What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

How much under the .90 standard does your car have to run off the stop to realistically be competitive racing in the super classes?
I know this is a matter opinion, and everybody probably has an opinion on this so lets hear it!

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

We have been running 2 cars in the super classes the last 10 years.

My dads Super Gas car can run 1.50 seconds under the 9.90 index and it's rather easy to dial. Easy to figure out the ratio and barely have to change numbers for the weather conditions.

My Super Street car can only run .30 under the 10.90 index and it's a pain in the rear. Still haven't figured out the right ratio and putting 25 numbers in doesn't affect it much at all, so I have to change a lot of numbers.

On the other hand, I have a friend that ran a car in Super Street that would run AT LEAST 2.00 under the 10.90 index. Although, he won a National Event in Super Street, he moved up to Super Gas and won 2 divisional races and said it was way easier to tune because he didn't have so much time in the box.

So, my suggestion is to have a car that can run under the index by at least 1.25 to 1.75 seconds.

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

I've found that unless you run .70 to 1.00 under, it's difficult to maintain a consistant ratio. My car is about 1.8 to 2.0 under and it is very dialable. ... .............Years back,when I could only run .30 to .40 under, I had a tunnel ram setup just in case the air got really bad. .........with the economey the way it is ,run as fast as you can afford. .......I've seen some very sucessful .90 cars that just barely run the number, they just have to work harder at it...........Tom

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

Don't matter, run 90 and cut a lite.

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

Well I had cars that run about 0.1 under and could adjust them with ballast but if it 's a hot day or slipery track I was S.O.L. previously I was 0.5 under and the car was reasonably dialable I 'm currently >1.00 under and shifting on time and it's deadly consistent and very dial able.
Consider this, the better your car runs on the big end the gentler it is on the first half and the less likely it is to spin the tires. I had a guy I was racing against and he was running >180 MPH and was deadly consistent even on marginal race tracks and I was dumbfounded on how he could get down a very marginal track consistently when I could not? I was fortunate enought to make a time trial with him and got to see his numbers on the time slip and discovered that in 60' and all of the incrementals up to the eight mile his car was very slow but from the eight to the finish line he was flying. and that's why he was hitting the number while I was sliping and sliding around.
So to some extent the further under the better! The car will be genteler and you will almost always have your oponent in sight.

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

I think you need to be able to at least run .50 under. You need to be able to "settle" on the stop for at least a moment to be consistent.

But there are a ton of people who will tell you that MPH at the top end will make a lot of difference with the end game. That means HP. And that usually means a lot more than .50 under when run wide open.

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

What does it take to be competitive..Simple answer cut a light and run the number, really that simple :) It really does not matter if you go 118 or 155 if you can do that you will be competitive.

I am sure that I am doing it wrong. Also I am fairly new to doing this stuff, only this past year trying to actually compete on the divisional level. My junk will run right at 3.0 seconds under all out. I was told it woudl be very hard to dial and we have not found that to eb the case. I am on the stop for a LONG time. Last time out we were at 4.98 and I go on the stop at the release of the trans brake. I need to find a way to kill it a bit more to try and gain some MPH back but for now it seems to work as we run it. I am loosing 15-16+- MPH on the stop from my all out passes. I still go 154-155 on it at 10.90...Last divisional we runner upped, so it seems to be working.

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

IMO, biggest dif is the tree, most backhalves have issues hitting the .370 s/g tree. Being fast doesnt make the car hit the tree better but it will def keep the race in front of you where I like it to be. My car also runs 3 seconds better off the stop and I can hit the tree, I just cant handle how S/G is treated in D1.

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

Don't get me started.Gary

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

ok, have to ask....is the tree really .370 for nationals and .400 for divisonals.....ive heard all kind of rumors,and im gonna run all divisionals and some national events in div 3 ....but if they run .370 at nationals i cant,my car wont leave fast enough

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

Straight from the guy who sets up the Nationals it is a .370 or less sometimes if the Pro's complain about red lights. He said it had been as low as .350 at times and it can change during the event day to day.
The Division races are all different depending on the Track and Division. I have seen it all over the place at different tracks and divisions.
I run a Don Davis roadster and cutting a light with it is no problem. You just have to see how much delay it takes for each track.
My 2 Cents

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

In D1, SG is the last in the rotation of the classes...SST, Stk, SC, SS, SG...and then mixed in is Comp, TS, TD, Alcohol cars...So anytime there is a little slip in the schedule, SG is bumped...we are def the red-headed step child of D1, at both National and Divisional events...there have been plenty of times where SG was called way late at night, early in the am, missed all together, etc...and before anyone says so what...
Lets take SST or Stk for example...Time trial first every morning and the first round of competition in the morning...Time trial #2 at 1 or 2 ish, then all of a sudden first round 1 or 2 ish the next day...so its an advantage to have a time run at the same time of day as their competition round...
SG gets a time run at 4:00 pm then all of a sudden we get called for first round first thing in the am, when we havent had any runs in the am...no data...
Few years back at US 13 we got called for our 2nd time run of the day at 10 PM, after they had run a bracket race...wtf...

I understand that the schedule has unforseen issues (oil downs, weather etc) and that can mess things up..

That being said our Div directors are not willing to change the rotation up, so that we are not the only ones being crapped on...and they are also not willing to just stick to the schedule regardless of time/weather issues, because of the fact there might be some spectators in the stands that read an advertisement that listed a time for those classes to run...

So there are guys who should /could run SG instead of SST, they are not willing to put up with the crap of not being treated like the other classes and getting the runs in the same type of schedule everyone else is...

Like Bryan said, dont get me started...but just my .02 after running SG for 6 years in D1...

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

well on a supposed .400 tree i have .010 in the box and ill go .010-.015 on the tree so if its gonna be a .380 or faster tree im screwed cause i cant take ennough delay out

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

Dave,
I always see S/G drivers watching us to see if we are running fast or slow........ And I just love being first out after raining half the night. Plus you guys get to sleep in and run your first round Saturday instead of Sunday am. But that's just my .02

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

Ok, I am confused, but I am very new to this. The rule book says S/ST is a .5 tree and S/C and S/G is .4 tree. Are you saying that at divisional races it is the decision of the track as to what that number really is? That does not make sense to me, seems that a divisional event is a NHRA event and should be consistent across all events, not whatever it feels like that day, the car/driver should adjust to the conditions, not adjust the tree to whatever the most influential racers want it to be........ I must be missing something, somebody please explain.

I see the frustration in division 1 S/G..........that does not sound like much fun to me so i see why some run S/ST

What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

Quote: 3258
Ok, I am confused, but I am very new to this. The rule book says S/ST is a .5 tree and S/C and S/G is .4 tree. Are you saying that at divisional races it is the decision of the track as to what that number really is? That does not make sense to me, seems that a divisional event is a NHRA event and should be consistent across all events, not whatever it feels like that day, the car/driver should adjust to the conditions, not adjust the tree to whatever the most influential racers want it to be........ I must be missing something, somebody please explain.

What it amounts to is the Pro's dictate the tree at the National events. If the Pro Stock cars and/or Pro Stock Bikes are having red light issues they will speed the tree up. Like I was told directly (No Hear Say) by the guy who sets it up it has been as fast as a .350 tree at some events but is always at least a .370 for the Nationals.
Division races are anyones guess.
My 2 Cents

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

There are many reasons i run S/ST not S/G, but the tree is not one of them. This year we plan on running S/C as well. My main reason for S/ST is I like the people, most like me are not trying to make a living racing, rather just looking for a competitive place to race and have fun doing it. Also I prefer to not have to change my perspective every race, meaning in S/G I will be chasing some and being chased by others. For the most part in S/ST I dont have to watch anyones fenders coming up on me with a couple of exceptions. Besides I cannot run S/G as I dont have the mandated toter and stacker that must be required by rulebook as everyoine has them:)

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

I must have missed the memo on "must have toter and stacker" to run S/G.
I have been running it for almost 20 years now out of a pickup or motor home with an enclosed 24' to 28' std trailer.
I have not yet won my first National event but have been to the final twice. I hope the 3rd time is the charm.
I just keep trying.
My 2 Cents

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

3258 and B CHILLIK, come on in the water is fine .....hehe !
One of the main things is cut a light and run the # at least that's what my wife keeps telling me. I've offered to put her a - - in the car and see just how easy it is, but she won't bite.
You'll love the people that your going to meet and just the neat times your going to have. Best of luck.........

And I know a lot of S/G that don't have toter's and stacker's

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

Then you better forget S/C also....AL, you know I like you but what does anyone's rig have to do with any class of racing....?????? and didn't you just pick up a new M/H....??????

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

As they say in AA- Keep coming back.

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

i ran the last three jegs races at columbus at the end of the year and needlees to say im hooked big time.....the racing is tight and the people are great,im looking forward to running div 3 events this year and hopefully the national at norwalk so to all involved hope to see you around the pits,and stop on by for a beer ......

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

Did we all miss the smile at the end of my post?? I think some might be a tad sensitive for some reason. Sheesh, I will go away now...

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

:):):):rolleyes:

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

I was wondering the same thing myself..... lets be honest, all of us who race out of a 20 something foot tag trailer would have the toter and stacker if resources permitted :D

The fancy setup is never in the picture in the winners circle, people have won national events out of a modest setup with a car that is more than a year or 2 old. ;)

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

More cars can move into SG and SC from SST if the tree was .500 for everyone. The heavier SST cars can't hit a lite on a .400 tree. Everyone has a delay box so what is the big deal? Sportmans PRO tree should be the same .500.

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

A heavy car can cut the .400 tree you just have to set it up.
When I ran SST I usually carried .130 to .170 in the delay for the .500 tree and when S/G racing the same car had to carry .010 to .040 to keep from red lighting on the .400 tree.
The car weighed about 2900 with me in it.
It is all about the setup.
My 2 Cents

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

The tree in Division 3 is pretty close to national event speed....not sure about other divisions....

cbs

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

Exactly.

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

99% of the time I'm the slowest mph car in S/R....but...the car will go red and it seems to know where a .90 is. Granted on a really hot day I'm a little nervous that I may have to take it all out of the stop:D....BTW the car has only ran a best of 9.42 and normally is in the 9.60 range....I finished 9th in div 3 with only 4 of 8 in...I'm hoping for better if I can get to the races this year....So yes...you can do it with a low power car too..;)

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

Just glancing back at this thread.. I would have to agree with Steltz.. we do get bounced around way too much.. and a lot of times called to the lanes when the dew is settling on the track..

I like the rotation because, like some guys said, I can sleep in everyday at a race.. LOL..

BUT.. I'm usually working with a Comp team, and bouncing S/G around sometimes causes problems with pit and starting line time management.. DIV 1 needs to stick to the rotation so the racers can better enjoy the race..

Re: What does it take to be be competitive in .90 racing?
 

trailers? you guys had trailers, we had to push our cars to the track, you spoiled kids!