Just curious. I was at MIR last weekend and raced my V6 (TA in South Dakota) Anyway, I happened to pull off a .500 reaction time AND and .501. Just thought I'd share and see how many people do this as well...

Nate

 

ive done it a few times. to me a .500 actually kind of scares me more than it makes me proud though. i always make sure to slow down a tad on the tree after a .500-.503. i would rather get beat by a slight holeshot than by giving a race away with a red

 

I feel the same way. I actually try for a .520 in eliminations. Oh yea I did get a .500 and lost. In time trials everyone hammers the tree. I got a .504 and didn't get the 1st bye run 'cause 4 other racers did better. It usually goes to the first .500 or maybe a .501. I race at a tough track.

 

ive gotten a .514 before but im usually a test n tune guy so i am more worried about getting a good 60' and not RT

 

Ive done alot of racing over the years and I have got a handful of .501`s but I have never got a .500
I usually aim for a .520-.550 in eliminations

 

My best is a .502 and the chick at the timing shack gave me a little smily face on my timeslip.....on a side note....she had a nice rack

Marc

 

The closest I've come was .499. The best non-red light closest to a perfect .500 was a .503.

I'm in agreement with everyone else, a .50X is a little TOO good when bracketing. I shoot normally for .52X-.55X. That's more than enough to be competitive in the trophy class. Most guys cut .6XX and slower.


My problem is not the RTs, it's my friggin car staying consistent. It doesn't!




Jon

 

Most of us that race weekly get a few. I'm more often hitting .50x than .500, I don't really want to be .001 from a loss. As a general rule of thumb, anything from a .50x to .52x will help you go a few rounds.

 

Agreed, I have pulled a best of .501.

 

Well, I understand what you all mean about it being TOO close. It's definately a risk when bracketing, and I'm sure most people don't want to take that risk. I only made 13 runs that day, and out of all of them I didn't even redlight once. I guess that's all right. At first I was letting go at the third yellow and getting .6xx R/Ts, then a bud of mine told me to let go when the second yellow turn off. Well, that's when I started cutting a .500-.550. I'm sure my TA will be a little different at the track though, shouldn't take so long for the shock to travel through the body.

Nate

 

Getting a .500 or .501 is just generally LUCK! YOU/CAR happened to do everything right on that launch! NO ONE, foot braking, can consistantly get .50X reaction times. THAT is why they invented delay boxes. Too much time is wasted, by your body, getting the signal from the brain to the legs! The older you get, the slower the signal. This assumes the car leaves the same everytime and you can stage the car EXACTLY the same everytime.

My opinion is:
.500 - .519 R/T = almost unbeatable.
.520 - .540 R/T = VERY GOOD chance to win.
.541 - .560 R/T = Good chance to win.
.561 - .580 R/T = FAIR chance to win.

 

At my track you need a .50X to win a race on a points day. Actually, it's .000 now.

Quite a few years ago I raced my cavalier in the street class on a points night for the heck of it. All through time shots I was cutting .55X lights. My dad and his friend told me that I would never win a race cutting lights like that so first round I went out and cut a .501 light. Then they told me I was cutting it too close. I went into second round with the bye run and ended up losing in the semi that night.

 

I clicked on your name and seen your pictures.

I like the one with the pretty lady (you) and the Vega, sweet car and lady!

You must realize I used to consider Vegas MORTAL enemys as I drove a Monza!!! They ALWAYS had me by -100 pounds.

 

This is my dad's second season out with the vega. It's running 9.60's.

It's pretty funny because everyone comes up to my dad because they "used to have a friend with a vega just like that and I bet it's even the same car!" Some think it's Grumpy Jenkin's old car too.

Thanks for the compliments also.

 

I pulled a couple of .501 RT's last year.


The track has switched over to the new system this year (along with an LED tree) and I pulled a .001 RT last night.