returning to drag racing

[yellomalibu]

cant believe so many are taking this as a serious question lol.

Why not? What does it hurt to answer a simple question honestly, without judgement?

[mrocketscience]

What ever you are planning to do there are lots of classes that do not invlove throttle stops, whether heads up or brackets.

Throttle stops should never have been in anything called racing and should be banned. yesterday.

If someone mentions cross over boxes, delay units or any of that monkey business turn away and find some real racers.

Foot brake or ne-E classes are also a good start. End rant.

I'm with ya there!... I only race in No Electronics classes...

[Beagle]

Why not? What does it hurt to answer a simple question honestly, without judgement?

I actually appreciate the response because I didn't know what the hell it was. I was gonna answer "Firewall"...

or maybe Floorboard. that's where the throttle stop is on all of my cars! I like stuff to run good but I'm never at a track. Thanks for taking the time to clue some of us "not up with the times" folks in.

[yellomalibu]

The Moroso non-electronic throttle stop is what's on my car. It physically stops the throttle at the same location every time. I adjusted it so my primary and secondaries were open fully, and not over-centered. I suppose you could adjust it to less than full throttle... but that's no fun.

[Dignlif]

I'm with you guys, I dig foot brake, no electronics. Though, then it's all my fault when I screw it up.

For manual stops there's also

the EZ-Plate system - swap in plates with different size holes
(www.restrictorplate.com)

Willy's Adjustable Restrictor Plate - turn adjustment knob to open close blades in holes
(www.willyscarbs.com)

[Deaf Bob]

The Moroso non-electronic throttle stop is what's on my car. It physically stops the throttle at the same location every time. I adjusted it so my primary and secondaries were open fully, and not over-centered. I suppose you could adjust it to less than full throttle... but that's no fun.

This, I get... WOT... But throttle stops to hold you back... Electronically... Don't think so. Then you are just racing percentages..

[yellomalibu]

I never did any throttle stop racing, so I don't get it.

I did, however race a bit with electronics; with a delay box. It is still very much a competitive way to race - all it did was tighten up the racing, with margins of victory around 1 thousandth of a second becoming commonplace.

Lots of old school drag racers or casual observers of drag racing on tv simply don't like bracket racing. I understand that, and am ok with that - it is hard to follow until you get into it - but it is fun, challenging, and does not have to be expensive. Consistency is the name of the game. but this is getting into a lot more than the o/p asked about.

[Deaf Bob]

Isn't the idea of drag racing to as fast as you can to win?
I think... Reading this and yellowmalibu's post on throttle stops..the op prolly had your response in mind and everybody assumed, me a little too, that throttle stops were to keep your full potentional from happening... Since I read yellowmalibu's answer, I see how wrong I was... It is to keep the butterflies from going too far... Thus acting like not full throttle.. Going too far is like not going far enough to be WOT..
Bracket racing, I understand.. Faster/slower cars can race each other..either can win.. Electronics help keep from going too fast (breaking out) Correct?

[Dignlif]

Here's my understanding...the electric solenoid or pneumatic actuated throttle stops are controlled by a delay box which allow the driver to put the pedal to the wood and not lift until after the stripe. The delay box opens or closes the blades to limit the amount of air getting in. Just watch the Super classes and you'll see the car launch at what sounds like full throttle and less than a second later it sounds like they're just idling down, then a few seconds later they're at full throttle again; all the while the pedal is on the floor. They don't need to lift unless they're fender racing the stripe or think they may take too much stripe and break out. The ability to dial in the delays makes for incredibly close races and reaction times.

They also play games with the delay as to when and how long so they're not both at full throttle at the same time. With engines capable of running in the 7's or 8's in the 9.90 class for example, they can leave the delay on longer to make the opponent think they're never gonna catch up so they lift, but then they catch up with a full head of steam and crazy mph. These classes are extremely close and every bit of the package (rt + et) is important to win rounds much less races.

The manual throttle stops are fixed so once you set them, that's all you're going to have on the track, no more. I've seen guys using it to get them close to their index and do the rest with their right foot. These are pretty much full throttle (to the restricted amount) all the way down the track until you're again fender racing the stripe.

I've learned a lot since my friend first introduced me to drag racing 6 or 7 years ago and I have to say I never thought it was so involved. I also thought that Stock Eliminator would be a fairly reasonable class to get into cost wise, I mean it's close to stock right? Boy was I wrong!

[yellomalibu]

Isn't the idea of drag racing to as fast as you can to win?
I think... Reading this and yellowmalibu's post on throttle stops..the op prolly had your response in mind and everybody assumed, me a little too, that throttle stops were to keep your full potentional from happening... Since I read yellowmalibu's answer, I see how wrong I was... It is to keep the butterflies from going too far... Thus acting like not full throttle.. Going too far is like not going far enough to be WOT..
Bracket racing, I understand.. Faster/slower cars can race each other..either can win.. Electronics help keep from going too fast (breaking out) Correct?

The "electronic" type of throttle stop that Dignlif just described is probably what the O/P was asking about. That's the kind I mentioned that I have little knowledge of, so I didn't attempt to describe it.

But no, Bob you weren't wrong, then you were.

Electronics don't keep a car from going too fast (breaking out) ... that sort of electronic device is against the rules.
When people speak of Electronics vs. Foot brake classes of racing, both are bracket racing BUT the "electronics" guys use a delay box on the starting line. Instead of letting off the brake pedal and hitting the gas when the bottom bulb comes on, the electronics guys let go of a button as soon as the top bulb comes on. Letting go of that button starts the (electronic) delay box timer that determines when it will release trans brake or line lock, launching the car.
It is easier to get consistent reaction times by reacting to the first flicker of light than it is to time the tree as it comes down. This is why the electronics class races have such tight margins of victory; everyone cuts a good light.

Another thing allowed in the electronics classes that may not be allowed in foot brake classes is an electric or pneumatic shifter that is rpm activated. It helps make the car much more consistent. This, too, makes the racing tighter.

Yes the "electronic" controlled throttle stop holds the car back from its full potential. Like Dignlif explained, if your car has the ability to run a 9.00 @ 147 mph, but you use a throttle stop for 2 full seconds during the run - you may run something like 11.00 @ 145 <-- That makes it more difficult for your opponent to judge the finish line, which can force him or her to make an error "driving the stripe".

Clear as mud yet?

[Deaf Bob]

I will admit, I do not know much about trans brakes and the like...
But yes it isn't so murky now...
Thanks for clarifying..

Kinda like making a run at a hill with a load... Instead of flooring it, I find I make it better if I just speed up a bit before giving too much throttle ...