How to bracket race

[2001GTTT]

im seriously thinking with a nice smooth auto and the AWD, the mountaineer could be pretty lethal.

[NovaPRP]

Until the computer decides it doesn't like something...pulls timing, cuts fuel and you go .2 off the dial...


Hate EFI high tech stuff for bracket racing...might try my luck in street a time or two with the Grand Am just to see how it does...don't have much faith in consistency though.

[CobraII]

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.

It was right around then, Mark. I *think* that was the second points day. The Cavalier did just as you mentioned, went way off, the week before first round.

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

Dooood!!! You never said you have that on tape!!! 6 freakin' years later, you happen to mention it?!? Man, talk about a sore loser!!! :D:D C'mon, you whacked me with the T Type, after I dropped a perfect light on you. You whacked me with Denny's land barge 4 door Electra. I'm fine with it! lol :D

[NovaPRP]

Would that have been 2003? or 2002? If it was '03 then I had the Nova out there. If it was '02 then Dad would have been racing and I would have been about 15 and not racing yet.

[CobraII]

im seriously thinking with a nice smooth auto and the AWD, the mountaineer could be pretty lethal.

It's a lot of fun scoring round wins with stuff like that.

Until the computer decides it doesn't like something...pulls timing, cuts fuel and you go .2 off the dial...


Hate EFI high tech stuff for bracket racing...might try my luck in street a time or two with the Grand Am just to see how it does...don't have much faith in consistency though.

I am amazed how nuts on Mike's car runs with the EFI set up, but that's not exactly factory stock.

It is hard making a factory stock EFI car consistent, and even then, consistent means it's running within a tenth pass to pass. The hot rod Cavalier wagon would go 2 passes the same, then go way off. I don't know enough about making them work... I'll say again, I am a "me use carb" knuckledragger. There are people out there who have been successful with it. I hear there is a closed loop, and open loop, in the computer, and by running the car hot, it stays in one?

[NovaPRP]

I have also heard about things like O2 sensor "foolers" that basically tell the computer the car is running perfect ALL of the time...stuff like that. I did a little research and my/Beth's Grand Am could be a stocker I think it's index is like 15.90 or something like that. It runs like mid 17's now....Pro-Am in stock eliminator..hmmmm lol. Beth would kill me.

[Balaska347]

I can't speak for every car out there but the 02 sensors usually don't do anything at WOT. 02 sensors are for emissions and gas mileage. The 5.0 mustang for example has settings in the computer for WOT which it runs at everytime your are WOT. They don't change from pass to pass but the settings are set for the factory setup. This is why when you start up grading such as cam, heads, intake, injectors etc. you have to make changes to the computer because the parameters aren't set up for the extra air flow and larger injectors. Now keep in mind that every computer is different and can handle more or less upgrades without being touched.

[CobraII]

Mark, that was 2003.

She would kill you... especially when you start doing things to get the car under index!

[NovaPRP]

Mark, that was 2003.

She would kill you... especially when you start doing things to get the car under index!

You mean like slicks? and an aftermarket Torque converter...oh and a header...lol. That should be about all it takes.....yeah I would be dead no doubt about it.

[CobraII]

I'll poke this up by explaining classes. One of the things I want to point out is that the class names are just names... Modified class doesn't mean your car has to be modified, Street doesn't mean your car has to be 100% street legal (unfortunately, in my opinion).

TROPHY CLASS (Sponsored by NAPA Auto Parts)

This is the main beginner’s class for someone who has not raced before, or very often. This is a full bodied car class, where cars cannot run quicker than 12.00 in the quarter mile. No slicks, open headers, or electronics (footbrake only, no transbrake or delay box) are allowed. The class is often made up of daily drivers, some imports/sport compacts, and musclecars from all years. The winner receives a large trophy, the runner up a trophy, and the semi finalists a small trophy. Racers dial to the tenth of a second.

STREET CLASS (Sponsored by Aamco Transmission of Lower Burrell)

Street class is a step above Trophy, where racers can earn money, and a kind of training ground for the faster classes. Slicks are allowed, as are open headers, but is footbrake only (no trasnbrake or delay box). The entry fee is a little more than Trophy, but round money is paid out, starting with a second round win, and the class pays $350 to win, $150 to runner up. The class features a lot of muscelcars, many running in the 12 and 13 second range.

[CobraII]

MOTORCYCLE CLASS (Sponsored by Z&M Cycles)

Motorcycles are in their own class. No delay boxes are allowed, and drag bikes and street bikes run in the same class. There are sport bikes, like the Hayabusa, drag bikes that run in the 8 and 9 second range, along with some Harleys. Payout is based on the number of entries.

MODIFIED CLASS (Sponsored by Millerstown Pic-A-Part)

The Modified class entries must run 13.99 or quicker. Transbrakes and 2 steps are allowed, but delay boxes are not. (A transbrake locks first and reverse together in the transmission. This allows the racer to bring the rpm’s up higher for the launch. A button the driver releases controls a solenoid, which disengages reverse.) Payout is $800 to the winner, $350 to the runner up, $100 to the semi finalists, and round money, starting with second round win. There are many cool cars in the class, and the racing is often very close.

TOP CLASS (Sponsored by Grabiak Chevrolet)

Top class entries must run 11.99 and quicker, and delay boxes are allowed. (Delay boxes allow the racer to react to the top amber, and a computer holds an amount of time, the delay, before allowing the transbrake to release.) The class features a mix of door cars, roadsters/altereds, and dragsters. Payout is $800 to the winner, $350 to the runner up, $100 to the semi finalists, and round money, starting with second round win.

Edit - I wrote this a couple of years ago when the winner's purse was $800. It was $1000 last year in both Top and Mod.

[CobraII]

For the kids, they can run in junior dragster classes. Some people think man, those things are annoying... but there is as much money wrapped up in these cars as some of the big ones. And it teaches kids how to race, and how to be sportsmanlike. IHRA has a great program I wish more people would take advantage of... TCR - Teen Championship Racing. If that would have been around when I was a kid, my parents could have asked anything, and I would have done it, to be able to go racing.

JUNIOR DRAGSTERS

Junior dragsters are an option to allow kids to learn bracket racing in an eighth mile format. The dragsters are powered by single cylinder lawn mower engines, and there are different elapsed time cutoffs allowed, depending on the age of the child. Kids as young as 8 can race, but cannot go quicker than 12.90. Older kids cannot go quicker than 7.90.

TEEN CHAMPIONSHIP RACING

TCR is another option to allow kids ages 13-17 to learn bracket racing. In this class, full size, street legal cars and trucks (11.00 and slower, no purpose built race cars) race in an eighth mile format. The driver is the child, with a co-driver (parent, guardian, or licensed driver over 25). The driver has to be licensed by a tech official, by demonstrating they are familiar with the vehicle and its steering, pedals, shifter, and making passes with tech official. This is an economical way to get involved in bracket racing, and a great way to spend time together.

[AdamantiumSilvr]

Talked and BS'd a bit with NovaPRP's bro last night and met u guyz engine builder @ Sheetz near PRP on our way to play a Featherlight show @ the Corner Pocket in Blairsville. It was a pleasure, can't wait for the up comin season's.
That's a great idea to post info on all the different classes!

[mustang50lx]

For the kids, they can run in junior dragster classes. Some people think man, those things are annoying... but there is as much money wrapped up in these cars as some of the big ones. And it teaches kids how to race, and how to be sportsmanlike. IHRA has a great program I wish more people would take advantage of... TCR - Teen Championship Racing. If that would have been around when I was a kid, my parents could have asked anything, and I would have done it, to be able to go racing.

JUNIOR DRAGSTERS

Junior dragsters are an option to allow kids to learn bracket racing in an eighth mile format. The dragsters are powered by single cylinder lawn mower engines, and there are different elapsed time cutoffs allowed, depending on the age of the child. Kids as young as 8 can race, but cannot go quicker than 12.90. Older kids cannot go quicker than 7.90.

TEEN CHAMPIONSHIP RACING

TCR is another option to allow kids ages 13-17 to learn bracket racing. In this class, full size, street legal cars and trucks (11.00 and slower, no purpose built race cars) race in an eighth mile format. The driver is the child, with a co-driver (parent, guardian, or licensed driver over 25). The driver has to be licensed by a tech official, by demonstrating they are familiar with the vehicle and its steering, pedals, shifter, and making passes with tech official. This is an economical way to get involved in bracket racing, and a great way to spend time together.

My daughter is racing TCR this year. She can't wait. Donna Miller at the IHRA was great to deal with getting her license. We mailed the paperwork on a Monday and literally by Friday she had the license in her hand.

[Balaska347]

My daughter is racing TCR this year. She can't wait. Donna Miller at the IHRA was great to deal with getting her license. We mailed the paperwork on a Monday and literally by Friday she had the license in her hand.

Thats cool I would like to see that class grow

[CobraII]

I definitely want to see TCR grow. I think that is an awesome class, and a low cost to get into. 1/8th mile passes in a daily driver/grocery getter is something any car should easily handle. Our buddy Barry's son will be in it this year too. Thanks for the post about the license, I'll remind him to take care of the that before opening day.

[CobraII]

Dean Pollock, of Dean's Racing Engines (the engine builder for the Romeo clan, among others) is a great guy and builder. He gives a lot of support to the Street class, putting up a sbc for the top 16 in Street to run off for at the end of the season, and awarding a 750 carb to the second place points finisher in Street.

There's a lot of cash out there to be won again this year..

Top and Mod will each continue to pay out $1000 to win, thanks to the Pittsburgh Raceway Park guarantee.

Points are 2 points to stage, 2 points for first round win, 1 point second round win on up, 1 bonus point to each class winner.

This, I really like... 15 points days, the best 12 will be used, no more points pass. Go on vacation from weekend to weekend, and if those 2 Saturdays are points days, they get dropped. Got a wedding, family reunion, picnic, etc, on a points day? No problem, that zero points day gets dropped. And, there will be points make up days, just like last year, in case Mother Nature doesn't cooperate on a points day.

Thanks to Import Export Tire, the awesome points payout fund is the same as 2008... Top and Mod both pay $5,000 (FIVE THOUSAND!) to the winners, $2,000 to second place, $1,000 to third place, $500 to fourth, $400 to fifth, $200 to 6th through 10th. Street and Bike both pay $2,000 to first place, $500 to second place, $300 third, $200 fourth, $100 fifth. Junior dragsters, in each age group, (bonds) $1,000 to first, $400 to second, $200 to third, $100 to fourth.

Thank you to PRP, Import Export Tire, and all of the great sponsors!

[Martin0660]

This, I really like... 15 points days, the best 12 will be used, no more points pass.

Now THAT I like. I really don't plan to chase points this year with the big car changes, but this has so many up sides for those that do. Even if you make them all, drop those couple of 1st round loss's, or whatever. Also allows guys to hit a big(er) dollar race and not loose out on points.

With the UMTR and NMRa races I'm planning this year, I would have missed 3 points days (plus a few days when PRP had other stuff). Hell, I could actually make 12 races.

[Balaska347]

Yeah this is probably going to be great for me. I start my new job in June and I will probably miss a points day or two. This will definitely help me.

[CobraII]

The new PRP Thunder magazine is out as well. It's pretty cool walking into the Tarentum Giant Eagle, and there's a couple racks with it in, right by the doors. It has the schedule in the middle, and highlights a lot of the events this season. Our buddy Scotty Campbell is on the cover with his dragster.