Norwalk has a one strike brake light policy in 2016

[drphillips309]

How will they police this I wonder?

[bracketracing]

Smoke at the finish line.
When we were at Lyons we were parked near the turn off. I saw 6-7 cars have smoke off the front tires. Would that be excessive?

[jeremy341a]

Aug 20, 2015 13:50:16 GMT -6 bracketracing said:

Smoke at the finish line.
When we were at Lyons we were parked near the turn off. I saw 6-7 cars have smoke off the front tires. Would that be excessive?

According to NHRA rules that is not excessive. However I know several tracks that have more strict rules that say that is excessive.

[jeremy341a]

So they made the policy bc of the incident yet the driver is still subject to a fine even though it wasn't the rule at the time?


rom the Summit Motorsports Park Website -

As a result of the recent incident involving a racer over-using his vehicle’s brakes at the finish line in a method known as “brake light racing,” losing control of his vehicle and striking the vehicle in the other lane, a one-strike policy will be adopted in 2016 for all Summit Motorsports Park competitors.

It states that if a racer is found to be "brake light racing" and over-using his or her brakes at the finish line, a fine, probation and/or suspension could be incurred.

The driver responsible for the Aug. 16, 2015 incident will be fined $1,000 and placed on probation until Aug. 16, 2016. If the driver responsible opts to not pay the fine, he will be suspended from racing at Summit Motorsports Park for one full year.

“This aggressive protocol must be adopted to prevent future incidents,” said Bill Bader, Jr., president of Summit Motorsports Park.

[jeremy341a]

NHRA rule

Anytime it has been judged that
excessive braking has resulted in loss of control that results in
contact with the guardwall and/or light fixtures or crossing the
center boundary lines, INCLUDING PAST THE FINISH LINE,
the contestant will be disqualified

[drphillips309]

Aug 20, 2015 14:05:17 GMT -6 jeremy341a said:

NHRA rule

Anytime it has been judged that
excessive braking has resulted in loss of control that results in
contact with the guardwall and/or light fixtures or crossing the
center boundary lines, INCLUDING PAST THE FINISH LINE,
the contestant will be disqualified

So by nhra rules you have to hit something or cross the center line before you get a spanking? Smoking the tires are fine and even sliding sideways is fine as long as nothing is hit?

[jeremy341a]

That is correct. It isn't excessive unless you cross centerline and/or hit the wall

[Crossbones Dennis]

I wonder if the racer was warned for doing it before. Can you excessively brake a car with antilock?

[drphillips309]

Back at my least favorite track MAR in the 90s I was warned by the time slip guy jack I believe. If they see smoke again I was going to get tossed for to much braking. I said this new mustang has ABS it's impossible do you want a ride with me to prove it! And then they never tried to toss me for that again.

[Crossbones Dennis]

This opens up a whole can of worms. Will there be cameras at the finish line? Will it be based on somebody's word? If so how do you protest? What if the puff of smoke is out of the headers? What if you skid the front tires because of lack of track prep or an oil down that wasn't properly cleaned up by track officials?

A couple of weeks ago we had a racecar on the roadcourse hit his brakes going into one and one front wheel locked up. He hit the wall and did substantial damage to his car. If it was on the dragstrip, would the track add insult to injury by fining him for equipment failure?

[doughboy692]

I can tell you this much. At a National Open rolling even a tiny bit of smoke can get you called to tower for a VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY uncomfortable talking to. Followed by a letter in the mail a few days later to remind you once again not to let it happen again. Bracket racing seems to be for the most part anything goes as long as nobody wrecks around here. At least I've never heard of anybody getting booted for it.