A sheep eats the wolves for lunch... just once.
07-19-11, 05:42 AM
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A sheep eats the wolves for lunch... just once.
I thought the title would catch your attention...
I built my RX for drag racing. I'd done enough test & tune events that I knew it was ready and not going to fall apart; so I decided to try bracket racing with it... If you're not familiar with how handicap ET drag racing works- in it's simplest form, the cars are offset at the start so that both cars are supposed to arrive at the finish line at the same moment. In reality, it's like playing high speed game of poker.
I gave it my first try on the 9th at Pacific Raceways. I got there early, ran two time-only passes to get to know how the car is performing that day, and then when they called our group, I went into the first round of eliminations. I dialed the car at 11.77, since that was what it ran both times earlier. the car i pulled, a 4th generation camaro, dialed a 10.82. I came up to the tree and did the routine to get staged. The lights came down, and I went... the light was green, awesome! I get down to the other end an the camaro is right there beside me, I touch the brakes for a moment thinking I might break-out(go too fast), but that was just enough to give it away. I lost the race by 0.0233 seconds... and was out. It was a very close race for my first time. I had the only import car that I saw there that night in the lanes too. Because there was a big turnout, there wasn't going to be an additional bracket for anyone eliminate 1st round, so I loaded up and headed home.
Second try, the 16th @ Pacific again... this time I wasn't the only one in an import! I noticed a late model Toyota corolla racing in sportsman bracket! Unfortunately, I arrived a little late, I only got one time-only pass, red light. Went into eliminations, obviously not on my A-game, red light hard... -0.222. (WTF was going on in my head?) out first round.
So I go ask an official if they are going to have a 2nd chance round... at that point he didn't know, but he said to stick around & listen to the announcer... OK, no biggie, so we hang out getting ready to go if they say no. 20 minutes later they say yes. cool! 2nd chance race is only $10, and it includes all classes... sportsman, pro, super-pro, and motorcycles. so I go for it.
1st round I was with a silver 50's chevy pickup running high 10's. I take the win by 0.0693! cool, I made it past 1st round!!!!
2nd round I'm paired with a motorcycle going mid 10's. he cut a really bad light, I cut a decent light, ran my race & took the win!!! very cool!
3rd round I drew a mid 90's buick(?) bodied car going 10.0, a regular pro class bracket racer. I cut a slightly better light, and take the win by only 0.0138 sec.... darn close, a gnats hair, but still it's a win... but I'm now in round 4... the semi's!!!!!
Round 4- I roll up in the lanes and pair with the late model Toyota corolla going 19's... some how he'd made it this far, he's either good, or lucky... I don't know which, so I stick with my same routine. He's the first guy I've raced that was slower. I ignore him, do my stuff, roll up to the line, & stage it. He takes off.... and I wait an eternity- 7+ seconds. I hit it, cut a good light, and chase him down to take the win again! When picking up the timing slip they stop everything because of some rain sprinkles, they paused the others in the 2nd chance semi (it passed and the track was quickly dried & checked).... I rolled directly around to the staging lanes, and get to see my competitors race!
Round 5- (the final) I'm against a 7 second rail, that I had just watched take out another super-pro car, and run his dial by 0.01 sec. So, I dialed my car tight, break-out tight, scary tight at 11.87(that's what the car was running). For some reason, knowing that they have all sorts of gadgetry allowed in those cars puts more pressure on (at least that's how it seems).... I go through my burnout & staging routine, and take my best whack at the tree that I can.... it seems like an eternity after the last yellow turns off. I'm on the gas, my car is moving; I'm beginning to think I just gave it away at the line, and the green pops on! At about half track I look in the mirror, and see him start going, finally... I plan to stay in it the whole way. I see him approaching, I'm not letting off... then I look over as I approach the finish line, he comes flying past me doing 183, it was nothing but a roaring blur. I didn't know who finished first, but the win light came on for me.... I won? huh? holy crap!!!! looking at the timeslip, I cut an 0.020 light to his 0.091, I had him at the tree! Then I ran dead-on my dial-in at 11.876! The timeslip says margin of victory was 0.1027 sec.
So I go to the tower to get my cash & tell them who I am, they hand me my winnings, and congratulate me... then I tell them it's my 2nd time bracket racing, ever... their jaws hit the floor. They say I'd beaten some great local bracket racers to get there, and the guy in the final has $250K in his rail.
Instead of it being a bust, I took home enough cash to pay for the day at the track! Winning kicks ***!
I'm still in shock.
One thing I know: even some of the best racers get put on the trailer week after week and never see a win. every round 50% get eliminated every time
Basic details for each round are also listed on youtube
Round 1:
YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.
Round 2:
YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.
Round 3 (damn close race, margin was 0.0138... about 4-5 inches; also- check out the 1-2 shift):
7-16-11 2nd ch round3.wmv
Round 4, semi-final:
7-16-11 2nd ch round4.wmv
Round 5, Final:
YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.
So there you have it, a sheep ate the wolves for lunch, just once!
I built my RX for drag racing. I'd done enough test & tune events that I knew it was ready and not going to fall apart; so I decided to try bracket racing with it... If you're not familiar with how handicap ET drag racing works- in it's simplest form, the cars are offset at the start so that both cars are supposed to arrive at the finish line at the same moment. In reality, it's like playing high speed game of poker.
I gave it my first try on the 9th at Pacific Raceways. I got there early, ran two time-only passes to get to know how the car is performing that day, and then when they called our group, I went into the first round of eliminations. I dialed the car at 11.77, since that was what it ran both times earlier. the car i pulled, a 4th generation camaro, dialed a 10.82. I came up to the tree and did the routine to get staged. The lights came down, and I went... the light was green, awesome! I get down to the other end an the camaro is right there beside me, I touch the brakes for a moment thinking I might break-out(go too fast), but that was just enough to give it away. I lost the race by 0.0233 seconds... and was out. It was a very close race for my first time. I had the only import car that I saw there that night in the lanes too. Because there was a big turnout, there wasn't going to be an additional bracket for anyone eliminate 1st round, so I loaded up and headed home.
Second try, the 16th @ Pacific again... this time I wasn't the only one in an import! I noticed a late model Toyota corolla racing in sportsman bracket! Unfortunately, I arrived a little late, I only got one time-only pass, red light. Went into eliminations, obviously not on my A-game, red light hard... -0.222. (WTF was going on in my head?) out first round.
So I go ask an official if they are going to have a 2nd chance round... at that point he didn't know, but he said to stick around & listen to the announcer... OK, no biggie, so we hang out getting ready to go if they say no. 20 minutes later they say yes. cool! 2nd chance race is only $10, and it includes all classes... sportsman, pro, super-pro, and motorcycles. so I go for it.
1st round I was with a silver 50's chevy pickup running high 10's. I take the win by 0.0693! cool, I made it past 1st round!!!!
2nd round I'm paired with a motorcycle going mid 10's. he cut a really bad light, I cut a decent light, ran my race & took the win!!! very cool!
3rd round I drew a mid 90's buick(?) bodied car going 10.0, a regular pro class bracket racer. I cut a slightly better light, and take the win by only 0.0138 sec.... darn close, a gnats hair, but still it's a win... but I'm now in round 4... the semi's!!!!!
Round 4- I roll up in the lanes and pair with the late model Toyota corolla going 19's... some how he'd made it this far, he's either good, or lucky... I don't know which, so I stick with my same routine. He's the first guy I've raced that was slower. I ignore him, do my stuff, roll up to the line, & stage it. He takes off.... and I wait an eternity- 7+ seconds. I hit it, cut a good light, and chase him down to take the win again! When picking up the timing slip they stop everything because of some rain sprinkles, they paused the others in the 2nd chance semi (it passed and the track was quickly dried & checked).... I rolled directly around to the staging lanes, and get to see my competitors race!
Round 5- (the final) I'm against a 7 second rail, that I had just watched take out another super-pro car, and run his dial by 0.01 sec. So, I dialed my car tight, break-out tight, scary tight at 11.87(that's what the car was running). For some reason, knowing that they have all sorts of gadgetry allowed in those cars puts more pressure on (at least that's how it seems).... I go through my burnout & staging routine, and take my best whack at the tree that I can.... it seems like an eternity after the last yellow turns off. I'm on the gas, my car is moving; I'm beginning to think I just gave it away at the line, and the green pops on! At about half track I look in the mirror, and see him start going, finally... I plan to stay in it the whole way. I see him approaching, I'm not letting off... then I look over as I approach the finish line, he comes flying past me doing 183, it was nothing but a roaring blur. I didn't know who finished first, but the win light came on for me.... I won? huh? holy crap!!!! looking at the timeslip, I cut an 0.020 light to his 0.091, I had him at the tree! Then I ran dead-on my dial-in at 11.876! The timeslip says margin of victory was 0.1027 sec.
So I go to the tower to get my cash & tell them who I am, they hand me my winnings, and congratulate me... then I tell them it's my 2nd time bracket racing, ever... their jaws hit the floor. They say I'd beaten some great local bracket racers to get there, and the guy in the final has $250K in his rail.
Instead of it being a bust, I took home enough cash to pay for the day at the track! Winning kicks ***!
I'm still in shock.
One thing I know: even some of the best racers get put on the trailer week after week and never see a win. every round 50% get eliminated every time
Basic details for each round are also listed on youtube
Round 1:
YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.
Round 2:
YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.
Round 3 (damn close race, margin was 0.0138... about 4-5 inches; also- check out the 1-2 shift):
7-16-11 2nd ch round3.wmv
Round 4, semi-final:
7-16-11 2nd ch round4.wmv
Round 5, Final:
YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.
So there you have it, a sheep ate the wolves for lunch, just once!
07-19-11, 09:40 AM
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Congratulations, those are some nice times as well as great consistency. You definitely have a great setup with a great driver behind the wheel.
I am not sure how things work, since you lost the first round but they kept you going does that mean you were competing in a group with everyone else that lost the first round, or did they just put you back in with everyone else? Either way, make it through several rounds against seasoned competitors is a great feat.
Have you caught the bracket racing bug now?
I am not sure how things work, since you lost the first round but they kept you going does that mean you were competing in a group with everyone else that lost the first round, or did they just put you back in with everyone else? Either way, make it through several rounds against seasoned competitors is a great feat.
Have you caught the bracket racing bug now?
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07-19-11, 02:57 PM
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Thanks everyone! Every time the win light comes on, it's a great feeling.
I've been around bracket racing off & on for about 15 years, other family members have been into it and they have been an amazing resource and help.
The race is a 2nd chance event, everyone in it lost in the first round of the regular bracket eliminations.... if they didn't hold the 2nd chance race, all of us would have been done for the night. The track officials make a decision based on car count and timing if they will run a 2nd chance race, and they hope there's enough time. Then, everyone that enters puts $10 in a pot. It's a way to let the racers have a little more fun, and get at least one more pass, but it doesn't count toward season points if the racer is registered for them.
From one perspective, you could jokingly say I'm just running a bunch of losers.... but like I said, even the best bracket racers make mistakes and get eliminated in the first round; and every round 50% are out. However, after this 1st round- they just won, and are now back on their game again.
I may not be able to afford to do it all the time, but yes, I'm hooked. I'm planning on going back the next two Saturdays, to see how I do in points (last points races for the season) and then I'll hit an occasional event until next year.
Tweak- you know my car.... bone stock LS1, yank 3600 stall torque converter, built 4L60E trans, T2 diff, and mild suspension work. oh, and sticky tires!
Congratulations, those are some nice times as well as great consistency. You definitely have a great setup with a great driver behind the wheel.
I am not sure how things work, since you lost the first round but they kept you going does that mean you were competing in a group with everyone else that lost the first round, or did they just put you back in with everyone else? Either way, make it through several rounds against seasoned competitors is a great feat.
Have you caught the bracket racing bug now?
I am not sure how things work, since you lost the first round but they kept you going does that mean you were competing in a group with everyone else that lost the first round, or did they just put you back in with everyone else? Either way, make it through several rounds against seasoned competitors is a great feat.
Have you caught the bracket racing bug now?
I've been around bracket racing off & on for about 15 years, other family members have been into it and they have been an amazing resource and help.
The race is a 2nd chance event, everyone in it lost in the first round of the regular bracket eliminations.... if they didn't hold the 2nd chance race, all of us would have been done for the night. The track officials make a decision based on car count and timing if they will run a 2nd chance race, and they hope there's enough time. Then, everyone that enters puts $10 in a pot. It's a way to let the racers have a little more fun, and get at least one more pass, but it doesn't count toward season points if the racer is registered for them.
From one perspective, you could jokingly say I'm just running a bunch of losers.... but like I said, even the best bracket racers make mistakes and get eliminated in the first round; and every round 50% are out. However, after this 1st round- they just won, and are now back on their game again.
I may not be able to afford to do it all the time, but yes, I'm hooked. I'm planning on going back the next two Saturdays, to see how I do in points (last points races for the season) and then I'll hit an occasional event until next year.
Tweak- you know my car.... bone stock LS1, yank 3600 stall torque converter, built 4L60E trans, T2 diff, and mild suspension work. oh, and sticky tires!
07-23-11, 02:23 AM
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thanks, the swap is worth the work, you will not regret it.
I'm headed back tomorrow afternoon to give it another try. gates open around 3.
I'm headed back tomorrow afternoon to give it another try. gates open around 3.
07-31-11, 07:25 PM
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Since I was down hanging out with the buick guys for turbo thunder I took these for you.
Wish I took this one out of shutter mode. Slick wrinkling
I didnt cut a good enough light though 
Wish I took this one out of shutter mode. Slick wrinkling
I didnt cut a good enough light though
08-01-11, 04:54 AM
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Awesome! I saw the RX8 parked by the staging lanes... it didn't event cross my mind it might have been you! (but I was kinda busy too...) thanks for taking & posting the pics!
I decimated the barracuda at the tree that round... 0.013 R/T. IMO, I got lucky... considering I'm adjusting to the new stuff(2-step & line lock), and I was confused why the car was running 3/10th's slower.
Then I got to hang out in the lanes for 2.5 hours waiting to finally run round 2 while they cleaned up multiple messes on the track.... that sucked. my reaction times were all over the place as a result.
Nope, not hanging tires yet, but it's light on it's toes! I don't think stock suspenders will let it hang 'em until I hit low 10's.
I decimated the barracuda at the tree that round... 0.013 R/T. IMO, I got lucky... considering I'm adjusting to the new stuff(2-step & line lock), and I was confused why the car was running 3/10th's slower.
Then I got to hang out in the lanes for 2.5 hours waiting to finally run round 2 while they cleaned up multiple messes on the track.... that sucked. my reaction times were all over the place as a result.Nope, not hanging tires yet, but it's light on it's toes! I don't think stock suspenders will let it hang 'em until I hit low 10's.
08-03-11, 08:53 PM
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I'll be at Pacific during the day for a High performance driving school and plan on sticking around for the drags. Don't know if I'll participate since I"ll be in a stock NA MINI but will definately hang out and say hi.
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