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Old 10-08-2008, 09:00 AM   #31
Ron Ortiz
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Default Re: starting line reaction tools/methods for stockers

At the season opener divisional race in Bradenton, FL I took my future son in law. He had a good time and enjoyed all the cool looking cars. All the friendships and howdy do's from other racers that I have'nt seen since last year impressed him. I informed him of the great parties at night with all these other people. What a dissapointment to walk around the pits at 9:00 and see no one. It was like a ghost town. Everybody was huddled in their motorhomes or had gone off to their motel rooms. I believe that we saw maybe 4 areas where there were people hanging out, but it was not as if they were having a good time. I guess that most people have decided to lead the clean life and get ready for the upcoming days activities. I would understand this reasoning if it was on a Saturday night, with eliminations starting at 8:00 AM on Sunday, but this was a Friday night. What a dissapointment.
If anybody is at a race and wants to have a good time at night, look me up, I'll be the one with a beer in hand and food in my mouth sitting there waitnig to party.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA maybe I should get serious..................right.
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Old 10-08-2008, 09:08 AM   #32
Ron Ortiz
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Default Re: starting line reaction tools/methods for stockers

Good post Mr. Mirza. I spoke to Scotty Richardson years ago just before he won the Stock Championship. I asked him what was the difference between his performance last year when he was going red quite a bit, and this year when he was cutting good lights. he said to me that he weakened his front end springs to slow the cars reaction down and put him where he wanted to be.
Even though I speak of the partying side of racing not affecting what happens during the race the following day, it is extremely important that your race car be properly set up to compliment the driver.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA am i getting serious.................oh no
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Old 10-08-2008, 09:45 AM   #33
Michael Beard
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Default Re: starting line reaction tools/methods for stockers

Tire sizes, tire presure (both front *and* rear), launch rpm (not to mention actual staging technique, re: bumping in and then getting on the coverter vs getting on the converter and then bumping the car in), taking extra bumps after staged, staging alignment, sunglasses, choosing a lane based on the sun's orientation with the tree, shock settings...

Changing a converter just to move r/t sounds like way too much work for me, George! But otherwise great post! You hit on the most important thing -- if the driver's not consistent, you can throw everything else away, because you don't know what you're adjusting FROM. Race or test a lot, and worry about becoming a consistent reacting driver first. I don't care if you're .080 green or -.020 red all day long, just as long as you are *something* all day. Once you've found *your* spot, then you can go to work on the car.

Some people think that there is just one spot for a driver... that may be true for some, but if you mess around with a practice tree long enough on different rollouts, you may find that you can be comfortable in several different sweet spots that may be several hundredths apart. You may have one "best" spot, but there may be others that are quite good for you as well, and give you a fighting change. I've driven more than one car that I had to leave on the 2nd bulb going out... cars anywhere from high 15's to high 9's!

Another important note is that all of these opinions are just that -- listen to everyone, then go figure out what works best for YOU. Every driver is different. Chip Johnson is a killer top-bulb racer, but he's a tree counter when bottom-bulbing. Some people like to block, and some are worthless if they can't see it coming (me). Arm yourself with information and seat time.

I guess the best advice I can give class racers is what I told Jim Bailey earlier this year: "Approach driving like you do building your car. Break it down into its component pieces and say 'How do I make that piece better?'"

I've been working on a Guide to Bracket Racing off and on since college. I'd finish it someday, but I keep learning stuff.
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Last edited by Michael Beard; 10-08-2008 at 10:04 AM. Reason: added notes
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Old 10-08-2008, 10:50 AM   #34
Greg Barsamian
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Default Re: starting line reaction tools/methods for stockers

Best kept secrets in D-1
The "Brew Crew"
The "Brat-pack"
& The "Wolf-pack"
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Old 10-08-2008, 12:03 PM   #35
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Default Re: starting line reaction tools/methods for stockers

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron Ortiz View Post
At the season opener divisional race in Bradenton, FL I took my future son in law. He had a good time and enjoyed all the cool looking cars. All the friendships and howdy do's from other racers that I have'nt seen since last year impressed him. I informed him of the great parties at night with all these other people. What a dissapointment to walk around the pits at 9:00 and see no one. It was like a ghost town. Everybody was huddled in their motorhomes or had gone off to their motel rooms. I believe that we saw maybe 4 areas where there were people hanging out, but it was not as if they were having a good time. I guess that most people have decided to lead the clean life and get ready for the upcoming days activities. I would understand this reasoning if it was on a Saturday night, with eliminations starting at 8:00 AM on Sunday, but this was a Friday night. What a dissapointment.
If anybody is at a race and wants to have a good time at night, look me up, I'll be the one with a beer in hand and food in my mouth sitting there waitnig to party.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA maybe I should get serious..................right.
Ron, that is an interesting observation. Just do a poll on the age of the Stock and Super Stock population ages and you will see that there are not a lot of young people racing in these classes in comparison to the older folks that are racing. A lot of the young ones are the kids of racers.

In the past, we have discussed the shift in the population of our classes; interesting enough, we have come to the conclusion that many of the kids are more interested in Japanese/JDM/Ricers/Drifting, Hip-Hop/Rap music, technology/computers, hybrids, environment and text messaging. In a nut-shell, a lot of us are getting old and many of our kids are not interested. Also, look at the limited selection of new cars to race; probably with the advent of the new S/SS factory race cars from Ford and Dodge, things may change. Also, the cost of racing has escalated.

The new kids cannot afford that buy an old muscle car and build a car from scratch because the prices have gone up with the classic car auctions and the trends to modifiy the cars just like Unique and Fosse by lowering the cars, putting big wheels and big sound systems.

Let's face the reality...our population is growing older, health issues pop-up and we cannot party the way we did in our earlier days.
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Old 10-08-2008, 01:12 PM   #36
Stacie J. Ridings
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Smile Re: starting line reaction tools/methods for stockers

Michael Beard's advice and website, have improved my consistency on reaction times this year. After the Division 9 Rockingham race, I purchased a pocket tree and started practicing the second light out. I thought it sounded crazy, but it works with my car (VRT) and my (DRT). I was really consistent at Jackson; every time was red; but they were close to perfect. On Sunday I was -.009 in qualifying and -.007, 1st Round with a 7.524 on a 7.52 dial. I'll keep practicing, and maybe next year.....
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Old 10-08-2008, 10:36 PM   #37
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Default Re: starting line reaction tools/methods for stockers

Yea, getting old is a bummer, but the alternative is worse.

I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to know that the better physical condition you are in, the better and more consistant job you'll do on the starting line.

I'm at the point where I'm happy to just be out there and still be a part of it.
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Old 10-08-2008, 10:52 PM   #38
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Default Re: starting line reaction tools/methods for stockers

As i sit here looking at my 14 iron men and reading this post i thought for a moment.
1) I'm fat (250)
2) I never have drank a drop of alky
3) I never did any drugs
4) I get about 5-6 hrs sleep a night.
5) I eat fast food for breakfast at least 3-4 times a week the other times it's a honey bun and diet coke.
6) I eat fast food(CHEESEBURGERS) for lunch at least 3-4 times a week.
7 Healthy is an occasional salad with my cheeseburger or Subway
8) We eat Red Meat for Supper at least 3-4 times a week.
9) I own a vending company so I eat crap all day.
10) I probably drink a case of water a year.
11) Will I'm racing I may stop and eat a steak and Ice cream or I may munch on trail mix all day depends on the mood.
Bottom line is I have FUN and win an occasional race or 2.
If you want to be good at this don't over analyze, have fun, and get some seat time.
Chip Johnson
p.s.
Don't beleive in practice trees
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Old 10-09-2008, 11:18 AM   #39
Dusty Lowell
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Default Re: starting line reaction tools/methods for stockers

I follow the strict technique of Bubba Linke. he seems to have it down seeings he is #6 in the world at this moment. So if you want the secret come see us at the Dutch.
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Old 10-09-2008, 12:43 PM   #40
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Default Re: starting line reaction tools/methods for stockers

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Originally Posted by Dusty Lowell View Post
I follow the strict technique of Bubba Linke. he seems to have it down seeings he is #6 in the world at this moment. So if you want the secret come see us at the Dutch.
Haha, now that's funny!
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