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Can a Clutch Car be Competitive in Bracket?

padam

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I just jumped back into bracket racing after a 20 year layoff.

I managed to get myself thoroughly hooked again, but my equipment all needs updating.

I run a 73 charger with a 413 and 4 speed.

I am trying to get a plan together for the car for next year. As much as I love racing, I REALLY love winning.

I would like to stick with the 4-speed for several reasons.

Is it possible to win on a regular basis with a clutch car?
 
Depends on you as a consistent driver. Not nearly as much talent needed with a automatic. Personally I couldn't be consistent with a stick anymore.
 
Absolutely Yes, there have been national champions and many national events won with 4 speeds. You have to make the car bulletproof and get the starting line launch figured out.

Much easier to do with a G-force or Jerico racing trans than an A-833. Call Rob Youngblood at advance clutches in Idaho for that part of it. He will help you greatly.
http://www.advancedclutches.com/products.htm
 
I am about to find out if my HitMaster launch control system is all that those who use it say it is. Same manufacturer as the ClutchTamer.
At least one forum member has one, and has spoken highly of it. Dead hooking on a service road with drag radials.
I was going to get the ClutchTamer mechanical setup, but I wanted a hydraulic throwout bearing conversion anyway, although a big reason for me spending $600 on the conversion was the added features of the HitMaster.
What I'm saying is I spent at least $800 in anticipation of it working very well.
Look at the ClutchTamer, read the actual user stories.
http://clutchtamer.com/
https://www.racepagesdigital.com/ta...rans-racers-dial-in-a-dead-hook-off-the-line/
http://grannys.tripod.com/hillbillyclutchslipper.html
 
Absolutely Yes, there have been national champions and many national events won with 4 speeds. You have to make the car bulletproof and get the starting line launch figured out.

Much easier to do with a G-force or Jerico racing trans than an A-833. Call Rob Youngblood at advance clutches in Idaho for that part of it. He will help you greatly.
http://www.advancedclutches.com/products.htm
Thanks for that info.

Shifting doesn't seem to be a problem for me as my 833 is slick-shifted. But I don't think it will hold up to much more power and i was planning on having the gears faced by Liberty.

The starting line is where I am afraid of being at a disadvantage.
 
Much easier to do with a G-force or Jerico racing trans than an A-833.
I have looked at both, although I am hoping the "700 continuous Ft/Lbs torque" handling capacity of my Passon Performance a855 five speed is a conservative rating, or at least something I can count on. I looked up the manual transmission in the Roadkill "BlaspHEMI" and it's a G-Force 5 speed.
They broke 1st gear on the Drag Week 5 day tour and drag race event, and changed it out successfully at the track. That supercharged Gen 2 Hemi was putting out at least 1,000 horsepower, and the car was running 8.50s at around 155 MPH.
 
The class you are racing in will determine how much of a disadvantage you might have.
It might be difficult to compete with transbrake cars, but foot brake class would be easier.
On electronics or no electronics, It really just depends on how sorted the car and driver are.
There are some series for manual transmission cars also, but only a few events a year around here (Bandimere)
 
Maybe I am overthinking things.
My last couple times out my timing started to come back.
Last Sunday l cut
.463 red, .522, .508, .606 (tried to ease off), .553, .590 (opponent red).

So I think if I make some improvements, I can be consistent around . 520- .540.
 
I also want to look into index racing, which seems to be the next big thing.

I don't think they allow much electronics.
 
That's pretty direct.
Admittedly, a personal opinion. That's not saying it can't be very fast, and a lot of fun, but COMPETITIVE in Brackets, no, I don't believe it can .
Check out big money bracket races on you tube .020 packages get beat frequently. Clutch actuated, manually shifted cars are at a HUGE disadvantage .
I have seen veteran bracket racers racing thru the pits to get next to a manual bracket car in the staging lanes.
 
Back in the '70's, I was awarded a ten dollar bonus bracket racing after having run two consecutive quarter mile races with EXACTLY the same ET. 1965 Valiant 273 power-shifting with a prepared full-synchro A-833.

65 Valiant2 copy.jpg
 
good luck you'll need it
 
I would need a lot of luck no matter what I was driving.

Probably best to stick with what I know.
 
If you're a good driver with a well sorted out car, you may be OK in the "no electronics" classes.
 
Sure.

If you’re name is:Sox, Landy, or da Grump.

Watch Sox get out of shape at mid track and stay in it. Listen to the brutal shifts.



Here’s the Grump.




And as always, Landy...




I think 4sp guys deserve the kudos. If you can get consistent with a 4 sp, you can do anything in drag racing.
 
And those guys weren't bracket racing. .01 or better lights are mandatory in the bracket wars. .01-03 in the no electronics classes.
 
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