Over the years many racers have asked me (and Hutch) what the gains are on the speed if the timing traps are shortened by an inch or two, or even a foot. Until now, i hadnt even given it a thought as Hutch and Josh have alway set up the traps the same each and every event. They also measure diagonally to ensure the traps are square and 90degrees across the track, leaving no room for error.

Well after some scratching my head for a while i figured out the formula to figure a speed if the traps were shortened. The gain is going to be exponential depending on the speed. Below you will see some calculations base on different speeds. The first batch is for a sleed running 100mph. You will see that at the 132' mark, they run 100mph, but when you shorten it in 1 inch increments you can see the (false speed) given. (The numbers below are for a 132' system. 66' system would be different)

100mph
Inches------Feet-------Factor------Speed Difference
------------ 131-------- 1.0151---- 101.515
1----------- 131.087--- 1.01375--- 101.375
2----------- 131.17---- 1.0125---- 101.25
3----------- 131.253--- 1.01125--- 101.125
4----------- 131.336--- 1.01------- 101
5----------- 131.419--- 1.00875--- 100.875
6----------- 131.502--- 1.0075---- 100.75
7----------- 131.585--- 1.00625--- 100.625
8----------- 131.668--- 1.005------ 100.5
9----------- 131.751--- 1.00375--- 100.375
10--------- 131.834--- 1.0025---- 100.25
11--------- 131.917--- 1.00125--- 100.125
12------ 132-------- 1----------- 100

125mph
Inches-----Feet--------Factor------MPH given
------------ 131-------- 1.01515--- 126.8939394
1----------- 131.087--- 1.01375--- 126.71875
2----------- 131.17---- 1.0125---- 126.5625
3----------- 131.253--- 1.01125--- 126.40625
4----------- 131.336--- 1.01------- 126.25
5----------- 131.419--- 1.00875--- 126.09375
6----------- 131.502--- 1.0075-----125.9375
7----------- 131.585--- 1.00625--- 125.78125
8----------- 131.668--- 1.005------ 125.625
9----------- 131.751--- 1.00375--- 125.46875
10--------- 131.834--- 1.0025---- 125.3125
11--------- 131.917--- 1.00125--- 125.15625
12------ 132-------- 1----------- 125

150MPH
Inches-----Feet--------Factor------MPH
------------ 131-------- 1.01515--- 152.272
1----------- 131.087--- 1.01375--- 152.0625
2----------- 131.17---- 1.0125-----151.875
3----------- 131.253--- 1.01125--- 151.6875
4----------- 131.336--- 1.01------- 151.5
5----------- 131.419--- 1.00875--- 151.3125
6----------- 131.502--- 1.0075-----151.125
7----------- 131.585--- 1.00625--- 150.9375
8----------- 131.668--- 1.005------ 150.75
9----------- 131.751--- 1.00375--- 150.5625
10--------- 131.834--- 1.0025-----150.375
11--------- 131.917--- 1.00125--- 150.1875
12------ 132-------- 1----------- 150

175Mph
Inches------Feet -------Factor-----MPH
-------------131-------- 1.01515--- 177.6515
1----------- 131.087--- 1.01375--- 177.40625
2----------- 131.17---- 1.0125---- 177.1875
3----------- 131.253--- 1.01125--- 176.96875
4----------- 131.336--- 1.01------- 176.75
5----------- 131.419--- 1.00875--- 176.53125
6----------- 131.502--- 1.0075---- 176.3125
7----------- 131.585--- 1.00625--- 176.09375
8----------- 131.668--- 1.005------ 175.875
9----------- 131.751--- 1.00375--- 175.65625
10--------- 131.834--- 1.0025---- 175.4375
11--------- 131.917--- 1.00125--- 175.21875
12------ 132-------- 1----------- 175