Red Light Answer - Page 3

Pat Joffrion · 04-19-2011, 10:33 PM

As a racer, I did not understand how just dropping a few RPM's could cause a red light.

Once I built No Problem, I discovered just how delicate the staging beams really are. After serveral customers were red lit by the tree (in the same lane), I took a Cajun approach. I used a dragster wheel to light the stage bulb, then back it up a hair-width, and the red light came on as the tree was activated.

This happened on more than one car, but all were using trans-brakes. In some of the instances, the reverse gear overrode the forward 1st gear, resulting the vehicle to back up a FRACTION OF AN INCH, which caused the red light. I witnessed the same occurance in footbrake cars that staged very shallow.

The solution was installed five years ago when we ordered the CompuLink Stage-Loc beams. Not a single reverse-action red light since then when using autostart. However, in the Jr. Dragster younger age groups, we still use a manual start because some of the kids would get auto-started in a timed-out situation. Some of the kids get the red light from the rocking of their small front tires. It's just the way it is.

Our Stage-Loc system will allow a driver to back up three inches once the tree is activated (after the last bulb is lit for 1/4-second). But you must remember that in order for Stage-Loc to be in effect, auto-start must also be in use. HOWEVER, even with Stage-Loc, if you light both bulbs first, then back out by just a fraction after your opponent has lit his stage bulb for 1/4 of a second, the computer fires the tree without seeing you in the beam, and you are red.

It cost me about $5,000 for the Stage-Loc upgrade, but it was worth the money. Not a single ***** chewing since it was installed. I can prove it to any driver... if you stage real shallow, just turning your steering wheel a little bit will turn on the red. Just backing off the converter will turn on the red. You need to check with each track to enquire if they are using the CompuLink Stage-Loc. If they don't have it, or are not using it, you could be SOL (and red).

I hope ya'll now know how the system works.

04-19-2011, 10:33 PM	#1
Pat Joffrion Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Bayou Country, Louisiana Posts: 163 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 2 Posts	Red Light Answer As a racer, I did not understand how just dropping a few RPM's could cause a red light. Once I built No Problem, I discovered just how delicate the staging beams really are. After serveral customers were red lit by the tree (in the same lane), I took a Cajun approach. I used a dragster wheel to light the stage bulb, then back it up a hair-width, and the red light came on as the tree was activated. This happened on more than one car, but all were using trans-brakes. In some of the instances, the reverse gear overrode the forward 1st gear, resulting the vehicle to back up a FRACTION OF AN INCH, which caused the red light. I witnessed the same occurance in footbrake cars that staged very shallow. The solution was installed five years ago when we ordered the CompuLink Stage-Loc beams. Not a single reverse-action red light since then when using autostart. However, in the Jr. Dragster younger age groups, we still use a manual start because some of the kids would get auto-started in a timed-out situation. Some of the kids get the red light from the rocking of their small front tires. It's just the way it is. Our Stage-Loc system will allow a driver to back up three inches once the tree is activated (after the last bulb is lit for 1/4-second). But you must remember that in order for Stage-Loc to be in effect, auto-start must also be in use. HOWEVER, even with Stage-Loc, if you light both bulbs first, then back out by just a fraction after your opponent has lit his stage bulb for 1/4 of a second, the computer fires the tree without seeing you in the beam, and you are red. It cost me about $5,000 for the Stage-Loc upgrade, but it was worth the money. Not a single ***** chewing since it was installed. I can prove it to any driver... if you stage real shallow, just turning your steering wheel a little bit will turn on the red. Just backing off the converter will turn on the red. You need to check with each track to enquire if they are using the CompuLink Stage-Loc. If they don't have it, or are not using it, you could be SOL (and red). I hope ya'll now know how the system works.