(Just a few thoughts, for what it's worth.) It's worth a bunch. Thanks Mavman. Anybody that is trying to go some rounds this information is spot on. I too footbrake and the first place I look is my rear shocks, one bump up on the compression does wonders for my car. As far as the tree goes i "HAVE TO SEE the LIGHT", (3rd amber) or it's go home RED.
I use the shocks too. Problem I run into occasionally is that making the car "faster" by small adjustments sometimes also affects my own personal sweet spot on the tree. R/T-in bracket racing especially-is more important than going a hundredth or two . Shoe polish can fix the dial-in but not much you can do to correct for sleeping at the tree-which is why I personally find it easier to change something on the car rather than trying to change my own personal reaction. I'm a hotrodder so if I think I can improve the car's ET or MPH, it eats at me if I am not taking advantage. But...at the same time....after you do this footbrake bracket racing for a few years, you get used to the fact that someone's always gonna be faster and chasing you down. But there's things you can do with that too; but I won't get into it for fear of over-complicating bracket racing for the beginners and novices. Throw a number on it, cut a light and run that number and you've got yourself a win 95% of the time. That is when it's fun. It's not fun 3% of the time and then 2% of the time can get a good "questioning" from your opponent.... And the beauty of bracket racing is that you can run an 18 second ET at 40 mph and you can still win. I've done it. The faster cars hate it too. Try winning with a slow car in most heads up classes...unless it's a Honda only class.
[/QUOTE].........And the beauty of bracket racing is that you can run an 18 second ET at 40 mph and you can still win. I've done it. The faster cars hate it too. Try winning with a slow car in most heads up classes...unless it's a Honda only class. [/QUOTE] So true. To the faster car, you look as if you are further down the track than you really are when he gets his light. This may cause him to foul or break out in an attempt to run you down.
Yeah used to be a lady that raced a full size '80s something Olds with a Buick V6... She was deadly, ran like 20.5 ET.. Then her husband built/bought her a '60s Barracuda that ran in the 13s, I dunno if she ever won with that...
[QUOTE="rotorr22] To the faster car, you look as if you are further down the track than you really are when he gets his light. This may cause him to foul or break out in an attempt to run you down.[/QUOTE] True, but keep in mind that seasoned bracket racers aren't usually bothered by a large spot; so don't run out there with a 20.00 dial and expect a win. A seasoned opponent will know how to play that game too. He'll know when to dump on you or when to give you a push. Bad part is, since many younger folks could care less about bracket racing, the old guys-who've been doing this for 20-50 years, are likely competition. If you're smart, you'll watch and learn from them.... One of the hardest bracket races I've run in were against slower cars but they had high MPH for their ET. Makes it real hard to judge the stripe . Frustrating when you feed 'em a few feet just to let them take the win. I ran against a Chevy II at one point that dialed 6.40 IIRC abut at 118 mph. We both run right around 118 mph at the time. Thought I had 'em. WRONG! Lot of little things that can mean the difference between a W and a hung head with second guessing.
One problem we run into at Fontana drag strip is the wind. It can come from all directions and be strong enough to force the racing from 1/4 mile to 1/8 mile. I've been in the staging lanes and watch the flags go from a good tailwind to no wind. Make it interesting.
Yeah it was like that here yesterday. One minute no wind. Next minute, tail wind. Then a few seconds later, a head wind. Certainly makes things interesting for sure! But I managed to runner up! In the first round!
I don't think there are vary many racers that haven't experienced the Runner up in the First round! What I have found is some Sundays I just feel it and cutting a light is Automatic, then there are Weekends that I just feel like I am half a bulb behind.
