Lift if the other lane breaks?

Do you go easy if the other lane red lights or breaks?

  • Yes, save the wear and tear on your car.

    Votes: 3 33.3%

  • No, stay in it for the time slip.

    Votes: 6 66.7%
  • Total voters
    9
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Northern Grit

Northern Grit

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So I was wondering what is the correct action to take if the other car red lights or breaks at the line. Do you just ride down the track and take the default win or do you still go all out and try for the E.T. ?
I haven't been on the strip in over a decade (when I was going to MidMichigan it was before the tower was built) and on top of that I've never run a real race, only T&T. However my current project car is giving me the urge to run 1/4 miles again. I remember being scolded for not "curtsey staging" and that's how I learned what I was doing wrong there. I'd like to avoid breaking unwritten rules if I get back on the track.
 
Big races stay in it if they are qualifying. Otherwise, just back off the loud pedal and coast through the lights.
 
At Test & Tune sessions, I stay in it- I'm there to tune. A lot of the time I don't get very many runs in a night, so I'm not going to throw one away. Races, I'll back off- no sense risking breaking anything if you've already got the win.
 
I usually will run it out to 1000 ft. then lift. Then compare time slips to see if I need to redial for next round
 
Depends on the situation as stated. There are no curtesy rules regarding lifting when the opponent breaks. If you’re testing and recording data it’s worth it to get a full run in. If it’s a race and you already won at the starting line it might be wise to save equipment. Unless you need data from track conditions. It’s purely dependent on the situation.
 
What's really aggravating is when the guy in front of you red lights and then idles all the way down the track and takes 30-45 seconds to get off the track, while you're waiting and heating up the motor.
 
Depends on how time trails went. Been in the situation where only one tt and spun off the starting line because of something on the track. First round other guy turns it red, I'm running it out.
 
In eliminations, if you know the opponent red lit, you can lift to save parts or to not show everyone what the car would run, or run it through to help dial for the next round.

If the opponent breaks off the line, definitely lift, as long as you get to the finish line first. If the opponent took the green, he wins if you break out because he hasn't done anything to lose yet! Even if he literally stops on the track, he can win on your break-out.

After a lot of practice, data and if the car AND you are consistent enough, it may be possible to dial the 1/4 mile based on 1000' times.

Time trials are always good for data. But if you spin off the line, running it out anyway really doesn't accomplish anything. If you spin in eliminations, don't make it obvious. Stay in it if you can do so safely and hope the other driver breaks out.
 
If your win light is on (i.e. opponent red lights, or if you get a competition bye), I usually use it as a free time run. If you want to not tip your hand to other racers, lift at either the 1000' (if running 1/4) or 330' (if running 1/8 mile) and you can use previous data to calculate what the car is running without telling the world what you are running....if that makes sense. This is more appropriate if you like to dial your car a little soft (aka, holding numbers or sand bagging).

As others said, if you take off and look back and they are broke at the line or just over the line and your win light is NOT on, be SURE and lift early enough that you don't break out or you will loose...even if your opponent is broke.

There is no rule (written or unwritten) about how to handle what you described....However, I would like to take this opportunity to say if YOU brake at any point during the run, pull the car to the side as soon as possible so that you don't mess up the grove for the other racers (please and thank you).
 
flyfish said:
There is no rule (written or unwritten) about how to handle what you described....However, I would like to take this opportunity to say if YOU brake at any point during the run, pull the car to the side as soon as possible so that you don't mess up the grove for the other racers (please and thank you).
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TT5.9mag said:
Depends on the situation as stated. There are no curtesy rules regarding lifting when the opponent breaks.
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Thanks, that is my main concern, I don't want to accidentally commit bad sportsmanship again. I wish there was a list of some common "do's and don'ts" for track ediquite.
 
If you have a problem with another racer, just be polite, explain to them that you are learning and merely made a mistake. And do what you can to not do the same thing again. Most people at the track are great people and you might even make a friend out of it. Most of all, while at the track, talk to people, ask questions, and have a good time.
 
Once while I was pulling up to stage, the car in the other lane had a problem and one of his crew made a gesture with his hands like snapping a stick in two indicating (to me anyway) that car was broken. The starting line guy motioned for me to stage, which I did and made a run. After I parked in the pits and stepped out of my car, here came one of the guys (maybe the driver) screaming at me "Why didn't you wait?"...
 
No rule on the run it out other than maybe the safety of the other car/driver. If the car broke and was still up the track in their lane, etc. If they are at the line, run however you like. EWliminations, keep inmind, if they don't redlight him to let you loose, you can't break out. If they are staged don't redlight yourself or breakout.

Courtesy staging is common. Some cars need a bit of time to get from pre stage to stage. If you double bulb them, the timer starts and will redlight them if they aren't staged after 8 seconds, IIRC. That's the only deal with courtesy staging.
 
crackedback said:
No rule on the run it out other than maybe the safety of the other car/driver. If the car broke and was still up the track in their lane, etc. If they are at the line, run however you like. EWliminations, keep inmind, if they don't redlight him to let you loose, you can't break out. If they are staged don't redlight yourself or breakout.

Courtesy staging is common. Some cars need a bit of time to get from pre stage to stage. If you double bulb them, the timer starts and will redlight them if they aren't staged after 8 seconds, IIRC. That's the only deal with courtesy staging.
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At my local tracks (not sure about everywhere), the clock doesn't start until it see's 3 sets of bulbs. In other words, if someone rolls right in and double bulbs me I can take all afternoon to stage the car, but as soon as I light the pre-stage bulb (the third set of bulbs the starter sees) the timer starts. My local tracks have anywhere from 7-10 seconds at that time.

Also fun side note (because I get a mean streak sometimes), if anyone double bulbs me....I'm on e85....I will literally wait for over a minute and watch them get pissed off while my car is nice and cool (thank you e85)....then when I think they have had enough fun I stage. This pretty much guarantee's a win, because the other guy will be all worked up and mad by that point...and they can only blame themselves for not courtesy staging.
 
Northern Grit said:
Thanks, that is my main concern, I don't want to accidentally commit bad sportsmanship again. I wish there was a list of some common "do's and don'ts" for track ediquite.
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Yeah, the main one is when you light your pre-stage bulb, wait for the other guy to light his/hers pre-stage bulb before fully staging the car.

Another is at the end of the track when you turn off (for this example lets say the turn off is to the left), then the left lane has the right of way...even if he is behind you...Don't be a Richard and cut off the car in the lane that has the right of way.

Last one I can think of off the top of my head, when you get called to the lanes, when you pull into a lane stay there....please don't be "that guy" that swerves from lane to lane attempting to avoid whomever he thinks he would lose to....Also (on that same note), stay with your car in the lanes....its annoying if the cars are moving and Richard Cranium over there takes a walk...is watching cars run...and not paying any attention to the lanes moving up.
 
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