Leaving before Tree question

[voltdr]

This is from the 2019 NHRA Rulebook.

SINGLE RUNS
In situations where a driver is making a single run, he or she
is considered the winner once he or she stages and receives
the start signal or is declared the winner by the official starter.
If a competitor crosses the boundary line on a single run, the
elapsed time is voided for lane-choice determination

Dan

[BKSG1198]

I spoke to a few racers this weekend who told me that once the person stages and as long as no one is in the other lane then they can break the beam even if the tree never activated. It’s called the John force rule as I guess this happened to him previously. Obviously, it’s still a very very gray area with some tracks and racers. I know it happened this weekend at Atco in TAFC. A driver got a bye after his opponent broke on the burnout, he took the tree and hit the 330 cone, even his team thought they got DQed and were bummed till they were told because nobody was I. The other lane they were clear and onto the next round.

[Rich Biebel]

I wanted to add....

Earlier it was said that if you LBTA you were in violation of going down track when the starter did not clear you to. That would get you DQ'ed possibly..

Well once you are given the signal to do a burnout and stage the only way the starter is going to stop you from continuing is to hit the flashing reds on the tree and then walk out to motion you to hold or back up.....

You're not in violation of anything if you were cleared to burnout and stage.....and not signaled in some way to NOT attempt to take the tree....

[Jeff Stout]

Originally Posted by Rich Biebel

I wanted to add....

Earlier it was said that if you LBTA you were in violation of going down track when the starter did not clear you to. That would get you DQ'ed possibly..

Well once you are given the signal to do a burnout and stage the only way the starter is going to stop you from continuing is to hit the flashing reds on the tree and then walk out to motion you to hold or back up.....

You're not in violation of anything if you were cleared to burnout and stage.....and not signaled in some way to NOT attempt to take the tree....

I would have to disagree. If I have a car that is slow getting off track or a employee given the ok by the starter to go out a pick up a piece of paper off track or score boards are not up to date with the new dial ins I dont feel as a starter I need to flash reds as I would be doing that all day long. The track is not ready until starter flips the switch and auto start takes over. I think keeping the event flowing it is ok to start your burnout but doesn't give you the ok to race down an unsafe track. Just my opinion and I let the racers know before event what gets you DQed. Also off topic but if racers made tire smoke at the finish line they were done.

[Rich Biebel]

Tire smoke gets a warning generally....once. Unless you lost control of your car.

The dial ins are assumed correct if you stage, you as the racer accepted what's on your board.

Starter is usually back a little ways from starting line and almost always hits the flashing reds rather than just try to get drivers attention. The reds will alert them there is a problem.

All this is up to the Starter so if you are doing that job, its your call....along with possibly the race or division director....

[Lenny5160]

Originally Posted by voltdr

This is from the 2019 NHRA Rulebook.

SINGLE RUNS
In situations where a driver is making a single run, he or she
is considered the winner once he or she stages and receives
the start signal or is declared the winner by the official starter.
If a competitor crosses the boundary line on a single run, the
elapsed time is voided for lane-choice determination.

I don't know that this rule clears anything up. I assume the start signal is one (or more) of the amber lights flashing on the tree, but the 'or' muddies it all up. It basically is just the starter's call but there is no basis given for how the starter would decide that.

[voltdr]

Originally Posted by Lenny5160

I don't know that this rule clears anything up. I assume the start signal is one (or more) of the amber lights flashing on the tree, but the 'or' muddies it all up. It basically is just the starter's call but there is no basis given for how the starter would decide that.

This was for Wild Wild West comment about being DQ'd for crossing the center line boundry.
Dan

BTW, It was nice talking with you in Topeka.

[Lenny5160]

Originally Posted by voltdr

BTW, It was nice talking with you in Topeka.

Nice meeting you too, Dan!