While watching Indy and other races lately it occurred to me there is, in many cases, considerable time spent "easing" into the first bulb. I think in some cases it is because the drive is not accustomed to the particular track so must be cautious approaching the first beam.

Brainstorm about this, add another "before prestage" beam. Thus, the driver can move quickly to the "pre-prestage position."

Thoughts?

too confusing and doubt it would make much of a difference......

The system works as is, no need to speed up prestige. If the starter feels a competitor is taking too long he will motion them to move forward.

Preflight final check, reset, arm going on in the coc kpit before lighting the pre stage bulb.

I do wonder what the hell people are doing for 30-60 seconds or more after the burnout.

I don’t think being super careful rolling up to prestage is largely responsible but any idea is worth talking through.

Larry some tracks put a cone near the light.

Foot has the simple solution, good job!

It's not totally the prestage/stage routine that adds so much time to a program. We all know what it is and nothing can be done about it because it's become the race car of choice for so many.

quote:

Originally posted by Footloose:
Larry some tracks put a cone near the light.

if you need a cone to find the pre stage beam, you've got no business being in a race car

Da-n, do I have to agree with ED? But he is right.

quote:

Originally posted by CURTIS REED:
It's not totally the prestage/stage routine that adds so much time to a program. We all know what it is and nothing can be done about it because it's become the race car of choice for so many.

Are your referring to the 6.30 door cars that think they have to do a burnout across the line?

Seriously though, dragsters do have a longer process, but how many times do we see track officials holding up every pair to "mop the track"? Diapers should be mandatory for every car going down the track. Some tracks won't start the next pair in the water box until the previous pair crosses the finish line.

There is a lot that could be done by all, that's for sure. It's not just one group, it's everyone collectively.

This is funny, the norm used to be a burnout and 14 dryhops. Now people are complaining because somebody takes 30 seconds to make sure everything is correct before they stage...LOL

I am very slow finding the pre-stage. Can't tell if I'm 8 feet or 8 inches away. A cone will not help me.

When a driver is on the starting line, it is their turn to race and they have every right to do what they need to make sure they are ready to race within reason. I race TD and have to wait on the nitrous cars all the time to get the pressure right on the bottle, just part of the deal. Some cars will have the top bulb on while I am still backing up, everyone has their own procedure. Like Ed said, if they are taking more than a reasonable amount of time then it is up to the starter to say something.

quote:

Originally posted by CHampshire:

quote:

Originally posted by CURTIS REED:
It's not totally the prestage/stage routine that adds so much time to a program. We all know what it is and nothing can be done about it because it's become the race car of choice for so many.

Are your referring to the 6.30 door cars that think they have to do a burnout across the line?

Seriously though, dragsters do have a longer process, but how many times do we see track officials holding up every pair to "mop the track"? Diapers should be mandatory for every car going down the track. Some tracks won't start the next pair in the water box until the previous pair crosses the finish line.

There is a lot that could be done by all, that's for sure. It's not just one group, it's everyone collectively.

It is those 6.30 cars I just didn't want to say it out loud. LOL You aren't wrong about the rest of it either.

I'm not really one who complains a lot about the time to run an event. The only time I really get annoyed is when nothing is going down the track and the announcer doesn't tell you why. Gives fodder to everyone to start complaining.

Track workers need a break? Heck yes they do, just say it. Computer down? It happens, just say it. Oil down? Well you get the idea.

a little off subject but I saw this this past weekend.

heads up class. right lane can go 4.70 and left lane can go 5.20. right lane guy has crew man at starting line to show him where it is because obviously he can't see out of a stock appearing early 2000 camaro. nor can he tell that if he rolls far enough a light will turn on at the top of the tree. anyway, crew guy does not realize that he is standing in both the pre stage and stage beams so both lights are on. left lane guy thinks that right lane is staged so he rolls in and stages. tree lites up and 5.20 car takes off while crew guy never gets 4.70 dude to the beams for the L.

I am with 1290. if you can't find the starting line take up fishing.

ep

The worst is the 6.30 car who feels he needs a crew to help him stage. Every time I see I guy with his foot by the stage beams motioning the car forward, I want to scream "Stage the Effing car!!"

I see one heck of a lot more time wasted by track crews than anyone taking an extra 15-20 seconds staging the car. I vote yes for the cone idea as if it's a new track to you, you're going to be creeping up to find that prestage bulb.

quote:

Originally posted by CURTIS REED:

quote:

Originally posted by CHampshire:

quote:

Originally posted by CURTIS REED:
It's not totally the prestage/stage routine that adds so much time to a program. We all know what it is and nothing can be done about it because it's become the race car of choice for so many.

Are your referring to the 6.30 door cars that think they have to do a burnout across the line?

Seriously though, dragsters do have a longer process, but how many times do we see track officials holding up every pair to "mop the track"? Diapers should be mandatory for every car going down the track. Some tracks won't start the next pair in the water box until the previous pair crosses the finish line.

There is a lot that could be done by all, that's for sure. It's not just one group, it's everyone collectively.

It is those 6.30 cars I just didn't want to say it out loud. LOL You aren't wrong about the rest of it either.

I'm not really one who complains a lot about the time to run an event. The only time I really get annoyed is when nothing is going down the track and the announcer doesn't tell you why. Gives fodder to everyone to start complaining.

Track workers need a break? Heck yes they do, just say it. Computer down? It happens, just say it. Oil down? Well you get the idea.

I am the starter at our local track and also a racer. At our track, the cars have to back into the water box because of burn out boards. For dragsters, we wait until the previous car starts to pull to the line, before waving the next car in. On door cars, we try to wave the cars in as soon as the other door cars have completed the burnout. We have had a few close calls where the car coming into the water is almost backed into because the previous door car decides to cross the line and then back up.
We try to save a few seconds a pair by moving them in to the water quickly, which in the course of the day, adds up to time savings at the end. Its sorta strange to see 4.50 door cars being able to stop behind the line, but some of these 5.50 and slower cars not.Once again, our situation is somewhat unique with having to back into the water, and wouldnt care so much if they crossed the line on the burnout.

A 4.50 car is a lighter, higher end chassis, than it's counterpart a heavy car on slicks. A heavy car on slicks, like a factory condition Camaro or Nova isn't gonna come out of the water as straight. Not to mention the momentum of the heavier car is gonna take longer to wheel back straight into the groove, and get stopped.

It makes perfect sense the heavier car uses up more real estate doing the burnout,

especially for any given car light or heavy that can't come out of the water, as straight as they'd like.

If a guy goes past the start line, he can back straight in to where he feels he needs to be.

Heavy cars are harder to drive, not easier.

If you have a light car with a 1000hp and a heavy car with the same hp, the heavy car is harder to drive.

Common sense.

At a new track I make a mental note of where the staging beams are in relation to the guard rail, tree, plywood staging lights cover, etc. Rolling to the starting line everyone should have an idea of where to slow the roll forward to staging without having to depend only only the pre-stage light illuminating. In my case, I hope it gives the illusion I know what I'm doing...