Question for Jeff Foster and Dave Kommel

John DiBartolomeo · 02-19-2013, 11:40 AM

I think before anyone flies off the handle as to the root cause of the problem, I'd like to see it duplicated as Bill Koski suggests. If it was caused by a photographer's flash (No it wasn't me as I was shooting top end at the time), I had thought we fixed the problem of "shine-back" we used to have with the old spotlight and photocells where flash/sunlight/moonlight/whatever would cause a red light even though the car hadn't moved. Again, I thought going to the infrareds stopped that problem. My question is if it's back, should we be going back to black front wheels or shoe polishing them like we used to do?

Now if the problem is an infrared signal coming from the camera to light a flash, I didn't notice anyone on the starting line when I was there using remote triggering of flashes. That doesn't mean the camera wasn't still emitting an infrared signal anyway, but that's beyond my knowledge of cameras.

I've also had "red-light problem" happen to me and I never liked nor understood the answers given as to the cause. Other than wanting to see it duplicated, the only question I have is: Do we have to go back to black wheels?

When I cover the high dollar bracket races, I'm usually told not to use flashes near the starting line at night. But I too have been in the finals of a race when I staged and noticed what seemed like dozens of flashes going off in the corner of my eye. While I might not like it, it's just something you have to put out of your mind and concentrate. And of course, that also precludes us from having any final round photos.

For now though, as Bill said, I'd like to see it duplicated.

Michael Beard · 02-19-2013, 11:56 AM

Quote:

And of course, that also precludes us from having any final round photos.

One of my favorite final round shots was at the 2001 IHRA Bracket Finals at Darlington. Set the camera on the wall and got them while staging with an 8 second exposure. Wish it was still around, but after a hard drive crash and then server changes at IHRA, a lot of old archived stuff is gone.

Jody Lang · 02-19-2013, 04:51 PM

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9h_IGDhxxs"]2011 NHRA Winternationals Super Stock Round 1 - YouTube[/ame]

19 minutes in.

The photographer is about even with the back of the Camaro. Flash double flashes and red light immediately comes on. If it was the cause the camera was not in line with the starting line.

Coincidence?

This was 2 years ago....

Mike Gray · 02-19-2013, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jody Lang

19 minutes in.

The photographer is about even with the back of the Camaro. Flash double flashes and red light immediately comes on. If it was the cause the camera was not in line with the starting line.

Coincidence?

This was 2 years ago....

We had a pretty good debate about that 2 yrs ago, see Red Light Answer thread a few post down.

SSDiv6 · 02-19-2013, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jody Lang

19 minutes in.

The photographer is about even with the back of the Camaro. Flash double flashes and red light immediately comes on. If it was the cause the camera was not in line with the starting line.

Coincidence?

This was 2 years ago....

Jody, the multiple flashes are called "Burst Flash" and they are used in high speed photography. During the burst flash, the flash fires several bursts in a single exposure.

Dave Kommel · 02-19-2013, 06:48 PM

That would be incorrect. The flash is only firing once during each exposure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSDiv6

Jody, the multiple flashes are called "Burst Flash" and they are used in high speed photography. During the burst flash, the flash fires several bursts in a single exposure.

SSDiv6 · 02-19-2013, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Kommel

That would be incorrect. The flash is only firing once during each exposure.

Meant multiple expoure; we use burst flash in the lab and during testing.

Rich Biebel · 02-19-2013, 08:04 PM

Never say never.....but...

I have been around drag racing for going on 50 years and I can never recall seeing NHRA rerun a final round for any reason at a national event

It also seems amazing that the powers that be could decide in such a short amount of time to rerun this round as they did.....

I could easily recount starting line redlight issues going back many years ago.....NO reruns were granted....period...

02-19-2013, 11:40 AM	#1
John DiBartolomeo Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Beaver Springs, PA Posts: 494 Likes: 1 Liked 1,282 Times in 159 Posts	Re: Question for Jeff Foster and Dave Kommel I think before anyone flies off the handle as to the root cause of the problem, I'd like to see it duplicated as Bill Koski suggests. If it was caused by a photographer's flash (No it wasn't me as I was shooting top end at the time), I had thought we fixed the problem of "shine-back" we used to have with the old spotlight and photocells where flash/sunlight/moonlight/whatever would cause a red light even though the car hadn't moved. Again, I thought going to the infrareds stopped that problem. My question is if it's back, should we be going back to black front wheels or shoe polishing them like we used to do? Now if the problem is an infrared signal coming from the camera to light a flash, I didn't notice anyone on the starting line when I was there using remote triggering of flashes. That doesn't mean the camera wasn't still emitting an infrared signal anyway, but that's beyond my knowledge of cameras. I've also had "red-light problem" happen to me and I never liked nor understood the answers given as to the cause. Other than wanting to see it duplicated, the only question I have is: Do we have to go back to black wheels? When I cover the high dollar bracket races, I'm usually told not to use flashes near the starting line at night. But I too have been in the finals of a race when I staged and noticed what seemed like dozens of flashes going off in the corner of my eye. While I might not like it, it's just something you have to put out of your mind and concentrate. And of course, that also precludes us from having any final round photos. For now though, as Bill said, I'd like to see it duplicated. __________________ John DiBartolomeo DRC Race Products DragRacingActionOnline.com

02-19-2013, 04:51 PM	#3
Jody Lang Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 306 Likes: 28 Liked 89 Times in 28 Posts	Re: Question for Jeff Foster and Dave Kommel [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9h_IGDhxxs"]2011 NHRA Winternationals Super Stock Round 1 - YouTube[/ame] 19 minutes in. The photographer is about even with the back of the Camaro. Flash double flashes and red light immediately comes on. If it was the cause the camera was not in line with the starting line. Coincidence? This was 2 years ago.... Last edited by Jody Lang; 02-19-2013 at 04:53 PM. Reason: To give the minute mark

02-19-2013, 08:04 PM	#8
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,314 Likes: 25 Liked 544 Times in 213 Posts	Re: Question for Jeff Foster and Dave Kommel Never say never.....but... I have been around drag racing for going on 50 years and I can never recall seeing NHRA rerun a final round for any reason at a national event It also seems amazing that the powers that be could decide in such a short amount of time to rerun this round as they did..... I could easily recount starting line redlight issues going back many years ago.....NO reruns were granted....period... __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479 Stock 147R