Tom racing Stateside!

[PeteB]

Tom, my lad, is into drag racing and crews for Bad Apple Racing which has a 2000hp 57 Chevrolet.  At Santa Pod the other weekend, that caught fire and, while salvaged, needs a chunk of work. Tom has a Foxbody Mustang in Dallas and is currently doing Mega Week, a drag and drive event. Living his dream!

[PeteB]

Now done a 10.18 pass at 136! Got to be careful as anything under 10 is disqualification as you need an NHRA licence and the car has a different set of rules!

[GA Groundcare]

Been following on Facebook. That's a fair time. He'll need to start getting the car up to spec shortly to go sub 10?!

[Oldfeller]

1 hour ago, GA Groundcare said:

Been following on Facebook. That's a fair time. He'll need to start getting the car up to spec shortly to go sub 10?!

It's bracket racing, it's not just a question of getting the car sub 10secs, heres a good explanation, 

In bracket racing, two vehicles with potentially varying performance levels compete by dialing in an estimated time to reach the finish line. The slower car receives a head start equal to the difference between their dial-in times, creating a more competitive race between vehicles with different capabilities. The driver who crosses the finish line first without "breaking out" (running faster than their dial-in) wins. 

 

Here's a more detailed breakdown of bracket racing rules:

 

1. Dial-in Time: Each driver anticipates their quarter-mile time and "dials in" that time. This is their target time to reach the finish line.
2. Head Start: The vehicle with the slower dial-in time receives a head start, allowing it to leave the starting line before the faster car. The head start is equal to the difference between the two dial-in times. 

 

3. Running the Race: Both drivers compete to reach the finish line as quickly as possible, while trying to match their dial-in time. 

 

4. Breaking Out: If a driver runs faster than their dialed-in time, they are considered to have "broken out" and lose the race. 

 

5. Consistency is Key: In bracket racing, consistency is crucial. Being able to repeat the same reaction time and elapsed time repeatedly helps in achieving a win. 

 

6. "Christmas Tree": Drivers line up in front of an electronic countdown starting device called the "Christmas Tree," which provides visual cues for starting the race. 

 

In essence, the rules of bracket racing focus on:

 

• Dial-in Time:

  Each racer estimates their expected run time. 

   
• Head Start:

  The slower car is given a head start based on the difference in their dial-in times. 

   
• The Race:

  Drivers attempt to reach the finish line without breaking out (running faster than their dial-in). 

   
• The Outcome:

  The first driver to reach the finish line without breaking out wins the race.

   

  I have built a couple of cars myself, it was simple back then, first over the line got the win.

  bracket is a whole new level of racing.

Edited June 5 by Oldfeller

[PeteB]

He will need a different level of scrutineering and alterations to the car, cage and safety, possibly parachute and an appropriate NHRA licence! As it is, I doubt it would pass an mot in the UK with no wipers and no demister, plus other stuff!

 

I'll go as co driver next year if he leaves the car there!

[AHPP]

Talk us through what’s under the hood, what fuel, rebuild intervals etc. 

[PeteB]

It was a bought unseen shed! Fixed often on the side of the road or carport of hotel or autoparts store! Foxbody Mustang with 4.6 V8. Fancy pistons, H section rods, wicked cam, big turbo, Holley fuel system which he wont outgrow,  launch control and bump, heavy duty gearbox with racing torque converter through an LSD rear axle. Stripped bare of anything unnecessary and often slept in, hence the moniker "Napshack"! Race fuel on the strip and street fuel for road trip, getting some 12mpg cruising at 55 towing the trailer full of tools and spares. Last year at Rocky Mountain Race Week and Death Week, everything went in the car and was piled in a heap in the pits - except his phone, wallet and laptop to Race!

[PeteB]

11 hours ago, Oldfeller said:

It's bracket racing, it's not just a question of getting the car sub 10secs, heres a good explanation, 

In bracket racing, two vehicles with potentially varying performance levels compete by dialing in an estimated time to reach the finish line. The slower car receives a head start equal to the difference between their dial-in times, creating a more competitive race between vehicles with different capabilities. The driver who crosses the finish line first without "breaking out" (running faster than their dial-in) wins. 

 

Here's a more detailed breakdown of bracket racing rules:

 

1. Dial-in Time: Each driver anticipates their quarter-mile time and "dials in" that time. This is their target time to reach the finish line.
2. Head Start: The vehicle with the slower dial-in time receives a head start, allowing it to leave the starting line before the faster car. The head start is equal to the difference between the two dial-in times. 

 

3. Running the Race: Both drivers compete to reach the finish line as quickly as possible, while trying to match their dial-in time. 

 

4. Breaking Out: If a driver runs faster than their dialed-in time, they are considered to have "broken out" and lose the race. 

 

5. Consistency is Key: In bracket racing, consistency is crucial. Being able to repeat the same reaction time and elapsed time repeatedly helps in achieving a win. 

 

6. "Christmas Tree": Drivers line up in front of an electronic countdown starting device called the "Christmas Tree," which provides visual cues for starting the race. 

 

In essence, the rules of bracket racing focus on:

 

• Dial-in Time:

  Each racer estimates their expected run time. 

   
• Head Start:

  The slower car is given a head start based on the difference in their dial-in times. 

   
• The Race:

  Drivers attempt to reach the finish line without breaking out (running faster than their dial-in). 

   
• The Outcome:

  The first driver to reach the finish line without breaking out wins the race.

   

  I have built a couple of cars myself, it was simple back then, first over the line got the win.

  bracket is a whole new level of racing.

I think the rules to drag and drive are different, focusing on your individual times, road trip check ins and getting through the week! Street Weekend in the UK is similar but over a long weekend and not a week. Santa Pod then drive to York via set check ins, do a run, pack up and back to Pod via check points and run your best time there!

[PeteB]

Imagine driving this 2000hp from Pod to York via Skegness in the rain and back via Derby. Checking valve lash in a laybye on the way back! This caught fire as it crossed the line last bank holiday.

[AHPP]

What's race fuel at this level? Presumably one a bit tamer than nitromethane and methanol?