James Bond

In drag racing, "James Bond" refers to a reaction time of exactly 0.007 seconds at the starting line, named after the famous fictional spy known as Agent 007.

When a drag race begins, drivers must react as quickly as possible to the green starting light. Reaction time measures the split second between when that green light appears and when the driver's car actually leaves the starting line. The clock starts ticking the instant the light turns green and stops when the front tires break the starting beam.

A James Bond reaction time of 0.007 seconds is exceptionally fast and represents near-perfect reflexes. To put this in perspective, the average person takes about 0.25 seconds just to react to a visual signal in everyday life. Most amateur drag racers post reaction times between 0.040 and 0.100 seconds, while professional drivers typically achieve times in the 0.010 to 0.030 range.

Achieving a 0.007 reaction time requires intense concentration, practice, and anticipation. Drivers watch a sequence of lights called the "Christmas Tree" that counts down to the green light. By learning the timing pattern, skilled racers can anticipate the exact moment to launch without leaving too early.

The term has become popular slang in the drag racing community, with drivers proudly announcing when they pull off a James Bond start. It's considered a badge of honor that demonstrates exceptional skill and focus at the starting line.

However, there's a dangerous flip side called "James Bond red." This occurs when a driver reacts too quickly and leaves the starting line 0.007 seconds before the green light appears. This triggers a red light foul, which means automatic disqualification regardless of how fast the car runs down the track. You can have the quickest car in the world, but if you red light, you lose.

Reaction time is crucial in drag racing because races are often decided at the starting line rather than on the track. When two similarly matched cars compete, the driver with the better reaction time gains an immediate advantage that's difficult to overcome. Even a difference of a few hundredths of a second can determine the winner.

The James Bond reaction time represents the sweet spot every drag racer aims for—quick enough to gain a competitive edge but not so quick that you risk jumping the start and fouling out of the race.