Ladder Bars and Reaction Time

I am asking for input on this question....
By switching from Leaf Spring Cal Trac Setup to Ladder Bars with Strange Double Adjustable shocks I think the consensus of opinion and fact is that the car will reduce the Elapsed Time in the Quarter Mile.

My question for the guys is -
Can the car cut better REACTION TIMES on a .400 Pro Tree by switching from Cal Trac Setup to Ladder Bars.
The answer will come from guys who had the experience of switching from Cal Trac Setup to Ladder Bar Setup OR from guys with track experience and knowledge of this situation.
I am NOT asking if the driver will have a better reaction time on the .400 Pro Tree but WILL THE CAR move quicker after releasing the transbrake button. The car, of course, has to move from the dead stop very quickly after the trans brake is released to get a great reaction time on the .400 Pro Tree.

I am NOT asking the question about reaction times on a Full Sportsman Tree but only on the .400 PRO TREE.

I need and ask for your input.
Thanks.

Putting driver, weight, engine, converter, overall gear ratio, carb, tire diameter, type of trans brake, and starting line RPM aside for this discussion. If the suspension moves less AND the car hooks it will react quicker. How much? My experience says very little.
Doug

Now what will help. For sure hitting the practice tree on "Pro" instead of "full tree" is worth .02 or more . Deep stage. If deep stage is illegal in your series, then bump it in. 2 -3 bumps will be possible without turning out the top stage bulb. This WILL slow 60ft and ET. And quicken R/T. You must test to determine how much. We've seen about .03 slower in ET. With limited testing (maybe 15-20 passes) I've been able to cut lights in the .050 range with this method.
Doug

The thought is that leaves to ladder bars to four link is the progression of what your asking and the possibly of better 60' and reaction is there. Like dvw said, suspension moves less. That's the key. We've built and tuned cars that made this progression but so many other things got changed at the same time so who knows. Going from a ladder bar with a NO2 big block Auto car to a ProCharged Ray Barton Hemi with a Liberty and 4 link is really hard to say if the reaction time for the car got better.

dvw said:

Now what will help. For sure hitting the practice tree on "Pro" instead of "full tree" is worth .02 or more . Deep stage. If deep stage is illegal in your series, then bump it in. 2 -3 bumps will be possible without turning out the top stage bulb. This WILL slow 60ft and ET. And quicken R/T. You must test to determine how much. We've seen about .03 slower in ET. With limited testing (maybe 15-20 passes) I've been able to cut lights in the .050 range with this method.
Doug

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Doug, I could sure live with .050 Pro Tree Lite Reaction time.
Here is what I did to try and reduce my .400 Pro Tree Reaction Time
1) I changed from 28.2" diameter Moroso Tire to 24" Hoosier front tires.
2) I "bumped in " 2 or 3 clicks (not enuf to turn out the top bulb which redlites you in my series).
I have got my Starting Line Procedure recorded in Super Slow Motion off my Go Pro snapped to my helmet and I can see my finger coming of the transbrake button right when the amber bulbs lite up. My A&A transbrake releases what I think is almost instantly. 17lbs of air in my stiff sidewall Hoosier 93.5" rollout bias ply slicks.
I have a 3600 chip in my brake.
With all this my typical .400 Pro Tree Reaction time is .110 ...which is dismal. I think the car just moves slow.
In "stop action" of my super slow motion videos it looks like the slicks begin to "wrap up" somewhat and the rear end rises a little (due to action of what I believe is the Cal Trac Bars) before the car even moves an inch.
Maybe there is nothing I can do about all this....I don't know.
Your Thoughts plus other guys thoughts will be appreciated.
I can be competitive with .050 lights and super competitive with .030 lights because the car will always run within .001 to .005 off my index.
Last race at Vegas I was on the 10.25 index and ran 10.251 to 10.253 all day. I got to the semi not because of my .400 pro tree reaction times but because I made up for my slow reaction times with running right on my number. I broke out in the semi because I failed to notice the big tailwind (flag was really blowing towards the finish line) and I went 10.20 and broke out.

What type of lights do you pull on a practice tree set on Pro tree, .330 roll out?
Doug

dvw said:

What type of lights do you pull on a practice tree set on Pro tree, .330 roll out?
Doug

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Doug, I do not use a practice tree because I feel it cannot duplicate the movement of the car, it just displays how quick someone can pop the practice tree go light.

Mike Gaines said:

Doug, I do not use a practice tree because I feel it cannot duplicate the movement of the car, it just displays how quick someone can pop the practice tree go light.

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That's why you add the rollout. Even though I foot brake, it helps me for sure. My R/T average last year was .027, only 7 passes slower than .050's. Using a good practice tree well see if it's you, the car, or my bet, both. If you are way better on full than pro the same rollout, it's you.
Doug

dvw said:

That's why you add the rollout. Even though I foot brake, it helps me for sure. My R/T average last year was .027, only 7 passes slower than .050's. Using a good practice tree well see if it's you, the car, or my bet, both. If you are way better on full than pro the same rollout, it's you.
Doug

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Got it....What is the best practice tree ?
Thanks

I have an old Port a Tree model, over 25 years. There are Apps for your phone. But the ones I've tried are not accurate at repeating. Could just be the touch screen. Read some reviews . You can even hook them up in your car and use your existing trans brake button.
Doug

Mike, I think where ladder bars will help is consistency. A lot less movement will = more consistency.
As far as practice Tree. I have the Porta tree practice Tree with the foot peddle accessory. Works great.

Endangered Species said:

Mike, I think where ladder bars will help is consistency. A lot less movement will = more consistency.
As far as practice Tree. I have the Porta tree practice Tree with the foot peddle accessory. Works great.

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I f I had big tires and wanted the best, between caltracs and ladder bars, I would certainly go w/ ladder bars !!