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Thread: How To: DYO ET Drag Racing

  1. #1
    Wayne@GM Motorsport is offline Account Frozen Last Online: 22-11-2022 @ 02:59 PM
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    How To: DYO ET Drag Racing

    What is DYO E.T. Racing and How does it work?

    By far the most popular form of drag racing is a handicapped form of competition known as "E.T. Bracket Racing." In this form of racing, two vehicles of varying performance potentials can race on a potentially even basis. The anticipated elapsed times for each vehicle are compared, with the slower car receiving a headstart equal to the difference of the two. With this system, virtually any two vehicles can be pared in a competitive drag race.
    The great thing is YOU get to select your handicap.

    How does the handicap system work ?

    The Dial-In value (the handicap value) you need to nominate is the minimum amount of time you think your car will take to travel over the quarter mile distance. You determine this value by doing practice runs down the drag strip and seeing the results you get in elapsed time (ET), which is the time it takes you to travel the distance. To determine your final Dial-In to nominate, you may need to add some safety margin to the ETs you have accomplished, as your ETs may improve as the day progresses due to any number of causes including weather, your vehicle, your changing/improving driving style etc.

    Each competitor selects their Dial-In before the race so when two cars line up to race each other, the required handicap between the two cars can be calculated by the event organisers. The organisers calculate the handicap by subtracting the Dial-In of the faster of the two cars from the Dial-In of the slower car. The resulting value is the head start the slower car will get before the faster car is allowed to start down the track.

    An example of this is :

    Car A has done practice run ETs of 15.65, 15.31 and 15.10 seconds so selects a Dial-In of 15.00 seconds
    Car B has done practice run ETs of 13.45, 13.48 and 13.25 seconds so selects a Dial-In of 13.10 second

    Car A Dial-In minus Car B Dial In = 15.00 - 13.10 = 1.90 seconds
    Car A, being the slower car, will get to start 1.90 seconds before Car B.

    The theory is that if both drivers react to the start lights in the same way (this is Reaction Time - discussed below) and both manage to produce ETs that are identical to their Dial-Ins then they should cross the finish line at the same time. The closer you can get your Dial-In to your actual ET the more chance you have of winning as your competitor will have less handicap advantage.

    So why have the safety margin when selecting your Dial-In ? Going faster than your Dial-In is called Breaking Out. For instance, if Car A's ET was 14.90 on a 15.00 Dial-In, then Car A has "broken out" and automatically loses unless Car B also breaks out and by a larger amount.

    "Staging" / "The Christmas Tree"
    The 'Christmas Tree' is on the startline of the race track. It is a very important piece of equipment which controls the race. As a vehicle approaches the starting line it breaks the first light beam and the 'Pre-Stage' light on 'Christmas Tree' is lit. The driver slowly inches the car forward until the second light beam is broken and the 'Staged' lights come on. After both cars are staged the Starter activates the 'Christmas Tree' and three amber lights and one green are sequenced. Drivers use amber lights as a guide to anticipate the green bulb coming on. Leave too soon and a bright red "foul" shows. See Christmas Tree below.



    "Reaction Time"
    In both vehicles cover the quarter-mile in exactly the predetermined elapsed time (each "dial-in"), the win will go to the driver who reacts quickest to the starting signal. That reaction to the starting signal is called "reaction time." A perfect "reaction time" is .40 because that is the interval between each illumination of lights on the "Christmas Tree". Both lanes are timed independently of one another, and the clock does not start until the vehicle actually moves. Because of this, a vehicle may sometimes appear to have a mathematical advantage in comparative elapsed times but actually loses the race. This fact makes starting line reflexes extremely important in drag racing! And you thought it was simple right? Well, actually there's more… read on.

    "Break-Out"
    Should a driver go quicker than his/her predetermined "dial-in" it is a "break-out" which is grounds for disqualification (because the handicap provided to the other car was then incorrect – making it an unfair race for the competitor). In the case of both vehicles making their runs under their dial-ins, the win goes to the driver who breaks out the least.

    "Red Light"
    Another form of disqualification is a foul start (or "red light"). This happens when the driver reacts to the "Christmas Tree" too quickly and drives his car away from the starting line before the green "go" signal. When dual infractions occur, say a red-light and then a break-out, the re-light takes disqualification precedent over the break-out.
    Last edited by motomk; 30-09-2005 at 09:49 PM.

  2. #2
    Wayne@GM Motorsport is offline Account Frozen Last Online: 22-11-2022 @ 02:59 PM
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    If any of the mods are interested they could make this a sticky and lock the thread, oh and delete this second post.

  3. #3
    BOBGEN111's Avatar
    BOBGEN111 is offline Forum Contributor Last Online: 02-01-2023 @ 02:08 AM
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    This is a great post. This should be made a sticky. Well done.

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    Malcolmsp's Avatar
    Malcolmsp is offline Occasional Contributor to the Forums Last Online: 10-06-2014 @ 06:23 PM
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    It needs to be Australianised tho Sly.

    The American copy refers to 0.50 light intervals and we use 0.40 intervals between lights.

    The perfect reaction time here is either 0.400 or 0.000 depending on the track not 0.500.

    cheers
    Mal

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    Wayne@GM Motorsport is offline Account Frozen Last Online: 22-11-2022 @ 02:59 PM
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    Quote Originally Posted by Malcolmsp
    It needs to be Australianised tho Sly.

    The American copy refers to 0.50 light intervals and we use 0.40 intervals between lights.

    The perfect reaction time here is either 0.400 or 0.000 depending on the track not 0.500.

    cheers
    Mal
    Very true, I missed that, maybe 1 of the Mods could edit it

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    Rebel SS's Avatar
    Rebel SS is offline Permanently Banned Last Online: 20-03-2007 @ 07:34 PM
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    Re: How To: DYO ET Drag Racing

    Hi,

    What a great informative read.

    Thanks for bringing it forward.

    Mark

  7. #7
    JRY 88 is offline Occasional Contributor to the Forums Last Online: 18-04-2013 @ 05:23 PM
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    Re: How To: DYO ET Drag Racing

    Stupid question - Do i need seatbelts to go drag racing?
    This is for a 65 Chevrolet Belair.

    I'm currently not aloud to go to powercruise and drive around because i don't have seatbelts, but my car didn't come with them?

  8. #8
    VYSLED is offline Forum Contributor Last Online: 26-03-2015 @ 05:43 AM
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    Re: How To: DYO ET Drag Racing

    Yep u need them

  9. #9
    Cackling Pipes is offline Rarely Contributes to the Forum Last Online: 29-06-2007 @ 05:53 PM
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    Re: How To: DYO ET Drag Racing

    and the clock does not start until the vehicle actually moves.
    This is incorrect or at least very general.

    The clock does not start until you roll out of the start (full stage) beam (until the beam is remade) or you break the guard beam. This is called roll out and is very important to know as your rollout will affect both your ET and RT.

    The startline has 3 beams, Pre Stage, Full Stage (Start) and Guard Beam.

    If you shallow stage (just bring on the Full Stage beam) and stop you are increasing your roll out and effectively have a running start at the race, you will get a better ET, but your furthur away from remaking the start beam so your reaction time would be slower if you leave at the exact same time as if you were staged deeper.

    The bigger the roll out (eg larger diameter wheel) you have the more of a running start you can get. However you also have a guard beam which is 12 inches or so infront of the start beam, this will limit your rollout, (example cars may have low body work behind the front wheels and this may keep the start beam broken preventing the timers from starting) the guard beam acts as a back up to the start beam. If you break the guard beam before you have remade or rolled out of the stage beam the timers will start. (The 1320ft is measured from the Guard Beam to the finishline, not from the start beam).

    If for some reason you have body work in front of the front wheel and you manage to break the guard beam before the tree is activated you will get a instant redlight (hence the name).

    Knowing your roll out and consistency in staging is important in running DYO as it will have an effect on your ET and RT depending how deep you stage.

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    BERNZV8 is offline Rarely Contributes to the Forum Last Online: 03-11-2007 @ 04:14 AM
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    Talking Re: How To: DYO ET Drag Racing

    Awsome info m8

  11. #11
    infitude is offline Has Not Contributed to the Forum Last Online: 15-01-2011 @ 12:01 PM
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    Re: How To: DYO ET Drag Racing

    gr8 info - should be made sticky

  12. #12
    WOMBIE's Avatar
    WOMBIE is offline Fair Contributor to the Forums Last Online: 25-05-2012 @ 09:31 AM
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    Re: How To: DYO ET Drag Racing

    It already is!

  13. #13
    WA1TNC is offline Occasional Contributor to the Forums Last Online: 24-03-2022 @ 09:28 AM
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    Re: How To: DYO ET Drag Racing

    thats perfect info 4 sum1 like myself who is new 2 drag racing, gr8 job.

  14. #14
    nowUCme is offline Rarely Contributes to the Forum Last Online: 08-09-2009 @ 11:25 PM
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    Re: How To: DYO ET Drag Racing

    great thread, great understanding of how DYO works

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