This is a pic of the last guy who entered wrong info into the track's computer...
(Just kidding folks, Aaron got nicked with a stray foul ball)
He is totally fine!
As a racer, I have empathy for what the drivers are feeling when they think they have won the race, only to look at a losing timeslip and see a dial in completely different than what is on the side of your car. As an announcer, and one who has become at least a little versed and experienced on the Compulink system, there is another side to the issue. The computer operators are often under a lot of stress, handling the radio communications, keeping the announcers informed, dealing with customers at the window, laddering rounds of competition, and entering car numbers and dials for each pair. All of this must be done quickly so that the race can be completed in a reasononable amount of time. Often numbers can be hard to see, and the angle of the sun in the afternoon sometimes makes it near impossible. Yes, looks can be deceiving. From the tower, some numbers just look totally different. That is why we can't stress it enough that it is the racer's responsibility to check their dial prior to the run down the track. While we do have the early dial boards, those will often display the data for the pair in front of you, so be careful. The optimum time to check your dial is directly after the score information on the scoreboards for the pair in front of you has been cleared (e.t. + mph). The scoreboard should then display your dial. Please racers, do not stage if your dial information is not displayed on the scoreboard. If the e.t. from the previous pair is still there, wait until the computer operator clears the board. If the wrong dial in is there, get the starter's attention and alert him to the problem. When the dial is then corrected, and only then, should you continue to prestage and stage your vehicle. Remember, prestaging and staging signifies that you accept all track conditions, including your dial in, and that there are no reruns for incorrect dials.
-Nick Goldman
ps - Ellis, this was not really targeted at you, as I'm sure you already received the speech from management...lol. Please take this as an informal guide for those of you who haven't had the unfortunate experience of an incorrect dial. (Oh yeah, and this stuff doesn't just happen to the 'big cars', I've been the victim at a Jr. Drag Race, and you can bet I'll never stage again without checking the scoreboard.
As a racer, I have empathy for what the drivers are feeling when they think they have won the race, only to look at a losing timeslip and see a dial in completely different than what is on the side of your car.
What about looking on the slip & seeing ANOTHER car's #, along with the incorrect dial in? Who's fault is that?
2 cars in the computer & different cars at the line???? SOMEONE either in the tower OR on the track SHOULD HAVE the responsibility to make sure the right two cars at the line are the correct pair that is in the computer..
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nick Goldman
The computer operators are often under a lot of stress, handling the radio communications, keeping the announcers informed, dealing with customers at the window, laddering rounds of competition, and entering car numbers and dials for each pair.
Well I saw 5 or 6 people in the tower. Other than the computer operator who has ALL these duties as you say, and you & Walter announcing, WHAT are the other people doing in there? Surely a reasonable task would be for SOMEONE in there to communicate with the starter that the correct cars are lined up....same car #'s at the line & same the cars programmed into the computer...
I DON'T have ANY slip which indicates my car ran.
No 8802, & no 11.74 dial in..
Shouldn't the track have SOME responsibility to make sure the right two cars are in the computer, & those two same cars are at the line?
Location: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
I've only had three mistakes in regards to the scoreboard.
One which was not my fault and not known until I got the timeslip(my hint should have been Walter announcing I was Panuzzo), I saw 4141 on my timeslip instead of 4477. Panuzo had run about three cars in front of me. When I got out there, they saw just another red C4 and put Panuzzo's numbers in.
One time they had my dial at 4477.
Another they had me dialed at 13.80 and I was supposed to be 13.40, my fault for not checking, I tried to run slow, but broke out with a 13.75.
Location: NCM Drag Racing coordinator, Spring Hill, Tennessee
Harry you can help with this , How do we know the person in the time slip booth just didn't give you the wrong time slip?????
and if the slip on it doesn't have your car number how did the person in the time slip booth give or know to give you that slip if it doesn't have your car number on it anywhere??????
I always look at the car numbers first to be sure I see my number, I have (never by Harry or nick ) gotten a time slip that doesn't have my car number on it but would habd it back and get the correct one. The printing of time slips don't always match the was we pick them up.
Harry you can help with this , How do we know the person in the time slip booth just didn't give you the wrong time slip?????
and if the slip on it doesn't have your car number how did the person in the time slip booth give or know to give you that slip if it doesn't have your car number on it anywhere??????
I always look at the car numbers first to be sure I see my number, I have (never by Harry or nick ) gotten a time slip that doesn't have my car number on it but would habd it back and get the correct one. The printing of time slips don't always match the was we pick them up.
If the wrong car number is entered in the computer, in the past I'd check to see the dial-in, opponent, or opponent's dial-in. Generally, the numbers arent butchered. Though rare, mistakes are normally just a number or two. So if car 8802 comes in and says 8812 or something with the correct dial in, I'd just let the driver know. Occasionally there are slip ups regarding typing numbers in or dial ins, but a wrong number won't affect the race. Can always go back and change the number on the results sheet to clear points hiccups and such. According to Ellis' time slip, the tower relayed the information that all his incremental times and 1/4 mile trap and speed basically went in accordance with his run, and I agreed.
The slip Ellis got was the slip for his run... however, unfortunately his car number and dial in were entered incorrectly.
One tip here for everyone... Do not pay any attention to the LED display in the burnout area and do not stage until your dial is up on the large score boards at the end of the track.. OK.. that was two tips sorry but following those two things will eliminate many of the problems before they become a problem
One tip here for everyone... Do not pay any attention to the LED display in the burnout area and do not stage until your dial is up on the large score boards at the end of the track..
The LED display displays the dial-ins pretty much 10 seconds before they go on the scoreboard, can get confusing. So thanks to Joe's advice, I'll no longer pay attention to that, I'll just look at the scoreboards before I stage
Corvette Store
Joke Pic: Don't get me mad! Or else!
sorry 
The LED display displays the dial-ins pretty much 10 seconds before they go on the scoreboard, can get confusing. So thanks to Joe's advice, I'll no longer pay attention to that, I'll just look at the scoreboards before I stage 
