competition eliminator question?

[none]

I know they race against an index and I assume running too far under is a problem. My question is what are the penalties? Also, what does this quote mean?

Ackerman paid a big CIC price for the win, both this weekend and on Monday.
**taken from elimination notes

Thanks in advance.

 

[JB3]

I know they race against an index and I assume running too far under is a problem. My question is what are the penalties? Also, what does this quote mean?

Ackerman paid a big CIC price for the win, both this weekend and on Monday.
**taken from elimination notes

Thanks in advance.

In qualifying, they can go as quick as they can under thier respective index. That is all in the name of position on the ladder.

Come eliminations the CIC (Competition Index Control) system takes over and the object becomes getting to the stripe first and going no quicker than -.50 under your respective class index. If you win a round and are between -.51 and -.599 quicker than your index ... you are temporarily penalized, meaning your index changes (lowers) by the digit to the right of the .5 for the next round. If you continue to go quicker than -.51 under your "new" index during that same event your index continues to be lowered. That is only for the current event and you go back to your national class index at the next event.

However, if over several rounds of eliminations your cumulative penalties added up to -.60 or quicker under the original index or you flat out run -.60 under your original index on any given run ... the index for the class you are entered is permanantly changed on Monday morning and pertains to every car in the country that will run in that class in the future. This usually does not win you many friends, but was implemented to keep control of the boys with the most expensive toys from running away from the rest of the category. It does work.

 

[haagar]

and if first round is any indication this race will end up being a bloodbath. Meaning that a whole bunch of drivers are going to be taking permanent index.

 

[none]

Thanks very much for the explanation!!!
How bad was the damage? I noticed several -.6 runs...........

 

[GregM784]

Thank you very much Jim for your answer. I've often wondered how CIC worked.

Seems complicated, but effective.

 

[haagar]

Thank you very much Jim for your answer. I've often wondered how CIC worked.

Seems complicated, but effective.

It isn't nicknamed Complicated Eliminator for nothing!

 

[Super Mod]

It isn't nicknamed Complicated Eliminator for nothing!

You think that's complicated. Try explaining to a first time observer why a Super Comp dragster launches like a lame duck

 

[haagar]

You think that's complicated. Try explaining to a first time observer why a Super Comp dragster launches like a lame duck

There was a long time for me between trips to the dragstrip (circle track racing is the big thing in my area) and I have to admit the first time I saw throttle stops I turned to my Dad and asked "What the )(#* is that?". The comp car I help out on sometimes is driven by a Super Comp racer and it has given me an appreciation for how hard a class it is to run and how good the drivers in it are, but I still have a hard time getting past the throttle stops.

 

[clwill]

You think that's complicated. Try explaining to a first time observer why a Super Comp dragster launches like a lame duck

"They leave together and the first one to the stripe wins -- as long as they don't run under 8.90 seconds. To control that, they slow down just enough to try to run exactly 8.900. That's why it's the tightest class in all of drag racing, often taking a package (reaction time plus ET difference) of less than a hundredth of a second to win."

Was that so complicated? I repeat that speech maybe 10 times a day, and it's just not that hard to explain.

 

[JF]

You think that's complicated. Try explaining to a first time observer why a Super Comp dragster launches like a lame duck

I just tell people the drivers take their foot off the gas, so they don't spin the tires like the top fuel cars.

 

[PJ]

"They leave together and the first one to the stripe wins -- as long as they don't run under 8.90 seconds. To control that, they slow down just enough to try to run exactly 8.900. That's why it's the tightest class in all of drag racing, often taking a package (reaction time plus ET difference) of less than a hundredth of a second to win."

Was that so complicated? I repeat that speech maybe 10 times a day, and it's just not that hard to explain.

Not complicated to explain just horrible to watch. Super Gas used to be one of my favorite classes to watch.

The hard part for people to understand is that its a race, why would you slow down to win....

 

[Comp6992]

Was that so complicated? I repeat that speech maybe 10 times a day, and it's just not that hard to explain.[/QUOTE]

I think where the complication comes in is the fact that Drag racing is an acceleration contest to most people. Take that throttle stop off and go run Top Dragster. They will stop asking questions.



A/EA 6992

 

[clwill]

Take that throttle stop off and go run Top Dragster.

And get into the "my checkbook's bigger than your checkbook" contest? No, thanks. I'm secure in my manhood...

I prefer to compete on what drag racing's all about: reaction time and consistency. Just because some don't understand, that's OK w/ me.

 

[Crash]

And get into the "my checkbook's bigger than your checkbook" contest? No, thanks. I'm secure in my manhood...

I prefer to compete on what drag racing's all about: reaction time and consistency. Just because some don't understand, that's OK w/ me.

That is a perfect answer. I would add that speed is an itegral part of drag racing, in addition to reaction time and consistency, but other than that, you nailed it.
Tim

Super category racer and proud of it.

 

[sc7711]

You think that's complicated. Try explaining to a first time observer why a Super Comp dragster launches like a lame duck

Comp is great when one car redlights and both cars shut off at half track. Very exciting stuff.

 

[Bob]

And get into the "my checkbook's bigger than your checkbook" contest? No, thanks. I'm secure in my manhood...

I prefer to compete on what drag racing's all about: reaction time and consistency. Just because some don't understand, that's OK w/ me.

Top Dragster is a dial in class, just in case you didn't know.

 

[clwill]

Top Dragster is a dial in class, just in case you didn't know.

Of course I know. But, these days, you can't make the field unless you spend tremendous amounts of money to buy BIG horsepower.

There was a long discussion here a while back about how 7.90 started out as a reasonable T/D number, and a number that someone with a pretty good S/C car could run just by turning off the stop. These days, you'll never make a field without a 7.50 car, and you better be in the 7.10-.20 range if you want to make fields consistently. The top guys are well into the 6's. That takes big HP, a pretty exotic combination, and a fat wallet.

 

[Bill]

Somebody said, "I prefer to compete on what drag racing's all about: reaction time and consistency."

That's not what drag racing's all about. Drag racing's about getting there first, regardless.

That's what Bracket and Super category racing's all about, though.

Drag racing is about OUTRUNNING the guy (or gal) in the other lane... period.

The Eliminators that have built-in limits on performance are'nt drag racing; they're a form of bracket racing, wherein if you go too fast, you lose.

They may look like drag racing, (minus the active throttle stops) and sound like drag racing, but in the final analysis, you can't actually OUTRUN anybody, because of the fear of breaking out.

Beating them within the limitations of your prescribed category (8.90?) isn't outrunning them; outrunning them will get you on the trailer for going too fast... (too quick, actually)

If they removed the breakout element from the final round of Super Eliminators (don't call them classes; there not classes, they're eliminators; B/SA is a class), THEN you'd have a drag race in the final, but that's not gonna happen.

As long as you have a breakout number staring you in the face, you're not drag racing, you're bracket racing.

Bracket racing is not drag racing. T/F is drag racing...

Having said that, I'd like to say that the Super Eliminators have saved drag racing from an early death, and without them, I believe there would be no drag racing as we know it. They are vitally important to the sport, overall.

Secondly, the Super Eliminators are incredibly competitive and winning in any of those categories surely is at LEAST as hard as winning in any of the drag racing categories, such as Pro Stock, et al... The level of competition is incredibly tight, and firecely competitive, wherein thousandths of a second usually make the difference between winners and losers.

Thirdly, my race car, a supercharged, street-driven Bracket car is the source of much fun and enjoyment for me; you see, I am one of those individuals who can still afford to do a little racing because BRACKET RACING EXISTS, and allows me to race within a budget that would make me totally uncompetitive in a "perfformace-based" DRAG RACING class....

Bracket racing has, along with the Super Eliminators, been the salvation of drag racing for the last 30, or so years; without the two (Bracket and Super Eliminators) the sport would have died years ago... mush to my dismay...

So, I am thankful, NOT critical, of those who participate (like I do) in the categories that have breakouts. I am SO glad they exist...

Be that as it may, it's not "drag racing."

Drag racing is something I can't afford to do, because as has been pointed out, the biggest wallet always wins... and, mine just isn't that big. Most folks fall into that category, and the breakout eliminators allow us to continue to have fun and race.

I never delude myself into thinking I'm actually outrunning somebody though, if I'm staying within my dial-in. That's for the rich people... LOL!

My 2-cents....


Bill

 

[clwill]

<yadda, yadda>

Drag racing is about OUTRUNNING the guy (or gal) in the other lane... period.

<yadda, yadda>

Be that as it may, it's not "drag racing."

<yadda, yadda>

You and I have had this discussion before.

According to Wikipedia: Drag racing is a competition in which vehicles compete to be the first to cross a set finish line, usually from a standing start, and in a straight line.

According to NHRA: A drag race is an acceleration contest, on a track, or dragstrip, that begins from a standing start between two vehicles over a measured distance.

I'm not sure where you get this fascination with the word "outrunning". Not sure even what "outrunning" means in terms of a drag race, and your apparently subtle distinction between "outrunning" and getting to the finish line first under the rules.

A drag race is a contest that follows a specific set of rules. You go in a straight line. You stay in your lane. You leave when the light goes red. You have to use a certain kind of car, engine, whatever. For you, however, suddenly it becomes NOT a drag race when one of those rules is: you can't run faster than x. How silly is that?

 

[Toby]

Can you really say with a straight face that break-out racing is truly drag racing? As mentioned before, its not a knock on the abilities of racers in break out racing, it is just that it isn't really drag racing.

Can you imagine watching the 100 yard dash in the Olympics and see the first guy that crosses the finish line disqualified because he ran too fast?

Or how about the final lap of the Indy 500....The young Andretti is leading coming out of the final turn followed closely by Dario Franchitti...its going to be a close finish....the young Andretti crosses the finish line first....finally breaking the Andretti family Indy 500 jinx!!!! But ooohh wait....he went tooo fast and he is disqualified!!!

You and I have had this discussion before.

According to Wikipedia: Drag racing is a competition in which vehicles compete to be the first to cross a set finish line, usually from a standing start, and in a straight line.

According to NHRA: A drag race is an acceleration contest, on a track, or dragstrip, that begins from a standing start between two vehicles over a measured distance.

I'm not sure where you get this fascination with the word "outrunning". Not sure even what "outrunning" means in terms of a drag race, and your apparently subtle distinction between "outrunning" and getting to the finish line first under the rules.

A drag race is a contest that follows a specific set of rules. You go in a straight line. You stay in your lane. You leave when the light goes red. You have to use a certain kind of car, engine, whatever. For you, however, suddenly it becomes NOT a drag race when one of those rules is: you can't run faster than x. How silly is that?