Weather….Lightning and Drag Racing

Larry Sullivan · 09-09-2014, 11:10 AM

Most timing systems are wired using copper wiring and the wiring acts like a big lightning rod, so if there's lightning in the area, most tracks will shut down and disconnect the timing computer from the track wiring.

The most spectacular lightning strike I've ever witnessed was at Edgewater. Lightning hit the grandstands next to the tower, jumped across to where the track wiring enters the building and came out of the box with all the connections inside (the cover was partially open for some reason). A ball of lightning shot across the room and bounced off the opposite wall. Needless to say, we were done racing and had to come back the following weekend to finish the race.

Fiber-optic cabling is replacing the copper wiring at some tracks, but it's an expensive alternative unless it's a new installation - the rising price for copper makes fiber optics a little more attractive for new installations and the big advantage is that it isn't a lightning rod.

09-09-2014, 11:10 AM	#5
Larry Sullivan Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Baytown, TX Posts: 340 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 1 Post	Re: Weather….Lightning and Drag Racing Most timing systems are wired using copper wiring and the wiring acts like a big lightning rod, so if there's lightning in the area, most tracks will shut down and disconnect the timing computer from the track wiring. The most spectacular lightning strike I've ever witnessed was at Edgewater. Lightning hit the grandstands next to the tower, jumped across to where the track wiring enters the building and came out of the box with all the connections inside (the cover was partially open for some reason). A ball of lightning shot across the room and bounced off the opposite wall. Needless to say, we were done racing and had to come back the following weekend to finish the race. Fiber-optic cabling is replacing the copper wiring at some tracks, but it's an expensive alternative unless it's a new installation - the rising price for copper makes fiber optics a little more attractive for new installations and the big advantage is that it isn't a lightning rod.