I see many comments that Bracket racing is boring. I ask this; If you could build/buy a racecar with-in a working mans budget which would you do. Build a nice bracket car? Or build a heads up car that you new couldn't have a chance of winning with? Running NMCA events, watching KOS, and our local Milan run what brung there is a wide disparity in ET in the heads up classes. Many times I see the #3 qualifier is .3-.5 slower or more than #1. This wouldn't work for me. I enjoy competition. I got bored with chasing only ET long ago. Don't get me wrong. I still tune and strive to get quicker. Winning at bracket racing is far from easy. I'm sure many have never even won a race. It takes tuning, driving skill, and luck. So what would you rather have? A Bracket car? Or a off pace Heads-Up car? Personally I'd love to have a competitive X275 car. I don't have the budget. I don't have the time dedicated to test and maintain it.
Doug

Heads up, even though it's a lot of work, that's what I like. Constantly striving to go faster.

I`m one of those ESPECIALLY t-stop racing crap and from a spectator's standpoint. Heads up is my favorite but even that`s predictable now and the crashes are the part of it that keeps other racers pissed in the lanes waiting for cleanup...........guess I'm just over the old RUSH that was racing...........back to playing w/poisonous snakes and desert critters to keep me sharp.........

I've always run and enjoyed brackets. I have also run with other racers in heads up style grudge races when our et's are very close. That is when it becomes a lot of fun. But running on your dial in and cutting a good light becomes very competitive itself. I ran brackets from the beginning when there were four classes: Street, Heavy, Pro and Superpro. Brackets broken into et's is very close to heads up racing at that point.

I enjoy bracket racing, a guy can do it in his daily driver if he wants. The heads up stuff is more often than not won by the guy with the deepest pockets. I did win a heads up race a month or so ago, not because I had the fastest car in my class or the deepest pockets. I won because my car made clean passes every round.

As a pump gas street/strip deal my car really doesn't fit anywhere other than brackets or a index class and index classes are nothing more than a bracket race where someone else chooses the dial. From what I've seen guys that hate bracket racing are not very good at it. I'm not good at it but have fun and that's what it's all about for me.

my working mans budget? .....or yours . So far I've kept my racing as real as I can afford. I have quite a few "good" parts, but in the realm of things, it's a very underperforming mill for what it is, but that plan came to be after discussing the build with the builder. We've put just shy of 100 passes on it this season and virtually haven't had to do anything to it. Set it, and forget it just like you want a bracket mill to be. NOW!!!! what I'd REALLY like to do is to spray the krap out of it and run in 8.5 outlaw!!

I have a fishing boat that I bought myself when I retired in 2010. If I didn't have this dog-gone habit it would have hit the water already instead of sitting in my driveway. I'm a better engine builder than I am a bracket racer because I like making changes to go faster. With my Head-up car I will be an "also-ran" probably because I won't pay others to do my work. BUT the success I do have will warm my belly knowing my hard work paid off.

I would do a heads up car, a x275 car for sure. But that's not in the budget, so I like index classes next as they don't allow delay boxes or air shifters. Makes you race the car yourself.

I bracket race my head up car .
Around here there just isn't much heads up stuff.
But it is starting to show up more so that's a plus .
I,m the slow guy in KOS LOL

The challenge is the point of racing for me.

Bettering myself is the fun no interest wasting time running a number for me.

Racing is not meant to be fair we cant all win....... The racing that is being watched and sensationalized is heads up as it should be.

Were our legends like Garlits bracket racing?

All this fair racing is ruining it. Maybe a match race class where you work your way to the top would work still have some close racing and incentive to try to move up necessity breeds invention Just saying......................

The Dads heads up series at Quaker City Ohio has a great program and some terrific sponsors. From street cars to 4 second cars they are heading in the right direction

https://www.facebook.com/groups/10387964...479699725976152


2017 DADS Streetcar Shootout Rules an Classes
2017 HEADS UP RACING SERIES
June 10th, July 15th, Aug 12th, Sept 9th, Oct 7th
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OUTLAW LIMITED STREET CLASS
BIG TIRE OUTLAW CLASS
STREET LEGAL CLASS
TRUE STREET CLASS
ALL CLASSES: If a car does not meet the spirit of the class it may not be allowed to run.
　
Mandatory all Classes:
D.A.D.S. OLD FASHIONED DRAG RACING STICKER. Must be displayed on a car window in order to race with DADS, win any money, certificates, or prizes. We will provide you with 1 sticker, if you take it off or need a replacement you will have to purchase the additional sticker.
Before you go to Safety Tech : You are required to sign in at the “DADS Race Booth” each time. You need to provide your name, address, phone number. Please provide the car number you wish to use for the entire season and it must be clearly legible on your windows. If the track can not read your number in the tower, your run will not count. You must take the DADS Card and your car to Tech each and every race.
All vehicles must comply to IHRA/NHRA safety equipment and license for ET’s and speed being run.
You must have an Engine Diaper or catch pan in Street Legal, Big Tire Outlaw, and Outlaw Limited Street !!
You must make at least one good qualifying pass to race. Breaking the beam is considered a run.
Get to the staging lanes as promptly as you can when your class is called, the track will not wait on or make exceptions for anyone.
Test and tune will not be allowed prior to qualifications. Test and tune will be allowed with track permission after eliminated from competition.
Revised 10/20/2016
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DADS OUTLAW LIMITED STREET:
BODY :
All entries must have a factory based production type vehicle. Must be street appearing, have stock appearing dash . Wheelbase must be within 2” of factory dimension . Factory Firewall in stock location. One piece front ends permitted provided it retains stock appearance. Fiberglass/carbon fiber body parts are limited to hood, fenders, doors, deck lid, roof skin & bumpers. No Fiberglass /Composite bodies. Any changes or alterations in body lines or dimensions MUST BE APPROVED prior to modification.
FRONT SUSPENSION:
Back half type cars only. Double round tube frame rails from firewall forward prohibited. NO CHASSIS TYPE CARS.
Stock front frame rails and suspension required Front frame rails to be original OEM type & must be fully intact from the firewall forward out past the far most lower control arm mount. Slight notching allowed for header clearance. Header must pass through this area. Aftermarket Bolt in Sub-frames an K-frames allowed. Factory front frame must be connected to Sub-frame or k-member or lower suspension component by bolting and/or stitch welds , no solid welding.
Lower control arms MUST bolt to the factory mounting points on the front section of frame. Any type spring shock combo allowed.
-Rack and pinion steering allowed.
REAR SUSPENSION :
Any type rear suspension is allowed.
TIRES:
Any slick tire or pro bracket radial up to 30” x 10.5” sidewall designation allowed, W tires OK. DOT tires, drag radials or pro radials up to 12.50” or 325 sidewall designation allowed.
ENGINE :
Any engine combination allowed. Only one type of power adder allowed
TRANSMISSION :
Any type automatic or manual transmission is allowed.
License plate required (any plate, cosmetic only).
All cars must have Engine Diaper or catch pan.
Any 8.50 certed cars are allowed 140mph Max !
Format:
1/8 mile race
Heads Up
.4 Pro Tree -- courtesy staging mandatory -- no deep staging
All Run. Modified ladder
Bye run goes to the fastest qualifier.
Lane choice goes to the fastest previous pass.
All cars must meet IHRA/NHRA safety requirements.
Drivers must wear the safety equipment required for the ET’s being run.
Revised 3/23/2016
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DADS BIG TIRE OUTLAW CLASS
Door cars only
Single power adder. No Nitromethane.
Any tire
No dragster, roadsters, altered, or center steer cars
All cars must have engine diaper or catch pan
Format:
1/8 mile race
Heads up
.4 Pro tree—courtesy staging mandatory—no deep staging
All run. Modified ladder
Bye run goes to the fastest qualifier.
Lane choice goes to the fastest previous pass
All cars must meet IHRA/NHRA safety requirements
Drivers must wear the safety equipment required for the ET’s being run
class created 10/10/16
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DADS STREET LEGAL OUTLAW:
This class is meant for registered street legal cars. When you sign in at the DADS booth, you must show registration and have street legal plates.
-STREET LEGAL TIRES MANDATORY. Drag radials /325 max and ET street /13.50 max sidewall designation are allowed.
-MUST BE COMPLETELY STREET. If your car is questioned of being actual streetable, then this class is not for you. No gutted racecars permitted to race.
Body/Interior:
-Full bodied street type car/trucks. Domestic and import allowed.
-Working headlights and taillights, this means headlights not fog lamps.
-No dragsters, roadsters, altereds, or center steer cars.
-Must be street appearing, no gutted interiors. Must have 2 front seats or 1 bench seat. Carpeted interior even if rear seat is removed. Factory dash or pre-approved dash pad required. Must have door panels.
-Racecar lettering on windows only.
-Must have stock style front suspension.
-No full round or square tube chassis cars. Can not be certified past /faster than 8.50
Exhaust must go past Firewall with mufflers
Electronics:
-No bracket racing aids, no throttle stops (electric or pneumatic), no optical sensors.
-No delay boxes permitted for starting line procedures or other driver aided electronics. The
application or use of any device, mechanical or electronic, that permit the driver to ascertain the position of their vehicle in relationship to the starting line is prohibited.
-Progressive nitrous controller system is allowed.
-No electric or air shifters permitted.
-All Street cars must have a working Altenator.
License plate required
All cars must meet the IHRA/NHRA safety requirements.
Drivers must wear the safety equipment required for the ET’s being run.
All cars must have an Engine Diaper or catch pan.
Format:
¼ mile race
Heads Up .400 Pro Tree -- courtesy staging mandatory -- no deep staging.
All run. Modified ladder
Bye run goes to the fastest qualifier.
Lane choice goes to the fastest previous pass.
Be prepared to run round robin.
Revised 3/23/2016
*****************************************************************
DADS TRUE STREET:
This class is meant for registered street legal cars. When you sign in at the DADS booth, you must show proof of registration, have street legal plates, and proof of insurance.
MUST BE COMPLETELY STREET. If your car is questioned of being actual streetable, then this class is not for you.
Factory Stock Chassis, UNALTERED ! No gutted racecars allowed.
Full interior. Factory glass.
Stock wheel tubs.
Full exhaust past seats. Diesel powered vehicles must have exhaust pointed up.
True radial tire or biased tire. No drag racing compound tire.
Roll bar allowed 6 or 8 point only, no windshield or pillar down bars allowed.
Reference to, 2008 or newer foreign or domestic, production type automobile or truck that is street driven with proof of registration, vehicle insurance with valid license plates. These vehicles are limited to street events, test & tune and select import events. Competition in the facilities normal weekly ET bracket series under these parameters is prohibited.
These vehicles may run provided all of the criteria listed within this section is verified prior to participation. Unaltered 2008 OEM model year and newer production cars running slower than 10.00 and 135 mph do not have to meet the requirements and specifications for the Summit Sportsman ET safety rules except for the following: Convertibles and T-top entries must meet the minimum specifications listed in ET Bracket section for roll bar and roll cage requirement. Vehicles must pass all state highway safety requirements in which the vehicle is registered prior to acceptance.
The vehicles OEM installed anti lock brakes, airbag function and seat belts as well as any other related system must be functional as per the manufacturers specifications at all times. All drivers must utilize helmet and protective clothing requirements as per the minimum specifications outlined in the 2016 IHRA rulebook under the ET bracket section starting on page 60.
Format:
¼ mile race
Heads Up
.4 Pro Tree--courtesy staging mandatory--no deep staging
All run. Modified ladder
Bye run goes to the fasted qualifier.
Lane choice goes to the fastest previous pass.
Be prepared to run round robin.
All cars must meet IHRA/NHRA safety requirements.
Drivers must wear the safety equipment
Revised10/10 /2016
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I LOVE Top Sportsman and Top Dragster. Those are the classes I would want to be in. I heard through the vine that they will be a part of EVERY National Event for 2017. Sounds good to me!

You could likely build a competitive X275 car for what you have in the NSS car

As to the other question, I would rather be a career test and tuner than a bracket racer. I used to bracket race, was good at it and have two track points championships and a bunch of wins to show for it. Got bored to tears doing it though and then just started trying to make my car go as fast as it could. Also had a stint driving a mid pack alky funny car in the IHRA. We ran good at times, went some rounds and I won one divisional race.

Now days there is a LOT more racing to do if you want to do it. Some don't care for the hype, but there is money to be made grudge racing and plenty of it to do. Easy money maker for tracks, as it doesn't cost them anything as far as purses. We were actually testing yesterday with that smallblock nitrous car I mentioned. While we were testing, that didn't stop the guys that owned the car from placing some bets and setting up races. They won 5k on two passes

Try those baby tires out and you will see its not that easy... I promise you

The last time I did the heads up thing I had to slow my car down to qualify in the index. That was the first problem. Got the car qualified right on the money. First round, got a guy that entered 3 different classes. fast, faster and fastest indexes. Didn't take me long to figure out that being able to run on your index wasn't going to cut it. Faster cars 60 foot better and also have more power to basically play with you all the way till the end of the 1/4 mile. All's he did was kept a foot on me till the end then a little less for the win. . He went on to win all 3 index's . If I had to do it over again, I would qualify the car at the slower index, return it to the normal tune and dump his butt at the end making him break out. Yes there is break outs in heads up. I myself like bracket racing, might try the index racing again as now the car runs under the faster class incex so I can play the game to.

There is no "game". You cut the better light and run the number, you win, doesn't matter what they do. You have the better light, he "fenders" you and you run the number, he will be too fast. Its that simple. 60ft, 330 none of that matters at the point

I like the fact that if you have street car as I do I can build the eng as I like and then do some bracket racing at the track and also run in NSS which is bracket racing. You can still be an et chaser if you like and I would love to chase my et more but I dont have much play money (car money. Heads up racing is very cool but its tuff for the little guy who dont have the money to build a killer combo. And at least with bracket racing it is mostly just people hitting the brakes near the finish line which most spectators dont notice. Not like a car launching and then laying over on a delay box. Ron

as i cant cut a light in bracket racing,i have to index race,which im good at,not all tracks have index,local track has index once a month,heads up is cool and a new thing,no prep lots of wrecks,if you race no prep,make sure you can get it down broadway without breaking loose,street outlaws knows how to get there stuff down broadway,i love heads up,but only will do it on a prep track and index racing

I don't consider myself a racer. I enjoy building and tuning my cars more than the racing them. I race with a car club more as a social thing. I bracket race (foot brake, no electronics) just for fun and to see what the car can do. I could see running stock/super stock for the challenge of building a fast car within the rules.
With my engineering background, I could cheat up a bracket car with undetected electronic gadgets to make the car very consistent, but to me that would not be fun, may as well just get a slot car if all I have to do as a driver is hit a button.