ihra starting line setup

[009crewchiefboss]

does anyone out there know what the specs for setting upthe beams according to ihra specs? What I would like to know is the distance between the prestage and stage beams, the distance they are from the track surface, and the relative location of the tree.
Also, are there 3 beams or two. The third one being to start the timing?????? or does the timing start when the stage beam circuit is re-established from the tire moving out of the way of the stage beam.
I noticed that ihra re-set this stuff at the finals and it seemed different than it had been the few times we went to darlington during the year.

009crewchief.

[Tom 396]

From the IHRA rulebook (don't know if this will answer your question):

"...The 'Rollout' at all National Events, Pro-Am events, and Team Finals events, will be set at 11 1/2" for Pre-stage and 11 1/2" for Stage, with 7" between the beams. This will be set using a wheel 22" in diameter..."

Take care. Tom Worthington.

http://www.hotrodder.com/Tom396

[BHicks9411]

There's only two beams. The pre stage and stage beam. There's 7" between them. Once you're tire leaves the stage beam it will get your reaction time and start your ET.
When you race at enough tracks and collect enough data you will see that not all tracks are set up the same. IHRA, well Compulink, sets up the tree and beams everytime they go to a Pro-Am, Bracket Final or National Event. Reason being, it doesn't take much to get the lanes off and then they know its set to their standards. Very rarely are two lanes rollouts the same. When you're talking bout thousandths of seconds, it's hard to get them dead on.

[Dragwayman]

Actually there are 3 beams, Pre stage, Stage Lock, and stage. IHRA sets up the lights at each divisional and team finals events. This is done by the division director or starter. The only time Compulink comes in is if there is a National Event or there have been problems with the timing system. Not all tracks have stage lock therefore that is why you only see 2 beams at some tracks.

[MarkV]

From my understanding, the pre stage and stage beams are supposed to be 7 and 1/4 in. center to center. The third beam is the guard beam 16 in. from the stage beam. The beams should be 1.5 in. to 3 in. off the ground, and the rest of the beams are 10 in. above the track. I don't know the distance to the tree, maybe 4 ft. Hope this helps.
Mark

[ferndaleflyer]

I know that back in the early days it was awful from track to track. We had a wheel that we carried with us to check the roll out every where we went. A lot of people made fun of us but little did they know or understand what we were doing---just like deep stageing---you are the same place EVERY time. Still haven't figured out a solution for getting old.

[staginglt]

From my understanding, the pre stage and stage beams are supposed to be 7 and 1/4 in. center to center. The third beam is the guard beam 16 in. from the stage beam. The beams should be 1.5 in. to 3 in. off the ground, and the rest of the beams are 10 in. above the track. I don't know the distance to the tree, maybe 4 ft. Hope this helps.
Mark

Only the 60' beam is "high". The rest of the downtrack sensors are 5-5/8" (give or take, depending on the facility).

[Dragwayman]

Like I said there are 3 beams, Pre Stage, Stage Lock and then the Stage Beam. Nobody uses guard beam very much anymore. Michael is correct the 60' beam is usually 10 inches and the rest of the down track sensors are no more than 6" high. Something you have to watch is from track to track if the track is not level, and very few are, across if you don't stage in the same location each time (meaning from side to side) then you may actually experience a different rollout due to the track being higher or lower in that location. If you don't think this to be true go out one day when the rollout is being set and check the rollout every 3" across the starting line. You may be surprised how much it changes.

We set the rollout at 7 1/4" and 11 1/4" and we check it each and every week. I also set the sensitivity on my infareds down track because if they are set wrong you will actually get some wild finishline differences. The infared, if set wrong, will actually have a cone shape to it instead of a straight line and this in turn will cause the problems.

The distance to the tree is roughly 45 feet from the starting line. I am not sure what IHRA calls for there but I will find out.

Jeff Miles

[Vakdoodo73]

well ****, I have passed too much time without releasing a ****ed up something. CMorgan, can you fix this on the background?