IHRA Allows Shifters in Modified Eliminator

[Mike Bradley]

In our conference call today with IHRA and other Division-2 track operators the decision was made to allow assisted shifters.

In a move to balance the level of competition all Division 2 tracks voted to allow an electric or air operated shifter in Modified Eliminator/Footbrake for 2007. One reason for allowing the shifters is many late model vehicles have programmable shift points. If someone entered a late model Camaro with a
4L60-E transmission he or she could alter the shift points electronically. Another reason is safety, plain and simple. If you can keep both hands on the steering wheel during the entire run the better off you'll be.

This will apply to the weekly racing series as well as the Bracket Finals.

Mike

[staginglt]

That's the only thing that bothers me about track ops meetings... things get brought up on the spur of the moment and decided. It's my opinion that ideas should be brought to the table, track ops should discuss them with their racers, and then they can go back and make a final decision.

>> If someone entered a late model Camaro with a
4L60-E transmission he or she could alter the shift points electronically.

Sooooo... let someone enter a late model Camaro then. -=shrug=- You can leave an automatic valve body with a governor in your transmission, too. What's a stick car do, then? True, there aren't many stick cars that bracket race regularly... nor are there many late model Camaros! Shifting a car only takes a modicum of effort and/or skill, but it's just one more thing that keeps the driver in the sport. Only ever drove a couple of air or electric shifted cars. BORING! (except for the giant wheelstands!) Aren't most bracket cars powerglides these days anyway? How tough is it to hit one shift?

I don't think they're a particular advantage (I'd *prefer* to control my own shifts for strategic reasons). My problem with it is that if it's legal, the perception of many racers may be that they "have" to have it to compete.


>> Another reason is safety, plain and simple. If you can keep both hands on the steering wheel during the entire run the better off you'll be.

Guess we'd better stop looking over our shoulder most of the way down the track... :cool: Are 4-speed cars "unsafe"?

Just my opinions...

[Clint]

Mike I was just wandering can these shifters be rpm activated or must they be on a button where it still leaves a little bit of driver involvment in the shift.

[staginglt]

Air & Electric Shifters are rpm activated. I'm sure that if you really wanted to, you could set them up on a button - but given that the rest of the rules are still "Footbrake", I don't think most places would let you have those buttons on the steering wheel, so you may as well just reach over and slap the shifter. :cool:

[Clint]

the actual shifter is only rpm activated if you have the electronics to make it shift. on my street car i run an electric shifter but use a button to shift and alot of lencos are air shifted with a button to shift. I'm not sure but i think ihra pro stock used to allow air shifting but it could not be computer controlled. I'm not sure of it being pro stock but it was some class. Its been a long time since Ive been around any serious car racing.

[Mike Bradley]

Mike I was just wandering can these shifters be rpm activated or must they be on a button where it still leaves a little bit of driver involvment in the shift.
Clint what they are allowing is the electric shifter that is controlled via a MSD #8950 RPM Activated Switch type setup. No button!

Mike

[Clint]

thats funny u would think they would go for a buttom but not a rpm switch. i belive on the street a button is an advantage but when bracket racing rpm would def be the better way.

[Tom 396]

"...the perception of many racers may be that they "have" to have it to compete..."

Yep. The snowball just continues. Take care. Tom Worthington.

http://www.hotrodder.com/Tom396