Author Topic: Where to put trans brake button with a hand brake car  (Read 8813 times)

Offline hemidakota

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 210
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 7.69 @ 173.5mph
  • Your Engine: 510 B1MC Wedge
  • Your Track: sacramento raceway
  • Your Vehicle: 02 200" fed
  • General Location: west coast
Where to put trans brake button with a hand brake car
« on: September 21, 2015, 06:11:09 AM »
So over the weekend I got to sit in my car and make engine noises. Was a good time. But one thing I cannot wrap my head around is where to put the trans brake button due to my car having a hand brake. Is it even possible to leave consistently with a button on the hand brake? Does anyone use a pedal mounted switch? Just wondering how everyone else does it. Thanks...
If it jams force it, if it breaks it needed replaced anyways

Offline arush

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 59
    • View Profile
  • Your Engine: Blown-Alcohol-Injected 427 BBC
  • Your Track: Thompson Raceway Park
  • Your Vehicle: King Chassis 160" FED
  • General Location: Pa.
Re: Where to put trans brake button with a hand brake car
« Reply #1 on: September 21, 2015, 07:19:46 AM »
I suggest that you put the trans brake button on the steering wheel like most of the other cars. Just because you are using a hand brake does not change the way that a trans brake works. You would stage the car, while holding back on the brake handle, press the trans brake button, let go of the brake handle, watch the tree and prepare to launch the car. A foot button would work but I believe your thumb reaction is quicker then your foot reaction and therefore would give you a quicker and more consistent reaction times.
I just got my King Chassis FED last weekend and I have to admit that I also sat in mine and made engine noises. I am also running a hand brake. It will be a blown alcohol injected 427 big block. Good luck on your build.

Offline hemidakota

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 210
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 7.69 @ 173.5mph
  • Your Engine: 510 B1MC Wedge
  • Your Track: sacramento raceway
  • Your Vehicle: 02 200" fed
  • General Location: west coast
Re: Where to put trans brake button with a hand brake car
« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2015, 09:56:59 AM »
only problem I see with that is my left hand will have to run transbrake. My left hand is retarded...
If it jams force it, if it breaks it needed replaced anyways

Offline JrFuel Hayden

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 600
    • View Profile
    • Hayden Enterprises Speciality Wheels
  • Your Best Time: 6.02, 236 mph, 1/4 in 1973 Div 3 TF Champ
  • Your Engine: SBC, Alky, 403 ci, Best 6.99 @ 190 & 409 Hemi
  • Your Track: Bakersfield
  • Your Vehicle: 225" FED NHRA Heritage Jr Fuel
Re: Where to put trans brake button with a hand brake car
« Reply #3 on: September 21, 2015, 10:35:43 AM »
It seems to me Scott Parks had or has his button on the hand brake.
Jon C. Hansen

Hayden Wheels

Offline Roger

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 183
    • View Profile
  • Your Vehicle: 125 inch Altered
Re: Where to put trans brake button with a hand brake car
« Reply #4 on: September 21, 2015, 10:45:54 AM »
Here's a picture of Frank and Scott's car. If you look close you can see the trans brake button sticking out of the top of the brake handle.

Offline ricci32

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 142
    • View Profile
  • Your Engine: sbc ,gas, 358cid
  • Your Track: Lebanon Valley
  • Your Vehicle: Vintage style FED
Re: Where to put trans brake button with a hand brake car
« Reply #5 on: September 21, 2015, 11:40:43 AM »
Ask Bruce to send you a pick or the surfers paradise car he built a really cool foot trans bake set up on it Im going to do the same.

Offline H.G. Wells

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 116
    • View Profile
  • Your Engine: Mild 383 SBC or 498 blown BBC
  • Your Track: Currently San Antonio, past Amarillo, Ardmore OK, Noble OK
  • Your Vehicle: late 60's FED of unknown origin
Re: Where to put trans brake button with a hand brake car
« Reply #6 on: September 21, 2015, 01:15:11 PM »
http://www.frontenginedragsters.org/forum/index.php/topic,1777.0.html

Second post on this thread. I remember thinking it was very cool.
Racecar spelled backwards is racecaR

Offline BK

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 310
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 8.45 / 5.30
  • Your Track: Empire Dagway
  • Your Vehicle: Late 70's FED
Re: Where to put trans brake button with a hand brake car
« Reply #7 on: September 21, 2015, 02:25:50 PM »
I'm right handed and had my button on left because of the brake handle. It didn't take long to get used to. I mocked up a button on the brake handle but it didn't feel comfortable to me. It's what ever works for you.

Offline masracingtd1167

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1110
  • bill masiello Shelton Ct.
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 7.40's at 181 on motor 6.94 at 192 nitrous
  • Your Engine: 394 chevy
  • Your Track: Lebanon Valley Dragway
  • Your Vehicle: 2003 Neil and Parks
Re: Where to put trans brake button with a hand brake car
« Reply #8 on: September 21, 2015, 03:21:05 PM »
I would think that the best spot would be on the brake handle . It would seem more natural of a motion to let go of the button and the brake handle at the same time . I would also think that a foot operated switch would be very slow on reaction times .

Offline coupemerc

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 306
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 3.86@188 (1/8 Mile), 5.97@233 (1/4 Mile)
Re: Where to put trans brake button with a hand brake car
« Reply #9 on: September 21, 2015, 03:30:46 PM »
Whatever works for you is the right answer. My button is on the top of the brake handle under my thumb. When it is time to go...I simply let go of the brake handle. It's totally natural for me and is the same motion that I used to go through when driving the old clutch car.
« Last Edit: September 22, 2015, 03:58:05 AM by coupemerc »

dreracecar

  • Guest
Re: Where to put trans brake button with a hand brake car
« Reply #10 on: September 22, 2015, 11:55:11 AM »
. I would also think that a foot operated switch would be very slow on reaction times .
By saying that you could say that a wheel mounted switch would cause a lot of red lights
No different from any other mounting place, one adjusts driveing style as when to release.

Offline PSweeney

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 231
    • View Profile
  • Your Track: Santa Pod
  • Your Vehicle: 138in SBC slingshot
Re: Where to put trans brake button with a hand brake car
« Reply #11 on: September 26, 2015, 03:17:41 PM »
Foot operated switch would work great. The theory goes the bigger and stronger the muscle the quicker it can react. I certainly pulled better light driving a clutch than off a brake