How does a drag racing Christmas tree work?
Both drag racing Christmas trees will utilize the same staging sequence where the front tires of the race vehicle cross the first invisible beam which indicates that the racer is about seven inches from the starting line.
How do drag races work?
Modern drag races are started electronically by a system known as a Christmas tree. A common Christmas tree consists of a column of seven lights for each driver or lane, as well as a set of light beams across the track itself.
How long does it take to light up a Drag Race tree?
Christmas tree (drag racing) A "Professional" tree will light up all of the large amber lights simultaneously, and then after a .400 second delay, light up the green light. Some classes will use a hybrid tree, known as a .500 Professional tree, where the delay is .500 seconds instead of the .400 seconds used in a standard Professional tree.
What is a pro tree in NHRA drag racing?
The first type which is mainly used by the NHRA Pro drag racing is called the Pro Tree. The Pro Tree is when all three amber lights flash simultaneously followed four-tenths of a second later by the green light (green is when you gas the vehicle forward).
How does a drag race tree work?
Each race is started by an electronic device commonly called a Christmas Tree. On each side of the Tree are six lights: a circle of small blue lights at the top — the top half for pre-staging and the bottom half for staging — three larger amber bulbs, a green bulb, and a red bulb.
How do you count the tree in drag racing?
0:155:37Dragracing 101 - The Tree and Staging - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe first pair of bulbs at the very top or the pre stage lights followed by the stage. Book. BelowMoreThe first pair of bulbs at the very top or the pre stage lights followed by the stage. Book. Below that there are three LED amber bulbs a green bulb and a red home as a car stage' the lights on each.
How does the Christmas Tree work in drag racing?
Drag racing's electronic starting device, also called the Christmas Tree, use calibrated LED lights to produce a visual countdown. The Christmas Tree is the NHRA's electronic starting device that uses calibrated LED lights that produce a visual countdown for each pro driver in a pairing.
What is a full tree in drag racing?
They indicate that the driver is actually on the starting line, and presumably ready to race. The next section is the three amber starting signals. In most bracket racing and sportsman classes, these bulbs will light in sequence, a half-second apart, this is called a full tree.
What is a good reaction time on a pro Tree?
500 reaction time is perfect. (In the same way, the four tenths delay of the Pro Tree makes a . 400 a perfect light on that one) Now, the reaction timer stops when the car leaves the starting line.
How do you leave a pro Tree?
14:5717:04Secrets to winning on a pro tree. Give yourself the advantage - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipDown here foot. Hard on the brake switch our other foot over to the gas. Give. It some rpm. AboutMoreDown here foot. Hard on the brake switch our other foot over to the gas. Give. It some rpm. About 1,500. Left foot let up a little bit bump bump bump like a bulb is lit.
What does guessing the light mean in drag racing?
You see, guessing the light is putting it all on the line in an audacious fashion that traditional drag racing cannot begin to rival. There, one can roll in a little further or even deep stage and improve their reaction time, but they're still watching the tree drop and have a visual cue to react to.
How do you make a drag racing practice Tree?
0:5712:03O' Drag Racing Tree - Build Your Own Drag Tree! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut I love these because a I got a swivel and they mount they're made to mount right into a piece ofMoreBut I love these because a I got a swivel and they mount they're made to mount right into a piece of plastic. So we can just take all of these guys apart mount. Them right on the side here and boom.
Are drag race starting lights called trees?
Modern drag races are started electronically by a system known as a Christmas tree. A common Christmas tree consists of a column of seven lights for each driver or lane, as well as a set of light beams across the track itself.
How tall is a drag racing Tree?
These 14 gauge light up LED drag trees, heavy metal drag trees are 35" (almost 3 ft) tall and have a brilliant finish.
Why do drivers do burnouts?
Burnouts can help remove unwanted debris Performing a burnout can help to remove any foreign matter or unwanted debris that may have collected on the tires before the race, particularly if the vehicle was coming from the pits.
What does double bulb mean in drag racing?
The opposite of courtesy staging is generally called double bulbing. Which is when a racer turns on the first and second stage bulb before their opponent turns on their first bulb. Sometimes this is just inexperience. Sometimes it's gamesmanship on the part of the racer.
How do you read a drag racing scoreboard?
1:2711:14How to Read Your Time Slip from the Drag Strip - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe very last yellow bulb before it turns green you need to leave if I'm in a powerful car I'm goingMoreThe very last yellow bulb before it turns green you need to leave if I'm in a powerful car I'm going to leave a little bit later in the yellow bulb.
What do the numbers mean on drag cars?
0:277:58Drag Racing Basics: What are all those numbers for? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd that's going to be your number for the day that's your call number so they can identify your carMoreAnd that's going to be your number for the day that's your call number so they can identify your car for scoring. And where you're located in the pits. And if they need to come talk to you.
How do you read a drag time slip?
Reaction: The time it takes you to get the car to move forward after the tree turns green. 60-foot (I1): The time it takes a vehicle to cover the first 60 feet of the track....Hot Rod Drag Racing Timeslip - How to Read a Timeslip.LACRCarlsbad60-foot1.5551.758330-foot4.7234.77518-mile e.t.7.2907.24718-mile mph96.22498.972 more rows•May 1, 2003
What does it mean to guess the light in drag racing?
You see, guessing the light is putting it all on the line in an audacious fashion that traditional drag racing cannot begin to rival. There, one can roll in a little further or even deep stage and improve their reaction time, but they're still watching the tree drop and have a visual cue to react to.
How many amber lights are there on a Christmas tree?
Amber lights are the next to light up. All three amber lights will flash simultaneously, followed four-tenths of a second later by the green light (a Pro Tree), or the three bulbs will flash consecutively five-tenths of a second apart, followed five-tenths later by the green light (a Sportsman Class Tree). The NHRA began using LED amber lights on the Christmas Tree before the 2003 season. They replaced the incandescent lights, because the massive vibrations from the 11,000-horsepower Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars burned out the bulbs too easily.
What is the Christmas tree in drag racing?
The Christmas Tree is the NHRA's electronic starting device that uses calibrated LED lights that produce a visual countdown for each pro driver in a pairing. The NHRA tree uses blue, amber and green lights.
What color lights do drag race drivers see?
The NHRA tree uses blue, amber and green lights. The one light color that a driver never wants to see is red. That means foul. The Christmas Tree that everyone is talking about at a drag race isn’t the fancy evergreen we display in our living rooms during the holidays. But it does have flashing blue, amber, green, and red lights.
What timing system does the NHRA use?
Since 1984, the NHRA officially uses CompuLink timing systems at venues on the professional drag- racing circuit (including the Christmas Tree, control units, timing sensors, cables, program software and time-slip printer).
How many lights are in a blue light?
The process starts with the blue light at the top of the apparatus. The blue light is actually two lights, two half-moons. The blue lights made their debut before the 2011 spring race at Charlotte, N.C.
What is double bulbing?
A move that smacks of game-playing or unsportsmanlike conduct—but often is simply a mistake by a later-apologetic and chagrined driver —is what’s known as “double-bulbing.” It happens when a drive rolls the car deep into the staging area and lights both staging bulbs on the Christmas Tree at the same time. It gives the opponent almost no time to get set to launch and disrupts that driver’s routine.
What is it called when two drivers hesitate to move into the staging position?
If racers want to play psychological games with each other to interrupt his/her sequence or maybe even get the crowd riled up for some added drama, he/she could engage in what’s called a burndown. That’s the situation in which both drivers intentionally hesitate to move into the staging position. Sometimes it pays off. Sometimes it backfires. Sometimes it perturbs the official starter, who orders both to shut off their engines and make way for the next pairing.
How do you make a drag racing tree?
The cost of building a drag strip will vary depending on where you live and what sort of permits are required for this type of construction project, but the general consensus is that a fully functioning drag strip will cost you anywhere from $1,000,000 to $4,000,000 just to get it off.
How do you beat the tree in drag racing?
The Christmas tree is used to start drag races. Each large amber light will be accompanied by a. 500 second delays in between them, followed by a green light.
How does a drag race tree work?
The Christmas tree is used to start drag races. Each large amber light will be accompanied by a. After 500 second delay in between them, there was a green light. The delay was 500 seconds.
What timing system does the NHRA use?
Since 1984, the NHRA officially uses CompuLink timing systems at venues on their professional drag racing circuit (includes the Christmas Tree, control units, timing sensors, cables, program software and time slip printer). Many divisional tracks for both the NHRA and IHRA also use CompuLink, but current timing system manufacturers of similar operations including Accutime, TSI, PortaTree and RaceAmerica among others can be seen at various drag strips throughout the world so long as these timing systems comply to rules and regulations set forth by the respective drag racing organizations for which they are members. There are still a few drag strips which continue to use the much older Chrondek timing system, although the company was sold to Daktronics in the 1980s and parts for that system are no longer made. Most drag racing time scoreboards currently seen at the tracks are provided by Daktronics, RaceAmerica or Accutime.
What color bulbs are used in the Charlotte Spring Race?
Prior to the 2011 Charlotte spring race, the small amber bulbs were replaced with the current blue bulb. For the Charlotte and starting in 2018, Las Vegas, spring races, there are four horizontally-aligned blue bulbs, representing the four lanes (Charlotte and Las Vegas April races are four-lane races). Two weeks later at Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas, the current standard Christmas Tree was adopted, with only two blue bulbs for the two lanes.
Where is the Christmas tree at Royal Purple Raceway?
Two weeks later at Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas, the current standard Christmas Tree was adopted, with only two blue bulbs for the two lanes. Starting in 2016 for selected bracket races, CompuLink debuted the TruStart system for staggered start races.
Is there still a Chrondek timing system?
There are still a few drag strips which continue to use the much older Chrondek timing system, although the company was sold to Daktronics in the 1980s and parts for that system are no longer made. Most drag racing time scoreboards currently seen at the tracks are provided by Daktronics, RaceAmerica or Accutime.
How far behind the starting line do you cross the beams?
When drivers are preparing to race, they first cross the beams 7 inches behind the starting line. Crossing this beam activates the top bulbs. Once pre-staged, drivers roll up 7 inches and cross the second beam on the starting line, bottom bulbs, Once both drivers have crossed the staged sensor, an official starter or automatic starting system will activate the next lighting sequence.
How many times has the Christmas tree changed?
The Christmas Tree has changed three times since its original debut in 1963 for the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The original Tree had five amber lights, but no pre-stage or stage bulbs. A pair of small amber bulbs, originally located at the start line, known as the pre-stage and stage bulbs, were added in 1964 Winternationals, held at the Los Angeles Fairplex (which still conducts the races today). Each of the five yellow lights were lit consecutively at a .500 delay before the light turned green.
How long does it take for a professional tree to light up?
A "Professional" tree will light up all of the large amber lights simultaneously, and then after a .400 second delay, light up the green light. Some classes will use a hybrid tree, known as a .500 Professional tree, where the delay is .500 seconds instead of the .400 seconds used in a standard Professional tree.
What Is Drag Racing?
A drag race is a competition between two vehicles racing side by side in a straight line for a distance of a quarter-mile (sometimes it’s an eighth-mile), held on a monitored drag strip/racetrack – and in most scenarios, whoever makes it to the finish line first wins. At a drag racing event, there are a series of individual matchups between two cars called eliminations; winners of these races continue on until there’s one winner left. A drag race is initiated by the Christmas Tree, an electronic lighting device that activates a timer by each vehicle, which is then stopped once that same vehicle crosses the finish line. The time it takes for the vehicle to go from start to finish is what’s known as an elapsed time, (or e.t.), which measures performance and determines handicaps during competition. At a NHRA sanctioned event, you’ll see two types of drag racing: heads-up and handicap. Heads-up racing is pretty straightforward: both cars leave from the starting line at the same time and the first to cross the finish is the winner. In Handicap racing, the goal is predict how many seconds it’ll take for you to get your car to the finish line, then try to run as close to that time as possible without going quicker (aka “breaking out”); the driver who comes closest is the winner. This style of drag racing allows cars of different speeds to race one another because the slower vehicle gets a head start. Sometimes the driver can choose his or her own handicap, which is also known as dialing-in or dialing-under.
How long is a drag track?
The length of a drag racing track is, as you can probably guess, a quarter-mile, or 1,320 feet, with each lane measuring 30 feet wide. Here are the various components of the track: 1 Burnout (aka “water”) Box: An area reserved for vehicles to enter that’s been sprayed down with water to help reduce friction as a driver initiates a burnout. 2 Pre-Stage Beam: As each vehicle’s front wheel enters this area, it’ll break the “pre-stage” infrared beam, which triggers the Christmas Tree’s pre-staged lights, alerting drivers that they’re closing in on ‘”staging”. 3 Staged Beam/Starting Line: This is another infrared beam in each lane that controls the starting and timing of the race, triggering an independent lane timer for elapsed time (E.T.) – and unless both drivers are fully staged, the race cannot be started. The staged beam will also trigger a red light if a false start takes place. The staged beam is located just six inches past the pre-staged beam. 4 Interval Timers: There are five intervals along the track where time and speed are recorded, which include: 60-foot, 330-foot, 1/8 th -mile, 1,000-foot and ¼-mile. 5 Speed Traps and Elapsed-Time Clock Beams: The last of the infrared beams are your most important: the first is located 66 feet before the finish line and measures top speed; the second is located at the finish line and shuts off the elapsed time and top speed clocks, triggering the win light. The 66-foot speed trap records top speed.
What is staged beam?
Staged Beam/Starting Line: This is another infrared beam in each lane that controls the starting and timing of the race, triggering an independent lane timer for elapsed time (E.T.) – and unless both drivers are fully staged, the race cannot be started. The staged beam will also trigger a red light if a false start takes place. The staged beam is located just six inches past the pre-staged beam.
Why is drag racing called dialing in?
This style of drag racing allows cars of different speeds to race one another because the slower vehicle gets a head start. Sometimes the driver can choose his or her own handicap, which is also known as dialing-in or dialing-under.
How does bracket racing work?
bracket racing, a more handicapped version which puts two vehicles of varying performance levels against one another on a more “even” playing field. Essentially, both vehicle’s elapsed times are compared, then the slower car is given a head start that’s equal to the difference of the two. This allows any two vehicles to be (hopefully) paired up for a fair match. Let’s break that down for a sec: Let’s say Car 1 has times of 10.23, 10.19 and 10.22; they might opt for a dial-in of 10.21. On the flip side, Car 2 was able to hit 12.87, 12.83 and 12.86, choosing 12.85 for their dial-in. Car 1 will receive a 2.64-second head start against Car 2 once the Christmas Tree fires off down to each person’s starting green lights. From there, it all comes down to the reflexes – however, just because someone has the advantage in comparing elapsed times doesn’t mean they will win. If both vehicles finish the race in their exact predetermined elapsed time, the win goes to the driver with the quickest reaction time. Local drag strips are better than ever and spread out almost anywhere that the rubber meets the road. The organization, timing and safety have evolved beyond anything available in the formative scene of the '50s. Show up, sign the release and let your right foot do the talking. ( Story: Driving Line staff; Photos: Tim Sutton and Driving Line archives)
What is a burnout box?
Burnout (aka “water”) Box: An area reserved for vehicles to enter that’s been sprayed down with water to help reduce friction as a driver initiates a burnout.
How many intervals are there in a track?
Interval Timers: There are five intervals along the track where time and speed are recorded, which include: 60-foot, 330-foot, 1/8 th -mile, 1,000-foot and ¼-mile.
