Tripping the beams?
10-03-2010, 07:57 PM
#1
Tripping the beams? I can't figure out how the hell this keeps happening to me. This weekend the car ran pretty deadly (6.94-6.96 all day at 97.8xmph). Well first round I stab the brakes ans smoked the front driver side tire, first time that ever happened in the camaro so I guess I may have got out of the groove a little and it slid or something.
Anyway, I got on the brakes and broke out by 3 hund. and pick up to 100mph. Well I had talked to coach I think it was Friday or maybe Saturday and he said he had took the lower air dam off. Well I took mine off thinking thats what was tripping the beams because this isn't the first time it's happened. I've had this happen to me about four times this year at different tracks.
Well after I took the air dam off (during 2nd rd today) I get right around the mph block and ease on the brake because I didn't need to kill much. Well I break out by 3 hund. again and run 100mph.
Does the car travel THAT much that the bumper is possible doing it? The car sits pretty high in the front and I can't figure out what the hell keeps tripping the beams.
Maybe my front polished wheels? I run a volkswagen style tire in the front and they look to be low, but are sitting at 35lbs.
I know that I had a problem like this years ago when the sun would reflect off my front wheel it would trip the lights at the starting line.
Any suggestions or anything? I just had to vent a little also since I couldn't even get past 3rd round all weekend
Still had fun, hope to see some of you Texas guys down at Dallas Raceway on Halloween weekend. I guess I should have stuck to my Super Pro this weekend
Anyway, I got on the brakes and broke out by 3 hund. and pick up to 100mph. Well I had talked to coach I think it was Friday or maybe Saturday and he said he had took the lower air dam off. Well I took mine off thinking thats what was tripping the beams because this isn't the first time it's happened. I've had this happen to me about four times this year at different tracks.
Well after I took the air dam off (during 2nd rd today) I get right around the mph block and ease on the brake because I didn't need to kill much. Well I break out by 3 hund. again and run 100mph.
Does the car travel THAT much that the bumper is possible doing it? The car sits pretty high in the front and I can't figure out what the hell keeps tripping the beams.
Maybe my front polished wheels? I run a volkswagen style tire in the front and they look to be low, but are sitting at 35lbs.
I know that I had a problem like this years ago when the sun would reflect off my front wheel it would trip the lights at the starting line.
Any suggestions or anything? I just had to vent a little also since I couldn't even get past 3rd round all weekend
Still had fun, hope to see some of you Texas guys down at Dallas Raceway on Halloween weekend. I guess I should have stuck to my Super Pro this weekend
10-04-2010, 06:32 PM
#2
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Depending on how the front end of your car is set up, you can trip the beams with your bumper. I have done it before. You can actually learn to use it to your advantage, if you know you can't catch someone, but will be close, stab the brakes and you have a chance at taking the stripe.
If you don't want it to do it at all, I have seen some f-bodies with a small plastic panel that hangs down 3-4 inches on the front of the bumper. That way you will trip the beams with the front bumper everytime.
If you don't want it to do it at all, I have seen some f-bodies with a small plastic panel that hangs down 3-4 inches on the front of the bumper. That way you will trip the beams with the front bumper everytime.
10-04-2010, 08:34 PM
#3
Depending on how the front end of your car is set up, you can trip the beams with your bumper. I have done it before. You can actually learn to use it to your advantage, if you know you can't catch someone, but will be close, stab the brakes and you have a chance at taking the stripe.
If you don't want it to do it at all, I have seen some f-bodies with a small plastic panel that hangs down 3-4 inches on the front of the bumper. That way you will trip the beams with the front bumper everytime.
If you don't want it to do it at all, I have seen some f-bodies with a small plastic panel that hangs down 3-4 inches on the front of the bumper. That way you will trip the beams with the front bumper everytime.
Hope this solves my problems
10-04-2010, 08:45 PM
#4
If you have the bumper support taken out then it can sag down quite a bit from the wind hitting it at 100mph. It might be dragging an inch or so above the ground just enough to trip the lights.
10-04-2010, 10:45 PM
#5
I'm thinking the stripe taker should take care of everything though. Then I can quit worrying about breaking out when I get on the brakes and smoke the left front tire
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10-09-2010, 12:57 PM
#8
I was having the same problem in my trans am. I made a "stripe taker" that I can quickly install and remove using dzus fasteners, and it solved the problem. Just make sure it is atleast 3" off the ground so you comply with the rule book. Also be ready for some strange looks and some angry competitors when they are trying to judge the stripe off your front tire and you get there first by a .010 or so and get the win light. 
10-11-2010, 11:11 PM
#15
I made a stripe taker and put it on and it was exactly 3" clearance with the car at rest (NHRA Legal). Well it didn't trip the beams. So I added another 1.5" and it tripped the staging lights, rolled up and got the tires in the beams and it still DIDN'T trip the 1/8th beams.
My buddy said the front end of the car is WAY up going down the track. Is it really necessary to make some front end limiters?
My buddy said the front end of the car is WAY up going down the track. Is it really necessary to make some front end limiters?
10-12-2010, 02:58 PM
#16
chris1313: yes its legal as long as its 3" off the ground per the nhra rule book. And no it does not trip the staging beams.
nhraformula00: It works for me, but thanks for the input...
nhraformula00: It works for me, but thanks for the input...
10-28-2010, 12:11 PM
#17
Another option is to add a set of double adjustable shocks so you can limit the drop at the stripe when on the brakes. Our quicker SS has DA shocks and does not have this problem, but our low 11 second SS will trip the beams with the nose if we dump at the stripe.
Coach and I both broke out like this a few months ago.
Keep us updated on your results!
Coach and I both broke out like this a few months ago.
Keep us updated on your results!
10-28-2010, 12:55 PM
#18
ya you can use the air dam, or the nose to do that. our cars i heard have the biggest overhang, I htink the sn95 are alittle more maybe . but there alot too. I know some chevyII guys that run a arm thats like 14inches longer then the car to be the save as a 4th gen in the class, its legal. same on the 5x-earily 60's bodies some have 20-30inch less overhang, the front tires are right there.
I dont braket race alot, but when i do some index and run the cloest slow class. And just fender the guy, if i poke the brakes to hard the car will et fast and more mph for sure, so i watch out for that. i trip the 60 with the airdam too if i keep it loose. I lost a final once, it sucked
I dont braket race alot, but when i do some index and run the cloest slow class. And just fender the guy, if i poke the brakes to hard the car will et fast and more mph for sure, so i watch out for that. i trip the 60 with the airdam too if i keep it loose. I lost a final once, it sucked
Last edited by studderin; 10-28-2010 at 01:30 PM.
11-03-2010, 06:40 PM
#19
Another option is to add a set of double adjustable shocks so you can limit the drop at the stripe when on the brakes. Our quicker SS has DA shocks and does not have this problem, but our low 11 second SS will trip the beams with the nose if we dump at the stripe.
Coach and I both broke out like this a few months ago.
Keep us updated on your results!
Coach and I both broke out like this a few months ago.
Keep us updated on your results!
