Art & Inspiration Traditional images that need no explanation.

Living dangerously.

 

The Chrisman brothers sedan.

 

I read that for time near the end of flag starts there was a button on the pavement that turned on the timers. The starter held the button down with the flag, flag up, timers on, cars go. Not sure if just at big meets or where exactly.

Fontana Drag City had a system for a while as described above. The starter would point to one driver to see if he was ready, then the other, then put the point of the flag on a switch in the middle and you could either watch to see when he was raising it or watch a traffic signal mounted above for the green light to be lit. I thought this was a fair way to do it and it still left the starter in the equation.

At Colton, once in a while, there was a flag starter who would raise the flag when you left if you later gave him a six-pack. Or is this just wishful memory on a 65-year-old happening?)

 

Sprint car or Roadster?

 

cant wait to hear from @swifty to get some more info and locations on these neat Aussie hot rods that @40ragtopdown has just posted,cheers

 

Niekamp Roadster. The first AMBR winner. That's Jake on the left and Bud Bryant on right.

 

Not a bad looking girl with out the cigar. Looks like they got to steel another car, them tires is pretty bald.

 

That B-400 today is probably worth more than they ever stole.

Mick

 

Yes, sure is!

Ben

 

what is that ignition??

 

All dressed up, and nowhere to go.

 

Been there, done that.

 

Hello,

Not all flag starter positions had that fancy button on the ground. So, the drop a raised flag was the majority of the time activity all over So Cal tracks and elsewhere. If the flag dropped, the cars started and crossed the timing lights. But, it was the initial drop of the flag as to when one could step on the gas pedal. The Chrondek clocks took over for everything else at all dragstrips.

Most people watched the tip of the flag. Others watched the elbow. The elbow moves before the tip of the flag is moved. Thereby giving a split second recognition to step on the gas. There is always a delay in everyone's eye to brain to foot connection. The early tests showed that it takes about a second and a half to see-send the message to the brain and to the foot, for a stomp action. But, if one sees the elbow move first, the advantage is slight, but the reaction time is quicker.

Jnaki
1958-59 Lion's Dragstrip
The old the city street 3 light, stop light was a better start method. (red, yellow, green)



The timing light made everyone adjust to the blinking lights and the reaction to them. But, again, one light goes off a split second before the other one comes on. So, if one reacts to the off light and not the green on light, the advantage is there. Of course, we all hope that every race, street or drags is fun and exciting. But, every advantage helps maintain that little advantage to win the race.