Re: Rd #3 Stock @ Atlanta
 

I had brought this incident on my Facebook page yesterday. I had asked if the computer, software, etc. was in place to prevent an over-the-Index dial-in. Brian Lohnes, NHRA announcer, wrote the following:

"So here's the deal as I was standing about 2ft from the computer operator in the tower when this happened.

Yes, the computer alerts the operator with a beeping noise when things aren't "right"

The computer also uses that same beeping noise to alert the operator to set the next pair at the starting line.

The pair before Jim's run had some sort of a hangup or delay so Jim and his opponent were behind the starting line. The computer was beeping, telling the operator to set the next pair. It was likely ALSO beeping because of the 12 second dial in.

She set the pair and the beeping stopped.

I was not on the mic at the time but in the room. Ultimately I'm disappointed in myself that my brain did not trigger in time to stop it from happening.

So the answer is yes there are guards in place and yes there's human error at play here and yes, it should have been caught and stopped."

Re: Rd #3 Stock @ Atlanta
 

Seems like the beeping would continue as the dial over index was still in system. IDK

Re: Rd #3 Stock @ Atlanta
 

We've had issues several times, trying to run a S/SS race, using computers and operators that are set up for straight bracket, or ET racing.
This does not pertain to NHRA National Events, however.
This "over the index dial" situation should have been fixed by now...in my opinion.

Re: Rd #3 Stock @ Atlanta
 

Who writes all the rules and runs the show? Didn't Jimmy Defrank red light against Mike Cotton several years ago and they had a re-run because they claimed that Jimmy's car didn't move? So what's the difference? Malfunction or human error or who you know? This is 'sportsman racing' & fair is fair. The starter should have recognized the problem & should have had it corrected, isn't that part of his job?

Re: Rd #3 Stock @ Atlanta
 

Its at least the second time this has happened this year! So, as a racer, I will never put my faith in an NHRA official to have my dial in correct! I will ALWAYS check it before I stage! ALWAYS!!!

Re: Rd #3 Stock @ Atlanta
 

Why is it so hard to look up at the scoreboards before you stage your car to check your dial? Take responsibility for yourself end of story. Typical liberal America now, blame somebody else because you did not check the board to make sure it was correct yourself.

Re: Rd #3 Stock @ Atlanta
 

I don't see Jim on here blaming anybody.

Re: Rd #3 Stock @ Atlanta
 

Jim is not complaining & neither am I, just making a point. NHRA doesn't care. What if Jim had won the that race?

Re: Rd #3 Stock @ Atlanta
 

Does anybody remember what happened at the Fall Charlotte race last year?

First Round, Stock
L: Jeff Warren Dial 10.38
R: John Leach Dial 10.52

The tree dropped as it should, but when they got to the finish line, the system had this on the screen.

L: John Leach, Dial 11.40
R: Jeff Warren, Dial 10.52

It had swapped the lanes info as well as switched a dial-in on the left lane to read index. They did re-run this pair. Weird occurrence, until the same thing happened at a bracket race near me a couple months prior to this.

Compulink will always be susceptible to glitches, so even if the scoreboards read correctly, the system may throw you a curveball. Everyone pay attention to the boards and the timeslip.

This round is still on All Access on the Fall Charlotte coverage, under Saturday, around the 46-47 minute mark.

Re: Rd #3 Stock @ Atlanta
 

Any racer out there who has had something go array with the dial in, has always checked their dial in before they have staged after that incident. If they haven't had it happen to them yet, it will. Then they will check the dial in after that.

Like it has been said on here before, "it is the drivers responsibility".Personally, I can't believe Jim let this happen for as long as he has been racing. Then, maybe, he has never had a dial in problem before. If that is the case, he won't do it again.

As a side note, if you dial in improperly, your fault, no rerun and you are DQ'd, no matter what the run resulted in. Just the way it is. Lets not make this more complicated.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA dialed and ready to go.