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New to Racing. Any stage light tips?

2.7K views 11 replies 10 participants last post by  rickss69  
#1 ·
Is there a timing trick to help improve my reaction time off the line?
 
#4 ·
As far as stageing lights go just roll in and ligh the first one and then go just enough to light the second. Consistency in how deep you put the bike in is most important for reaction time. Once your staged, and this takes some getting used to, don't stare straight at the tree your reaction time will be better if you pick a point down track to focus on. reflexes tend to be much quicker when you just react to the tree outta the corner of your eye and not staring directly at it The key in all of it is consistency. Do it the exact same every time after 100 times or so it will become natural. Once you get there you will be able to make adjustments for things like sunlight and what not because you have a base to start from as far as the rest goes dont worry about it focus on the stageing and the launch. The rest will come later and only distract you now. If you have never done it before I wouldn't even worry about a burn out the first few passes just get comfortable. When you do start doing burn outs don't do them in the water like most new guys. Just roll through it and then do it or back into it and pull back out it doesn't take alot. Hope it helps. Have fun with it. Hopefully your ready cause its one of the most addicting things you will ever do!!!


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#7 ·
.... When you do start doing burn outs don't do them in the water like most new guys. Just roll through it and then do it or back into it and pull back out it doesn't take alot....
With all due respect, a motorcycle about to drag race should NEVER roll the front tire thru the water box. Always go around the water and back the rear tire into the water box if your going to do a burn out. If your not going to do a burn out to scrub off dirt and old rubber then drive around the water box and keep that front tire dry! If your going to do a burn out then absolutely use the water, not using the water just makes things hard on the clutch, tire, front brake, and especially if you are belt driven as opposed to chain driven.

To the OP, as far as improving reaction times it will help if you tell us what kind of christmas tree will you be running.

Are you running a "pro tree" - where all three amber lights flash simultaneously, followed four-tenths of a second later with the green light.

Or will you be running a "sportsman tree" - where the three bulbs flash consecutively a half second apart down the tree, then half a second later the green light is lit.

You can always spot the new racers on a pro tree usually because they go when the light is green and all the veterans know that is way too late. The new racers usually can never understand why their RT is greater than .6 and constantly get spanked off the line.

Good luck with this fun and exciting sport.
 
#5 ·
If you can, go to a dragstrip on a test n tune day. Concentrate on the staging procedure and try not to worry about the rest of the run. After lighting the pre-stage bulbs, slowly move with your feet into the stage beams, barely causing the light to flicker and stay off is called shallow staging. Depending on the beams width, and the outer diameter of your front wheel, you should have approximately 6 inches to play with. Then try to roll farther till you cause the stage light to relight, if you pay close attention to how much the difference is between these two points, you will now know the difference between shallow staging and deep staging.

Shallow staging allows the bike to move farther until the clocks start. But it will slow your reaction times. Slow reactions but faster elapsed times!

Deep staging quickens your reaction times by the fact the bike moves less before the timers start. But the bike will not ET as quickly, because the timers started sooner. Quicker reaction times but slower elapsed times!

As was stated earlier, it takes lots and lots of practice! Finding out your eye to brain to hand reaction time, plus your bikes physical reaction time is the key to consistency! And believe me, consistency wins races!
 
#8 ·
buy yourself a practice tree.
set it up for whatever tree you plan to use.
get to where you can beat it 9-10 times.
I been practicing on a pro .400 with the time to beat as .430
it helps to hold your button sideways with your thumb on it.
let your four fingers fly out just like you are letting go of the clutch.
setup so you can let it drop out of your hand,and not drop it to far.
over a table works good.
or you can buy a clutch handle switch and mount it on the bike or a set of handle bars.
it helps. if nothing else it gives you confidence.:boxin: