What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

I've had a practice tree for years, but never really developed a routine. I set my practice tree up on my desk with the pedal underneath. I created a spread sheet, which analyzes the data over every 100 hits (but does average the green lights every 10 hits as well). One of my new years resolutions is to take 100 hits at it every day. So far I've learned quite a bit about my own driving, what I've been doing wrong, and where some inconsistency is coming from. I haven't solved it yet, but i am seeing the patterns and noting what I'm doing differently. With lots of data, I've been able to find some things I was doing, that I would have sworn i wasn't. Hopefully I'll be able to eliminate my self from the list of variables on the starting line soon.

What are some of you guys doing to stay sharp, or improve yourself?

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

Eat and drink a lot. :D

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

i was already perplexed on how you get in and out of your car, now I'm really confused.

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

It gets harder the older and fatter I get.

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

Well I've been racing a car with a delay box the last few years so I would flip the tv channels with the remote to keep my thumb in shape. Some times if I wanted to get real crazy I would practice taking the stripe on the highway but this works much better on a 4 lane so you have to be careful on two lane roads. I'm building a stocker over the winter so I look foward to hearing ideas to get my brake foot in shape.

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

i try to run 3 miles per day and go to the gym.2 weeks from now we must get ready to race. new front tires and batteries(every year with 16 volts)and seat belt replaced.check all equipment and load the new trailer.cannot wait to go racing again for the 58th. time. remember-you can't put a price on a good time. mr. biggg stuff

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

I bought a Drill Doctor!

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

Michael,
Funny you mention TIBR.com I was thinking of joining...

is it worth it.. (I know it is, but to a slow bottom bulber?)

thanks!

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

I chase women but all that running tires me out.

JimR

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

Try to hit some big money bracket races or any bracket races. I prefer 1/4 mile racing, but 1/8 mile racing makes you sharper because you don't have as much time to make finish line decisions. As Michael said, Thisisbracketracing.com has some really good information.

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

Treessavoy,
your doing it all wrong, your suppose to let them chase you
(but slow down just enough so they can catch you).

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

During the winter I do some Ice Racing up in the mountains on Georgetown Lake in Georgetown,Colorado. It`s not fast action,but it keeps you sharp concentration wise. Way harder than it looks and a lot of fun! For drag raciing I usually pull out my little pocket sized practice tree in March and hit it a few times,then wait `til the track opens in April.

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

Too much information!!!
Danny Durham

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

Cooter, I've come so close to joining that site several times. But then I find something else on the car to spend $119 on. In your opinion is it worth the investment. I guess it just seems like a lot of money to just join a website, although I'm sure the information is good.

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

Carey, I have gotten older and fatter. I have not noticed that.

Only that it's more difficult now getting in and out of the car.

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

Down here there is no off season, there is a race going on somewhere. Not S/SS racing, but there is bracket racing, dial for cash. $20 or $25 dollar entry to will $200, depending on what track. It keeps you somewhat sharp.

Casey Miles
248H "F" NHRA Stock

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

Just toss your azz in or out first....the rest will follow.

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

Just what are you saying about my azz?

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

Works for me. (Read that however you want) Ha!

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

Gym, Crosfit/Kettlebells, Ref Indoor Soccer !!


oh....and catching up on Honeydooes !!

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

I really should practice on the tree, but I don't

I do a little snowmobiling, going 100 across a lake at 0 degrees at least keeps you alert

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

Staying sharp in the off season is overrated......................................... .........

In October of 2010,I made my last run of the season.

Didn't get out again until May 2011 at the Topeka National event.

Because of rain,got ONE time/qualifying/practice run.

Went .056 red on that run.

Eliminations started,and 6 rounds later,I won my first NHRA National event.

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

That's call experience. Again great job. David STK3811

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

Actually,LUCK and I would rather be lucky than good any day.Thanks.

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

I dropped the front end of my Colorado on a guy the other day at a speed limit sign....lol. Today I let a Trail Blazer come back around me, story of my driving career! All jokes aside, judging a cars close rate is a good tool on the highway. Gotta stock the trailer back up, best to be prepared.

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

Chad,

I'm not a member myself, but I have always heard good things about it. Luke is very knowledgeable.

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

Chad, 100 hits is way too many in a day. You never get that in a race day. You will get faster and faster and start red lighting as you go. 5-7 very spaced out hits are all you need. When you are walking past it, do one, just like you would in a real race day. Try to simulate that pressure of having one shot at it. That's how you build confidence. Practice trees build confidence, that is all, they do little else to simulate a real race situation, that part you have to do on your own.

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

There is now *years* worth of information on the site, plus a forum where members get into deep analysis of runs and strategy. When I first got involved on the site, I had a chance to read for a few weeks, discuss certain situations on the forum, and at the first national event of the year, I used something specifically from the site to win the final round -- a difference of several thousand dollars. (not to mention all of the other important rounds where specific knowledge made a crucial difference) $119 doesn't look so bad at that point! It's not just Luke, either. There are a large number of guest instructors who have shared their knowledge and experience as well.

You spend money on your car to improve its performance and consistency. Invest a little in the driver.

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

I drive - in Michigan!
My wife was worried about me drag racing - my response was 'Are you kidding? It's a LOT safer than driving on the street - there's only one other car to worry about!'

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

Do the three month trial once a year for $45 bucks and get caught up!

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

On the TIBR deal. I think its worth the money and you can learn alot from it. At first I got the three month deal and tried to read all of it in just a few weeks. All that did was mess me up and put too many ideas in my head at the same time. Now I try and read a little every month and that way I dont overload my brain with too many new ideas all at once.

If you are looking for a good way to use your practice tree to stay sharp take a look at the Biondios site under Racing Tips and FAQ then look for the one about practice trees. Its helped me a bunch.

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

chase fast woman

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

Dialing soft won't help. Allegedly.

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

Drink heavily, shovel snow. Repeat until spring.

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

I play this game:
http://www.extremevelocity3d.com/sig...ral=TheHardWay
It doesn't relate to closely to real racing, but it's free (unless you want to buy a membership) and a good time killer when there's a foot of snow outside.

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

That is the next step for sure. Was trying to build a database to judge against my in car average. My hair brained way of checking the roll out.

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

I wasn't sharp in the first place... so I have nothing to do, but freeze my ***** off here on the Canadian prairies.

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

This is talked about in-depth in the "Baselining Tracks and Timing Systems" section of my TIBR Guest Editorial on Bottom Bulb Reaction Times. TIBR members can find the article at http://www.thisisbracketracing.com/g...s=5F5409030A02

Although it's really old stuff, you can find some free information in my Guide to Bracket Racing I wrote in college in the sections: Reaction Time Clinic, Practice Trees, and one or more of the Learning Analysis Papers. I do get into reverse-engineering your rollout in one or more of those articles. See www.staginglight.com/guide/

Re: What do you do in the off season to stay sharp
 

as mentioned below...i use my practice tree for 5 hits randomly as i am passing it by, looking for perfection from the first hit. i also tape off the first two yellows once in a while to hit some blinder style lights. i am never looking for .000, just the ultimate in consistancy, so that come track day, what ever the weather is i can tune my car to my style of reaction. Also i just came across the Jeg's practice tree for my phone. it was free for my android....now i can practice at work!!!!!!


Ian