If the course begins with a 30 foot straight, then a square 90 turn with
minimum course width, then the start lights 10 feet further on:
You can begin your Pro-style launch, shut the car down abruptly to 10mph,
slide around the turn, and try to get on the gas.
OR
You can start the car off smoothly and get on the gas early as you turn onto
the straight before the lights.
(soapbox mode on)
Pro-style drag starts are A Bad Thing for Solo II events, for two reasons.
They are bad for regional events because they eat clutches and drivetrains,
and many people run a LOT of regional events. They are bad for National
Tours and Championships because most people don't have much opportunity to
practice them because of reason #1. And they are bad in any case because a
good vs bad drag launch can make a big difference (several tenths) in your
total time, and that's not what Solo II is supposed to be about.
(soapbox mode off)
The wear'n'tear issue is enough for regional events - I wouldn't autox if we
did drag starts - couldn't afford it.
KeS
>From: JTB713@aol.com
>Reply-To: JTB713@aol.com
>To: sburkett@ooi.com, autox@autox.team.net
>Subject: Re: ProSolo questions and launching
>Date: Fri, 7 Jul 2000 18:43:16 EDT
>
>In a message dated 7/7/00 6:36:27 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
>sburkett@ooi.com
>writes:
>
><< > Very few of the NTs or divisionals I have attended had a drag style
> > start (straight line to the first technical part). Most Solo II
> > courses have a start followed by a rather sharp turn to discourage
> > clutch killing launches.
>
> Can someone explain this to me? I realize that most non-pro courses
>start
> out this way, but how does this discourage a drag launch?
>
> To my inexperienced mind, faster is faster. If you're *serious* about
> going as fast as you possibly can, shouldn't you always execute your best
> "pro style" launch?
> >>
>You are absolutely right!
>
>Jim Blanton
>
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