[Marv D]

I use air, but Contender and a lot of other outfits make a 'shiftnoid' electrical solenoid kit for 2 and 3 speed shifters.
Just like reaction times of the tree, no way can you react to the shift light as consistantly as electronics. Your ET will be boatloads more consistant with precise, consistant shifts. Think of it this way. Your eye has to sense the shift light, send the signal to your arm to slide the shifter up into the next gear. They your trans has to re-dirrect the fluid to apply the clutches, and actually complete the gear change. Now compare that to electronics sensing a set RPM threashold,, reacting on the millisecond level, opening a air solenoid that can react in 0.001 seconds, and 50psi of air pressure SLAMMING the shifter forward to the next gear in the gate. Depending on the type of trans and valve body,, all this can take 1/100 of the time it took your brain to realize the shift light came on,,, and you haven't even started to send the signal to your hand to move the shifter. Not only that, the electronics don't get distracted by other things going on in the cabin, or on the track.

Like I said, NHRA recently enacted a new rule that prohibits ANY rpm sensing wire to be connected to the delay box / command center. Guys were using the throttle stop and rpm limit functions on the top end to be DEADLY consistant in index racing. (Ask Regan,, I'm sure he knows exactly how there doing it running 150+ @ 10.900)