Image taken from the web
If this is the christmas tree you think of first when the words christmas tree is uttered then you are probably addicted to drag racing. And indeed Drag racing be it pro or for fun is what most people will associate with the christmas tree light system. Aside from the quarter mile drag strip this light system is used in other racing. The Christmas tree is for races in which two drivers (typically) are going from the start line at a dead stop to the finish line. It has also been used in more traditional mud drag racing (those which are not a course, are not a bog and do not have launch hills), and Monster Truck Racing (mostly in the Penda Points Series of the 90's).
The christmas tree is used not just for a green light but is also utilized to stage the racers for the race. And for starting the race it is an equalizer, bringing the race down to who gets a better start at the green. Let's look at the image above and break down the christmas tree a little bit.
First up are the pre-stage and stage indicators. Pre-staging lights are for getting the racer close to the starting light. pre-staging basically get the vehicle ready for the start line and hopefully the racers are lined up the way they want and are ready to move up to the starting line. The pre-stage and staging lights are activated when a beam is broken by the front tires of the vehicle. When the beam is broken the appropriate lights will illuminate. Now once the driver is ready they will break the staging light's beam which will light up the stage indicator lights. In doing so the vehicle is right at the starting line and the driver is focusing on the christmas tree ready to race. This is where mind games come into place in this style of racing. Who is going to pre-stage and stage first? How long will they sit before fully staging, or before the officials step in? This can lead to team disputes and overall there is a strategy to staging that is beyond the scope of this topic. However once both racers are fully staged (both the pre-stage and stage indicator lights are lit) the actual start is up to the starting official.
This brings us to the Amber lights just before the green light. These lights are set to flash at a specific time depending on the racing. All three flash at once when the tree is set up as a "pro" tree. They flash quickly followed by the green light. This is what the professional drag racers use, it is also what is utilized by Monster Truck racing and is mostly what is utilized by mud drag racing. However the tree can be programmed to be a full type tree in which each amber light flashes on its own from top to bottom and then the green light goes on. This is most likely what you would encounter if you went to the drag strip to race for fun. In either set up the starting official is the person who makes it happen. In either scenario the driver always wants to cut a good light. This means going as soon as the green light is lit.
This bring us to the green and red lights. Cutting a good light basically means having a good reaction time. The object of this is to get your vehicle off the starting line as soon as is possible for a legal pass. This means almost jumping the light and reacting quick enough to get your vehicle off the line as soon as the light is green. If you do this quicker then your opponent you have a "holeshot" which basically means you got moving before your opponent did. The holeshot is a huge advantage to win but is no guarantee. Now if you cut "too good of a light" you foul up and have a red light. When you red light you lose. This happens when your vehicle moves off the line prior to the green light and is monitored electronically. This is an automatic disqualification for the driver that red lights.
And that is basically the essence of a christmas tree. These have been in use for a while and it still in my opinion is a very good way to stage and launch racers from a dead stop. And for the holidays all you need is a few ornaments for this christmas tree as it already has the lights.
See you on the road.
No comments:
Post a Comment