Footbrake to transbrake comparison
I think my car was consistently faster, and the driver a little better, because the transbrake made the routine simpler. Instead of staging (or pre-staging) and then trying to find the right, and the same, rpm to leave off the footbrake, with the transbrake i just staged and floored the throttle. Same rpm every time, car hooked, i could concentrate sooner and easier on the light. Took the carburator pump circuit variable out of the equasion too.
In my blue Duster i only used the brake on pro tree’s. On full tree’s i always footed the car. Tried both ways extensively before deciding i was better and more consistent off the foot on full trees.
Disagree entirely about less going on in the routine using a brake. To me, there way WAY more going on using the brake.
With me, no matter the combo, i have always just bumped in and turned on the first bulb, bring the car up to 2k( easy mark to see on tach) suspension is relaxed, not tensed at that Rpm, then creep in off the brake. Now i am set no matter if i am faster or slower car.
When using the brake, much more going on( at least it seems like it to me)
Turn on first bulb, then turn on second bulb, decide when you are going to the mat, especially if you are waiting on a slower car you don't want to be on the chip forever, push the button prior to putting your foot to the floor( not a natural thought process for me, then let go of the button.
Less moving parts at the hit..for sure....but much more thought needed prior to the hit.
I am not some stud driver..i have several liabilities.. major one being i am blind in my left eye. But in all the years i have raced at my home track, most always against very good drivers using brakes( And team 131 generally is the bracket finals champ in our division most every year) i would say i am at the very worst mid pack, or maybe better... part time racing off the foot against those guys. For work reasons i havent been able to race points, because i miss too many races. But the only year i have ever raced points, i did make the bracket finals team as a footbraker.
Long story short, one shoe doesn't fit everybody,maybe its because my eye effects my brain thinking about a lot of things at once when staging with a brake, but to me..footbraking is way more deliberate and relaxing...and i have yet to see it play any factor in how my cars have run.
No matter how you launch the car, foot or brake, the car is still seeing the same flash point of the convertor.....
If i foot at 2k with a 5k flash vert, car still runs 3 k more before it hits.
If i have chip set at 3500 using brake, car still is gonna hit at 5k, not at 3500 where the chip is at.
Sometimes car is actually faster “ seeing more room” between those two points than less, if that makes sense. Especially heavier cars.
Example, my S/S spring 9 sec Duster ran faster launching it at 2k off the foot than at 3k off the foot, because the springs were not all “ hunched up” at the lower rpm and worked better at the hit that way.....
your results might vary...lol
