Reaction time and cutting a quick lite is about TIMING. By using a practice tree, you develop a sense of TIMING which carries over to the track in real-time conditions. You learn to react better because of REPETITION. Your mind becomes accustomed to REACTION to the SPACING between the lights, be it on a practice tree or a real tree.
Of course practicing on the "real" tree is going to benefit you! But let's be real here... If you go to a busy track during racing season, how many chances to practice your reaction time are you going to get??? I speak from the position on 1. Being a racer. 2. Being a track employee. 3. Running the Compulink system during IHRA sanctioned events. We have had national champions and regional champions in our program. Some of these guys can cut .400's (pro tree) and .500's (sportsman) almost at will. And they use PRACTICE TREES, like I do...
Have you ever seen anyone do this:
I have seen racers go a full season and never get a .500 the whole year. I've done it on sucessive runs dude. It comes from PRACTICING ON A SIMULATOR, which carries over to the dragstrip.
You sure aren't going to hurt your chances.
I've seen it so many times; a guy wins consistantly at bracket racing, by cutting EXCELLENT reaction times. And there he is- practicing in his trailer. Practicing in his car...
I suppose there's a lesson here: If you think it is not needed to use a simulator, then don't use one! I just hope I get to race YOU when the season championship is on the line...
