SRP rant

[gregc]

Who else had problems with SRPs lights on Saturday?

I went red in the left lane by .005. So I put .0136 more delay in my box. Next pass (left lane again), I go red .013!!! That is flat out impossible. I have video of the passes and they were no different. Not to mention the dozen or more guys who red lit in that same lane.

Went out Friday night too but didn't see anyone I knew besides Russ. Car ran a 9.64 on pump gas all motor :rolleyes02:. Gotta love the SRP clocks. Also, I hook up better on a Friday night then on Saturdays at that place. I think they get a little too carried away with the VHT on Saturday. Someone needs to tell them more=better doesn't work with VHT.

[Throttletag]

"I think they get a little too carried away with the VHT on Saturday. Someone needs to tell them more=better doesn't work with VHT."

Did anybody in the world ever think that we would EVER hear someone say that SRP gets "carried away" with VHT?

[gregc]

Haha... no shit. But seriously, there shouldn't be puddles.

How was Walla Walla? I'm really wishing I would have went there, but just didn't have time/money to be travelling two weeks in a row.

At least I got alot of suspension testing done.

[VWLover]

Every weekend people who have been racing for years are going red. I thought it was a bit odd as it was happening over and over again! I had heard that the light had been set up wrong the beams were to close together. but if you as anyone out there they will swear it done right! The place has gone to hell!

[BOOGEYMAN]

BAWHAHAHAHAHA, sorry had to say it!!!! FUCK THAT PLACE! Funny how greg runs a 9.70 in 100 feet above sea level air at seattle than goes to spokane the next weekend and runs a 9.64 in way worse air with even worse track conditions..........

Atleast more people are stating to go elsewhere and forget about that place.

If you are going to run at srp then dont bitch because it will NEVER change!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Travis.

[Throttletag]

Greg ~ Walla Walla was pretty good. Really good car count in both Pro and Super-pro. I didn't fare so well. They did too good of a job prepping the track between time trials and eliminations. I dropped from a 1.89 to a 1.87 in the 60' and I broke out by .02 (Damn-it). Oh well, that happens. Even though SRP does have their issues, I do have quite the group of racers coming up for the 14th of July. We got the whole month of July off so what the hell. You should bring the Camaro out. After the races are all done, we're gonna sit around, BBQ and bull-shit. Should be a good time. I bet we might even have a "Travis" sighting since it's the weekend before the Nationals. Come on Boogeyman, you know you want to.

[GetawayInMoscow]

If you watch from the stands people always red light the left lane. Last saturday I was there the same shit was going on.

[mark6052]

for those that are serious about there reaction times and red lighting maybe you should check the lites for rollout before you start eliminations. this way you will know what is going on before you make a pass. helps with guess work on delay boxes. I assume you were on a 4/10 tree?

[Kolat]

my only red-light was from the right lane, heh, I threw away that slip, missed second gear too and ended up running a 12.3 :-(

T

[Throttletag]

Hey Mark ~ as far as I know, they're running the full "sportsman tree" on Sat. nights now. (that's .500) I'm not sure what they're doing on the Friday night deal. I would like to see what their using for a set-up on the lights though. Has anybody on here watched them set up the lights? There used to be a little difference between lanes a while back, but both lanes were pretty tight. Not much roll-out. From what people are talking about, it's miles apart now. Flat out ask them (how high are the lights set up, what's the roll-out in each lane, what did you use to set the lights up...) really get involved to help make the lanes even for everybody.

[Metz Motorsports]

How much delay you have in that box greg?

I'm not standing up for SRP here, but I do see a few things with the track alot dont see. The roll out on the lights were fine, actually 1/2 inch MORE roll out in the left lane (that would hurt your r/t, not make it red) however the height of the lights makes a difference. So if you are driving a car that can pull the wheels, at least 1 1/2 inches then you could possibly go red from that. This might be why greg added time to his delay box but still went red. I'm sure there were plenty of cars going red that dont pull the wheels up on launch but I'm willing to bet that most of those cars are foot braking and guessing on the last bulb-thats way to inconsistant to make a good judgment. Anyway, all I know is that the starting line lights were even on both sides-as much as they can be with a 50 year old design of a photo cell, a pair of fog lights and a brick anyway. I have less time in my delay box these last 4 weekends than I ever have before. Might just be me or my car. Maybe the lights are to low, whatever......just a thought

[gregc]

I watched videos of both runs and they are damn near identical. If anything, my last run spun more then the previous. Neither lifted the front tires at all.

Friday night I had no problem with red lights and it was hooking up better. My first left lane pass on Saturday, I went red by .0289. So, I added .030 because I figured it was something on my part (going in too deep or something). Next pass in the left lane (first round of P/G eliminations), I go red by .005. I was pissed but I knew I hit that light pretty good. I decided to just buy back in and put enough time in the box to cover me and hope I get the left lane again. I put .013 more in the box and then go red .0138. I was very careful about just tipping in the beam both elimination passes. It is flat out impossible for that to have happened. If it were just me, I wouldn't say that, but everyone I spoke with that red lit was saying how they had just put even more time into their box but still redlit.

It really wouldn't take much money to invest in some new starting line photocells/optics. Maybe using something a little more substantial then a brick would help too. :P

On a side note, I did run two 9.74s in a row on Friday night. Saturday wasn't quite as consistant. I'll see if I can't find time to post my first pass of Saturday. The lanes are shiney wet with VHT. It likes like it just rained it is so shiney. That isn't a good thing.

[mark6052]

:2cents:when I bracket raced seriously I had a wheel 24"same as my front runners. many others did the same thing to check the lanes at srp. It would also answer as to the height. no guessing or feelings involved. its just part of what you should do to "know" whats going on. unlike other tracks srp does have some old tech. as to them spending extra money, thats not what the court appointed the overseer for. barry is not there to improve the operation with major exspenses. maybe the "new" owners will. for now, there no better or worse than the last 30 years.

[Metz Motorsports]

They do use a simulated wheel to set the lights. It was actually measured off a wheel/tire and cut for about the bottom 4 inches of the tire. Its a handy little tool however when the lights are picked up and thrown on a counter after every race, there is no real good way to keep these things in perfect shape. I do know that a phone call has been made to TSI numerous times this season....I wont say what for though.

Greg, how much total delay in that box?

[gregc]

The last pass was 1.064. My car is a slow reactor. Especially with these tires. With the DOT radials, I have to add about another .04-.05 in the box.

My point being is that it changed significantly round to round. It wasn't just me. Other guys were putting .020 in there box per pass and still red lighting. How many red lights were in the left lane Saturday night? 20? I know I did at least three. I know Wayne did at least two.

How are the sensors mounted? Are they on a fixed bracket? Adjustable bracket? On a bracket at all??

[miss440]

Hi guys,
My husband and I haven't been out to SRP for least 3 years. Has their lighting equipment really gone to crap? My question is, what's going to happen when they host AHRA or have races for big block muscle cars? My husband used to race his '68 plymouth and now that my '68 coronet is up and running, we're curious how it'll turn for time. I don't want us to waste our money by driving all the way up there, and the money to race if their lighting equipment is bad.
Is the Walla Walla track used for 1/4 mile racing?
Thanks--

[sefus]

If you want the fastest ET come to SRP, if you want accuracy, Id head down south. Way too many variances here in Spokane.

-Sefus

[BOOGEYMAN]

If your looking for a fast timeslip then srp is the place to go! If you want to know what your car really runs then any other track would work! Walla Walla is 1/8 mile and they treat you like real people!

As far as the "Big AHRA" race they are the ONLY ahra track in the world :rofl: so they dont really care much as there is no real sactioning body to hold them to a higher standard!

Travis

[gregc]

Walla Walla is an 1/8 mile track. The hospitallity and racers there are second to none. Great place to go racing.

FWIW, the lights seemed to work fine on friday night and I got my "fastest" time ever on just motor. The lights on Saturday seemed to report the times fairly consistantly and are in line with the times I got Friday considering the air differences (2800' vs 3800'). It was the staging beams that were screwed up.

If you just are looking for times, come on up and find out. Just remember to add .25-.3 to your ET to get an approximation of your normal sea level track ET. At least that is how far my times are off.

There is no more AHRA. The "sanctioning body" AHRA is owned by Orville Moe and SRP was the only AHRA track. But, there are plenty of dragsters, big block & small block muscle cars, and various others that are out there racing weekly.

[miss440]

Walla Walla is an 1/8 mile track. The hospitallity and racers there are second to none. Great place to go racing.

FWIW, the lights seemed to work fine on friday night and I got my "fastest" time ever on just motor. The lights on Saturday seemed to report the times fairly consistantly and are in line with the times I got Friday considering the air differences (2800' vs 3800'). It was the staging beams that were screwed up.

If you just are looking for times, come on up and find out. Just remember to add .25-.3 to your ET to get an approximation of your normal sea level track ET. At least that is how far my times are off.

There is no more AHRA. The "sanctioning body" AHRA is owned by Orville Moe and SRP was the only AHRA track. But, there are plenty of dragsters, big block & small block muscle cars, and various others that are out there racing weekly.


Thanks for the input--I'm bumbed about no more AHRA. That was one of the most anticipating event to attend to. At least it was for me....
What are the requirements and/or limitations to race at Walla Walla? Sorry if I'm buggin' ya with too many questions--

[gregc]

Depends on how fast you are. They are an NHRA track so your car must meet NHRA rules. If you don't have a rule book, one can be had by joining the NHRA.

There is the two day "nitro event" here at SRP in August that replaces the "world finals". Last year was fun. Not sure what it will be like this year being cut down to two days.

[mark6052]

august nitro race will be some-8 nitro nostalgia f/c, thats about it for the nitro show. the usual blown alcohol cars. time trials on friday nite, elims on saturday. so far no modern type nitros. I know dean alexander would like to come run a 2 outta 3 with ron smith but I dont think that will happen . maybe in sept race. the clocks maybe alittle hot in srp, but you can repeat that in seattle. besides, times are variable truout the year. its tuff to run the same number in august you do in may or sept. does it really matter what number you run at the track in anaconda?

[Metz Motorsports]

The last pass was 1.064. My car is a slow reactor. Especially with these tires. With the DOT radials, I have to add about another .04-.05 in the box.

My point being is that it changed significantly round to round. It wasn't just me. Other guys were putting .020 in there box per pass and still red lighting. How many red lights were in the left lane Saturday night? 20? I know I did at least three. I know Wayne did at least two.

How are the sensors mounted? Are they on a fixed bracket? Adjustable bracket? On a bracket at all??



I was only asking what delay you have just for comparison. I am using less delay this season from last, kinda weird. It might be the tires I dont know. I didnt find any inconsistancies with myself with the lights. I did go red in the final round in the tower lane however I had just taken .010 out and went .010 red. Before taking that .010 out I was goin .020's every round, but I was leaving second. Final round I was the slower car and I was a little more amp'd I suppose. I thought it was just me. Like I said I have on average .020 less delay than last year and cuttin the same lights.

the photo cells on the starting line are mounted to a bracket which just sits on the ground. All-thread and wing nuts for adjustment. The bolts actually are recessed in the ground so the photo cells really cant move unless hit. the roll out (actually not the roll out?, the distance measured when both beams are broken simutaniously, the center I should say I guess) was 4.5 inches in the tower lane and 4.0 inches in the spectator lane. This would actually hurt reaction time in the tower lane.

Maybe we should check them out, all of us. We'll have a group meeting on the starting line. Maybe we can figure this all out.

[Throttletag]

"Maybe we should check them out, all of us. We'll have a group meeting on the starting line. Maybe we can figure this all out."


Thats going to be the best way to do it...

[Ryfly05]

the roll out (actually not the roll out?, the distance measured when both beams are broken simutaniously, the center I should say I guess) was 4.5 inches in the tower lane and 4.0 inches in the spectator lane. This would actually hurt reaction time in the tower lane.

Ok, I will admit that I don't know exactly how all this stuff works, but why not make them EQUAL in both lanes, so both lanes are EQUAL. LOL :2cents:

[Metz Motorsports]

well have a go at it and see if you can get them equal. The equipment is old as hell and there are alot of varibles. The system uses 2 truck work lights, 2 photo cells that are made of sheet metal and cardboard on a metal stand that is held down by a red brick. a half inch is pretty damn close with this equipment LMAO

[79-Malibu]

I would be willing to bring the tool that is used to set the lights if you all would like to have a meeting on the starting line and get this figured out. Jason is right though, i know for a fact the light "should have" been worse in the tower lane. Now to say whether the old equipment is registering properly accoring to the messurements? Who knows.... But just for numbers sake.... The lights are set like this...

__< stage off and timer starts

< distance supposed to be 7.5 inches in both lanes and this needs to be as close to the other side as possible or the et's will vary between lanes.
__ < pre-stage off and you get your r/t
< distance supposed to be 4 inches. needs to match other side in any instance.
__ < stage

<-- distance usually 7.5 inches, but has no relevance it is just how far you have to roll before your stage light turns on.
__ < prestage

Not to say that people didnt already know thats how it worked... just wanted to say what the numbers "should" be.