Reaction Time - aka R/T

[FloMoCamaro]

Everyone knows going is faster is a good thing. But, in an official competition/race, your R/T can make or break you. I've been looking at all the time slips on the official times thread and have noticed that a l lot of folks could use some advice/practice (me included ) on how to perfect the tree. I thought it would be a great discussion to talk about different strategies on cutting that 0.001 light. There is more to just leaving on the 2nd yellow light. Do you stage shallow or deep? Do you let the other car stage first and so on.

It was my R/T that threw me out of the quarter finals at the LSX Shootout last year. I actually ran closer to my index but because the other car cut a better light, he got the win...

[KungFuHamster]

Originally Posted by FloMoCamaro

Everyone knows going is faster is a good thing. But, in an official competition/race, your R/T can make or break you. I've been looking at all the time slips on the official times thread and have noticed that a l lot of folks could use some advice/practice (me included ) on how to perfect the tree. I thought it would be a great discussion to talk about different strategies on cutting that 0.001 light. There is more to just leaving on the 2nd yellow light. Do you stage shallow or deep? Do you let the other car stage first and so on.

It was my R/T that threw me out of the quarter finals at the LSX Shootout last year. I actually ran closer to my index but because the other car cut a better light, he got the win...

if you leave on the 2nd yellow, you will lose every single time...its called Red lighting.

and r/t has no bearing on ET. but deep staging gets a better light.

[Dave Coyle]

Yes, you are true about the reaction time being the decision maker if both car run their dial-in. The car that gets off the light quicker will win. I have actually beat faster cars by cutting a near perfect light to their "not so perfect" light. (my dial-in was an 11.93 and their dial-in was an 11.73, I cut a .013 to his .786 light and I held him off for the win. I ALWAYS leave on the last yellow light, during time trials I will stage in slow and when the first stage light comes on I slowly move ahead till the second light just comes on and I hold the brake. I focus on the last yellow light and as soon as I see it start to turn yellow, I launch. I will check my reaction time when I pick up my slip and move forward a little more after I stage the last staging light until I find a safe reaction time and then I go with that the rest of the night. Yes, when I get down to the last few cars I sometimes try to cut the "perfect" light knowing that the guy/gal next to me has been nailing the light all night and I have actually "red-lighted" but you have to run as tight as you can. With practice, you will figure out how to do it.

[Padre]

Originally Posted by KungFuHamster

if you leave on the 2nd yellow, you will lose every single time...its called Red lighting.

Umm, no. By the time your call rolls through the lights, the green hits. That's how you get a perfect light. So yes, you "leave" on the 2nd yellow, preferably the millisecond it lights up. And by leave, I mean let off the brakes and hit the accel (automatic).

Padre

[tvwilkes]

It takes prctice by learning your car. Everytime you add power it changes how the car reacts. Practice, practice, practice, I leave on the last yellow because the car leaves harder than stock.

[KungFuHamster]

Originally Posted by Padre

Umm, no. By the time your call rolls through the lights, the green hits. That's how you get a perfect light. So yes, you "leave" on the 2nd yellow, preferably the millisecond it lights up. And by leave, I mean let off the brakes and hit the accel (automatic).

Padre

dude have you ever been to drag strip and actually made a pass down the track?

on a sportsman tree, where the yellow lights fall, you leave on the 3rd yellow. if you leave on the 2nd yellow you WILL redlight and redlight badly.

[nhra stocker]

Originally Posted by FloMoCamaro

Everyone knows going is faster is a good thing. But, in an official competition/race, your R/T can make or break you. I've been looking at all the time slips on the official times thread and have noticed that a l lot of folks could use some advice/practice (me included ) on how to perfect the tree. I thought it would be a great discussion to talk about different strategies on cutting that 0.001 light. There is more to just leaving on the 2nd yellow light. Do you stage shallow or deep? Do you let the other car stage first and so on.

It was my R/T that threw me out of the quarter finals at the LSX Shootout last year. I actually ran closer to my index but because the other car cut a better light, he got the win...

I drove the other car your talking about from the LSX shootout. I looked back at the time slip and you went 11.517 on a 11.50 dial to my 13.03 on a 13.00. One thing with bracket, or index racing is cutting a light on a guy allows you to dump him on the other end to make sure you dont run under your number. I had 2 tenths of a second head start because of my better reaction time. So at the end of the track I just eased off the gas enough to take the stripe first. Not a single race did I have to run it all out. I could of ran 12.8s and 12.9s all day but was able to cut the light and worry about just being in front at the end of the track.

For me it takes some time to adjust on how a car is going to leave the line. My Big block Chevelle with an auto cuts 1.40 60's so im use to shallow staging it (which also improves your E.T.) and leaving on the last yellow. Then when I jump in my Camaro its a totally different story with 2.0 60fts. Ive got to stage deep and pull the first bulb off the tree and then leave on the last yellow due to it being a stick car and slipping the clutch. The main thing is consistency! Find the spot that works for you then use things like engine rpm (stalling) and tire pressure to fine tune it.

[Padre]

Originally Posted by KungFuHamster

dude have you ever been to drag strip and actually made a pass down the track?

on a sportsman tree, where the yellow lights fall, you leave on the 3rd yellow. if you leave on the 2nd yellow you WILL redlight and redlight badly.

I wasn't thinking - reading too fast and clicking reply. Naturally, I meant 3rd. Of course, some will say you launch the millisecond the 2nd fades.

Yes, I've been down the track a few (hundred) times. I've probably got a dozen videos showing me launching on the 3rd yellow.

Padre

[Pro Stock John]

Takes practice is all. After I did it a while my best RT at the LSX Shootout a few years ago was a .008 and I lost a round because I left late like a .030 RT.

[SRT10KLLR]

Here are my reaction times from this Friday.



BTW, these were in the Silverado not the Camaro.

[FloMoCamaro]

Originally Posted by nhra stocker

I drove the other car your talking about from the LSX shootout. I looked back at the time slip and you went 11.517 on a 11.50 dial to my 13.03 on a 13.00. One thing with bracket, or index racing is cutting a light on a guy allows you to dump him on the other end to make sure you dont run under your number. I had 2 tenths of a second head start because of my better reaction time. So at the end of the track I just eased off the gas enough to take the stripe first. Not a single race did I have to run it all out. I could of ran 12.8s and 12.9s all day but was able to cut the light and worry about just being in front at the end of the track.

For me it takes some time to adjust on how a car is going to leave the line. My Big block Chevelle with an auto cuts 1.40 60's so im use to shallow staging it (which also improves your E.T.) and leaving on the last yellow. Then when I jump in my Camaro its a totally different story with 2.0 60fts. Ive got to stage deep and pull the first bulb off the tree and then leave on the last yellow due to it being a stick car and slipping the clutch. The main thing is consistency! Find the spot that works for you then use things like engine rpm (stalling) and tire pressure to fine tune it.

Whats up NHRA Stocker? Yes, your the guy I was talking about - You even went on to win the LSX Shootout in the 5th Gen Class and won the LSX Block - Congrats... Are you going again this year to defend your title? Not to sure I am going to be able to make it this time.

[nhra stocker]

Originally Posted by FloMoCamaro

Whats up NHRA Stocker? Yes, your the guy I was talking about - You even went on to win the LSX Shootout in the 5th Gen Class and won the LSX Block - Congrats... Are you going again this year to defend your title? Not to sure I am going to be able to make it this time.

Going to try and get the car out this weekend and run it. Its been a long winter! The Shootout looks to be in Indy this year so I might get over to run in it. My home quarter mile track of St. Louis is closed this year so Ive got to drive at least 4 hours to the closest track now.

[Duflar]

Originally Posted by KungFuHamster

dude have you ever been to drag strip and actually made a pass down the track?

on a sportsman tree, where the yellow lights fall, you leave on the 3rd yellow. if you leave on the 2nd yellow you WILL redlight and redlight badly.

Not necessarly, he may have a slow car.