(Lead photo: Bob Boudreau) – While the 2016 NHRA Winternationals are ushering in a host of changes to the way the sport is presented in the media and on some level how things operate, one thing changed for the 1986 race that had a direct influence on every comptetitor, the Christmas Tree. Yes, that iconic starting system that in many ways has come to define the sport of drag racing was changed in multiple ways for the 1986 NHRA Winternationals. The shrink by two amber bulbs in the middle, going from five to three and it was moved and additional 40ft down track to help racers with hood scoops and superchargers obstructing their view. The funny thing? It doesn’t seems to have gotten near the reaction of the stuff that has been happening this off season.

When the NHRA made an announcement to the national record setting procedure and the point value associated with setting a national record a few weeks ago, there was a massive outpouring of public opinion. Outside of the fact that the only places this could have taken place in 1986 were in print magazines, newspapers, and by “fan mail” maybe our view is skewed but we went looking for racers who spoke out against the change and we weren’t finding people in the media yammering about it.

So why did they do it? For starters it sped up the program. The NHRA gained one second per pass in the sportsman categories and when we’re talking a whole ton of passes a weekend that can add up to real time at the end of the day. Secondarily the tree was moved back for visibility purposes. There was a third change made as well. Before the 1986 Winternationals a pro tree consisted of the bottom amber bulb flashing and then the green light. The change was to have all three of the bulbs flash so that drivers could pay attention to whichever they could see the best.

There was no streaming package in 1986. There was no live television in 1986, and there sure as heck was no 24 race season back then but there was history, tradition, and routine. All three of those things stepped aside for a moment and got adjusted. 30 years later we’re still working off of the same script when it comes to the tree. Back in 2009 there was an adjustment made to the computer programming of how it fired off in the nitro categories because there as a run of drivers uncannily “guessing” at how the tree would hit. Red lights went up for a couple of races before the pros settled back into the game of leaving on yellow.

Think there’s a shot at two lights someday?

Here’s a cool Mark Rebilas shot of a tree with the top staging bulbs on for the left lane –

Here’s a great look at the old one –