Footbrake racing

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tvt59

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I don't Footbrake race much anymore. But for those who do.

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I've been drag racing since 1959. Always footbrake. My opinion is "the box is for drivers that can't adjust to changing conditions. It is a crutch".
Waiting to get flamed
 
I cannot Footbrake AMX because it is so cramped inside for me when I get my Dakota finished I will probably footbrake it some because there is much more room in it
 
pittsburghracer said:
Wow I honestly couldn’t tell you that. It’s been quite awhile now though. Pretty sure keystone was still an NHRA track at the time.
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RockinRobin said:
When did they change the tree from 5 yellows to 3?
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Prior to year 2000. If I remember correctly, when I took a break from racing about 1985 it was still 5 bulbs. When I started racing again in 2000 it was 3 bulbs.
 
I loved my transbrake, tho I raced no-box with it. My lights were better, and more consistent. Not great, just better, lol.
I'm cramped in my Opel too, like tvt59, but I'm gonna start footbraking it, and probably eventually go TB.
I got a steering wheel with a flat spot on the bottom, for more legroom. It's as small as I feel comfortable using.
 
Let me clarify my statement. I don't have a problem with a manually triggered trans brake. What I have a problem with is delay boxes, and all those other "crazy" things, like leaving hard, then throttling back then going full throttle again (by computer). If the driver has full manual control, Hey that's being pretty skillful. There are probably many devices I am not even aware of.
 
Charrlie_S said:
Let me clarify my statement. I don't have a problem with a manually triggered trans brake. What I have a problem with is delay boxes, and all those other "crazy" things, like leaving hard, then throttling back then going full throttle again (by computer). If the driver has full manual control, Hey that's being pretty skillful. There are probably many devices I am not even aware of.
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How long has it been since you’ve raced. Even trans brake buttons are adjustable now. Lol
 
pittsburghracer said:
How long has it been since you’ve raced. Even trans brake buttons are adjustable now. Lol
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Actually I was up to Gainsville two weeks ago. I was supposed to be at the slant six race this weekend at Knoxville Dragway. But I had a problem with care for my wife. She can't be left alone for too many hours (medical issues). There are probably "driver assist" devices I have never heard of. Since I am a "die hard old school" racer I don't pay attention to what is out there. I know "hobby" racers that have more money in their electronic devices than I have in all my cars put together.
 
Charrlie_S said:
Let me clarify my statement. I don't have a problem with a manually triggered trans brake. What I have a problem with is delay boxes, and all those other "crazy" things, like leaving hard, then throttling back then going full throttle again (by computer). If the driver has full manual control, Hey that's being pretty skillful. There are probably many devices I am not even aware of.
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do you understand that is class racing? super comp, super gas, and super street. it takes a boatload of skill to compete in those classes. you have to run the number (8.90, 9.90, and 10.90) and the field is extremely tight.

i've been involved with a super comp dragster for 3 years and it some of the most intense racing i have ever seen. those that know, know.
 
9secRR said:
do you understand that is class racing? super comp, super gas, and super street. it takes a boatload of skill to compete in those classes. you have to run the number (8.90, 9.90, and 10.90) and the field is extremely tight.

i've been involved with a super comp dragster for 3 years and it some of the most intense racing i have ever seen. those that know, know.
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Yes, I understand that. It looks totally stupid to someone that is not really familiar with drag racing. And the drivers are not really driving, they are just steering, the "computer" is doing the driving. Take the computer out of the car and show me what the driver can do.
PS: over the years I have competed in quite a few different vehicles. From a Z/SA- bracket racer 65 Valiant, a 65 Valiant with a 273, a altered wheelbase 68 Cougar with a 440 Chrys., Front motor dragster with SBC. I ran all four of those cars at 5 different races in the same week. ET's ranged from high 16's to mid 9's and I did well. I have held record's in three different stock eliminator classes with a Ford, a Chevy and a Mopar. I was runnerup at the "bracket Nationals" at Byron Ill. in 1976, also runnerup at the division one Bracket finals. Over the years I have raced at over 50 different dragstrips (even ran at Pittsburg) and I can't even say how many cars. And I never ran electronics, except for ign box. Fact is I never even had a "line lock" until 5 years ago. Back "in the day" I was very good, But I parked my car in 1985, because footbrake and box cars ran together, and foot breakers did not have a very good chance of making it to the "money" rounds at a big payout race. I resurrected my slant six car in 2000 to run the slant six series. I'm not so good any more, as I don't run many races or TnT's, and I have slowed down some at 82 years old.
 
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Charrlie_S said:
Yes, I understand that. It looks totally stupid to someone that is not really familiar with drag racing. And the drivers are not really driving, they are just steering, the "computer" is doing the driving. Take the computer out of the car and show me what the driver can do.
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you have lost touch with reality buddy, have fun with your slant 6
 
9secRR said:
you have lost touch with reality buddy, have fun with your slant 6
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I do and I do it for probably less money in my complete car than most box racers have in their boxes.
I will challenge anyone on this site (within a reasonable traveling distance) to run against me in a car they have no more than $3000 into. That's what I have in mine. Not everyone has a ton of money for racing.
 
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9secRR said:
you have lost touch with reality buddy, have fun with your slant 6
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He actually hasn’t lost touch at all. He just fondly remembers a bygone era of racing that in many ways was much more pure than it is today.
I love footbrake racing too. It’s all I do. And I take great pleasure taking down higher tech opponents.
But, each to his own. Things evolve. It’s just nice that in spite of that, you can race how you want.
My friend Donnie Hagar won the million last year off the bottom, imagine winning it off the foot!
 
B3422w5 said:
He actually hasn’t lost touch at all. He just fondly remembers a bygone era of racing that in many ways was much more pure than it is today.
I love footbrake racing too. It’s all I do. And I take great pleasure taking down higher tech opponents.
But, each to his own. Things evolve. It’s just nice that in spite of that, you can race how you want.
My friend Donnie Hagar won the million last year off the bottom, imagine winning it off the foot!
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Exactly. I remember the days when you went to the track on race day and could get almost as many time shots you wanted before eliminations. Gates opened at about 8 am, hot track about 9 am, eliminations about 1 or 2 pm, finish racing about mid night. You could actually work on the tune up on race day, or even try some different parts to test back to back.
 
Charrlie_S said:
I do and I do it for probably less money in my complete car than most box racers have in their boxes.
I will challenge anyone on this site (within a reasonable traveling distance) to run against me in a car they have no more than $3000 into. That's what I have in mine. Not everyone has a ton of money for racing.
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I’ll quit before I go that slow. Talking about the way others choose to race. Good luck going slow. Probably another one I should add to my short list. Lol
 
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