From: patman@lotus.com (Pat Mancuso )
Subject: Re: NHRA Classes
Organization: Lotus Development Corp.
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 92 14:11:07 GMT

From article <1992Mar30.12753.17345@ms.uky.edu>, by uk09365@nx04.mik.uky.edu (robert i kesten):
> In article <92087.143256KXN2@psuvm.psu.edu> Karl Nordstrom  
> <KXN2@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:
>> What are the NHRA classes?  I have heard of top fuel, funny car, and Pro  
> Stock.
>> What are the differences between the classes.  Are there classes for  
> cars
>> that are daily drivers.
>> 
>> Thanks
>> Karl Nordstrom,    kxn2@psuvm.psu.edu -or- KXN2 AT PSUVM.BITNET
> 
> I really should run over to the Super Shops and grab a copy of National  
> Dragster or something like that before I answer this post; but:
> 
> NHRA has Pro classes, sportsman classes, and bracket type classes.
> 
> Top Fuel Dragster, Top Fuel Funny Car, ProStock, Top Alchol Dragster, Top  
> Alcohol Funny Car, Super Competition, Super Gas, Competition Eliminator,  
> Super Street, Street, etc.  Classes below the Pro and "Top" sportsman  
> classes are subdivided into brackets or indices.  If you race your daily  
> driver (check NHRA rules for required safety and other mods) it will be  
> indexed by:  estimated 1/4 or 1/8 mile time, tranny type (man. or auto.),  
> drive type (front or rear), and vehicle type (car or small truck).  The  
> index is used to set a handicap timed start.  If you are indexed at 16.9  
> seconds and your opponent at 17.4 seconds he/she will get a 1/2 second  
> head start.  At the end of track you are not supposed to "break out."  To  
> break out means to run faster than your index (ie. run a 1/4 mile in 17.2  
> when you are indexed at 17.4).  If you break out you lose unless your  
> opponent breaks out, too and then the driver who is closest to their index  
> wins.  This adds an extra dimension to just dragging it out and also keeps  
> the competition close and fair for a wide variety of cars and budgets.

The first one to cross the finish line wins.  That sounds simple, but it
is the result of reaction time+car time.  You not only have to figure out
your car's performance, but yours as well.  Tougher than it looks...
Your track time is measured from the time you cross the start time to the
time you cross the finish line.  The handicap, however, controls when 
the green lights go on.  If you get a green, wait 5 minutes, then go,
you'll still run a 14.xx (or whatever), but your *total* time will be
5:14.xx, and your opponent is long gone.  In the end, it's who crosses
the finish line first (without redlighting, fouling, or breaking out worse).
> 
> If you have the faster car you may still have an advantage.  Your opponent  
> could "red light" the start and default the run to you, he/she could cross  
> the line first but break out and then you can let off and coast across the  
> line, and finally your opponent has to look over his shoulders and worry  
> about you catching up...

Not necessarily - I routinely beat people with faster (12-13 sec.) cars 
with my (14 sec) streeter.  The slower car has the option of dialing high,
and forcing the faster car to break out.  It's much easier for a 14 second
car to put the brakes on at the last minute to stay under your dial than
it is for the 20-30 mph faster (at the end) car to do the same thing -
especially if they're not expecting it.

On the other hand, a faster car can 'sandbag', catch up to you mid-
track, and just stay a few feet ahead till the finish.

The problem with all this bench racing is that the tolerances are usually too
close to effectively fudge in a real race.  I won a race by .001 second once...
(double break-out, semi-final round)

Then again, I once missed a 2-3 shift BADLY and  my opponent noticed this and
slowed down-- I ended up catching up and winning anyway.  Anything
can happen.
> 
> [disclaimer:  I don't drag race and have never been to a drag race ...  
> just things I read or see or TV ]
> 
> Robert I. Kesten

[claimer: I *have* drag raced, and have been to drag races, and have read
and seen things on TV also.  So there.]
--
Pat Mancuso - patman@lotus.com
Newsgroups: rec.autos.sport