Ok, I am a complete *** at this. What are the meanings of the words Hook and also Trap when used talking about at the track?

When you have a time followed by a MPH, is that the speed you were going when you hit the end?

Also, what are other words used. Please help, I think this would be very informative.

 

hook=traction
trap= finish line time or mph

My car just won't hook

my trap time is 12.45

 

TRAP = MPH @ the end of the 1/4 (or 1/8th) [will also be on the time slip for 1/8]

ET = time from triping the timing beams @ the start to the beams @ the finish

+1 on Hook - usually @ start of run

 

TRAP = Torque Ratio Applied to Pavement

HOOK = Header Oxygen Out of Kooks

Just kidding! Read the above.

 

Any other words used?

 

Waterbox= In the burnout are behind the starting line there is an area where water is sprayed to facilitate a burnout. You don't have to use it and many with street tires prefer not to. At some tracks there is no way to go around it.

Pre-stage= When you get to the first set of photocells near the starting line, when the front tires break this beam the top lights on the "Christmas tree" light up. You are 7 inches from the starting line at this point.

Stage= After you pre-stage, you have to roll forward 7 more inches to break the beam of the second set of photocells. This will light the second set of lights on the Christmas tree. As soon as these lights come on, you are "staged". Track etiquette is to not stage until the other driver has pre-staged.

Full tree and Pro tree= The three amber lights will either count down sequentially or all come on at once. The sequential countdown is known as a "full tree" and the all-at-once is a "pro tree". For most street cars the default will be a full tree but you can request apro tree. A perfect reaction time for a full tree is .500 seconds and perfect for a pro tree is .400 seconds.

Red light= if your reaction time is too quick (less than .500 for a full tree or .400 for a pro tree) the green light will not come on, the red light will and that is a fouls start, automatic disqualification. i.e. you are on a full tree and your reacion time is .450, you "red lit" andwere disqualified.

60'-330'-1/8 mile, etc= various points along the track where timing equipment is set up, helps drivers to diagnose their runs.

RT= reaction time (see above)

ET= Elapsed Time. Your time between the time you left the starting line and crossed the finish line, exactly 1/4 mile (1320 feet) later. Reaction time has no bearing on your ET.

Trap or Trap speed= your average speed through two sets of photocells (1 set 50ft before and 1 set 50ft past the finish line). I think the distance apart is correct, seems like I remember they are 100 feet apart.

slip= your time slip, show all of the measured parameters of your run. Usually picked up at a shack on the "return road".

Return road= after making the turn off the track you go to the return road which takes you to the timing shack and back to the pit area.

That's all I can think of...

 

This is the kind of information I am looking for. Thanks everyone.

 

I thought that the trap photocells were located at 66' (1/20 of the track length) before the finish line and one at the finish line with the last one stopping both the et clock and the speed clock?

 

******* = guy in civic on street tires going through water box

 

^LOL, so true