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- - Heads up (https://classracer.com/classforum/showthread.php?t=72746)

If you are faced with a heads up race, what are some things you can do to be a little faster, and realistically how much faster could you get? I'm pretty new to this and am looking for a little insight. Thank you.

Let's look at factual results as we just had a heads up final in Vegas.
Jerome was dialing low 11 teens, but went 10.98 on a bye in the semi,s.
Maybe setting up for the final, maybe setting his opponent up for the final.
Ryan was dialing high 11.0's, and ran 11.07 on a quarter final bye.
Jerome ran 10.81 in the final, or 17 better than his fastest, Ryan ran
10.85 or 22 better than his fastest. Average of the two is 19.5.
So worth it? Apparently. J.R.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmoneyfoot (Post 586627)

It all depends on whether you run your car All Out (balls to the wall ) OR sandbag ( holding back )......I have seen guys pick up 5 tenths ......

It's not uncommon to see a car pick up 3 tenths in the finals of class eliminations.. Depending, of course, who he ran into in previous rounds.

So everyone holds back a little?

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmoneyfoot (Post 586637)

So everyone holds back a little?

Its a bracket race all day with exception of heads up. Nearly every bracket racer holds. Fire suit on.

more air in front tires, drain some oil, ice the intake, cool the fuel, remove air filter if using one, shallow stage,remove any extra weight, some or all might apply depending on circumstances

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmoneyfoot (Post 586637)

So everyone holds back a little?

When you get close to 1.00 under runs, you've got to hold back some. Don't want to hit that trigger more than once per half season.

* Normally shift at a lower RPM, then shift at the optimum RPM during heads-up race.

* Swap out your normal oil for a lower viscosity. i.e.: normal 10w-30 conventional oil, heads-up 5w-20 or less special conventional or synthetic.(Consult your engine builder.)

* Rear end can usually have a quart or a bit more drained below normal capacity.

* Advance/optimize timing if running conservative.

* Make sure your jetting is optimized without a filter if removing it. Otherwise, removing the filter may lean out the carb if the filter has any restriction

* Add air to rear tires, IF it will hook with a smaller contact patch.

* If cutting weight close to minimum, remember to weigh EXACTLY what you take out and include the weight of any oil drained. Keep a little safety margin.

* Adding air to front tires will help minimize rolling resistance too, but it can also reduce rollout and quicken RTs. (Don't redlight.)

* Switching from same size bias ply slicks to radial slicks usually helps pick up ET as well as RT. But finish line RPMs will be a bit higher because radials don't grow like bias ply. (As long as your engine can handle it.)

Just remember that you have to be able to return to a predictable dial-in afterwards for the next run if you win the heads-up race.

* Make sure your jetting is optimized without a filter if removing it. Otherwise, removing the filter may lean out the carb if the filter has any restriction

^^^ This. We had a street car event and in the final round we needed a little bit more as it was heads up. I said take the air filter off and then proceed to run .1 slower in ET. and lost the race. Then realized car went lean with filter off. Ooops