[grandville455]

Has anyone ever tried the yellow night driving glasses to see the tree better and help with times?

[mysticmissle]

I have used sunglasses and they seem to help some. Best RT aid for me was ear plugs! I can hear only what i want and can concentrate much better.

[Ron H]

Do you red light if you launch right when the 3rd yellow appears?

[grandville455]

yes and no... if i leave the minute it turns yellow its red every time! and no I have to wait for the yellow to be on for a bit then i go

[mysticmissle]

im sure you have tried staging shallower so you could react as the last amber came on? hard to wait for the right glow

[Cliff R]

Darby, how hard are you coming up on the converter? You should be able to "adjust" your reaction times to the last bulb by varying the stage rpm's while leaving the car in the same position in the beam. Staging at higher rpm's will reduce how long it takes the car to move out.

I have to make enough runs to find the proper stage rpm's for the track we are running on. For really good tracks, like Norwalk, we stage at 1100rpm's, just turn the bulb on, and leave just as the last yellow comes on. If I go up higher in rpms, it will go red every time. The higher stage rpm's require waiting till the light is on longer, making it very difficult to be consistant.......Cliff

[Hillard]

I use a pair of the glasses from Deist. I think they help most of the time and I use them about 95% of the time. But there was one day that during time runs and even the first round I was cutting bad lights. So for the second round I threw them in the back seat and instantly started cutting .520's and .530's making it to the final. I don't know why....maybe the sun wasn't as bright or maybe it was all mental????????

[70 lucerne lemans]

Taller front tires helped slow my reaction times down alot,I went from a 25" front to a 29", plus you get more rollout.

[grandville455]

I have been staging around 1500 or so....Its a bitc* when your waiting for the right glow!.. I want to leave just as the yellow comes on!Its getting a little frustrating ,but no one ever taught me the right way i have taught myself what works and this isnt how i want it... I can adjust my stage rpms down thats not a problem and I usually just tap in till the light goes on...I have some yellow driving glasses coming to help me focus more,, but thats really not the problem as i can react pretty damn good to the light ,but if i react the minute i see yellow 10-10 will be red!.. I also air my front tires up to 45 psi too.... I will lower my stage to around 1000 or maybe just leave off idle that way i know i am leaving the same everytime...Too hard to bump in and then look down to see rpms by the time i do i am sure my light will be coming down and i will be late.. I also catch myself watching the bulbs come down too.. again this is how i taught myself and from i have read i shouldnt do that,I am only 44 points out of first with 5 races left... so theres time left to get this right and not loose the chance at another championship!!! Thats why I am here asking you guys for help

[DAVE RIBEIRO]

Darby,
Cliff & the other guys are right on target... You should never change your spot on the tree, make the car come to you..Another way of slowing down your reaction time is letting out air on the front tires.. Not just acouple of pounds either, say you run 35lbs. in the fronts you will need to take out at least 5-7 lbs to see any difference, but it does change the rollout by flatting the tire(which keeps you in the beam longer and prevents red-lines...) You need to do some testing with your present set-up, first drop the RPMs at least 200 at a time and see what the differance is ???
Then drop the front tires 3 lbs at a time til you are able to use the flash on the last yellow... Like any change it won't happen easy and will take some time, so hang in there and DON"T GIVE UP....This system works just about everytime and doesn't cost alot of $$$$$$.. Let us know how you make out... I like the glasses if it makes you feel comfortable and works, I also like the ear plugs... I have gone to a full face helmet with no-shield to block-out everything around me !!! Its really what works best for you, and it doesn't hurt to try.. I know the tire deal will work, just keep an eye on how the car feels down the other end..Yes, it may slow your 60' & ET down, but it will stop you from RED-lites... I run a NHRA stocker and have had times where I have 25 lbs in my rear (radial- slicks) and 22 in my front tires... Something else I have tried this year, after buy a new set of lite-wt fronts every year, because they don't have any rubber on them and cheap side-walls, flats and leaks, etc.. I bought a cheap set of front radials with lots of street threads.. I have had them for over a year, no-problems, no-flats or leaks and they look like new... I only lost a hundredth, which is nothing when it comes to safety and having FUN... Good Luck and I hope this helps you to Win that Title !!!!

* Also get your tach up, so you don't have to look down, its not only dangerous but Hurts the attention on the starting line.. KISS is always better...................... Dave...1033/stock (RV-455)

[Ron H]

Are you using a 2 step to launch?
I asked if you red lit as the light came on to see if you needed more roll out. As 70 Lucerne said, go to a taller front tire. Roll in only enough to lit the second bulb. So you have the most area to launch.
I added a transbrake button to the left side of my brake pedal when I was footbraking. Hooked it to a 2 step with an adjustable chip. Once staged I would floor the gas. When you lift your foot off the brake the 2 step would come off and the car would launch. It made me more consistent. PLus you have more consistent control of launch RPMs.
I have this complete set up here still if you want it with a 6 al box as well.

[grandville455]

Dave....
I will try lowering my tires.. the past two races i have increased them to 45 psi to help with e.t... Of the two races one i made it to the finals and broke out by .01!.. the other i went -.010 red! Of 26 rounds of eliminations I have went red 3 times... Not real bad but more than i want! I also changed set ups this yr from last i now run 26 inch slicks and have the deeper gear in the trans.. so the car reacts quicker!.. When i first came out this yr i staged as i always did and left off idle and the same way watch the tree now and was dead late!.. so then i upped the rpms and they came back to being ok,but I am not as consistent enough for me...I think if i go back to idle and lower the tires it might be enough?...Ron I leave off my foot.. dont even know if that is allowed in my street class? Heres a PIC of where the tach is....

[Ron H]

Yes you can launch with a 2 step in street. I said trans brake button but it is a momentary button connected to a 2 step not a trans brake.
Again, you use your foot. You mount the button in your brake pedal on the far left side. You put your foot on the button when pressing the brake pedal when staged. It activates the 2 step. Then you floor the gas. Whatever RPM you have the 2 step at is what you will launch at and is adjustable to get the best launch RPM. When you lift your foot off the brake you also let off the button at the same time and the 2 step comes off and you launch your car. It works well compared to trying to hold the brake all the way down and the gas pedal at a certain RPM then letting off the brake and pushing the gas pedal at the same time.

[grandville455]

W'ell That sounds interesting for sure!...Might Look into that.Do u have a website to tell me more about it?. I think i am going to hit test n tune next sat before sundays race and try some of the stuff talked about here.. letting air out and lowering rpms etc... just dont want to get to sunday and only have 3 time trials to try something new you know?

[Ron H]

I don't have a website no. Do you have a 6AL box? If so I will send you the 2 step with an adjustable chip and the button. All you have to do is plug in the 2 step and drill a hole in your brake pedal and bolt on the button. I used the far upper left corner since I use my right foot to brake while driving, there is no chance of hitting it.

[mchell]

dude.....got the red light fever ehhhh???.......try some tape on the inside of the windsheild.....use it as a focal point in relation to the bulb you leave on.....or a little xanax ......... you're wound up pretty tight!!!........bawwwwhaaaaa


Later

[grandville455]

I dont have a 6 al box no... Thats for ignition correct?... I really not sure if i want to screw with how the car runs at this time.. Mike Not really red light fever... Just want to be able to use the tree as it is meant to be used instead of guessing how long i should leave that last light on and then going.... I want to be able to react to the light coming on then nailing it and the car reacts slower ..like leaving off idle and the time it takes to flash the convertor instead of loading it up some... might be enough to stay in the .040 range consistently... then their all in trouble!!