Pinks Totally Explained

Everything about Pinks totally explained

Pinks is a series of television programs on Speed Channel based on drag racing. The original debuted in 2005, with the spinoff Pinks: All Out following in 2006. The name of the show, and the tagline "Lose the race - lose your ride", refer to common slang of pink slips representing a vehicles title document recording ownership.
The series airs on the Speed Channel in the United States and Canada, and also airs on Fox Sports 3 in Australia.

Show overview

Two competitors compete in a drag race (although there was a stepladder shifter kart race in Series 1) with the winner claiming ownership of the losing vehicle.
The race format has been changed slightly through each season:

Early Series 1 (2005): 2 out of 3 races
Later Series 1-Series 4 (2005-2007): 3 out of 5 races
Series 5 (2008): 4 out of 7 races

As the show starts, the host, staff, and contestants sign a binding contract that will transfer the legal title of the two cars in question to Pullin Television, the production company of the show. Since the production company owns the vehicles it guarantees that the show will award the titles to both cars to the winner of the race and eliminates the chance that the loser will refuse to forfeit his/her car after the race.

Negotiations

Each team is allowed to inspect the opposing team's car to attempt to assess its performance before negotiations for the first race, or in cases where the negotiations are not held for the first race, before the second. Each team chooses a negotiator to act as its spokesperson to discuss the terms of each round. In recent seasons, the first round of each match is often held without negotiation except for terms over the use of nitrous oxide, and features a heads-up start (each car side by side-usually with the nose.
Negotiations generally deal with starting position, similar to bracket racing (except it's negotiated in car lengths, not seconds), nitrous use, and other such issues, the purpose being to handicap the perceived stronger car and create an even race. Starting in Series 5, negotiating car setup for bracket racing times are permitted. After the negotiations (which can last considerably longer than what is shown), the cars are sent to the start line for the burnout.

Race

Prior to each race, the cars are allowed to perform a burnout, after which they're staged according to the negotiated starting positions (if any). If a track official finds suspicious fluids leaking on the track, he may order the car shut down and the round automatically forfeited to the opponent. If there are mechanical or weather questions, the race may be delayed. In some cases, a show taping may be called off if the weather prevents a full race from being filmed. Pinks uses a street-race-style arm-drop start rather than the "Christmas Tree" electronic starting system used in modern drag racing. The show's signature start signal was devised by show creator and host Rich Christensen. Christensen points at the driver of the car on his right (left lane), waits for the driver to respond with a thumbs up, then drops that arm. Christensen then repeats this with the driver on his left (right lane). Next, Christensen raises both arms, waits for 2 - 5 seconds and then lowers his arms to start the race.
Officials, both from the show (since Series 2) and track, observe conditions and tape them for replay in case of false starts (leaving before the hands drop), race infractions (standard drag racing rules apply), and photo finishes. In the case of a photo finish, the video tape of the finish is brought to the start line to allow the teams to agree on the result.

Fouls

As in drag racing, the following are declared fouls on Pinks and the offender loses the round:

Leaving before Christensen drops his hands. It is a clean start if the car moves once the hands begin dropping. Officials may use replay to verify the legality of a start. If a driver leaves as soon as the hand begins to drop from its highest point, a driver is said to have tree'd their opponent.

If both cars jump, the first to jump loses (red light).
Rich will often point at the offending lane if he spots the infraction.

Crossing either boundary line

Leaking fluid during staging

Breaking down and not finishing the run

Starting in Series 5, if negotiations call for bracket race rules, and one car clearly breaks out while the opponent doesn't break out, that can be grounds for disqualification. Technical advisors will determine time through the timing traps.

Winning

The match ends when one driver has won the said number of rounds above (2, 3, or 4). After Christensen debriefs the two teams on the previous race, he announces the winner. He then hands the title of both cars to the race winner, and often the winner drives the loser's car down the strip after claiming the car by winning the match. A team may also concede because of a catastrophic breakdown. In the spirit of sportsmanship, such a win will often not include the loser's car and often calls for a rematch on a later episode, believing that they won't take the car unless it was a clear win on the track, and not by default. ==

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