went to my first race since quitting work last week. not too bad. i went out the 2nd round, but i won the run for the money in the sportsmen class. $160 for a $10 entry.
Nice job Don. You should travel to CA for some racing now that your retired. Also, what kind of reaction times do you typically get? How close do you generally come to your dial in? Thanks.
erick, on the run for the money i dialed 12.09 and ran 12.095 with a .035 rt. a lot of it depends on how fast the weather is changing. stayed pretty consistent today.
Don, "$160 for a $10 entry" ...if you only have $150 in the car, then you are "even". i am not a racer but that sounds like your "winnings" are supporting your hobby...... now if you can cut some of the cost of the car then you will be "making" money...frank...
frank, i am making money. my wife says the car is hers so i make her pay for all the parts and i keep the winnings. rick, c,mon over to az. and we'll talk about the interest rates. i'm starting to understand why my wife said if i was going to be a professional bracket racer, that i'd better go on a diet. cost to race $45 run for the money $10 fuel for race car $30 diesel to get to the track $50 mc donalds after (high class) $15 cost to take wife to stuart andersons for a steak dinner $60 total $210 fun value.....$$$priceless$$$ btw---i pay more than that for 1 tire.
i wish i could be that consistent all the time too. the weather didn't change that much that day. i plan to do a lot more of the test and tune this year, especially at sir. they just announced the first race for 2006 at firebird. it will be jan 14th. i'll be in virginia at that time. guess i'll start 1 race short there this year. my new years prediction is that we get to meet this year.
Well no wonder you are the champ! That's outstanding. Are you always that consistent on your dial in and reaction time? What's your average RT?
sorry to say but i'm pretty inconsistent. been working hard on it lately. on the 5 runs i made that day my rt's were .031, .040, .035, .080, and a .041. i'm happy with anything under an .050. i figure that under .050 will win you a lot of races. i hate red lights. instant loss. i'd rather be late than red. at least your still in the race till the other end and you can try to push the other guy out.
Thanks for the info Don, those are all good RT times IMO. I agree though, try to push it much past 0.050 and your asking for a red light. I think consistent .050 lights with consistent times will win more races in the long run. Sorry for all the questions, I'm just trying to see what it takes to be good at bracket racing. I'm trying to decide if I'm up for the bracket racing thing or whether I just want to race and go fast for fun. Seems like people are much better at it than when I used to race back in high school (in the late 80's).
the problem with wanting to go fast is the $$$$ it takes. someone is always willing to spend the money to go faster, so you've gotta keep up. i like the idea that anyone has a chance in brackets. you keep on working to make the car and the driver consistent. i know others feel differently but if i have to put out a lot of money it ceases to be fun. i guess i go to the track for the social aspect of racing. win or lose, being at the track is fun for me. p.s. guess i'm cheap cause i still fell i spend a lot just going to the track.
i am in complete agreement with you don.... once you start spending money just to stay competitvie, the racing just loses the enjoyment.. every time i go to the track i am as giddy as a school boy. i love the thrill of the instant before the light and i am screaming in delight as my car races down the track and i am yelling,.. "FASTER" ............lol i think i would thoroughly enjoy bracket racing and team racing. it would be fun. the only problem, i dont want to have to drive all the way to PHX and race. unless i had a trailer. but i dont. so SIR is my home track. correct me if i am wrong.. but in bracket racing, it doesnt matter how fast you go, as long as you are closer to your dial in than the next guy.. right? for instance lane #1 dials a 12.4 and runs a 12.49 and the #2 lane dials a 13.4 and runs a 13.43, then lane #2 wins.. if though he was slower.. right?
