Race Brake

[ZAPPER68]

I made one a few years ago for my '55 Chev Gasser using a combination of old shifter parts and some good old ingenuity. The trickiest part was getting the angle correct between the handle and the rod/sleeve attached to the brake pedal.

Once I had that worked out the brake worked perfectly... I live in British Columbia, where using the brake at an uphill/downhill traffic light came in handy. The curved Hurst shifter handle (installed vertically & backwards) in conjunction with the shape of the dash was a perfect fit.

I used adjustable shifter rods at each end of the fulcrum which enabled 'fine tuning' of the rod/sleeve. A light spring is required to ensure the handle is kept in the 'ready' position. :-)

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by ZAPPER68

I made one a few years ago for my '55 Chev Gasser using a combination of old shifter parts and some good old ingenuity. The trickiest part was getting the angle correct between the handle and the rod/sleeve attached to the brake pedal.

Once I had that worked out the brake worked perfectly... I live in British Columbia, where using the brake at an uphill/downhill traffic light came in handy. The curved Hurst shifter handle (installed vertically & backwards) in conjunction with the shape of the dash was a perfect fit.

I used adjustable shifter rods at each end of the fulcrum which enabled 'fine tuning' of the rod/sleeve. A light spring is required to ensure the handle is kept in the 'ready' position. :-)

What's the process for launching a car with this device? Or does it just help to get staged properly? How does it help take the slack out of the driveline?

Does it toggle overcenter, and hold the brake? Or does the driver hold the lever to apply the brake?

The reason I ask: in my stick shift car, once the car is "staged" the foot brake is no longer needed. The car sort of settles into the slicks (wrinklewalls) and does not move.

Set the launch rpm, sidestep the clutch when you see the last yellow, and away you go!

K

[Keith Seymore]

I'm not sure an "increase in ET" is much of a selling point...

[ZAPPER68]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

What's the process for launching a car with this device? Or does it just help to get staged properly? How does it help take the slack out of the driveline?

Does it toggle overcenter, and hold the brake? Or does the driver hold the lever to apply the brake?

The reason I ask: in my stick shift car, once the car is "staged" the foot brake is no longer needed. The car sort of settles into the slicks (wrinklewalls) and does not move.

Set the launch rpm, sidestep the clutch when you see the last yellow, and away you go!

K

I believe race brakes were used before line locks came on the scene. As mentioned in my case, with a 4 speed the brake is particularly useful at traffic lights where I live in the mountains...it works exceptionally well and I used it all the time.

I never used the brake at the track because I had a line lock for that exercise. However, without a line lock it would be useful to 'take out the slack' easily by clutch/race brake coordination...thereby possibly preventing a hard launch (& broken parts) clutch cars are notorious for. As we all know, sidestepping the clutch is brutal on the drivetrain which is something we're all guilty of at one time or another :-)

When properly adjusted it will not overcenter and you must hold the lever (in my case the old Hurst shifter handle) to apply the brake. Easy peasy... Over centering will definately be an issue, especially in traffic for the folks lined up behind you with the traffic lights on green and your brakes are jammed. Not a good situation!

Without exception, whenever I was at a car event people always asked me 'what the heck does that lever up by the dash do'? Once they understood the mechanics of the device they thought it was pretty cool and asked where I got it from. With a couple of modifications, I made mine using the same picture as a guide in your initial post.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by ZAPPER68

I believe race brakes were used before line locks came on the scene. As mentioned in my case, with a 4 speed the brake is particularly useful at traffic lights where I live in the mountains...it works exceptionally well and I used it all the time.

I never used the brake at the track because I had a line lock for that exercise. However, without a line lock it would be useful to 'take out the slack' easily by clutch/race brake coordination...thereby possibly preventing a hard launch (& broken parts) clutch cars are notorious for. As we all know, sidestepping the clutch is brutal on the drivetrain which is something we're all guilty of at one time or another :-)

When properly adjusted it will not overcenter and you must hold the lever (in my case the old Hurst shifter handle) to apply the brake. Easy peasy... Over centering will definately be an issue, especially in traffic for the folks lined up behind you with the traffic lights on green and your brakes are jammed. Not a good situation!

Without exception, whenever I was at a car event people always asked me 'what the heck does that lever up by the dash do'? Once they understood the mechanics of the device they thought it was pretty cool and asked where I got it from. With a couple of modifications, I made mine using the same picture as a guide in your initial post.

Thank you for the additional detail -

K

[earntaz]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Thank you for the additional detail -

K

I don't know if this is relevant -- but if you're drag racing in a class where "no electronics" are allowed (such as a line loc) this device may be of an advantage. TAZ

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

I have extra Shifter handles, I need to make one of these!!

Ryan W31