Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Explaining the tree
FULL TREE: Used in Competition, Stock, and Super Stock, for which a handicap starting system is used to equalize competition. The three amber bulbs on the Christmas Tree flash consecutively five-tenths of a second apart, followed five-tenths later by the green starting light. A perfect reaction time on a full Tree is .000.
PRE-STAGE INDICATOR LIGHTS: Yellow bulbs warn drivers that they are approaching the startling line and the �staged� position.
STAGE INDICATOR LIGHTS: Signal drivers that they are on the starting line ready for a run. These yellow bulbs come on when the front wheels of a race car interrupt the beam from a light source to the photo cells. These same photo cells start the timing equipment.
THREE-AMBER STARTING SYSTEM: All three amber floodlights in a driver�s lane flash simultaneously before the green light comes on. This is called a �Pro start� system. Racers running in handicap categories get a countdown of one amber light at a time until the green light comes on. The Pro start system runs with a .4-second difference between amber and green lights, while the handicap system runs with a .5-second difference between bulbs.
GREEN LIGHT: This is the one that makes it happen. Once the green light is flashed, the driver in that lane is free to make a run. Any time a green light is shown in a driver�s lane it indicates that a fair start was accomplished.
RED LIGHT: When a car leaves the starting line before the green light comes on, or, in some cases, is staged too deeply into the staging beams, the red light will flash in that lane. It indicates the driver in that lane has been disqualified. During competition, only one red light will illuminate, thus eliminating only the first offender.
PRE-STAGE INDICATOR LIGHTS: Yellow bulbs warn drivers that they are approaching the startling line and the �staged� position.
STAGE INDICATOR LIGHTS: Signal drivers that they are on the starting line ready for a run. These yellow bulbs come on when the front wheels of a race car interrupt the beam from a light source to the photo cells. These same photo cells start the timing equipment.
THREE-AMBER STARTING SYSTEM: All three amber floodlights in a driver�s lane flash simultaneously before the green light comes on. This is called a �Pro start� system. Racers running in handicap categories get a countdown of one amber light at a time until the green light comes on. The Pro start system runs with a .4-second difference between amber and green lights, while the handicap system runs with a .5-second difference between bulbs.
GREEN LIGHT: This is the one that makes it happen. Once the green light is flashed, the driver in that lane is free to make a run. Any time a green light is shown in a driver�s lane it indicates that a fair start was accomplished.
RED LIGHT: When a car leaves the starting line before the green light comes on, or, in some cases, is staged too deeply into the staging beams, the red light will flash in that lane. It indicates the driver in that lane has been disqualified. During competition, only one red light will illuminate, thus eliminating only the first offender.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
My Demonstration Plan
For my demonstration I plan on bringing my 1975 camaro, which is my race car, my 1980 camaro, which is my street car, and my sportbike to the parking lot to show the class. I will take them through the safety devices and explain what the purpose of them is. I will show them what makes the car different form a regular street car, like the tires and exhaust. I will also have a slideshow with pictures of different drag racing cars and information about them. I will have to trailer the 1975 camaro here because it is not street legal, but the 1980 camaro and the bike I will drive here. I will start the cars and bike to let the class hear how loud they are, and let them sit in the ’75. I don’t believe I can drive any of them as a demonstration because of the schools rules and what not. It would be really cool to do a burnout to show how to warm up your tires before a race. I will just have to describe how to do a burnout in my slideshow; I will put pictures of cars doing them and things like that.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Speed Limits
What do you think about the speed limits on the interstate and local highways? Should they be raised, lowered, eliminated?
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
How much torque do you need to do a wheelie?
There is more to doing a wheelie then just torque. A lot of it depends on weight, the more weight you have in the back and the less you have in the rear would be ideal. Horsepower also is a big factor of doing a wheelie. It is suggested that you have at least 650 horsepower and 650 torque to do a wheelie in an automatic, and about 400 horsepower and torque to do it in a manual.
How fast is a car that has 175hp and weighs 2600lbs?
To determine the 1/4 mile time I would need to know more then just the horsepower and weight of a vehicle. Even with more information it still is not accurate because I do not know how the driver can drive. There is only so much an equation can tell you.
What’s E/T?
E/T stands for elapsed time. This is the time it takes a vehicle to travel for the starting line to the finish line.
What is a burnout?
A burnout is the process of spinning the wheels to create smoke. This is usually done to impress someone. Possibly some cute girls near by or some buddies of yours. Burnouts are fun but costly, they "burn off" much of your tire making them last not as long. They are also illegal and can get you the wrong kind of attention from the pig down the street. He does not find it impressive and will receive an exhibition award.
What is the color of timing lights?
The tree is made up of three major parts. At the top of the tree, you see two sets of double yellow bulbs for each side of the tree (each lane). The top set is called the Pre-Stage bulbs. This is an indicator for the driver that he is approaching (and near) the starting line. The second set is called the Stage bulbs. They indicate that the driver is actually on the starting line, and presumably ready to race. The next section is the three amber starting signals. In most bracket racing classes and Sportsman classes, these bulbs will light in sequence, a half-second apart. This is called a Full Tree. Some classes, however, use a Pro Tree. A Pro Tree will light all three ambers simultaneously, with a four-tenths of a second delay between them and the green light. The last two lights then, of course, are the green and red lights. The green will come on after the amber bulbs if the driver has not left the starting line too soon. Leaving the line before the green light will result in the dreaded red light... a foul start.
What is a burnout box?
A burnout box is located right before the starting line. This is the location where you are instructed to do a burnout to warm up your tires. It is not required that you do a burnout but it is suggested. The burnout box is sprayed with water so it is wet and slippery making it easier to do a burnout.
What kinds of tires are good?
Tires that are good for drag racing are slicks. However slicks are not allowed in some classes, in these classes DOT approved tires are required. Slicks are best because there is more rubber contact to the track, this gives you more traction so you do not spin out, and you do not want to spin out because that is slower.
What is the time slip booth?
The times slip booth should be somewhere along the return road. This is where your run has been recorded and printed out. This is where you collect your time
How fast have you gone on your bike?
The fastest I have ever gone on my bike I cannot be one hundred percent positive because at high speeds the speedometer is not very accurate. I have seen the speedometer read 172mph before but I am probably only going close to 150mph.
Do you want to race?
Yes I really enjoy racing, it gives me an adrenaline rush and that’s what I seek in life. Although I do not enjoy the cost that go with it, racing is not cheap at all. Cars break down when they are driven to there highest capability.
What is a good place to race?
A good place to race locally legally is Thunder Valley. It is pretty much the only place. If doing it legally is not a concern of yours I would suggest doing it on any country road that has low traffic and you know well.
Why do you do burnouts?
The reasoning for doing a burnout before you race is to warm up your tires so you get traction off the starting line. Another reason for doing a burnout is to get rid of any gravel or rocks that maybe stuck to your tires from the pit.
Does color of car matter?
I do not believe the color of your vehicle has anything to do with the speed of it.
Can you race backward?
No, you can not race backward. The track is very strick on where you can drive, you are can not race backward, go into the other lane, or come back on the lane.
Do you race for pinks?
No I do not race for pinks. I could not afford to lose my car. There is a show called Pinks on Speed and they race for pinks on there, it is a very good show and i would suggest watching it sometime.
There is more to doing a wheelie then just torque. A lot of it depends on weight, the more weight you have in the back and the less you have in the rear would be ideal. Horsepower also is a big factor of doing a wheelie. It is suggested that you have at least 650 horsepower and 650 torque to do a wheelie in an automatic, and about 400 horsepower and torque to do it in a manual.
How fast is a car that has 175hp and weighs 2600lbs?
To determine the 1/4 mile time I would need to know more then just the horsepower and weight of a vehicle. Even with more information it still is not accurate because I do not know how the driver can drive. There is only so much an equation can tell you.
What’s E/T?
E/T stands for elapsed time. This is the time it takes a vehicle to travel for the starting line to the finish line.
What is a burnout?
A burnout is the process of spinning the wheels to create smoke. This is usually done to impress someone. Possibly some cute girls near by or some buddies of yours. Burnouts are fun but costly, they "burn off" much of your tire making them last not as long. They are also illegal and can get you the wrong kind of attention from the pig down the street. He does not find it impressive and will receive an exhibition award.
What is the color of timing lights?
The tree is made up of three major parts. At the top of the tree, you see two sets of double yellow bulbs for each side of the tree (each lane). The top set is called the Pre-Stage bulbs. This is an indicator for the driver that he is approaching (and near) the starting line. The second set is called the Stage bulbs. They indicate that the driver is actually on the starting line, and presumably ready to race. The next section is the three amber starting signals. In most bracket racing classes and Sportsman classes, these bulbs will light in sequence, a half-second apart. This is called a Full Tree. Some classes, however, use a Pro Tree. A Pro Tree will light all three ambers simultaneously, with a four-tenths of a second delay between them and the green light. The last two lights then, of course, are the green and red lights. The green will come on after the amber bulbs if the driver has not left the starting line too soon. Leaving the line before the green light will result in the dreaded red light... a foul start.
What is a burnout box?
A burnout box is located right before the starting line. This is the location where you are instructed to do a burnout to warm up your tires. It is not required that you do a burnout but it is suggested. The burnout box is sprayed with water so it is wet and slippery making it easier to do a burnout.
What kinds of tires are good?
Tires that are good for drag racing are slicks. However slicks are not allowed in some classes, in these classes DOT approved tires are required. Slicks are best because there is more rubber contact to the track, this gives you more traction so you do not spin out, and you do not want to spin out because that is slower.
What is the time slip booth?
The times slip booth should be somewhere along the return road. This is where your run has been recorded and printed out. This is where you collect your time
How fast have you gone on your bike?
The fastest I have ever gone on my bike I cannot be one hundred percent positive because at high speeds the speedometer is not very accurate. I have seen the speedometer read 172mph before but I am probably only going close to 150mph.
Do you want to race?
Yes I really enjoy racing, it gives me an adrenaline rush and that’s what I seek in life. Although I do not enjoy the cost that go with it, racing is not cheap at all. Cars break down when they are driven to there highest capability.
What is a good place to race?
A good place to race locally legally is Thunder Valley. It is pretty much the only place. If doing it legally is not a concern of yours I would suggest doing it on any country road that has low traffic and you know well.
Why do you do burnouts?
The reasoning for doing a burnout before you race is to warm up your tires so you get traction off the starting line. Another reason for doing a burnout is to get rid of any gravel or rocks that maybe stuck to your tires from the pit.
Does color of car matter?
I do not believe the color of your vehicle has anything to do with the speed of it.
Can you race backward?
No, you can not race backward. The track is very strick on where you can drive, you are can not race backward, go into the other lane, or come back on the lane.
Do you race for pinks?
No I do not race for pinks. I could not afford to lose my car. There is a show called Pinks on Speed and they race for pinks on there, it is a very good show and i would suggest watching it sometime.
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