Two steps, Data logger

[onewildride281]

As a member of the rules committee, yesterdays marathon meeting went well. The official rules and race day procedure package will be released latter this week, they are still being transcribed. As far as 2 steps, they can be used in NE 2 & 3. In NE 1 it can only be used for high speed or top end rev limiter only. This is to prevent over revving the motor. In other words not to be used to launch or dial in car. Also in NE 2 and 3 not to be used to dial in car, only launch and protect from over revving down track. Your Data logger can be used during practice runs prior to qualifying. After that, we would like to see it unplugged and removed. Most can easily be removed. If for some reason you decide to use your 2 step to dial in your car in NE 1, 2, or 3 during qualifying, you will be warned one time. If used during eliminations, you will be disqualified. This may sound confusing, but remember we are trying to make this affordable and competitive. If you have any questions feel free to call me. Thanks, Thomas Hixson 817-223-0012

[RockinRobinWKR]

Well, in all fairness, shouldn't gauges be unplugged or removed before qualifying and eliminations?

Essentially, that's what you are proposing to those that use a data logger.

[racer417]

Well this also brings up another question? Shifting, Air shifter are allowed if and only if they are a function of the Driver. Why not electric shifters if they are only a function of the driver?

[onewildride281]

:)You will be able to run your electric shifter as of yesterday as long as it is a function of the driver and not a signal sent by any other device. Thanks for asking and hope to see you at the drags! Thanks, Thomas Hixson

[rjracing]

Robin, What did racers use before Data Loggers and Electronics?

[onewildride281]

As far as unplugging gauges, wish I could see them as I swat gnats going down the track. My hands are full and I really don't want to take my eyes off the track to glance at them anyhow with the exception of a bright yellow light that flashes before my eyes that tells me when to shift. We want to keep the Nostalgia theme in this series as much as possible while keeping costs down. Hopefully we can please most car owners and drivers, thus making this series a really fun experience. Thanks for you comment. Thomas Hixson

[RockinRobinWKR]

Jan 14, 2013 20:58:09 GMT -6 rjracing said:

Robin, What did racers use before Data Loggers and Electronics?

Mechanical oil pressure gauge. What do I win ... lol?

[robie]

do you look at your gauges and other instruments at start, and before you pull to the line?

secondly, as I asked you yesterday Tom if we don't use the download box(which you must do to get data), what advantage do we have?

thirdly, because the blown cars have enough power to drive off the line(an advantage that j/f cars don't have), WHY penalize us, where we can't use 2 step for launch? In the excitement of the race, it could cause an over rev, and kill the motor, where is that cost cutting?

my point being for gods sake, it's an index class.....faster than 4,65, you loose !!!

[rjracing]

Robie, The intent is not to penalize ayone. The intent is to make a set of rules at the very beginning to try to keep cost down and be attractive to racers that might want to get into this area of the sport. It has happened time and time again that with out some limitations at the very begining racers will always find the newest and trickest piece out there. The racers that are able to afford these items have an advantage over the racer that can't afford these items even if it is only a MENTAL ADVANTAGE. The point being is to limit the effect that money as on every sport whether it be real or a mental advantage. Not any group, association or organization can make everyone happy, the goal is to make as many participants as happy as you can and to make it a succesful and fun place to be. As with any new venture some will embrace it, some will wait and see and some will never evan give it a thought. I hope you and others will opt for one of the first two.

[rjracing]

I should proof read a little better !!

[onewildride281]

Robie I do look at my gauges when the car is fired and pull to the line. And also when the car comes to a stop on the other end. We do realize that a jr. fuel car has a disadvantage on the starting line maintaining consistency without a 2 step. But it is not the only way to get a higher RPM launch. The right foot does come in to play. So it was like before we had electronics available to us, the driver can control and maintain the starting line RPM, it just takes practice. As far as the data logger we want them disconnect or removed preferred. Oil pressure gauge and a Tach and you are ready to go. I have been informed although you give up your down load box, info can still be retrieved, not saying you would do that, but other racers may have a different thought. We just want to keep a level playing field as much as possible. Hopefully racers will understand our logic. Hope to see you at some races this year. Thanks, Thomas Hixson

[robie]

pls tell me how data can be retrieved without the download box !!

someone out there is smarter than me !!

you were right, you can retrieve data with the live feed cable . we will give you that also to hold. consider that..ok?

[keltonauto]

Don't know about that data deal either. What about Trans brake ? I have to have it for reverse. Can a carburated altered run. Is it pro tree?

[RockinRobinWKR]

Having been involved with nostalgia racing for over 20 years, I doubt there are many that have been any more vocal than I have about maintaining the integrity of nostalgia racing and keeping the cost down. If nostalgia is what we are really after here then there are many issues to address. For example, blowers larger than a 6-71, shift lights, transbrake, and on, and on, etc., etc.

Look, here was an expensive lesson. A few years back we were running our car in St. Louis in a 6.50 index class. We were low qualifier, and dialing in the number using a clutch. It was our race to lose. And lose we did; big time. We broke a keeper, dropped a valve, and ultimately did about $8000 in damage … done for the year (in May).

Since then I pay close attention to the egts to watch for any sudden change in temps, and several times we were able to catch a valve train problem before it cost us several thousand dollars. And, often times I’ll scroll through the dash pod and check the temps before staging. If there is a drastic change in temps then it’s time to shut it off and save it for another day. That’s a real-time use of a data logger. If that is not proof and a sound cost saving measure, then nothing is.



The following photo is from a car show in Feb. 2004, just before we ran the car at the Mach Meet in Bakersfield in NE-1.



This was before we had a data logger. We had a problem with breaking rockerarms with this motor, and if we had a logger at the time we could have saved ourselves a lot of grief ... just sayin'.

Also, here's a link to NHRA Heritage rules which includes all the NE and Gas classes.

www.nhra.com/UserFiles/File/2012HRHS-Final2_03-22-12.pdf

Why not use the existing rules that have already addressed the issues and keep it consistent? NE-1 is the largest class in nostalgia racing. Don't fix it if it's not broken.

Edit: We didn't have a two-step then either, but we didn't really feel mentally challenged for lack of it ... lol! As I recall, we qualified in the top ten. We did get a bigger trailer this year.

[keltonauto]

I guess I'm with you on the data logger. I think of it as a money and time saver. Less runs on the car to get dialed in and find problems. Your running on a set index anyway so what's the big deal. Doesn't make the car run any different , just makes you smarter about what's going on with the car. I'm just looking for a place to run and have fun on pro tree no delay box. This might be it.