How to bracket race

**casper gt** · 02-20-2009, 08:59 PM

glad I could make your day!

**altoona** · 02-22-2009, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by Martin0660

I loose more races this way than I can count. I can not make that connection with my right foot to lift, even knowing I'm headed to break out. I got better at it last year, but still lost rounds because of it. My dial in is real simple, I put a number on the window that is slightly better than what I think the car can run, and drive it out the back :D I make way less mistakes than trying to mess around and out think everything.

I'm with you on this one Bob, that's exactly how I do it. I usually take my best time trial run and shave a couple hundredths off to get my dial in, then just run as fast as I am able. Unless I'm way ahead, I don't dump. This works well against sandbaggers too, as I've been known to push them into break out land.

All this talk about racing's got me with the heebie-jeebies waiting for the season to start.

**Martin0660** · 02-22-2009, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by NovaPRP

But that's no fun!!! lol

Well, I really enjoy being at the track, understand bracket racing, but will never be the most consistant with my junk. For me it's all about running the car out, and sometimes I manage to go a few rounds. That's my version of fun. (not to mention the reaction I get when I spank guys with my 4 cylinder, 5 speed, turbo car :D ). If I loose doing it my way, I'm okay with it.

Originally Posted by altoona

This works well against sandbaggers too, as I've been known to push them into break out land.

This is an excellent point. I have pushed a ton of them under by just flat running my car out. The other great tool for sandbaggers is to simply smack them on the tree and it messes their game up. My other tool for sanbaggers is that my time trials can be all over the place, so they have no idea what I really run :D (unfortunately, that's not the plan)

**CobraII** · 02-24-2009, 11:01 AM

It is fun running the car all out, and sometimes, you HAVE TO STAY IN THE THROTTLE THE WHOLE WAY (BALASKA!!!!!!!!!!)!! I get the biggest thrill when I can't tell who has the stripe, and I'm in the throttle the whole time, and time sort of stops and hangs as I wait to see the win light come on.

**Balaska347** · 02-24-2009, 02:50 PM

HAHA yeah i lost a few race from letting up and giving the stripe back. I don't care what my car runs or if I was in the gas another 50ft. To me its about turning the win light on a watching the other guy load his stuff up and go home.

**NovaPRP** · 02-24-2009, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by Balaska347

HAHA yeah i lost a few race from letting up and giving the stripe back. I don't care what my car runs or if I was in the gas another 50ft. To me its about turning the win light on a watching the other guy load his stuff up and go home.

Couldn't have said it better. I would race a Yugo as long as it put cars on/in their trailers!!!!!

**CobraII** · 02-25-2009, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by Balaska347

HAHA yeah i lost a few race from letting up and giving the stripe back. I don't care what my car runs or if I was in the gas another 50ft. To me its about turning the win light on a watching the other guy load his stuff up and go home.

SEE AGAIN!!!!!!:

Originally Posted by CobraII

It is fun running the car all out, and sometimes, you HAVE TO STAY IN THE THROTTLE THE WHOLE WAY (BALASKA!!!!!!!!!!)!!

**CobraII** · 02-25-2009, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by NovaPRP

Couldn't have said it better. I would race a Yugo as long as it put cars on/in their trailers!!!!!

I would too. There is great satisfaction hauling my junk up to the line, and sending some big dollar fast cars home.

Anyone want to throw anything out there about establishing consistency?

**NovaPRP** · 02-25-2009, 01:17 PM

Once I establish it I will let the group know...lol

**Balaska347** · 02-25-2009, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by NovaPRP

Once I establish it I will let the group know...lol

LOL well said

**CobraII** · 02-26-2009, 11:03 AM

Alllllllrighty then! lol

For me, consistency is knowing what the car is going to do. It won't run the same pass after pass, unless the air stays pretty much the same. So if it's a Saturday, and our time trials are in the afternoon heat, I know if I go rounds, my car will pick up a little each pass, and I dial for it.

**NovaPRP** · 02-26-2009, 11:11 AM

LOL, Actually, I see a lot of things that will bring around consistency for many people. These are kinda mixed up, after I typed it I realized it should be rearranged by priority level, my priorities would go as such
Procedure: Shift points (must be exact), burnouts (try to get length of burnout the same EVERY TIME), and of course staging comes into play here. Fourth the car itself,I already posted about staging, if you don't do that consistently then the rest is going to be off.
Chassis: Make sure the car is not spinning, I think this is one of the great consistency battles for many of the "street/TnT" crowd. I think having a good suspension/tire combination is VERY important. I like to say that my car would hook on a skating rink...etc.
Drivetrain: This is an area that needs to be worked out, one thing at a time to establish consistent results. I have not found a great deal of consistentcy in gearing, so you can often look elsewhere. Jetting is very important to consistency, but not the Golden Ticket so to speak. My primary concern for my drivetrain consistency is my torque converter (stick guys...sorry you have issues that I wouldn't even know where to start on). I have an ATI 8" converter IMHO one of the best companies in the business, but there are many. Find a converter builder that is REPUTABLE, I don't trust some of these "cheaper" companies selling stuff on e-bay, etc. This is one area that I firmly believe you are getting what you pay for. I contribute a lot of my cars consistency on my converter, others may agree or disagree, but I can string 60' times together and they only vary maybe .005-.008 for a given day.

Also, as CobraII said, sometimes predictability is as important or more important that focusing on getting the car to run EXACTLY the same every single pass. It is possible, unlikely, but possible to get your car to vary less than .01 for an entire day. So you must learn to predict what it is going to do.

Anybody with anything else to add feel free? I am in this to learn as many of us are!!!

**CobraII** · 02-27-2009, 10:50 AM

Those are all good points Mark, and I think a lot of people overlook the importance of staging the same every time, and hitting the shift points on time every time.

One of the big things for my car is engine temperature. I like to hit the water box at about 150*, with warm water in the radiator. By that, I mean I've warmed the car up a cycle, the thermostat has opened, cool water is in the block that I then warm up to 150*. That helps me stay right on. If it's a cool day, or if there's a clean up, I'll warm the car up between runs to keep some heat in it. If I run too cold, I risk bogging off of the line, and if I don't bog, I may pick up a little.

**2001GTTT** · 02-27-2009, 12:21 PM

well....I guess im just gonna have to bring out the old Merc. this season and show you boys what its all about.

**CobraII** · 03-01-2009, 08:04 PM

Bring it out!!! I personally believe in running everything down the track at least once!! :D:D

6 years ago, my car wasn't ready for the start of the season. I ran my buddy's whupped '89 Dodge Dynasty with a 2.5 4cylinder. That thing zeroxed passes, 19.97, 19.97, 19.97, 19.97. I got both Ares and Balaska on that day! :D

**2001GTTT** · 03-01-2009, 08:07 PM

hahaha!!

**Martin0660** · 03-01-2009, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by CobraII

I personally believe in running everything down the track at least once!! :D:D

For sure! You all have seen me jump into the truck and go rounds when the car frigged up. It's nice to know what anything will run if needed :D

**NovaPRP** · 03-01-2009, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by CobraII

Bring it out!!! I personally believe in running everything down the track at least once!! :D:D

6 years ago, my car wasn't ready for the start of the season. I ran my buddy's whupped '89 Dodge Dynasty with a 2.5 4cylinder. That thing zeroxed passes, 19.97, 19.97, 19.97, 19.97. I got both Ares and Balaska on that day! :D

I believe that was the first day I ever met you Chuck. I am pretty sure anyways. That makes sense because I am going into my 7th year of racing.

**casper gt** · 03-01-2009, 08:31 PM

some of you may remember my red '75 cutlass. when I started with that car (260ci, 2bbl., auto, single exhaust) it ran 20.72 all day every day. pretty slow but didn't seem that bad then cause a really fast car then ran 10.0.

**Balaska347** · 03-01-2009, 09:47 PM

Originally Posted by CobraII

Bring it out!!! I personally believe in running everything down the track at least once!! :D:D

6 years ago, my car wasn't ready for the start of the season. I ran my buddy's whupped '89 Dodge Dynasty with a 2.5 4cylinder. That thing zeroxed passes, 19.97, 19.97, 19.97, 19.97. I got both Ares and Balaska on that day! :D

Do you have to rub it in haha. Its bad enough I have it on tape.