This post is also available in:
Deutsch (German)
English
Nederlands (Dutch)
A race between two vehicles is started by means of an electronic system called a ‘Christmas Tree’. The Tree gets its name from its multi-coloured light bulbs – located on each side of the Tree: two small white bulbs at the top, followed in descending order by three yellow, one green and one red LED (light-emitting diode) per side.
There are four light barriers across the start line, two light barriers per lane, which are connected to a photocell. The photocells are wired to the tree and to the electronic timing device in the timekeeping system. As soon as the front wheels of a racing car break through the first light barrier on its lane, the so-called ‘pre-staged’ lights on the tree (the 2 small white bulbs at the top) light up and signal to the driver that he is approx. 178mm ahead of the actual starting line. The vehicle then rolls with its front wheels into the next light barrier, the so-called ‘stage beam’ (start light barrier). As soon as the light barrier is interrupted, the ‘staged’ lights (the two small white lamps at the bottom) on the tree also light up, signalling to the driver that he is exactly on the start line. As soon as all the ‘staged’ lights (4 on each side) light up, both riders focus on the start sequence from the tree.After the two vehicles have staged, the starter activates the start sequence of the Tree. The starter is a person standing between the two vehicles and holding a trigger switch that is connected to the tree. The starter makes sure that the vehicles do their burnouts in a reasonable time and that they arrive within the time specified for their class. When both drivers are ready, the starter triggers the start sequence. The tree has two start sequences and depending on which vehicle class is currently being driven, the tree is correctly set by the timekeeping system with the correct start sequence for the respective class before the race. In the ‘Full-Tree’ start sequence (sportsman tree), the three yellow LEDs light up in descending order at intervals of fifteenths of a second, followed by the green LED at intervals of fifteenths of a second.
Starting light (Christmas tree): The starting lights are set up in the centre of the two lanes (drag strip) 15 feet (4.57m) after the starting line (stage). The Christmas tree shows the individual starting positions for both lanes separately. In the interest of the spectators, the starting positions are also displayed on the opposite side (90° offset). The start lights for each lane consist of two white lamps for ‘PRE-STAGE’, two white lamps for ‘STAGE’, three yellow lamps for ‘PRE-START’, one green lamp for ‘Start’ and one red lamp for ‘FOUL-START’.
Pre-Stage | The driver is located at the second light barrier in front of the start line |
Staged | The front wheels are on the starting line |
Achtung | Once both cars are on the starting line the start sequence begins. Pro-Tree = all yellow lights at once Full-Tree = descending one after the other |
Start | The start is authorised |
Frühstart | The car left the start too early. |
PRE-STAGE LIGHT: These indicate to the riders that they are just before the start position and still have approx. 20 seconds to reach the start line (STAGE).
STAGE LIGHT: These indicate to the riders that they are in the starting position and ready to start. The starting position must now be maintained until the green light releases the race.
PRE-START LIGHT 1-3: Light up from top to bottom (pos. 1-3), or together after approx. 1-5 seconds (random generator), as soon as both riders have taken up their starting position (STAGE). The random generator is not used for training runs. Depending on the race class, the three yellow lights are switched on individually at intervals or simultaneously (quick start).
GREEN LIGHT: The lamps light up after the last yellow lamp has gone out and releases the start.
RED LIGHT: These lamps light up in the event of a false start, i.e. if the race is started before the last yellow lamp has gone out, the race is not scored for that person and is deemed to have been lost.
Quelle: Dragracinghistory.de