How is this legal. The following is a quote from the 2014 NHRA Rule book. Section 2 page 2 "The application or use of any device, mechanical or electronic,that permits the driver to ascertain the position of his or her vehicle in relation to the starting line is prohibited. Only visual observation of track equipment may be used to ascertain the vehicle’s position. With the use of this box you are overcoming the auto start time out function of the staging system. You can take all the time in the world to turn on the first light. Then the bump box will roll you a preset amount into the stage light. This will control the effects of deep or shallow staging on your ET. Any opinions from the racing world?

[cad]

My interpretation is that it is illegal in NHRA, non-electronic bracket racing.
I just watched the videos and read the articles, as well.
http://www.dragzine.com/tech-stories...is-a-bump-box/
Clark

[Bill Baer]

My interpretation of the rule book is the same as yours and I discussed this with the manufacture at the PRI show more than a year ago and they claimed it was indeed legal. But keep in mind I believe these are the same guys that developed traction control and May have had something to do with the development of the matty box?
If I saw some one using it in super class racing, I would point it out the track officials and quote the rule book as obviously anyone using one is not using just visual reference to stage by.
MSD makes a digital ignition box that will will do the same thing for turbo cars.

[HandOverFist]

Must be legal if Jeg is using it.

[gbur]

Originally Posted by HandOverFist

Must be legal if Jeg is using it.

makes one wonder

[HandOverFist]

The way it is presented I see no way for a driver to "ascertain" his position on the track...it is merely controlling the amount of creep when staging. It does not work in conjunction with any other device that could be used to compute/predict any given run. Just my interpretation mind you.

[David Horn]

That thing was outlawed back in the 80's. I know a guy that used one, he was deadly. The guy quit for awhile then hide it better. I bet if I put one in my stocker they would hang me.

[HandOverFist]

Not much to worry about...only works with transbrakes.

[David Horn]

I bet someone can get it into the brake system with a rear line lock or something. Someone will figure it out.

[HandOverFist]

I don't see how...it is the transmission doing the movement, correct?