bracket racing?

[zf>allison]

soon there will be a all truck event at my local drag strip and I have never bracket raced. any techniques or info would be nice I have a hint of an idea of how it works. don't break out and beat the other guy? is that all there is to it? any info is appreciated.

 

[coker6303]

Consistency on the run and be quick at the tree! Some of the veterans will give you pointers.

You don't have to go all out, just run what's consistent and comfortable.

 

[zf>allison]

so its being consistent to your time. not if you beat the guy in the other lane?
be closer to your time than he is to his?

 

[Cknight199]

I did my first bracket race this season, and didn't understand bracket racing until I went through 2 of my 3 practice runs lol. I didn't know that I had to beat the other guy to a finish.

My truck would run a 13.3 all out perfect launch every time, but I dialed in at 14.0 to give myself some room for error and I didn't have to leave as hard at the line (10 psi).

If I were to do it again, I would try using a tow tune or middle tune, then if you have a bad reaction time, and your opponent is catching up, or you have to gain on him, you can turn to your big tune to hopefully outrun him.

Towards the end of the track, if you are infront of your opponent, another technique is to tap the brakes and slow down. That gives you a better chance of not breaking out but still beating your opponent.

But that was my first race. I would race on a small tune and take it easy. I uses the big tune because I didn't want spooling issues on the line.

 

[zf>allison]

I hear that launching at an rpm rather than a boost level is more consistent. but mines a manual so I use rpm's anyway. but so if you dial in a 14 when you can get a 13.3 and the other guy is dialed at a 13 what happends he can race faster than you and beat you and if you beat him you would break out. or is the dialed times like in classes or something. I basically get it. but its the details lol. my dad was a big bracket racer won a bunch in his old truck that would only run a 15.8 guess I need to see if he has any tips. my trucks a lot different from his old one though.

 

[Cknight199]

I hear that launching at an rpm rather than a boost level is more consistent. but mines a manual so I use rpm's anyway. but so if you dial in a 14 when you can get a 13.3 and the other guy is dialed at a 13 what happends he can race faster than you and beat you and if you beat him you would break out. or is the dialed times like in classes or something. I basically get it. but its the details lol. my dad was a big bracket racer won a bunch in his old truck that would only run a 15.8 guess I need to see if he has any tips. my trucks a lot different from his old one though.

You leave at different times on the line.

If you dialed in at a 13.3 and I dialed in at a 14, I would get a .7 head start and you would have to catch up to me.

Also I go off boost, mostly because the difference of 100 rpm's gives me 10 psi more boost once it lights and It will push through the brakes. Just didn't work for me with my turbo setup because the little rpm increase affects my turbo drastically.

 

[zf>allison]

You leave at different times on the line.

If you dialed in at a 13.3 and I dialed in at a 14, I would get a .7 head start and you would have to catch up to me.

Also I go off boost, mostly because the difference of 100 rpm's gives me 10 psi more boost once it lights and It will push through the brakes. Just didn't work for me with my turbo setup because the little rpm increase affects my turbo drastically.

would the tree go at different times. based on both of your dials? or is it up to you to decide when you should go and how much of a lead or head start to give the other guy? I think im getting it now. my 80 hp tune would give me pretty clean consistent run but my 160 isn't bad either. id probably stay away from my big tune even though my launch is consistent. it would just be harder on it.

 

[fishsmith]

The tree goes based on your dial. If both lanes were to have the same reaction time and run dead on their dial. They would get to the finish line at the same time.

 

[dman777]

The tree goes based on your dial. If both lanes were to have the same reaction time and run dead on their dial. They would get to the finish line at the same time.

X2^^^. Just remember if you are way ahead don't keep it floored hit the breaks! You chance breaking out if you are way ahead. Some guys I race will put a really slow dial time and then slow down at the end to try and beat me by a bumper. I believe this is called sand bagging and it usually works well except when somebody runs real close to their dial time. One guy tried that on me and lost. Then he bought back in and lost again. Best thing to do is get your truck real consistent and run a dial real close but slightly slower to make sure you don't break out. It's hard to beat a consistent truck. Your truck could run 22 seconds and win all day as long as it is consistent. Good luck!

 

[TheBac]

Alright....dont laugh...but I found the easiest way to stay consistent in bracket racing was to forget everything I do to run a fast time. I just put a little load on the drivetrain @1000rpm (easier to control and 1/2 of normal) and concentrate fully on cutting the best light I can.

 

[FC5452]

^^^I Like this, worked for me, My problem is when I am in the semi's, I end up making dumb ass mental mistakes

 

[zf>allison]

I get it now. Need to practice now

 

[TheBac]

^^^I Like this, worked for me, My problem is when I am in the semi's, I end up making dumb ass mental mistakes

Yup, me too.
I sometimes even make the cardinal sin of bracket racing...if Im racing someone slower, my attention drifts to watch them leave instead of watching my light. Oops.

 

[zf>allison]

Do u know whose slower ahead of time? Or do u just watch the tree.

 

[FC5452]

When you enter the lane you look at the timing board down track. It will show you your dial in time and the competitors.
Pay Attention to your dual I'm time, if its wrong notify the starter. Once you stage you accept the time posted.
The easiest thing to do is pay attention to you. Don't worry about what the other guy/gal is doing. Relax and have some fun with it.

 

[FC5452]

Yup, me too.
I sometimes even make the cardinal sin of bracket racing...if Im racing someone slower, my attention drifts to watch them leave instead of watching my light. Oops.

Better than launching off the line and forgetting to put it in 4wd

 

[Cknight199]

Better than launching off the line and forgetting to put it in 4wd

Or be staged when the tree starts, then notice your lockup box isn't engaged, engage it, then leave the line when the 2nd light lights up because I was rushed. Oops. It was luckily a practice round though

 

[TheBac]

Better than launching off the line and forgetting to put it in 4wd

Done that, too. Make for some nice tire-roasting fun!
Best one, though, was forgetting to turn the lift pump back on. A person can find out real quick that a FASS pump is NOT really flow-thru at WOT. :roflmao: Funniest part is, Ive done that more than once. :doh:

 

[FC5452]

Like this, pay attention to the announcer simply classic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj0mTPMIaWA

 

[zf>allison]

I have forgot to put it on my big tune racing people on backroads. but at an event I put my keylock dsp5 in the big tune take the key out and always have it locked in.
I would beat my self up forever if I launched in 2x4. lol but I have a big stick in the floor to clunk it in 4x4 I could see forgetting on the electric shift 4x4 case more so.