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The
Christmas Tree
The Old Guys added
a Christmas Tree light to the track setup for
2007. Here is how a real one works in the
NHRA.
PRE-STAGE INDICATOR LIGHTS
Yellow bulbs warn drivers that they are
approaching the starting line and the "staged"
position.
STAGE INDICATOR LIGHTS
Signal drivers that they are on the starting
line and ready for a run. These yellow bulbs
come on when the front wheels of the race car
interrupt the beam from a light source to the
photo cells. These same photo cells start the
timing equipment.
THREE AMBER STARTING SYSTEM:
All three amber floodlights in a driver's lane
flash simultaneously before the green light
comes on. This is called a "pro start" system.
Racers running in handicap categories get a
countdown of one amber light at a time until the
green light comes on. The "pro start" system
runs with a .4-second difference between the
amber and green lights, while the handicap
system runs with a .5-second difference between
bulbs. Many non-national event tracks still use
a five-amber light.
GREEN LIGHT
This is the one that makes it all happen. Once
the green light is flashed, the driver in that
lane is free to make a run down the track. Any
time green light is shown in a driver's lane it
indicates that a fair start was accomplished.
RED LIGHT
When a car leaves the starting line before the
green light comes on, or, in some cases, is
staged too deeply into the staging beams, the
red light will flash in that lane. It indicates
the driver in that lane has been disqualified.
During competition, only one red light will
light, thus eliminating only the first offender.
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