Re: poor excuse for tech at NHRA National
 

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Have you filled out an online tech card lately?
There are questions and answer spaces there pertaining to everything from head casting numbers to neck collars, parachutes, window nets etc. And a disclaimer that says I know what my car/class requires. and I'm good. If a spot check determines otherwise...well then you got some splainen to do!

Re: poor excuse for tech at NHRA National
 

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And if y'all don't think they're on top of this... couple yrs ago I filled out my online tech card... trans blanket...yes...I did not list the mfr. Q1 at fuel check tech man said.."what trans blanket is that?" I said I don't know,it was on the car when I bought it. He did not toss me,he did not DQ the run. He said " it's your responsibility to know! When I ask you this question after Q2 you better have an answer!"

Re: poor excuse for tech at NHRA National
 

Window nets are a two year cost like seatbelts too. Certified rollcage is a two year cost as well required to go 9.99/135.

Re: poor excuse for tech at NHRA National
 

Someone would have had to bring this up to a tech official for anything to be done after the run. Lots of drivers stop at the top end on the return road and take all of their safety gear off before going to the scale. No way the scale guy would know how fast the car just went on the run or what gear the other driver was wearing. The staring line crew might have a chance at seeing what safety gear each driver had on and the time but they also have many other responsibilities at the starting line. If you see a competitor you are running and he has something that is not right and you feel someone needs to know about it then it is up to you to alert the tech dept. and make a complaint. Then they can decide what action to take if any.

Re: poor excuse for tech at NHRA National
 

Window nets only have to re-cert every 2 years in an advanced et car. Chassis cert is 3 years.

Re: poor excuse for tech at NHRA National
 

A friend of mine was just telling me that all of last season, he had entered the 'stamp date' of his transmission/flexplate shields instead of the expiration date (5 years out). Therefore, his tech card said that his stuff was expired all season long. Nobody ever said anything.

As far as safety equipment goes, I think the current method is more safe than it used to be. No longer can you bring your legal stuff to tech and then switch to your favorite expired stuff for the race. This past weekend in Great Bend, they even made us all pull over on the way to the lanes to test the neutral safety switch.

Re: poor excuse for tech at NHRA National
 

Tech was notified and didn't care.

Re: poor excuse for tech at NHRA National
 

The insurance carrier for the N.H.R.A. wouldn't be happy about that.

Re: poor excuse for tech at NHRA National
 

Exactly as a former track operator I see peoples comments about well let him go, well if something happens insurance will not be responsible, and trust me more times than not when someone is hurt there is a lawsuit. Some of the most cut and dry cases of racer stupidity ended up with a lawsuit against the track and sanctioning body.

Re: poor excuse for tech at NHRA National
 

Moving to one second slower,, Any car in competition,with an automatic transmission, capable of running 10.99 or quicker must have a transmission shield or blanket,,period. Since we have been running a few 10.99 or better it was very politely pointed out by a Division 1 Tech Official that we need a blanket or shield for our Camaro transmission. It's on and now we are in full compliance with safety rules. It was clearly visible in our picture in National Dragster that our transmission pan was very easy to see and blanket was missing. I thought it was going to be an all day project to install this blanket but it was actually pretty easy.

Re: poor excuse for tech at NHRA National
 

I thought the blanket/shield rule was just for transmission brake equipped cars?

Re: poor excuse for tech at NHRA National
 

Tim - clue us in please - what brand blanket? I always like to know when something is described as "pretty easy" to install LOL.

Re: poor excuse for tech at NHRA National
 

10.99 and quicker is the rule and with or without a t-brake does not matter
That's been in the rule book a long time but one of those rules that gets ignored a lot..

Re: poor excuse for tech at NHRA National
 

Used to see this often working at a track, could see from the tower drivers not wearing required safety equipment. First time was a warning, then we would note the car number. Next time they did it we would dial them in at 6.40. Had a lot of fun with that.