sumpin' i learned yesterday (rt question)
 

I learned I hate LED bulbs in the tree.....

but somewhere between the last yeller and green I need to leave, not on the last yellow or as it turns green....I'm going red by a LOT...taller frt tires? 24" on there now...
more pressure in the rears? (8.5 X 26 slicks)? other ideas?

not running stock (yet) running a stickshift series this year but maybe you guys can give me some direction...

Re: sumpin' i learned yesterday (rt question)
 

Change the ratio of the clutch linkage for more travel at the pedal.

Re: sumpin' i learned yesterday (rt question)
 

Put on the tallest tires that will fit first. The longer rollout will help ET's as well as slow RT's a bit. Then adjust the clutch linkage like Mark described.

Re: sumpin' i learned yesterday (rt question)
 

I have to use 28" tires, I can't imagine getting a green light with 24". What kind of car is this that you can use 24" tires?

Re: sumpin' i learned yesterday (rt question)
 

67 American...
I don't think I can get 28" in the frt, probably 26's

I've got the freeplay completely out, helped the shifting a lot ,was having issues (stone stock used st-10 3.42 1st gear)

measured 'em again today 24.5"....
would have to trim the fenders for much taller...or raise the ride height

Re: sumpin' i learned yesterday (rt question)
 

Stock tires on my Firebird were 25.7", so I started with 26". I didn't notice it going any faster after the 28"s, just more green lights. After hearing how taller fronts show faster on time slips I decided to A-B-A test that. (I wear my junk out testing) I borrowed a set of 26" fronts. Back-to-back-to-back testing showed about nothing. I understand the therory, but calling it one hundredth of a second difference on my car (which repeats very well) would be a stretch.

Re: sumpin' i learned yesterday (rt question)
 

I agree with Mark's comment, clutch travel adjustment is the stick version of a delay box. A couple of turns seems to be about .01 on my car. Your leg obviously doesn't move nearly as fast as a finger so it makes for big changes. Definitely have to make adjustments from altitude to sea level tracks.

Also played around with tire pressure but it didn't seem to make any noticable difference in RT. I was curious so did some measuring in the shop, changed from 40 PSI all the way down to 25 and didn't measure any noticable squish in the tire that made for more rollout. Makes me wonder if this is just one of those ideas that is more mental than real when it comes to RT's.

Jim Caughlin
SS 6019

Re: sumpin' i learned yesterday (rt question)
 

Jim, I have played with front tire pressure and couldn't tell much either. Blamed that on myself not repeating well. Rear tire pressure has more effect as far as I can tell.

Re: sumpin' i learned yesterday (rt question)
 

The more air gap you have the slower your reaction times will be. When I tried a blinder it stopped the red lights.

Re: sumpin' i learned yesterday (rt question)
 

Does a blinder work well at night? Bandimere`s events often finish in the dark.

Re: sumpin' i learned yesterday (rt question)
 

I never, never watch the other guys lights so I really don't know if one would help at night, that and I seldom make it past 1st round;)
I WAS gonna stop and say hi Saturday but my friggen leg was raising hell....

Re: sumpin' i learned yesterday (rt question)
 

Tom,

I think you are misunderstanding what a blinder is. It's function is to block off the two upper yellow bulbs effectively making a .500 second pro tree. It does not cover the opposing lane bulbs. The idea is to make red lighting less likely because you can't anticipate the tree. Assuming you get the mechanical reaction time portion of your car under control, you shouldn't be able to red light. The drawback that Lane is pointing out is that at night, you get a major glare off of the upper lights which defeats the function of the blinder. The two ideas that some people use in this case of night racing is either yellow lense 'shooting' glasses and/or installing a yellow light to backlight the blinder effectively making a constant glare. Most people just accept that blinders don't work at night and revert back to using the full tree. If you watch the results on Drag Race Central, you can pretty much figure out if it's a night race round as there are usually an inordinate amount of bad lights. If anyone has any better ideas about how to utilize a blinder at night, I'm open to ideas.

Jim Caughlin
SS 6019

Re: sumpin' i learned yesterday (rt question)
 

ummm, yeah, I got that BUT I watch the last yellow on my side only and still redlight.
wonder if they'd let me do a .4 pro tree.....some other guys were wondering that,too but me being the new guy....

Re: sumpin' i learned yesterday (rt question)
 

Where the blinder would help in this situation is it would eliminate anticipating the third amber,hence the .500 pro tree. My girlfriend runs in the stick shift class too so I`ll be at all of the races this year with her,I`ll come find you Tom.

Re: sumpin' i learned yesterday (rt question)
 

I have a heck of a time trying to use my blinder in the dark. I may as well go home when it gets dark.

Re: sumpin' i learned yesterday (rt question)
 

Let some air out of the front tires. The tires will "squat" a little and show a larger profile to the beams, allowing you to leave on the last yellow. You may have to experiment to get the right pressure/tire profile.

Re: sumpin' i learned yesterday (rt question)
 

If there are any rubber bump stops in the front suspension you can trim them down a little at a time until you get the lights you are looking for....this increases the front end travel which leaves the tires in the beams longer.....

D L Rambo.....Stk 1300

Re: sumpin' i learned yesterday (rt question)
 

Dark Glasses(even at night,then I thro them up on the dash)