new timing

PLUCKA · Post by **PLUCKA** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:06 am

Chris
Its a 68 HK Monaro running a 350 chev, c n c ally heads, 950 HP thats holley I mean. Looking to have a great time. To much money sitting in the shed waiting for a drag strip. I know lets go salt lake racing.

Plucka
C/GALT 689

Rob Carroll · Post by **Rob Carroll** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 10:59 pm

Hi all, I will try to answer some of your questions and queries from the past few days. First, we need to prove the wireless system actually works and is 100% reliable. Then we can look at the cost of hiring his equipment and operator/s against the cost of maintaining our equipment and time savings on setup and tear down. The tangled wire in 2006 was caused by a wooden reel collapsing. We now use plastic ones ( one piece i think). Wireless timing will still have connections and batteries that may go flat. A dedicated licensing track would be great if we had timing for it, maybe someone can bring some.I am not against two tracks or wireless timing but we need to be 100% positive this is the correct way to go. As for running the track longer each day, start line and timing people can be trained, but fire and rescue volunteers are harder to find. Do you have the skills to replace these highly trained people when they are due for a break? We have always run two or three lanes at the start line, so someone is always ready to go. The firies already tow disabled vehicles off the track if required, but we really don't want them to have any work to do, I would say.

David Leikvold · Post by **David Leikvold** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 11:18 pm

Thanks for all the answers Rob. Here's another question. As Bob Ellis explained it to me, the licensing passes are made at set speeds. We wouldn't need any real timing equipment for a dedicated licensing track if someone brought along a radar gun as the exit speed is all that's measured. And the bloke with the gun wouldn't need to stand in harm's way to do it either, most radars seem to have more range than we really care for. Does anybody have one? Is this idea any good?

REAL Stan · Post by **REAL Stan** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 7:34 am

David.
The car & driver must be watched by the starters timers & fire & rescue,for stability off the car/bike. It`s not just a speed thing. :shock:

David Leikvold · Post by **David Leikvold** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 8:30 am

Thanks Stan, that makes good sense. In 6 weeks time I'll be able to see it for myself and understand all these fundamentals and then I won't need to ask all these newby questions. From what Rob said it seems like the fire and rescue crews are in short supply. Maybe we should train up lots of members to do it so we don't run short. I'll volunteer to be a volunteer!

PJQ2 · Post by **PJQ2** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 2:05 pm

Hi David,

The rescue and fire crews are staff of the SA SES and ?(not sure what the Fire service is officially called). Some of them take annual leave and come to work at the event. Many of them have been doing the SpeedWeek gig for years. While it's true they have the best seat in the house, they are working, in full uniform with all the gear ready. It would be a massive effort for the club to replicate their services and I'm not sure they'd appreciate (or even allow) volunteers helping out.

Drivers on licensing passes are scrutinised closely by these crews and club people. You'll hear comments over the radio when the vehicle makes a little twitch or unusual noise.

Don't worry though, there's plenty of other jobs to go round. Look forward to meeting you in a few weeks!!!

PLUCKA · Post by **PLUCKA** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 12:46 am

Guys
Let me know if you reuire either a radar gun or even better a pro laser timing speed gun. Have both of these in my Highway Patrol office. Can take them on a holiday to the salt just like the GPS and the UHF if you like.

Plucka
#689

Lynchy · Post by **Lynchy** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 9:35 am

Plucka

You may have to bring the banana chair and a bucket of daquiri mix as well.

What is the max speed that either of them register?

Lynchy

David Leikvold · Post by **David Leikvold** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 9:53 am

With Plucka around it looks like it will be safe for Gordon D to turn up after all! And Plucka, while I have no say in the matter at all I think it would be a good idea if you did bring the two radar units, they might come in very handy once Rob and the other organisers know you've got them.
And just in case anyone's been wondering lately, No I am not trying to fill the forum with my name on every thread, I'm just keen to help out where I can with useful contributions to the various discussions, even the silly ones. According to Rod, we have over 720 members now and it seems like there are probably less than 50 active forum users. As we are literally spread out all over the world, this is the only form of communication for most of us (except at Don's BBQ's) it's a shame it isn't more widely used. Come on the rest of you, sign on and add some value.

Dr Goggles · Post by **Dr Goggles** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 10:19 am

Guys
Let me know if you require either a radar gun or even better a pro laser timing speed gun. Have both of these in my Highway Patrol office. Can take them on a holiday to the salt just like the GPS and the UHF if you like.
Plucka
#689

ah , er, did you by any chance use one of those things in Tintinara and pull over a guy in a red EH panel van wearing very brief nylon football shorts in March '06?

http://www.dlra.org.au/forum/viewtopic. ... 22&start=0 :oops:

PLUCKA · Post by **PLUCKA** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 11:14 am

Dr G
I don't reckon that was me. I normally run the Sturt, Goyder,Thiele Hwys. Rarely on the Dukes.

Plucka
#689

PLUCKA · Post by **PLUCKA** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 11:26 am

Lynchy
Both radar and laser display three digits but in KPH. Certainlty good enough for lic passes. I'll bring both and the powers to be can decide if they use them or not. Ive got 6 plus me in the OOO racing team and can supply operators for them. Consider it done.

Plucka
#689

Greg Watters · Post by **Greg Watters** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 12:47 pm

Plucka funny you should mention Timetronics, a motorcycle group i'm in are hiring his equipment for an event at Casino airfield (very short, lucky to get more than a 1/4 with safe braking area) Price was good , less than $1k for a complete dragrace setup , may be enough scope with the drag stuff to have 1 timed mile .

On another note , how many guys/gals are already trained as SES, CFA or Ambo that could be listed as available in time of need or lunch
Would probably need the ok from the appropriate SA services, bring your gear, quick run thru on the vehicle ..

I'm CFA

OLDtimer · Post by **OLDtimer** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 6:57 pm

Unfortunately it isnt just a matter of another set of timing equipment to run a licencing track. It needs to be surveyed, scraped (which takes a lot of time), markers put out & taken up, a second set of communications (which is a problem as we only have 1 repeater channel at our disposal) ,& the chief timer must witness each run to ok the pass. For safety reasons nobody is allowed within 500 metres of the track, so unless the radar gun works accurately on an angle at that distance, it would be of no useanyway. I ,like Rob, am not against a second track, but with a number of new measures in place to streamline the meeting, I am sure we will get many more runs in than in the past. Pete.

REAL Stan · Post by **REAL Stan** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:42 pm

Just to add to Pete`s post.
There were a lot of problems in 2006 meet which made for less runs.
Just to name a few,Wet track which ment running a short track till wednesday,
Then there`s the wire problem "which we all know about."Then there were 2 bikes come a cropa which both of them closed the track for some time,
There was a oil spill on the track that closed for at least 2hrs or more from memory,Then there was Rod`s fire which closed the track for
half the day for a clean up of the track and to recharge fire extinguishers.(as there were none left)
Thats just to name a few.For those who were there & those that weren`t.
The 2006 meet was unique.Were all trying our best for a good clean race year.

Dry Lakes Racers Australia

new timing

radar?

hired guns

safe

VK 689