Random delay between the third amber and green would make it impossible to hit the tree at all.

Yes, I know that, Just wondering if anyone besides Charrile in modern times has seen a random time delay between the bottom amber and the green?


Charlie, thanks for sharing. I would have never known that about the manual switches for the starter,. I alsoi like watching the old videos where there are 5 ambers.. the tree takes forever. Shows the historical and important development of the sport.

When I started going to the track in 1974, it was a 5 amber tree, no 60 foot clocks, no reaction timers, and no splits. Your time slip had ET, MPH, and Win or Lose.

I think Indy got the 3 light tree, reaction timers, and 60 foot clocks around 1983. We got them at Mason County in 1986.

back in the "50's, No tree, flagman. timers were mechanical dials with rotating hands, and if I remember correctly to the hundredth of a sec.

When I started, Way back when, we used a "hour glass".
Actually back in the "50's, No tree, flagman. timers were mechanical dials with rotating hands, and if I remember correctly to the hundredth of a sec.

Handicaps were done by setting the slow car out by car lengths too, right?