1. Where comes the site's name? What is a timeslip?

A timeslip is a piece of paper, given to competitors on drag strips. At least on proper drag strips. ;) It lists all the details of the run: reaction time, 60 feet time, 1/8 mile ET and speed, 1/4 mile ET and speed. Often even more, like 330 feet (100 meter) and 1000 feet (300 meter) time too. If there was an opponent on the other lane, his details are there too. Here is a sample, I got this at Santa Pod Raceway (United Kingdom).
As this website is mainly about dragracing, and especially focusing on the figures, I thought timeslip.hu would be an apt name. After all, we give out timeslips too, just not on paper, but online. Dot HU means we publish mostly data gathered in Hungary. That's where we live. (Hungary on the map.)


2. What is ET, trap speed, 60 feet? What does 10.4 @ 128 mean?

A drag run has quite a few measuring figures. The most important being the time required from standstill to reach the finish line. This is called elapsed time, ET in short. Another telltale figure is the speed at which the vehicle crosses the finish line. This is called trap speed, as the speed is measured by timing the vehicle between two light beams, one at the finish line and the other 66 feet (20 meters) before that. The third most important figure is the 60 feet time. This is like the ET, time measured between the start line and a light beam at 60 feet. Anyone who saw a dragrace knows that often the races are already won by the time they reach this point. No wonder racers are interested to see whether they lost time during this period or not.
An expression like 10.4 @ 128 means that the ET was 10.4 with a trap speed of 128. (either km/h or mph, you have to specify this to be exact) Also it can be either a 1/8 mile result or a 1/4 mile result. E.g. 10.4 @ 128 km/h is a very likely to be a 1/8 mile result, likewise 10.4 @ 128 mph is a certainly 1/4 mile result.

3. What is a rollout?

Above I said Elapsed time is the time required from standstill to the finish line. Well, it's not exactly true.
Rollout is the distance travelled from the staging point until the ET timing actually starts. Timing on dragstrips are done with light beams. (see FAQ point # 5) The rollout distance depends on the track, the vehicle, the driver, and is varying from run to run. To get the best ET you need to maximise the rollout, thus starting the ET timer with a higher speed. Starting faster means ET will be lower. We can say that the rollout is free aid to get a better ET. While in some places (including Hungary) timing is done a bit differently, rollout is an existing notion everywhere, where the vehicle starts it's own timing and not the light. (like the gun in 100meter dash)

4. What is a net and gross time?

Well, that's my own contrivance, to help interpret results in various timing systems present in Hungary.
A gross time does include reaction time and rollout time as well, when timing starts on green light.
Net time is the standard ET. You can say that the Gross Time = Net Time + reaction time + rollout time.

5. How is the timing works on dragstrips?

The accepted international standard use two light beams at the start line, just a few inches above ground level. The first is called pre-stage, the second is stage. As the vehicle inches forward, and the timing beams are broken, the white pre-stage and stage lights come up on the christmas tree accordingly. The pre-stage's function is only to inform the driver, that he is getting close the start line. The christmas tree's ambers only start to come up when both vehicles are staged properly, e.g. the vehicles are crossing the stage beam. Some racing classes allow deep staging, which means that the vehicle is so far forward, that the pre-stage beam is uncovered, and only the stage light is illuminated. On other classes it's illegal.
The ET timing starts when the stage beam is uncovered. The rollout phrase comes from this, the tires roll out of the way of the light beam. The distance of rollout is defined by the wheel size, and the height of the light beam. Some racing cars use offset wheels, thus lengthening the time of covering the light beam.
Often there is a third light beam, it's called guard beam, and if a vehicles crosses this before the stage is uncovered, it's a red light. This should not happen, as it means the ground clearance of the vehicle is too low.

Well, that's how it should work everywhere, but in Hungary, if we are unlucky timing starts when the light turns green. On better races we have a timing system, which use two light beams, but the first is the stage. ET timing starts when the second beam is broken. So we have no pre-stage. The advantage of this system is that rollout distance does not depend on the tire size, so everyone has the same maximum rollout.

6. How is the timing works with our g meter?

We use blutack to secure the meter in the vehicle, leaves no mark. No connections are needed. On bikes we secure it with tape as well. We log on a flat, straight and secure stretch of road. To be secure our recommendation is to only do a 1/8 mile run, but it's possible to run 1/4 mile, if someone want to do so.
After the run we download the data from the logger, and study the results on a notebook. With comfortable tempo, it takes about 20-25 minutes to log a car. This includes logging and studying 3 runs. Of course it's possible to do even more runs, if one wish to do so.


7. How much is a logging session for my vehicle?

This is not a business, I just try to cover my costs. 1000 HUF/vehicle. (about 5 USD, 3 GBP, 4 Euro)

8. I'm interested, how can I apply for a session?

Well, suppose you're in Hungary. :) Otherwise it's not possible. Not yet! But I have plans. :)
We announce dates for possible sessions on the news page, to apply you have to fill in the online form.