Shot Clock

This is interesting. There is a movement to create a 'shot clock', i.e one a pair of cars clear the traps the next pair has one minute to be staged and ready to go, at which time the tree automatically activates. Personally, I like it. Could be tough on those not ready, or those who like to play games on the starting line.

No metion of what happens if the cars ahead are still on the track. They shouldn't be but theres always that one. I had this conversation last year at National Trail staging while the last pair hadn't exited the racing surface. They said every track does it. I disagreed. I will say the track owner called me back to discuss it.
Doug

It's going to be hard on the pipe racks that have to pull in through the water, back up, pull forward again, then burnout to half track.

Wouldn't bother me if it was 45 seconds. I'm sure there will be teething pains.

Sounds like they are creating a on track accident waiting to happen to me
I can't remember the last time I was allowed to start my burn outs with cars on the tracks anywhere out west in both Division 6 and 7

I think it's mainly to help cure some of the issues with the some of the guys that like to screw around forever. I'm sure there will be some learning curve and a few bumps in the road that will be need to be address before it's ironed out and a good working system. If racers would just focus on making a pass instead of all the different games and what not, such things wouldn't be needed. The next thing they need to work on is getting cars into the lanes. A class shouldn't need to be called 100 times for the cars to come to the lanes. Call them 2-3 times and if you're not in the lanes by x amount of time after being called, you miss your run.

At most big money events the door cars are called to the lanes first. The dragster guys are known to be late getting back from getting their hair permed

I am all for it. Too many screw around intentionally after the burnout.

I like it, I hate it when people jack around and take too long to stage or start a burnout.

We have a guy at keystone that races a door car and dragster. He does his burn out and backs up to the starter booth for about 30 seconds. He wouldn’t like this.

Now they will need to get rid of the 20 nut hangers that stand behind their Heroes car an celebrate. Nobody can burnout until every one of those idiots is off the track. In the meantime the shot clock is running. Yea, that's not going to work. [Rant off]

Any of you guys that are as old as me remember when dry hops was a thing. There was always "That Guy" that took for ever to do about 5 dry hops. He'd even back up to do more. Well one time he backed up and didn't take the slack out of his drivetrain before he side stepped the clutch and totally obliterated his rear end. Most of the pinion gear almost hit the car behind him which happened to be me.

Motion used to have a clock on the tree 45 years ago. It started when one car staged. (no courtesy staging back then) Once staged the other car had 20 seconds to prestage or the tree started.

I got to thinking a little bit about this, as long as the starters don't allow another racer to start to stage with another car on the track we should be okay

I think its an idea worth trying.

If used at a NHRA national events perhaps they could support larger car counts at some tracks.

Here is a big time waste 1/8 mile race, car goes red and idles down the whole track going to the last turn off.. Anyone ever see this happen??

Yes and it was dumb.
Doug

I saw a NHRA stocker doing a burn out (back in the mid 1970s I think, at the Winter Nationals) before they stop allowing the burn outs to start until the racers in front of them were racing down the track rear end another racer waiting to stage in front of him.
That rule was made and implemented before the next Gatornationals race in FL

Bingo! this is critical - and knowing how a tracks insurance is written - it is the only way a track can do this! They can stage a car(s) but the tree can begin to come down until the track is clear of all equipment and cars!

Its as if they are trying to tick you off. Yeah, I've seen it.

Yep it's [censored]. Just like a 13 second car f'n around staging like they have a top fuel car. I like the idea of the shot clock as long as it's safe for everyone.

Tim McCamis has an interesting video about starting line procedures that is pretty amusing
Gus

https://www.bing.com/videos/rivervi...A5975C3910518C8771B0A5975C&FORM=VIRE

He is exactly right.

I use to see some street racers from L.A.. come out to L.A.C.R., AKA Palmdale, drag strip and try to act like they were "professional drag racers" with a crew of way too many trying to be seen at and on the "track"
What a cluster fricking show

That's like the time the kids at work wanted to go to YelloBelly. Its a dirty little no rules 1/8 mile track in DFW. Dirty. Staging lane workers wear body armor and holstered guns.
I had to roll the window down and tell the spectators to step back so I could see the tree to stage.

My car runs 7.70s @ 94 in the 1/8. Left my helmet at home. Gate worker told me it was ok. I didn't really need it.
It was a comparatively good evening there. Nobody got shot that night.