What Are You Looking At With The Mirror? My Most Asked Question!!! 

Trip those bars are to help you in and out of car as well keeping the windshield and body in place at speed

OK, I got confused with all the clutch description. I know you can't see the clutch itself in that mirror... Looking again at the actual transcript I see the explanation. So...simple answer: You're watching the rear tires for rotation or the point of non rotation in relation to the position of the clutch pedal. Is that right? Now all the clutch description makes sense...to me.

I was one of the people that asked. Thanks for taking the time to tell us. Now go stomp on that loud pedal.

Hi Clay!! Just a suggestion for you. Might want to think about putting a link to the website in the description or a pinned comment. Thank You Sir for bringing us along with you!! It's really cool to see the stuff you show us. The POV camera is just SICK!! Oh and tell Rick thank you for letting you show us this stuff.

Thanks once again for explaining. Those of us that have followed you for a while, I've gotta ask... Did anybody else roll their eye's 👀 when they saw the title of this video ??? You're the best Clay

Although I have seen you explain this before, I’ll still enjoy you explaining another dozen times. Your behind the scenes content is top shelf Clay. You guys have an amazing program with a knowledgeable team from young to old (wise).

Y'all almost decended into the depths of too much information while explaining what you are looking at with the mirror. You mentioned it (a quick 2 second statement) while discussing the causal factors at the tech. mech. level. I caught it, while wondering how you could see the clutch packs pressure plate and the air gap lever assy. Then I remember the statement Clay is looking for Wheel Spin as he depresses the Clutch Pedal. The explanations were spot on but almost hid the intention of the video. Good job, know we know .. well some of us. I especially enjoyed the explanation about setting up some or all of the Lever's air gaps, and weights dependent of Track Surface condition. I knew it was clutch related but now I know HOW! Way Cool, thanks!

Thanks Clay! I am enjoying your behind the scene videos and following your competition this year. Cheers, Good Luck!

How can you not love Clay, definitely one of my all time favourite top fuel pilots.

Awesome clutch info, but I love the way you and Jim O talk with your eyes. You both know your job to keep the program going and when he blinks the right way or does a hand signal, you get back to work and do your job. What a great combo. When all the gears work concurrently, great things happen. STOMP ON THAT LOUD PEDAL!!!!!

Once again you have brought the fans in to show us how things work. I have learned a lot watching your videos. It shows that there is a lot that goes on getting the car ready. Thank you for all you do.

Thanks for taking us subscriber's along for the ride. Great explanation of the mirror bit in your warm up. ✌️👍🤙🤙🍀🍀🍀🍀🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲.

He is finding neutral position on the tires , because the synchronism to get it in reverse gear, that air gap it key,th thanks BigAl California.

There's a whole lot more to them clutches than meets the eye. 👀 30+ years experience has gotta be huge for your Parts Plus team Clay !! LET'S GO !!!

Thanks. Even more complex than what I thought. Intelligent group of people there

So, If I understand correctly, the multi-disc 'floater' style pressure plate is a combination style centrifugal and conventional lever 'pull back'(release), and depending on where the clutch pedal is held in it's 'travel' the pressure plate may remain 'engaged', causing rotation through the rear end. It's like a double friction point, with a partially depressed pedal allowing zero tire rotstion, and a fully depressed pedal giving rotation due to the 'centrifugal' design of the 'hat'!!?? Probably wrong, but the best I could do... Love the channel, Clay! Thanks!

Thanks for the bonus interview with Nicky!

Thank Clay for the explanation of the mirror. I believe you've explained it several times before but ever increasing new subscriber need it for sure. 😄👍

Theirs so many ways to set up one of these Nitro burning monsters . How much of a race that’s won or lost is in the hands of the actual driver . Being consistent on the burnout , time between backing up & staging, cutting a good light and driving for 1,000 ft but you really have to trust your team to do their best for weather - track conditions. See you in Bristol soon

What a great opportunity for Blaine to learn from Nikki, the master clutch guy. I get nerdy about the physics of drag racing and have always been fascinated by the application of power to the track. Great video! Thaanks Clay.

Absolutely love these videos Clay and I'm a huge fan of yours! Keep stomp 'in the loud pedal Brother.

Love the fact that you don’t rely on the modern crutches that the younger generation does. One of the last true drivers. 👍

Guilty for asking!!! Thank You for this info!!! #letsgo

Thanks again for sharing your racing career I'm so happy for you guys and the team you put together you guys are my heroes in life I'm an old man can't go out and as much bring me joy thank you so much

Other teams won't even THINK of showing and explaining the operation of the clutch in their rides.

Clay you are simply AMAZING 🌟💞🤗💞🙏🏻 You always include your precious crew and give us real answers and show exactly what you're explaining.. What an AWESOME AMAZING TEAM YOUHAVE ON YOUR CAR..Although, I do miss Kaylynn and pray she her husband and new job are going great 💞🤗💞 I wish her nothing but the BEST because when she was with your crew she was a master expert at clutch work and truly is THE BEST in what she does. But your precious WHOLE TEAM FAMILY ARE THE BEST🌟🌟🌟💞🤗💞🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND YOUR PRECIOUS RESPECTIVE FAMILIES NOW AND ALWAYS 🙏🏻AMEN 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 Thanks for always taking us fans along for the ride💞🤗💞👍🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🏆🏆🏆

I also wanted to ask this question Thanks for explaining

Green tag! Ready to go! Looks like it may have spec on it to show where it’s set.

interesting , love these technical videos. thanks clay.

I ask myself “what’s he looking at” every time you use the mirror. Im gonna sleep good tonight cuz I FINALLY know the answer. 😂

I thought clay used the mirror to get an extra “wink” into jimbo. I mean cmon, clays only human right! Lessssssssgooooooo

2:20 With how much carbon he's covered in, I would've never guessed he works on clutches

Thanks, I've asked that question twice!

Thank You for Your time and efforts Clay. Very unusual that Nick would show so much hard won information. Best Wishes to everyone on the Rick Ware Racing Top Fuel Team, their Families and Friends.

Thank you CLAY FOR BEING JUST AN AWESOME HUMAN BEING GOD SPEED

I think I understand. Hand on the brake, you can feel the neutral sweet spot on the clutch with your foot. Release the brake and verify the tires have quit turning then you can shift into reverse and you're good to go. The sweet spot may be in a different place after every service so it's important to find it before going to the starting line. Does that sound about right?

Thank you!

Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge 😊

WE finally got the answer of the mirror mystery! Very cool explanation Clay. Thanks for taking us along on this wild ride. Stay safe all, God Bless.❤🙏

Ok here’s another question. What kind of ear protection do the guys use? I can’t imagine how loud it is being that close to the engine, ear/hearing protection is sooo important.

Dear Mr. Millican, how about those new bars, just above the rear of the windshield, on the "helmet hoop"? (p.s. I just ordered my TOP FUEL DOGSTER shirt!! thank you for helping Miss Donna help the puppies. Now, how about an "Autism Speeds" shirt?)

Clay thanks for the behind the scenes info, so many things need to come together for a perfect run🎉 get out there & win

Heck, still trying to figure out CVT clutching on my snow machine. Appreciate you guys!

Next question: What do the lever on your right hand do? Fuel? ** Oh wait, the lever on your left is Fuel right? All these explanation videos you do are awesome! Cheers from Northern Sweden 🍻

You are looking for wheel movement

Thanks

Another great video of course keep up the good work and stay safe

I was always thinking you were looking at the butter Fly , thank you for the info . Ever would have thought it had anything to do with neutral ?

Thanks Clay I was one of the thousand who asked this question! Now I know!

Hey Clay I would love to see a word for word breakdown of every movement you made like at the end of this clip, every push, every pull, every pump of the lever with your right hand, and the two hand push on the left side, when the mirror goes up, when the mirror goes down etc. etc. etc. I would just love to know the details of your procedure. Love this stuff man. Keep it going.

These 10 min explanation videos are fantastic. Hope you keep doing them. I still would like to hear a follow up to your helmet video. You once explained the tape blinders you used in the visor and this year I see they are gone.

Thanks for showing us the reason for looking in the mirror 😊from Brisbane Australia

Clutch engagement

Let's go clay! Always has the best videos on the inns and outs of dragracing 🏎️💨 #dragracing #racing #cars #speed #nhra

Clay, Nicki, Blane I still understand how it works with the stops, the lovers the cannon and all the Mechanicals. The solenoids the computer and everything together is still spoke voodoo, LOL. Thank you keep stomping

Very informative re clutch Kool 😊.

Thank you for answering that question! It was bugging me as well as others apparently!😆

I saw the mirror and assumed you were getting a specific signal from a crew member. I thought why isn't he watching a monitor with full cameras. Like F1 pits use. Great video. Great team. In my other life I wanted to be on a TF team.

Great video !!! Many thanks for that , and the technical information supplied by one of the best clutch people out there.

Clay explained all the numbers you see on your dashboard thanks you

Clay you are the man !! Watched you race from the beginning. When you are in the car for warm up. What the hell are you doing with your hands ? Love ya man !!!!!!!

Clay. Do you think you could put a camera pointed towards your feet so we can actually see what you are doing at warmup with the clutch

Hello Clay, thank you very much for answering my question that I asked a while ago about the mirror. 👍 Greetings Hans from Germany, NitrOlympics. 😉

Really interesting that if you put the clutch to the floor it causes problems. If I understand this correctly Its the sweet spot or mid point you’re after where you have neutral and the tyres aren’t moving. With a car or bike I have to feed the power in and let the clutch out manually. I guess the levers in the clutch hat in effect are doing the feeding of the power as you slam the throttle to the floor. Really clever stuff…… if I have that right in my mind anyway 🤣👍. Thanks Clay 👍

Thank you, I've been curious for a while, then you made that video where you said you'll explain it later, I've been watching since, but if you mentioned it I missed it for some reason. Awesome 😎 thanks again! 🤜🤛

Thanks so much for these awesome “shop talk” videos! Love them.

Great information I was wondering why you did that. Thanks LET’S GO!!!

I was thinking you was checking is run on all cylinders.

Here's another question from an Aussie fan. I noticed when you grab the steering "wheel" you have a different grip between your left hand and right hand. On the right all of your fingers go through the hole in the wheel but on your left hand you leave your index finger over the top and the other 3 fingers go through the hole. What's going on there?

I always hear it mentioned that there are so many ('infinite!') variables within the clutch system such as weights, finger lengths, timing of the throw out bearing, etc. But do you really want to have so many adjustments to consider before a run to determine which will have a significant impact on the track? I would think one would want to fix most of them as the standard setup and leave only a few adjustments depending on track conditions. Or maybe that is how it is done and I'm just stating the obvious.

Just infront of the drivers compartment there is a angle on the body, sorta like a door...I sometimes see crew chiefs or members reaching in there. What exactly are they doing?? Thanks Clay!

Sounds like your clutch. Pedal neutral feel works similar to how my uncle's did. He drove Big riggs. He had what was called a clutch brake on them for going into first reverse while standing still because no synkcos in transmission. You had to find neutral because if you pushed the clutch in too far in neutral well shifting it would actually stop the input shaft in your transmission and you'd have to start over and Bring the input shart rpm backup.

Thanks Clay, that clutch seems a bit complicated to master! Specially with the G-forces you get.

During warm-up, is Jessie just adjusting the mag? That's what i always thought, but I wasn't sure if he had other things he's doing during the warm-up.

Thank You for explaining the mirror.

You learn something new everyday.

Thanks for explaining and sharing Clay 🤠

Next question what is Jimbo doing on the blower hat after burnout right before you are ready for full run.

Been waiting on this answer 😂😜

Wondered about that too. Could you go over everything else that you're doing there and the difference between what you do during warmup and startup on the track???

Best channel ever, you have the greatest team

I think you have answered that question before but today it was answered in a little bit more detail

fantastic! thanks clay and team. 😃

What those big thing that they are using on the track before you make a run? Are the measuring rubber on the track? Temp?

Thanks for answering this. 😊

Clay, love all of the great stuff from Nicky about the clutch, thanks. But you never told us what you are looking at in the mirror, I assume it's to tell if the rear tires are turning. Yes or no?

Speaking of Kaylyn, where did she end up in Indycar if you don't mind me asking. Went to the Long Beach GP and was looking for her but no luck. Hope she landed in a great place.

Great video!

I now know what the mirror is for!! Ahhh.. my life is complete now! 😎 🇺🇲 #StompOnThatLoudPedal

There is always a happy medium, good stuff brother 👍☕️☕️✌️

this content is So good Clay, thanks again for the great info!! keep up the good work :)

That is a magical mirror that reflects all the people he has outran in his 26 yrs

Love the helmet cam on the last race

Awesome , Thanks Clay 😊

Clay,Nikki, and Blaine,y'all rock! Peace

Awesome, thanks!!

Say just what are you doing with that mirror? LoL. 😊 Another informative Clay Millican Video. Thanks for taking us along for the trip.

Always very informative. Keep it up and Stomp on that loud pedel.

Well I do get the clutch thing and how the engine and clutch must be in precise connection with each other but when you look at that mirror you are looking at the supercharger butterfly valves.. and the clutch I believe is what you are sitting on or under the engine so you can't see it. So what is it about the supercharger butterfly valves that helps you understand that connection? Thank you. I was wondering why you haven't shown Nicky in your videos but now I know he is working behind the scenes.

Finally thank you I was wondering the same thing