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Cutting lights #1186507 02/26/12 04:59 PM 02/26/12 04:59 PM
Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 876 Arizona PolyDart OP super stock
PolyDart OP super stock Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 876 Arizona	Been having a terrible time being consistent at the line. Leave on the yellow, and I red light. Leave on the green and it's way to slow. I try to pause a bit after the yellow, and my reactions are all over the place. Anything from a .009 to a .2! I run a small 24" tire due to my fenderwell headers and I've heard that could have something to do with it. Car runs in the 10.30s and 60fts at 1.44. Leave off idle on the footbrake. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. 1970 Dart Resto-Race Project 1960 Dodge Dart Seneca Dual Quad 390 Poly

Re: Cutting lights [Re: PolyDart] #1186508 02/26/12 05:08 PM 02/26/12 05:08 PM
Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 304 Mesa, AZ cagebob1 enthusiast
cagebob1 enthusiast Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 304 Mesa, AZ	Your reaction time should be just that...a reaction to something on the tree. Reactions tend to be consistent, while thinking isn't. Find a spot on the tree where your lights are consistent, then adjust the car till the time is what you want. On all of my race cars changing stage rpms was the easy way to do it.

Re: Cutting lights [Re: cagebob1] #1186509 02/26/12 05:13 PM 02/26/12 05:13 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,988 Anoka County, MN L Leigh master
Leigh master L Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,988 Anoka County, MN	Good advice, to change the car, not you. Find the place on the tree, where you are golden, then change the car to suit. Try the other way around, and you'll soon have a legion of vultures following you to staging. You might find a delay class WAY cheaper in the long run, HOWEVER, the competition will probably much tougher, too. Good luck.

Re: Cutting lights [Re: Leigh] #1186510 02/26/12 05:20 PM 02/26/12 05:20 PM
Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 7,274 s.w.fl B bonefish master
bonefish master B Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 7,274 s.w.fl	Quit acting like me.

Re: Cutting lights [Re: bonefish] #1186511 02/26/12 06:37 PM 02/26/12 06:37 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 7,348 Mt.Vernon ,Ohio VernMotor master
VernMotor master Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 7,348 Mt.Vernon ,Ohio	YES find your spot on the tree. and change the car reaction time..Can't say this to many times ! and from day to day you will change. need to learn to change the car for that day ! all kinds of ways to change the car.

Re: Cutting lights [Re: VernMotor] #1186512 02/26/12 07:36 PM 02/26/12 07:36 PM
Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 876 Arizona PolyDart OP super stock
PolyDart OP super stock Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 876 Arizona	Ok, let's say I want to leave on the last yellow. Other than a delay box, how would I slow down the car's reaction? I did read where one of you said staging RPMS, but leaving off idle should give the slowest reaction since the engine has to come up on power, the suspension has to load, etc... I may be mistaken, but I would think I am already setting the car on the slow end of reaction. 1970 Dart Resto-Race Project 1960 Dodge Dart Seneca Dual Quad 390 Poly

Re: Cutting lights [Re: VernMotor] #1186513 02/26/12 07:40 PM 02/26/12 07:40 PM
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,497 PA moparacer top fuel
moparacer top fuel Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,497 PA	Well lets throw the leaving on the green out the window first. That will always bee too slow no matter what. If you have 60 fts in the mid 1.40's you should be able to leave at the flash of the 3rd amber and not go red leaving at a dead idle. That's another thing.....I have never been able to get a car to react consistently leaving at an idle foot braking. You need some RPM to tighten the drive line and suspension up before you leave. Try 2000 RPM and see how it works. If you RT is slow go up in RPM and vice versa if its too quick. What you have to be careful of is not to anticipate the 3rd coming on. You need to leave when it comes on. 67 Barracuda street/bracket car 11.27-119 68 Dart 502 BB 8.70s-152 414 cid SB Dragster 7.65-174

Re: Cutting lights [Re: moparacer] #1186514 02/26/12 07:44 PM 02/26/12 07:44 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 6,266 Renton Washington T Triple Threat master
Triple Threat master T Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 6,266 Renton Washington	The short front tire isn't ideal, but you should be able to make it work. The biggest issue is you. Go buy a practice tree and use it, you will improve. -Dustin 67 Dart, 9 second, 392" G3 Hemi 68 Barracuda 340 F/SA

Re: Cutting lights [Re: PolyDart] #1186515 02/26/12 07:46 PM 02/26/12 07:46 PM
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,497 PA moparacer top fuel
moparacer top fuel Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,497 PA	Quote: Ok, let's say I want to leave on the last yellow. Other than a delay box, how would I slow down the car's reaction? I did read where one of you said staging RPMS, but leaving off idle should give the slowest reaction since the engine has to come up on power, the suspension has to load, etc... I may be mistaken, but I would think I am already setting the car on the slow end of reaction. If you are going red leaving the line at a dead idle you are anticipating the 3rd light coming on. 67 Barracuda street/bracket car 11.27-119 68 Dart 502 BB 8.70s-152 414 cid SB Dragster 7.65-174

Re: Cutting lights [Re: moparacer] #1186516 02/26/12 07:48 PM 02/26/12 07:48 PM
Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 876 Arizona PolyDart OP super stock
PolyDart OP super stock Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 876 Arizona	Quote: You need some RPM to tighten the drive line and suspension up before you leave. Try 2000 RPM and see how it works. If you RT is slow go up in RPM and vice versa if its too quick. You're probably right. When initially working with the car I was all about best ET, now I have to forget that and work on best reaction times so I can go some rounds. The car definitely ETs best off idle, but it makes sense that it would be more consistent to leave with the suspension loaded. 1970 Dart Resto-Race Project 1960 Dodge Dart Seneca Dual Quad 390 Poly

Re: Cutting lights [Re: PolyDart] #1186517 02/26/12 07:50 PM 02/26/12 07:50 PM
Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 47 Owasso OK USA Cappy572 member
Cappy572 member Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 47 Owasso OK USA	All good advice on changing the car. Dont forget car placement in the beams is equally important for consistant reaction times and consistant ET. Make sure you barely turn on the second stage bulb to indenty you are on the same mark every time. This can be a differance of 2 hundreds on the starting line and the finish line. Stage deeper in the second bulb you will go 2 hundreds quicker on the tree and run 2 slower down track. 1970 AMX 572 twin turbo predator, 1970 Duster 572 B1, 1976 Gremlin 572, 1933 Plymouth coupe 340, Drag N Drive Events.

Re: Cutting lights [Re: moparacer] #1186518 02/26/12 07:51 PM 02/26/12 07:51 PM
Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 876 Arizona PolyDart OP super stock
PolyDart OP super stock Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 876 Arizona	Quote: If you are going red leaving the line at a dead idle you are anticipating the 3rd light coming on. Not the case. Since leaving off the yellow was too slow, I would pause and try to hit it half way between yellow and green. Since there was nothing to consistently react to, I was all over the place. 1970 Dart Resto-Race Project 1960 Dodge Dart Seneca Dual Quad 390 Poly

Re: Cutting lights [Re: Cappy572] #1186519 02/26/12 08:00 PM 02/26/12 08:00 PM
Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 319 jonestown,pa D dmking enthusiast
dmking enthusiast D Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 319 jonestown,pa	i have the same issue. when i leave like my bike i -.00x the car. i went up to 26"tall tires from 25". that should put me in the ball park. but i have proparts headers and can get away with taller tires better. i will find out this season.

Re: Cutting lights [Re: PolyDart] #1186520 02/26/12 08:02 PM 02/26/12 08:02 PM
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,497 PA moparacer top fuel
moparacer top fuel Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,497 PA	Quote: Since leaving off the yellow was too slow, I would pause and try to hit it half way between yellow and green. I think you are mixed up here a little. If you were slow leaving off the yellow, waiting to leave between the yellow and green would make you even slower..... I dont know...Anyways look at this video me me in my old car footbraking with a setup similar to yours. http://youtu.be/BaAvUO4LRPs I am leaving at 2000 RPM and leaving when the 3rd light comes ON. This wasnt a killer RT I think around .030 or so but this is how I have done it, and won a lot of races over the last 23 years. 67 Barracuda street/bracket car 11.27-119 68 Dart 502 BB 8.70s-152 414 cid SB Dragster 7.65-174

Re: Cutting lights [Re: PolyDart] #1186521 02/26/12 08:02 PM 02/26/12 08:02 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 7,348 Mt.Vernon ,Ohio VernMotor master
VernMotor master Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 7,348 Mt.Vernon ,Ohio	yes I would try to leave off the last yellow with some RPMs first. see where that gets you. changes to the car tire pressure.. rear and front. T-bar adjustments. you may even need to send the converter in and have the stall speed change..there is more but depends on what suspension you have ? leafs-ladder bars-4-link .. and shocks play a big part in this.. Lets face it.. no matter how fast how cool you look..if you can not cut a light you will never go rounds..I do what ever it takes on a given day to make that happen. and yes make sure you stage light and same way every time.. this is very very importance.

Re: Cutting lights [Re: PolyDart] #1186522 02/26/12 08:02 PM 02/26/12 08:02 PM
Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 248 Ohio aquamist60 enthusiast
aquamist60 enthusiast Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 248 Ohio	You can try adjusting your front tire pressure, too slow-increase pressure, too quick-let air out. But I do agree you have to be right first before you can get the car right. Try staging, adjusting launch rpm, make sure your carb is reactng properly run after run, proper pressure rea tires, shocks set correct. A lot more, this just starting point.

Re: Cutting lights [Re: PolyDart] #1186523 02/26/12 08:08 PM 02/26/12 08:08 PM
Joined: May 2006 Posts: 739 WA JD Dart super stock
JD Dart super stock Joined: May 2006 Posts: 739 WA	If your distributor isn't locked out change the curve on it like all in at 4800 or what ever max curve you can get out of it. Also have the centrifugal advance timing set to the max. Like with the MSD you can have it setup for 28 degrees so if you wanted 36 total you would set base timing at 8 it will run bad and very sluggish when you tip into the throttle. At that setting you may have to leave on the second yellow.

Re: Cutting lights [Re: JD Dart] #1186524 02/26/12 08:12 PM 02/26/12 08:12 PM
Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 876 Arizona PolyDart OP super stock
PolyDart OP super stock Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 876 Arizona	Quote: I think you are mixed up here a little. If you were slow leaving off the yellow, waiting to leave between the yellow and green would make you even slower..... Yeah, I wrote that wrong. Leaving when I see the yellow leads to a red light, which is why I paused and hit it between yellow and green. Sorry for the confusion. 1970 Dart Resto-Race Project 1960 Dodge Dart Seneca Dual Quad 390 Poly

Re: Cutting lights [Re: moparacer] #1186525 02/26/12 08:13 PM 02/26/12 08:13 PM
Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 7,506 Az Crizila master
Crizila master Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 7,506 Az	Quote: Quote: Ok, let's say I want to leave on the last yellow. Other than a delay box, how would I slow down the car's reaction? I did read where one of you said staging RPMS, but leaving off idle should give the slowest reaction since the engine has to come up on power, the suspension has to load, etc... I may be mistaken, but I would think I am already setting the car on the slow end of reaction. If you are going red leaving the line at a dead idle you are anticipating the 3rd light coming on. Yep - almost for sure on that. This was something I had a problem with ( especially running slower cars ). You have to discipline yourself to make sure you see the light come on before you mash on it. As said, a practice tree will help, but the best thing is just time in the seat and sticking to a routine. My routine starts once I am positioned in the water box. If I have to shut down after that due to track conditions, I always back all the way out of the box and start over again - no matter what my apponent does. I also always look at his dial to make sure I know who is going to be leaving first. Fastest 300

Re: Cutting lights [Re: Crizila] #1186526 02/26/12 08:19 PM 02/26/12 08:19 PM
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,497 PA moparacer top fuel
moparacer top fuel Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,497 PA	Quote: Yep - almost for sure on that. This was something I had a problem with ( especially running slower cars ). You have to discipline yourself to make sure you see the light come on before you mash on it. Yep a lot of guys dont realize that the fact that you know the tree is dropping can make you 3 or more hundredths quicker. You are mentally anticipating it. Just hold your hand up and block the first two once. Then you will see just how much slower it makes you. Also, get someone to video you at the track like I posted up above. You will be able to tell exactly where you are leaving at and can adjust accordingly. 67 Barracuda street/bracket car 11.27-119 68 Dart 502 BB 8.70s-152 414 cid SB Dragster 7.65-174

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