David Pietras

Correct me if I'm wrong, but when auto magz test cars 0-60, 1/4, etc, they don't account for reaction time? Say, 1990 Road and Track tests a 928GT and squeeze out 13.8 sec. in the 1/4, then Joe gets a 14.0 sec with a .99 reaction time at the local drag strip, isn't Joe's time 13.01?
Just curious. Anybody?

MikeN

That's not the way it works. The mags usually have a decent driver that does these tests all the time. They will usually take several 0-60 and 1/4 mile runs in each direction and do an average for the final times. It's the drivers fault he's slow to react, not the cars. So most mags get numbers that are not easy to reproduce on the street. A GT will get into the 13's on the drag strip, but most street times will be in the 14's.....unless you have great pavement, great reaction time, etc. But all other cars are subject to this also.

Z

The clock for the E.T. doesn't start until the car breaks the light beam at the starting line. If Joe gets a 14.0 and has a reaction time od .99, the car did the 1/4 mile in 14.0. If Joe's reaction time is 5 minutes, the car's time would still be 14.0 seconds.

atb

David, Reaction time is not calculated into the elapsed time.

When you line your car up at the tree on the strip, your front tires are blockin a light beam that goes across your lane. The reaction time is the time between the green light on the bottom of the tree turning on, and your front wheel rolling out of the way of the light beam.

In bracket drag racing, the faster car is handicapped at the tree (he gets his green late later), and in theory both cars should reach the finish line at exactly the same time. But since the e/t clock doesn't start running until the car is moving (thereby allowing the beam to reconnect), whom ever has the faster reaction time (assuming they don't red light, miss a shift, etc.) will win.

A good example of this (don't ask how I know) is if a car is in neutral at the tree, and when it gets its green light doesn't roll forward. The E/T clock hasn't started yet because the front tires are still blocking the light beam. In this case the e/t time could still be respectable, but your r/t would be miserable, and your opponent has just had a leisurely drive to a win.

Jim bailey - 928 International

In addition , not unlike this forum , not everything printed is factual ........Magazine writers are often very creative .

Z

As some auto manufacturers have also been when providing "stock" vehicles for testing.