Drag Racing Car Numbers & Dial-Ins

Over the weekend I was asked to help out in the dragblue, especially at night. If you are using led lights, make
strip's tower as one of the workers had a relativesure they are turned up during the day and turned
who was seriously ill. They helped me try and learn thedown a little at night.
system with a crash course in it. Being in the towerIf the numbers are put on the side of a dragster or
gave me a new perspective of racing and made mebike they should be a contrasting color to the paint.
appreciate more the hard job they have up there,Having numbers matching the color scheme of the car
especially working with the computer system theyor written in script look real pretty, but they are
have.extremely hard to see from the tower especially at
One thing I noticed that is a big problem, is being able tonight. Metallic numbers also are hard to read at night
read the car numbers and dial in's. They sitwith the glare of the track lights.
approximately 80 feet from the line I'm guessing andAnother issue are cars that have more than one car
trying to read shoe polish and people's writing fromnumber on them. This is where a car may have more
that distance is a real challenge even with binoculars!than one driver who has a permanent number. Make
Most regular racers do a good job, but there are somesure that the number(s) not being used are clearly
that are so bad, we have to ask the starter to tell usmarked out. You cannot see one swipe of shoe polish
and that can hold up the race.from the tower. Use a piece of black electrical tape or
For those who do not race often, please understandsomething that draws a line clearly through the number
how important it is that the tower be able to read yournot being used so the tower knows which car number
car number and dial in. It needs to be written on the topyou want to use.
right side of your windshield and on the right side ofI have learned how important being able to read those
your car, on the window if it's a door car. They neednumbers are and realize I need to make my car's
to be written on the right side of a dragster and bikenumber bigger. Keep in mind, that if the people in the
as well, not just on the windshield. The numbers needtower cannot read the numbers, they have to ask the
to be big enough, dark enough and legible. Some juststarter to read it to them and that holds the cars up on
slap on one coat of shoe polish for the night and itthe line as they have to enter the info then or re-enter
can't be read from that distance. Please go over yourincorrect info. That all takes time causing the hold up.
numbers a few times with the polish and make sureSo be considerate of those in the tower doing their
it's dark enough and written big enough. Using white orbest to get numbers right and remember to always
bright yellow or green polish is preferred over red andcheck your dial in before you stage.