Well I am new at this draging racing stuff, but I was under the impression that the fastest time always won. I was surprised to see, I had run a faster time and lost to this head and cam 01 Z06. Someone told me, he won because his reaction time was faster and If we had left at the same time, I would have won. I blew him away off the line, he was looking at my tail lights for most of the race. He caught up and passed me like a rocket just before the finish line.
This drag strip is approx. 2500 ft above sea level. so don't let the times confuse you. There is very accurate conversion factor, if anyone is interested. ET= .9679Xet, MPH= 1.033Xmph.
Location: Los Angeles Founder, West Coast Corvette Challenge
Re: Faster Time But Lost! (KLLRVET)
Quote:
It's all in the reaction time. He got started moving before you did, and crossed the finish line first. He beat you by .043 across the finish line.
Al:
Remember, in bracket racing it IS more about reaction times - not so much your e.t. e.g. look at my semi-final round this Sunday against Branko's 9- second monster. Obviously he was the faster car from beginning to end BUT he lost at the tree because I had a .516 light to his .662 light. This got me going down the track faster and the difference in our dials wasn't enough for him to overcome the difference in reaction times.
Obviously, bracket racing is different than heads-up racing. And even then, you can easily have a lower e.t. but still lose the race if the slower car has a better reaction time at the line. That is why most races are won at the starting line.
I hope this helps. It isn't always such an easy concept to understand when just starting out. Al, stay with it. You have a great enthusiasm for our sport and I always get a smile on my face when I see you at our events. Remember - we're all learning - and that is the real fun part about drag racing - we all try to help each other out and, eventually, all of us become winners because we get better and better with more and more seat-time AND because we ask questions here on the CF and at the track.
And that is one of the things I really appreciate about you as a vette owner and racer. You share so much of your own experiences with the rest of us, and I am grateful that you open these topics up for all of us to examine and learn from. :cheers: to you good buddy!
Hey Al welcome the dark side,,,,,, I mean Drag Racing section.
I presume your numbers are from a time trial. Yes the firt one to the finish line wins. Many times, even in NHRA, when you go heads up, a guy with a slower ET can win a race because of a better light. This is often called a "hole shot". He reacted to the ligth better therefore "beat you out of the hole"
Antoher term is "he treed you" cause he beat you on the tree.
But that is okay cause you sure got one fast A4 and you taught him a lesson on the low end and that is traction, baby. You had it and he didn't. Of course he did catch you cause he has more MPH there horespower.
To put it simply the timer doesnt start until your car moves forward. You can sit there still for five minutes after the green and still run the correct ET :) The time between the light turning green and your car starting the timer is your reaction time :cheers:
Was this brackets or heads up? No dial in was listed. I agree with the others comments. The first one across the finish line wins unless they run faster than their dial in. That's called breaking out. Unless both drivers break out then the one who breaks out the least wins... got that? :cheers: :cool: Keep it up Al!
This was a heads up race, it just seems strange because our start times were with .114 from each other. Now I guess I will be shooting for a faster R/T (.500) :yesnod:
If I didn't hate that ugly roll bar in the convertible with the top down, I might have gone with a good set of heads to go along with the cam. Then he would not have caught me.
I have serious traction problems.....my very best 60 foot time on 8 runs was 1.947 sec. I was trying BFG Drag Radials and did some wild burn outs. On that run, I failed to put the brakes on B4 turning on the line lock.....I'm pretty new at this but I'm getting it down better.
I've got a Star Spec Carbon Fiber Clutch that is like an on - off switch.....doesn't slip period. Engine Dynoed at 413 rwhp/ 410 ft lbs with a fairly mild split cam and 1.8 roller rockers. Next time out I'm gonna have ET Streets and we're redoing the heads and putting in the MMS 229/229/112/578/578 cam. hoping for 435 rwhp and more torque. And, we're getting a Vararam.
My best run on Sunday was 11.99 @118.50(corrected) and I was spinning for the first 60 feet. It pulls like a freight train on steroids once it hooks up, so I think the roll bar will be necessary. I fully expect to be doing 11.3-11.4's at the next West Coast Corvette Challenge in January.....weather permitting.
Al, I knew I beat you at the finish line once I caught back up to you, but I couldn't figure out how I won when you had a better ET.....now we know!!
Hope to meet you and beat you next time.....off the line too:) Thanks for the Great Run and thanks for being a great sport. I really had a lot of fun at the West Coast Corvette Challenge.....plenty of room for more Vettes!!!!
Barrie welcome to the boards and yes you do have some traction trouble. I am sure you will find people here who can help you with your 60' and launch techniques.
Corvette Store
Faster Time But Lost!
