Are you freakin' kidding!?!?!
Okay, Tim... you go grab any mook off the street and put him the car and try to use the delay box to where they can hit the tree consistently... betcha can't! Why? They don't have the skill or experience.
The reason delay boxes are necessary is because of the quality and advances in technology with regards to tires, converter, track prep, and chassis design.
The biggest area of improvement was in torque converters. Twenty years ago you couldn't buy an off the shelf converter and throw it into your backhalved ladderbar car and cut an .000 light.
Now you can call up any number of good converter manufacturers and order a converter, throw it into your tubed chassis 4-link car or dragster and with a little tuning go -.025 red.
Greg:
I respect you very much, due to the fact that I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO "CONSISTANTLY" DRIVE A TOP COMP/SUPER ELIMINATOR/COMP CAR, and to win a championship against some of the best racers in the United States in Northern California. However, READ THE ENTIRE PARAGRAPH AND PLEASE THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU JUST WROTE: HERE...I'll help ya!
From Timmah:
"WITH A DELAY BOX, It takes away the "SKILL" and Timing of trying to cut a good light. You adjust your delay box to either your or your cars tendencies.
It is very difficult for the human eye to see the light exactly the same way each time, and very difficult to let go of the button EXACTLY THE SAME WAY, but if a driver is consistant, IN THEIR STAGING...and in their Ergonomics of letting go of the button the same way at the same time, and the car reacts consistantly the same way, Then using a delay box WILL make a driver very competitive.
Tell me this...Are you a TOP BULB OR 2nd or 3rd Bulb Driver? I'm guessing that you are like me, and let the transbrake go AS SOON AS YOU SEE THE TOP BULB LIGHT! If that's the case, your simply REACTING to the Instant Flash of the light.
Now, Take your car, and put a 500ci Big Block and run A/DA in comp eliminator. After Years of Driving with the box, and training your EYES, BRAIN, RIGHT OR LEFT HAND, to all react to the INSTANT FLASH OF THE YELLOW LIGHT, without the Box, your gonna go -.130 to -.110 RED EVERY TIME! That's exactly what I was trying to do with John's car a few weeks ago. Try to LEARN how to race a 1000+ HP Dragster without a brake. I've got over 1,000 runs on DELAY BOX'S, and i'll tell you that it is very difficult to cut a "GREAT" lite without the use of the DELAY BOX to help. IT'S "TIMING" that I'm refering to. The TIMING is the issue! THE "SKILL" I am refering to, is the ability to TIME the release of the transbrake Perfectly so that you not only don't go red, but, cut a good light as well. THAT TAKES MORE "SKILL" than simply "REACTING" to a flash. That is why I think guys like RAMPY, TAYLOR, RICHARDSON, FLETCHER, and That Guy who drives Dave Ring's Comp Eliminator car..(which BTW DAVE...If Lee ever wants to walk away..I happen to know someone who will gladly fill in..
)are FREAKIN AMAZING Drivers!
I Totally agree with you that SOME "MOOK" could not Consistantly cut good lights in a Top Comp car! But, take away your Personal feelings, and don't defend what you do for just a moment, think outside the box, and ask yourself this question. What is harder to do....React to a "FLASH" and let a timer help slow you down....OR...Do it all by yourself?