What really happened Mr. Stewart?

[Michael Beard]

This is really pretty simple. Look at the bottom of the timeslip. If it said "Both drivers staged at starter go", you know what happened.

[Tom Goldman]

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

This is really pretty simple. Look at the bottom of the timeslip. If it said "Both drivers staged at starter go", you know what happened.

You know it !
I keep all those time slips as a reminder of which starters don't know how to do their job.

[Bryan Worner]

He will never admit if it was his fault! I'm sure NHRA will announce it was a "computer glitch."

[Terry Cain]

Why do they need a starter to flip a switch? Computer can recognize when both cars are staged and then turn on count down. Do away with the possibility of human error altogether.

[BKSG1198]

Because he adds excitement and drama to the circus....YEAH RIGHT! I love the finger pointing that he does when one car is already staged and the other one is creeping in and when they leave you think he just hit the switch to launch an attack on a foreign country with his arms waving.
I mean after Edwards was on the line just sitting there his crew was asking Mr. Stewart what was that? He was like "um duh" and shook his head. It's like when the kid knocks the jar of cookies over and mom comes in and he goes "it was the cat"....it's like dude take action, 1 more set of Pro Stock cars is not going to ruin the precious ESPN TV Time...not like they show much of Pro Stock anyways. Boo Hoo 1 less interview with John Force about asking him if he's upset that he's not in the car that Neff is in now....give me a break!

Man do I miss the days of Buster

[Michael Beard]

Correct. You could set the whole thing on autopilot. (although I do like having a human involved to be watching to make sure cars are clear on top end, no fluids leaking, etc.

The other possibility would be that the computer operator hadn't hit Enter to set the pair after putting in the car numbers.

NHRA would be smart to blame a human over the timing system in any case! Without confidence in the timing system, we have nothing. And that's one "glitch" I don't think I've heard before.

[Ed Fernandez]

Can someone tell me what the time span is on the pro tree from when the second car staging the tree will blink?

[Rollins_2241]

I believe the "stage to start" setting is 0.6 seconds in Pro classes as well as 8.90 and 9.90. 10.90 uses 0.8 seconds and ET racing (and I believe Stock, Super Stock and Comp) use 1.1. This clock runs from the time the computer says both drivers are staged to the time the tree activates. There is an additional pseudo-random variance of up to 0.2 seconds built in on top of this setting to prevent drivers from "gaming" the system.

Keep in mind that when you "see four bulbs" the computer may not agree with you, especially if one driver "flickered" the stage bulb (you'll think it's on the but the computer won't and the tree will seem too long.)

The Pro Stock drivers can prove whether AutoStart was on as Michael said by looking at the bottom of their time slips. "AutoStart ON" is normal, "Both Staged at Starter GO" means the switch was armed after the computer detected both staged.

[The Hawk]

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

The other possibility would be that the computer operator hadn't hit Enter to set the pair after putting in the car numbers.

I don`t think that would happen. The pair on the starting line have to be programmed and entered for the timing system to reset. You know that`s happened when the previous pair`s ET and MPH clear the scoreboard. Just like any other race when a dial in comes up,the computer`s ready and you can stage.

[herbjr]

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

Correct. You could set the whole thing on autopilot. (although I do like having a human involved to be watching to make sure cars are clear on top end, no fluids leaking, etc.

The other possibility would be that the computer operator hadn't hit Enter to set the pair after putting in the car numbers.

NHRA would be smart to blame a human over the timing system in any case! Without confidence in the timing system, we have nothing. And that's one "glitch" I don't think I've heard before.

Hey Beard if the computer operator doesnt hit enter then the previous ET's stay on the scoreboard, I doubt that was it. We ran an import event at Piedmont when we had it and we did test n tune, we had no starter, one person in the tower, we didnt hand out timeslips and the computer reset itself for 3 hours and ran itself. Its possible. BUT even though its on autostart the starter still has to ARM the system after two bulbs are lit. This is done incase the cars were to stop backing up or something in the beams to keep and accidental start. I mean even wiping up fluid on the track if it was in the beam would activate the tree if it was totally automatic.