Heads up

jmoneyfoot · 04-10-2019, 12:59 PM

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.

J.R. Haddad · 04-10-2019, 01:47 PM

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.

MR DERBY CITY · 04-10-2019, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmoneyfoot

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.

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 ......

Jim Bailey · 04-10-2019, 03:11 PM

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.

jmoneyfoot · 04-10-2019, 03:35 PM

So everyone holds back a little?

Jeff Stout · 04-10-2019, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmoneyfoot

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.

Tim H · 04-10-2019, 04:00 PM

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

Mark Yacavone · 04-10-2019, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmoneyfoot

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.

Myron Piatek · 04-10-2019, 05:08 PM

* 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.

Ed Wright · 04-10-2019, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmoneyfoot

So everyone holds back a little?

If your fast enough to hurt your AHFS average, you need to slow it down. My car is fuel injected. I use a FAST XFI ECM (computer). They will hold more than one "tune up". They sell a selector switch. I just use a toggle switch. Race tune, and a Slow Down tune. I just flip a switch while the car is shut down. I found adding weight to slow it down effected my lights. Pull the weight for a heads up, and problems with red lights. Less timing & leaner is how I slow mine. Same lights. Bias to Radial tires effect my lights too. I stay on radials. Same lights. I had a restrictor plate, but guess I was ratted out. One of our tech guys found it in the staging lanes, told me he "Didn't ever want to see it again!" I considered simply leaving it out until after going through tech. He checked for it again between rounds in the staging lanes. LOL

04-10-2019, 12:59 PM	#1
jmoneyfoot Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: waconia mn Posts: 92 Likes: 21 Liked 9 Times in 5 Posts	Heads up 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.

04-10-2019, 01:47 PM	#2
J.R. Haddad Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 780 Likes: 920 Liked 1,447 Times in 306 Posts	Re: Heads up 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.

04-10-2019, 03:11 PM	#4
Jim Bailey Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 673 Likes: 15 Liked 547 Times in 93 Posts	Re: Heads up 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.

04-10-2019, 03:35 PM	#5
jmoneyfoot Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: waconia mn Posts: 92 Likes: 21 Liked 9 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Heads up So everyone holds back a little?

04-10-2019, 04:00 PM	#7
Tim H VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,039 Likes: 1,062 Liked 481 Times in 158 Posts	Re: Heads up 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

04-10-2019, 05:08 PM	#9
Myron Piatek VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 1,542 Likes: 34 Liked 138 Times in 51 Posts	Re: Heads up * 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. __________________ LOCOMOTION Racing Last edited by Myron Piatek; 04-10-2019 at 05:16 PM.