I know this is getting old and some drivers respond they know the rules, I am not saying that you are not aware of the rules, however, there are still drivers that are not utilizing some kind of light, (see worthy) on the back of the car. during the next couple of weeks, as like last night, the fog rolls in and it becomes a major safety issue for the starter to see cars going down the track, to make sure they clear the track.

Please, if you have painted your car and somehow painted the tail lights, get the paint off of the tail lights :o)

Thanks

Tim

The way to get people to get a "light" may be for the tower to watch and when they don't have a light, let the starter know. Then the starter backs them out and doesn't let them run until they have a light. Some people may not realize how dangerous it is to not be seen downtrack, but if they are pulled out from running because of their lack of a light, it may impress on them the importance of following the rules. Rules are there for a reason.

Blind Guy, I totally agree with you and Track Management asked to post this notice before anything drastic happens on the track, such as you have mentioned, however, there should be no reason that on March 28th, most bracket racers read this site, can not have a light on there vehicle. And the light is not good enough if it is on a set of tail lights that have been painted over with black paint and can not see them past the 60'ft mark. I am not nagging about this issue, just merely stating that this is a IHRA Rule and Track Rule that will start being enforced, and if it means pulling a car out of a elimination round because they have no light, then if it comes down to that, it will come down to that.

Some will tell me to lighten up, or ease up and quit being to hard, but again there is no short cut to safety, Being a EMT as well, I just cant take that chance on behalf of someone not wanting to follow a very, very simple safety rule. We have a guy that races a very fast bike, he has a 6 bulb LED pocket flash light stapped to his stabilizer/wheelie bar and I can see that light at the very end of the track, even at the turn offs, so I know for like $4, you can get one of those flashlights and put on the back of the car if all else fails and you do not use factory tail lights.

Angleton, will be using and enforcing Courtesy Staging as well, its required at National Events and thus, no reason why it should not be enforced at Angelton or any other track.

Thanks
Tim

Do you check for working tail lights when cars tech in? Does the tech guy tell everyone to use their lights at night? How do the newbes get the rules communicated to them? I just think you need to do something else that would be more effective other than just posting the rules on this board. Also, do you communicate with the person in the ticket booth at all to see if cars have cleared the track? I've seen nights out there where you'd need a q-beam on the back of the car in order to see it at the end of the track.
Courtesy staging is not a rule for test and tuning. If you are going to enforce courtesy staging in test and tuning, you're going to have a busy night. Why can't you select the courtesy satging option in the software to where the driver who doesn't courtesy stage gets a big red light when the tree is activated?

Tim,

No one said you should lighten up on safety, just for those who already know the rules. I'm sure everyone who reads this board knows most if not all the rules. I just think you need to figure out how to get the rules to those who don't read this board. Maybe make a list of all the safety rules and hand them out with the tech cards or when folks tech in.

Lol There you are Mike, I hope that your day is going good, always get good advise from you, I know that when you post, your giving positive criticism and that is great, I do thank you for that.

As far as the list of safety rules, I will work on that this week before Saturday. You are right about MOST of the drivers know the safety rules and DO follow them. LoL when i mentioned about having a car with paint overspray over tail lights, belongs to one of our Bracket racers that happend to win the Jackpot last night :o)

Thanks again for your advise and input Mike, Im learning and when you vetran guys give me good advice I thoroughly listen and learn.

Tim

Let me guess, would that be a Nova with a dog driving?
Chris

No problem Tim. You're going to get really old (quick) trying to fix everything! There use to be a sign in front of the water box telling the drivers to turn on their lights at night. Having tech check for rear light(s) might get the message out as well. Keep up the good work you're making a very difficult job look easy.

Mike, there is a sign still in the water box just at the begining of the gaurd rails, and Chris as far as the car description, hmmmmm white and black with stickers all over it...lol

I have had a problem with someone not having a light.I made my run and in the shut down area was a car sitting sideways and a driver jumping up and down beside it.Allmost hit both of them.It was very close.Close enough to pull seat out of my *ss

I hate to say it. But if they ran a car down the track with a car on the big end, it's the tracks fault. Lights or no lights. The starter and tower are either suppose to see them "TURN OFF" or confirm they got off the track by way of ticket booth. You really can't blame the racer because his light wasn't on or didn't work. If you can't see a car on the big end with or without a tail light there's problem.

I would think it would be a safety issue if fog rolls
in and you have trouble seeing cars on the other end, then maybe the racing needs to shut down. Also better
lighting on the shutdown area would help or put a spotter down there to tell the starter when cars are off the track.

Maybe Tim you have a drivers meeting before each race to air out the IHRA GUIDELINES,and other safety issues, and the Racers could air out some of their concerns.

OK..OK ILL FIX IT. THE BATTIERS ARE LOW IN MY FLASH LIGT AND IM OUT OF DUCT TAPE SO..... I COULDNT TAKE IT OUT ! I DID TURN MY HEAD LIGHT (ONE) ON AFTER THE FINISH LINE....MOST OF THE TIMES.THE ONLY REASON THEY GOT PAINTED WAS I WAS OUT OF MASKING TAPE WHEN I STARTED PAINTING.

Awww Brian, I was not mentioning no names lol, but hey your car ran good Friday Night, nice to see ya win. now about that light..hehe.. Gratz on the Jackpot win.

I drilled some holes in my light cover. Thanks it was fog....I mean fun!! See yall saturday!

don't run your track but a well lit tail lite should be a no brainer...duhhhhh!

I agree, everyone needs to have a light. But the tail light should be the last line of defense. If you're depending on tail lights to determine if a car is off the track, it's only a matter of time before a driver finds someone in their lane at the big end. Or a car that's hanging out from the turn off. Lights burn out, short out and get tuned off by mistake. Even a chute could block a light. Tim needs to see the cars completly exit the track or verify that the cars are completly off the track before sending another pair. I know it gets dark and foggy out there but there are other safety measures that need to be taken in "addition" to having a "visable" working tail light. That won't cost a dime.

your right, Tail Lights should be last line of defense. Friday, when the fog rolled in, I sent Carl down on the four wheeler at the end of the track off to the side at a safe distance and he was able to radio me and let me know when vehicles cleared. did not cost anything for that. I guess my issue is, when a driver is asked more than once, twice, three times to make sure there is alight on and they come up the fourth time they get an attitude because they are reminded again that they need a light on. That said, there is a sign in the water box, burnout box posted :O)

I hope that the weather will cooperate for saturday.

/Tim

HEY I DONT HAVE A ATTITUDE !!! WHAT THE HELL YOU TALKING ABOUT ? LOL I KNOW YOUR NOT TALKING ABOUT ME. WELL YOU BETTER HOPE IT RAINS IF YOU ARE!!! SEE IM A SWELL GUY!!!LOL

Brian's car has tailights heck it prob just needs a bulb Get rid of the tude Brian LOL

Hey Brian is Texas still in the NCAA basketball tournament???

O.U. SORRY ASS!! YOU BETTER HOPE IT RAINS ! YANKEY !!LOL

Mr. B, please forgive me if you thought I was talking about you, because you were one of the nice ones..lol for a change.. that is unless you have a guilty conscience....rofl...anyway, no there were issues with several others that simply got angry when they were asked to have the tail lights. You did a great job Friday, going for a repeat on Saturday?

Weather wise, suppose to clear up late friday into the night, suppose to be cool and clear for Saturday:O)

Tim

How about the drainage?

Quiet Bobby you just want it to rain!!!!!

Repeat is in order!! Bobby keep your shirt on! PLEASE!!!!! Cant wait for saturday.

Bobby going to be hob knobbing with the pro's.

At least my tail lights work, when I want them to.

Who said I wanted them too ? lol Yall just better pray for rain !!!!!!!! Those comming arounds are comming around !!!!!

NO RAIN NO RAIN NO RAIN

GO TEXAS GO AWWW Heck they aint even in the game no more. They went home.
See ya saturday Brader!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Im talking racing not b-ball dude. I dont get into hoops so I dont care about that much. This here is TEXAS not O...O... where your from. Its FOOTBALL !!!lol You crack me up !!!