Staging etiquette?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
From: Charleston S.C.
Staging etiquette?
I was at the strip this weekend. I staged ( both lights) while my competitor was still doing his burn out. Then he prestaged (one light) and made me wait for what seemed like 30 seconds. Did I make him mad or was he playing mind games?
I figured he was trying to make me redlight. He did get the holeshot on me but I ran him down for the win. It was a great race. I barely nudged him out through the traps.
I just wanted to know if there is a staging protocol?
Thanks,
Kerry
I figured he was trying to make me redlight. He did get the holeshot on me but I ran him down for the win. It was a great race. I barely nudged him out through the traps.
I just wanted to know if there is a staging protocol?
Thanks,
Kerry
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Re: Staging etiquette? (corvette4life)
The "Rule" at least in division 7, is to "courtesy stage". Whoever lights the top (pre-staged) bulb, first, holds and waits for the other driver to pre-stage, also. After both cars are pre-staged, proceed at your own pace. The "burn down" begins there. Be carefull, however, after both cars are pre-staged, the "Auto Start" is activated, if your track has or uses it. Tracks may vary around the country, but *I* have never seen anyone DQed for failing to courtesy stage. Good luck, and...
RACE ON!!!
[Modified by CFI-EFI, 6:40 PM 5/12/2003]
RACE ON!!!
[Modified by CFI-EFI, 6:40 PM 5/12/2003]
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 57,805
Likes: 23
From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Re: Staging etiquette? (corvette4life)
Usually prestage and wait for the other to prestage, then you can stage or let him stage. Some guys like to play around, sone guys just take longer because they are looking for their "spot"
We had a situation last year where a guy(C5-for identity purposes) prestaged and staged while the other guy(C4 again for identification) was still doing his burnout.
Now the C4 prestages, and with his loose converter it takes him a while to bump in to stage. While he was doing that, his light went red and teh C5 took off on the green.
It all came down to that autostart.
But had the C5 waited, that wouldn't have happened and he probably would have lost, so was he playing dumb or was he being slick? We will never know.
We had a situation last year where a guy(C5-for identity purposes) prestaged and staged while the other guy(C4 again for identification) was still doing his burnout.
Now the C4 prestages, and with his loose converter it takes him a while to bump in to stage. While he was doing that, his light went red and teh C5 took off on the green.
It all came down to that autostart.
But had the C5 waited, that wouldn't have happened and he probably would have lost, so was he playing dumb or was he being slick? We will never know.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 806
Likes: 0
From: Baton Rouge LA
Re: Staging etiquette? (CFI-EFI)
The autostart is activated when, and only when, three of the staging lamps are lit. It matters not which three. You then have app. 7 seconds to light the fourth lamp before a red light occcurs.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Re: Staging etiquette? (Nitro Junkie)
You are absolutely correct! I wasn't thinking, and I misspoke.
My year old book says the Auto Start gives the second driver 15 seconds to "stage". I can check a newer book if it becomes an issue.
Thanks, Nitro Junkie.
RACE ON!!!
1984 Crossfire
Member NHRA
[Modified by CFI-EFI, 8:08 PM 5/12/2003]
My year old book says the Auto Start gives the second driver 15 seconds to "stage". I can check a newer book if it becomes an issue.
Thanks, Nitro Junkie.
RACE ON!!!
1984 Crossfire
Member NHRA
[Modified by CFI-EFI, 8:08 PM 5/12/2003]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,299
Likes: 0
From: Beltsville Maryland
Re: Staging etiquette? (QuickVet)
I would have made you wait as well. It's usually a clear indication that your opponent is a novice. If my opponent stages before I have even pre-staged, I feel that I have already won the psyhological part of the race.
I don't consider myself an expert, but one must learn the rules and etiquette of the game you are playing, even if it the hard way.
Welcome to competitive drag racing....its the best.
I don't consider myself an expert, but one must learn the rules and etiquette of the game you are playing, even if it the hard way.
Welcome to competitive drag racing....its the best.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 32,782
Likes: 11
From: Former NCM Drag Racing coordinator, National director Corvette Challenge Spring Hill, Tennessee: Whiting, New Jersey
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: Staging etiquette? (corvette4life)
No you should always pre stage and waite for the other to per stage before you stage. Thats the correct thing to do but I know and have done all the trick. I play it straight in our Corvette Challanges but in the other sreies I've run in If you P%%S ME OFF your going to pay. I've got one group of Turbo Buicks I have to race at every GMHT race that like to try to pick and choose who they are going to run and are very open about it. I sorry to say I use no etiquette against them, I sometime don't even do a burnout so I can stage fast to throw them off in their timing to spool up the turbo. I'm not proud of it but you find ways of leveling the playing field. Staging can be one.
[Modified by mackeyred96, 10:38 PM 5/12/2003]
[Modified by mackeyred96, 10:38 PM 5/12/2003]
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 32,782
Likes: 11
From: Former NCM Drag Racing coordinator, National director Corvette Challenge Spring Hill, Tennessee: Whiting, New Jersey
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: Staging etiquette? (wheelsup)
John, whatups??? Good strategy with the T-Buicks, but that only works if you are on a 15 second clock...right????
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,529
Likes: 1
From: Rehoboth MA
Re: Staging etiquette? (corvette4life)
I believe there is a rule that states that both opponents must be pre-staged before either one of them stages. If I was still doing my burnout and the other guy is staged, I'd take my good old time getting staged, I'd make him wait, wear him down, get him anxious and perhaps cause him to red light just for the fact that he had "opened the door" for me to do this.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,870
Likes: 25
From: Long Island, NY
Re: Staging etiquette? (KyleBst264)
What I do is prestage and then wait for the other person to prestage, then I stage.
But alot of times, the other person stages before I am ready to prestage.
I think we should let all the CC racers know the correct etiquettes.
Vic
But alot of times, the other person stages before I am ready to prestage.
I think we should let all the CC racers know the correct etiquettes.
Vic
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,653
Likes: 428
From: Melbourne Florida
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Re: Staging etiquette? (corvette4life)
This is a great post !...a lot of the newer guys are not aware of the proper etiquette...I also think it would be a good idea for the leader of each Challenge to go over it at the drivers meeting beforehand..thanks Vic.. :thumbs:
[Modified by golfboy1, 1:05 PM 5/13/2003]
[Modified by golfboy1, 1:05 PM 5/13/2003]
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 32,782
Likes: 11
From: Former NCM Drag Racing coordinator, National director Corvette Challenge Spring Hill, Tennessee: Whiting, New Jersey
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: Staging etiquette? (golfboy1)
A drivers meeting, it would take longer to get all my drivers together than it would to run the race, and we still couldn't find Panuzzo.
[Modified by mackeyred96, 2:39 PM 5/13/2003]
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 32,545
Likes: 2
From: Lithia FL
Cruise-In II & IV Veteran
CI VI Drag Champ!
Re: Staging etiquette? (Vic'89)
Vic good idea. I put up a note on the web page.
I can also include it on our gate letter.
Racers, I have a good tutorial written by Todd Drane, BeachBum on our website. http://www.corvettechallenge.info/howtodragrace.php and it includes a link to a book that is a little dated but gives a lot more info than tha you can likely pick up used like I did on http://www.half.com.
I can also include it on our gate letter.
Racers, I have a good tutorial written by Todd Drane, BeachBum on our website. http://www.corvettechallenge.info/howtodragrace.php and it includes a link to a book that is a little dated but gives a lot more info than tha you can likely pick up used like I did on http://www.half.com.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 32,782
Likes: 11
From: Former NCM Drag Racing coordinator, National director Corvette Challenge Spring Hill, Tennessee: Whiting, New Jersey
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: Staging etiquette? (REDGAR)
Vic good idea. I put up a note on the web page.
I can also include it on our gate letter.
I can also include it on our gate letter.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,446
Likes: 12
From: fort myers fla
Re: Staging etiquette? (mackeyred96)
Mackeyred96 is correct you shouldnt p#^* the other guy off .you never know if he is some kind of a pro. The person in stageing at the track should never have let the one car do there burnout before the other . Both cars should start the burnout together .If one takes longer you only lite the top bulb and you wait. Myself i like the longer burnouts, but if the other guy lites both bulbs on me i will roll up to the lights and roll right in and deep stage him to activate the tree right away :mad :mad .by then he is usually :sleep: :sleep: . good starting line habits pay off for everyone racing. :steering: Redgar we should print a guideline paper to hand out [ like you dont do enough ] :thumbs: . how is your new H.P. project coming.