found this little bit of info on another site, IHRA may be on to something.
jack





IHRA Considers Revising Red-Light Foul Rule for 2010

Here's one that should set the message boards aflutter. While working on the announcing deck of the Amalie Oil IHRA North American Nationals last weekend, we overheard top-level IHRA officials discussing a major change to the way red light fouls could be handled in the 2010 rule book.

We're not sure if we're even supposed to be publishing this, but it's been a while since our last cease and desist letter, so what the hell?

The change involves moving the redlight infraction from the "first" column to the "worst" column. The driver recording the "worst" redlight would be considered the loser, as opposed to the driver recording the first.

This only really has implications in dial-in or bracket racing, as in any heads-up racing, the first redlight would have to be the worst light by sheer virtue of the fact that both cars were set to leave at the same time, so the guy who jumped the gun first obviously was also the "worst," as in the one who redlit by the greatest amount of time.

With dial-in-based bracket racing, the slower car always gets the head start. If that driver red lights, then the faster car automatically wins based on the current rules where the "first" red light is considered the infraction. Even if the faster car turns on the red bulb, he still wins, simply because the other guy did it first.

The discussed change would allow the first driver to redlight, and then if the second driver were to red light by a larger margin, the driver who red lit first would be considered the winner.

The slow guys are pumping their fists with joy and the fast guys are saying, "WTF!?"

All we can tell you is that it was being discussed, and at length. No decision (that we know of) was made to write this in the book, but it would be a fairly significant change to the normal procedure of running races if this were to change. The timing system companies would be writing computer code to make this work for next season starting like now.

We're not sending you elsewhere for more info, because we're breaking the news!

that is the way our practic tree works. BUT they would have to blind the green and red lights so the faster car wouldn't see the slower one red light. I actually like the idea. It's about time.

Their we go somebody tryin to fix something that aint broke. I dont like it.

Paul Smith

I would like that. It makes way more sense and would be more fair than the faster car always being penalized and losing the race for the "lesser" red, but I can see the confusion it may cause if things are changed.

We have been the slower car a lot of races . Lost a few going red on both sides . So now we hide the tree right ! Next you have to hide the win light on the big end , untill the second car leaves or one driver will know to just sit it out . 10 second car runs 18 second car , or in a 1/8 mile race a 4 second car runs a 10 second car . It sounds like we just need radios in the helmets to make it even more fair so you could holler out don't go red the other guy did .Should deep staging also have a pullback or quick staging be allowed . So what if you pre stage and then stage in .25 seconds . Thats not allowed and gets you a pullback . Burnout staging is another issue . I don't like it at this point . Work it out then pull the trigger . No hip shooting please . Work on track conditions and lights not new rules yet . Let the starter run the race . Thanks, HAMMER

It's also dangerous having a driver looking at a win light instead of the track after they both are at top MPH and who in IHRA came up with this idea and who was behind the idea to make them submit it . I'm done and respect whatever rules we have to race with . Don " HAMMER " Combs

I found this info on another site the other nite, this is a long running issue that I have been reading about for several years now. A racer from North Carolina named Steve Taylor ( he passed away a couple of years ago) try to push the idea to other racers and to the two santioning bodies for years. Some liked it and some did not, pretty much the way it is now. He did race a very slow bracket car, so it was to he's advantage or you could say it leveled the playing field.

I, myself have lost several races to faster cars with the first red lite, and I did'nt think it was fair then or know. With the invent of cross talk,neither racer should be at a disadvantage.

I just don't see why the slower car should be able to lose first if you both leave on the same bulb.

I would like to hear more input on this, and I will see if I can find more info on the matter.

Jack

Jack, it is all about money. The more you pay the more advantage you have . I also disagree with the NHRA 1000 ft rule . The sport has run 1/4 mile since it started . When it got some good folks killed the big money stepped in and said lets shorten the run . Nobody said lets limit the cubic inches or blower size or fuel percent because there is so much invested . Don't want no farm boy running the track that all that money went towards to squeeze them out . The big boys would have to change all them motor parts so the Nhra caved in and said the cheapest fix is shorten the track and it keeps the Same Field . Thats the incentive to keep on playing . Trick of the week not rule changes evens the field . HAMMER

Jack,

Two years ago in the final round of the HRP Bracket Bash, I left first against Jay with a -.003 Red and he left right behind me with a -.004 Red. Jay did not know I went red until he looked up at the scoreboard and saw his win light halfway thru the run. I don't remember if we ran it all the way out, because at that point it did not matter.

If they are looking at changing the "first red" rule, why not let the racers run it all the way out and see who crosses first. Then you could add ET to the persons run that red lit the "worst" as a penalty and then see who the winner is.

Sounds complicated, but it isn't.

Everyone would be hitting .00's either red or green because they would not be so worried about being disqualified because it was red. I guess I'm trying to say a little red would not be so bad..........

Now THAT would send all us footbrakers into a frenzy trying to figure out how to dial your car!

Sure would be simpler to leave it the way it is.

Yes it is broke Paul!!!! Thats te best news Ive heard since O.U. lost!!!!I think It makes sence....and yeah the fists are pumping.Spot me spot me !!!!! Thanks for the heads up Jack.

Brian I figured you would be a fan of this. Yes us OU fans have our loss already so we will get to sit back and enjoy when you UT fans get your feelings hurt. Also I still have your UT hat Brian has a few stains in it oh well I dont have to tell ya where they came from.