"phone a friend"or Tech
 

Apparently thats what took place against myself at the baby gators after the final run for class ss/ga i was singled to pull off the return road just after exiting the last turn off the track by nhra tech specialist, was advised he needed to look at my car?,,ok sure,,"you need to open your hood", upon opening my hood i asked what is the problem? tech specialist took 4-5 photos of my firewall, was told i am under "review",, review for what i ask,, no response,, i was totally confused,, i was told someone phoned in an issue with my firewall??,, a racer that wasn't even present!!!!,, WHO?,, ah, cant say,, WTH,, awake all night about this,, sat morning i went check ladder see if i was even on it,, yes i was,, in my travel i looked up this tech specialist and ask whats going on with "review",, he had no answer at this time,,, probably be mon/tues for answer,, answer of what?? still not knowing what this is even wrong with my firewall!!, during that week you'd thought i was giving away free ice cream,, the support of racers was overwhelming,, still had no answer what ever,, then a phone call to national tech director he visited my pit area,, i was told someone complained of modifications on my firewall,,, MR Grim approved my firewall 100 percent!,, he did apologize for the way this was handled,, Questions and answers who, where and how were satisfied to me by Mr Grim. Nobody wants to be "that guy" to spill beans but racers contacted me and advised me of a phone call, text messages protesting my car,,, nhra was asked to delete all runs I made in florida !,, I had contacted my SRAC rep early in this issue,, asking to help with this,, weeks, weeks pass, notta!!,, i had such great support from racers out div,, 4 5,, div 2
srac rep mike crutchfield,, kent hanley, voltman family to name a few, i responded to my SRAC rep,, still no answers for me, who??, he ask if i knew who,, yes,,, your partner ss/ga camaro,, same class as i run,, imagine that,, this is same gentleman, well I don't want use that word gentleman hiding behind phone/texts,, and my SRAC rep is funded to drive this car for hoodle head,,, were and what is the SRAC reps out there, voted in by racers for the racers PFFFT,, was no protest moneys,, but I'm ok with giving me my funds,, nhra should issue a fine for this circumstance!!!,, they carried it out!!,, lets PHONE A FRIEND,, nuf said,,,

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

Marty Rinehart can you comment on this issue? If this is the case how is this legal to phone in a protest? That can’t be correct?

Tim Stickles

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

Per the rule book, only a NHRA official can instigate a protest without a protest fee.
A competitor that protest has to be on site, in the same class and put up the fee money.

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

I believe asking Marty to comment is out of bounds. It's wasn't within his Division (One).

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

Mike, that’s not what happened at all,
Phoned in, then initiated. Then a 4 day review.
The competitor that wasn’t on site, that phones in said protest
Wanted all runs thrown out , for a bogus claim.

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

Frank I hate to say it, but you’re out of touch on this subject, you don’t know the details and didn’t read between the lines. Please refrain from commenting on this particular issue

Tim

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

Gary,
You called me yesterday and we discussed the situation. I told you , I would look into this and get to the bottom of it……And I am!
Please forgive me for not getting back to you sooner, because we do have a business to run. I was not aware of who protested from the beginning and I’m insulted that you doubted my integrity.
Gary, I understand that this is a heated subject right now, so I don’t take offense to your personal attacks.
I know you’re angry, and being the SRAC rep makes me your easy target.

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

Until you have been a victim of something like this you can not have any idea of how this makes you feel. Until you have been that victim you can not comment on how someone should feel.
I to was a victim of an unknown protest and I also knew who the protester was and NHRA would not admit it.
I also had support from other racers but that did not change the stigma associated with it and it still lingers years later. I am still upset about it as it was just vengeance by a racer who NHRA let get away with it scot free. No monetary or sanction of any kind.
It all depends on who you are and who you know.
My 10 Cents
Rick Cates
Canyon TX

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

Can we have an AAAAAAAAAAAAAAmen!

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

yes Marty i did call you yesterday,,,and replied to you the person related to this,,but i did talk to you the day after this protest,,,how many weeks ago was that?????,i believe it was a situation that was gona get sweep under the carpet,,i did not insult you ,,,i just want this brought to the table!!,,who should i target??,,maybe who protested me!

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

Frank,,we voted Marty in for this position to represent the DIV 1 racers,,im a div 1 racer,,have been for over 50 years,i consider Marty a great friend of myself and brothers for many years,,,,he was my first thought for help in my situation,,,yes he email nhra when this developed,,,,thats were it stopped,,,,so what would YOU have done in this situation being i was wrong,,,if asking Marty to comment is out of bounds then he is the wrong position,,,

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

I too was pulled over at fuel check and the tech guy looked under my hood . I cant remember which round it was. He didnt actually tell me what he was looking at or for . He just looked around in the engine bay and then told me everything was OK. I didnt think much of it because they sometimes make spot checks at the scale/Fuel check area. I race a gen one Camaro. Mine is a 1968. Possibly they were looking at firewalls to compare.
I have a friend that races a very nice 1969 Camaro and he covered the firewall to make it look nice. He was not allowed to run the car as a conventional Super Stock car but is allowed to run SS/AS. The original firewall is still in the car just behind the covering.

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

Garry Ewing, please use your name when speaking. You must be upset that your 15 minutes of fame between the Baby Gators and Gator Nationals on CR is now over and everybody has forgotten about you. Typical Facebook, Instagram, TicToker needing continuous instant gratification from his peers. To now come on here weeks after and slander Marty is completely out of line and you should be embarrassed. Yes, I am the one who brought the issue to NHRA. I also told them they could tell you it was me. Marty has had no knowledge of what I did and to presume he was involved and/or at the forefront of it shows how little you know about him as an individual. Marty is the most honest, hard working, loyal and humble person I know. Anyone who really knows Marty will attest to that. He is a racer, for the racers, not agendas. Yes, I do hire Marty a few times a year to drive/test my car. Do not assume or project to the masses that he is on payroll or that we are neighbors...I live 10hrs away from him and reside in a different country. Nevertheless that has nothing to do with the issue at hand, and to come on an open forum and accuse someone without evidence is testament to your woke mentality.

Garry, as per Section 7 Body of the 2023 NHRA Rulebook under Super Stock

Firewall

1. Alterations Prohibited
2. Firewall Coverings Prohibited

If you and NHRA feel that 3/8" to 1/2" of bondo 12-18" high and 60" wide creating a perfectly smooth surface is not altering or covering the OEM firewall, then I guess I am wrong. Perhaps NHRA should eliminate those lines altogether?

Regardless, your intentions here were not to bring light to your situation, that moment has come, gone and been resolved. You are here to create a smear campaign against someone who had nothing to do with it...If you, or anyone else would like to blame, criticize, name call, keyboard cry and/or wish to call me, I have no problem with that. My cell # is 613.229.9582

Leave everyone else out of your issues, your problem is with myself. Now you know, but I know you have all along, since NHRA did tell you it was me...just another lie...15 minutes are up!!!

And for those competitors out there who think I am "IN" with NHRA, you obviously do not know my history with the sanctioning body...no favors coming my way anytime soon.

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

Kevin glad you owned up to this with Gary
But it’s a little too late
But you are making Marty look bad considering he’s driving your Ss/GA with same combination he is our rep
You should have waited and done it when you are at the same race with Gary
I had the same thing happened to me in 06 in Atlanta, but at least painter Stevenson had the balls to do it right in front of me in tech I was pissed, but he was standing right there
Unlike what you did. Not cool

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

I’m sure Gary’s firewall isn’t as bogus as some of the Mopar S/S cars…

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

I apologize to all. I misunderstood the situation and shouldn't have commented.

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

Oops. Thread exploded/expanded while was typing. Glad its already cleared up.

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

I feel you brother, this happened to me multiple times over the last 20 years in ihra from a well known delay box ford driver!!!! Hell, tech even came to my own personal shop and measured my hoods for legality! Of coarse i was legal, but it was on then after that. You may want to put some money on your adversary when y'all are at the same race...just saying!

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

yes, i understand that,,,,,but at bottom of return road and take photos ,then tell you you are "under review",,for what //protest??,,thanksMike for your response,,see ya soon

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

first of all my name is Gary Ewing,,I dontneed fame in my life,,,i dont care who hasforgottenabout me or not,,thats far from my style,,,i wasnt slandering martyat the least.i just ask for help,,question is why did you need to hide overthis,,,weres your fame at?,,sitting home on the porch!! if you woulda came out from begining your childless actionsmight not led to this,,i didnt throw anyone under bus,,nhra officials i kept mum,,,no lies in my post,,more then i can say for yours,,,look in thr mirror and you will see the "smear"as you called it of this issue,,i respected marty,,as your partner???,,ill run my car as i please as my brothers and i have in the past,,LiL Zipper"

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

As an ex super gas racer I would like to know what I’m getting into building a stocker. I have no dog in this fight and I know nothing of either racer. My question is why the rule book is not being followed or is it?
A pretty firewall doesn’t seem to me to be a performance advantage.

1.6.5 Protest Procedures
Contestant protests must be filed with the proper officials the day prior to eliminations (class and/or eliminator) of that category or as outlined in writing before a protest will be accepted. Protests by Event Officials may be entered at any time during the event at no charge. Inspections of protested vehicles and outcomes related thereto are not limited to the subject matter of the protest.
Protests must be accompanied by a protest fee as outlined below. Protest fee, minus Technical Department expenses,
will be forfeited to the vehicle owner if the protested vehicle
is found in compliance with the requirements of its class of competition. If an inspection proves a protested vehicle to be out of its proper class, fees will be refunded, less expenses, and the non-compliant entry will be subject to action as the Event Officials or Technical Department may impose, including possible disqualification, fines, suspension, and/or revocation of competition privileges.
A protested engine must be disassembled for inspection and reassembled by the vehicle owner and/or crewmembers. Failure or refusal to disassemble an engine upon demand from an Event Official will result in the removal of the vehicle from further competition and is cause for removal of the vehicle, owner, driver, and crewmembers from the racing facility and such other or further penalties as deemed appropriate by NHRA.
(NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, NHRA Top Fuel Harley Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Factory Stock Showdown series) protest fee: $750
Any Professional category protest fee: $1,500
Contestant protests may only be filed by a driver or registered vehicle owner competing in the same event and in the same eliminator category, as the vehicle being protested. NHRA reserves the right to reject any protest filed that it determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, is frivolous or intended to

Administrative Procedures Section 1, page 19 Administrative Procedures & Appeals
harass another competitor or to otherwise gain some unfair competitive advantage.

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

Maybe a "George Soros" judge has infiltrated the NHRA Tech Dept.?

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

As a fellow SS competitor, I have to just ask; was the firewall altered or covered? Is this legal according to the rules? Along the lines of a “protest” Gary, did you have to do anything besides open your hood? Were any of your runs DQ’d or were you DQ’d from racing in the eliminator?

I consider all parties involved here racing friends that I’ve made over the years. Im impartial here because it doesn’t effect me one way or the other because I’ve done nothing to my firewall. I just want to know why having to simply open your hood and allow the tech guys to look at it was such a big deal? Believe me, I get being upset at being the target! But at least you weren’t DQ’d after winning a round that would eventually cost you a division championship!

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

On the better side of Tech..
We had two D7 tech guys come to our pits at the Salt Lake Divisional race and look over my son's 73 Dart. This was his first race as a Stocker. One guy climbed into the passenger side and spent a good 5 minutes looking at the interior. Then they spent another 10 minutes looking under and around the car. Our concern was were we being protested? As one director was talking to my son the other gentleman came over to me and quietly said that my son car was being considered as being voted as D7 Best Engineered at the race. They came back twice and it was between us another D5 Mopar.
Good things do come from Tech.. we won the award and it was an honor to receive the trophy since we built the majority of the car.
Larry 5706

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

As its all out there in the open now like a itty bitty bikini

might I suggest a grudge fest of sorts at the Napierville Open.....

maybe a best 2 out of 3 wheelstand competition......Distance height, etc

I know the Brunet family and the scantily clad fans at the starting line and along the barriers would approve

Best I can think of at the moment!

Eric

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

Here is my 2 cents, be a man and do it the correct way. Don't sneak behind a phone call and no one will know it's you. My 2 cents.

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

There is a NHRA Rule Book for a reason.. there are rules pertaining to protests for a reason.. there have been several incidents in recent years, where the governing body (NHRA) have not followed their own rules pertaining to protests.. or, for that matter, the timing of Tech Inspections during an event..

We also have the convenience of having SRAC reps, who many believe are the FIX ALL to the racer's problems.. from experience, I can assure you, this couldn't be farther from the truth.. but regardless, those SRAC reps always seem to find themselves in a lose-lose situation as a result of trying to help us out.. their efforts are appreciated by most racers.. most, if not all, racers know why the SRAC was created.. NUFF SAID!!

It's unfortunate that these incidents can have a really bad affect on serious class racers, as it quickly becomes personal.. NHRA does nothing to quell the anger caused by false accusations.. the accusers face no repercussions.. if money is put up to file a formal, and legitimate protest, and the protester loses his/her bid, they lose that money.. if one can protest via a phone call, or text, without posting the required fees, there is nothing to prevent them from repeating their nonsense.. this is where the SRAC should step in and demand sanctions.. BUT THEN, that's where who you are, and who you know kicks in..

I worked on a very well known team, both World and Divisional Champions many times over, who were protested at a Divisional Event for a hood scoop height violation.. NO MONEY was put up for the protest.. the supposed violation was rectified in less than 10 minutes by lowering the scoop EXACTLY 1/2", and the team was reinstated.. as a result, the team has NEVER returned to any Divisional Events, and would not race National Events in their home Division, as the same folks were always involved.. and the anger towards that Division, and the folks involved, has not yet diminished, 10 years later.. people taking sides, friendships gone, and the racing family doesn't really seem like much of a family anymore.. AND NO APOLOGIES HAVE EVER BEEN OFFERED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES!!!

One remedy might be for NHRA bigs to give up some of their un-deserved salaries, and bring back "competent" Tech Inspectors.. online tech cards and spot inspections are nonsense.. we all know that, as honest as most are, we can not police ourselves..

ALSO, and maybe it's just me, once eliminations start, tech inspections stop, unless such violations are blatantly obvious.. otherwise it just looks like sour grapes from folks who just got beat.. if Mr Tech finds something wrong after I just won the 5th round, I might get removed and punished, but what happens to those 5 racers that I already sent home??.. do they all get reinstated??.. do they all get points credits for winning the race, because potentially they might have??.. understand my point??

OOOOOOOORR, maybe we should all just have a NHRA Tech Guy on speed dial when we want to win a race.. YEAH, YEAH, THAT'S IT!!

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

How did you get special treatment from NHRA and you were able to protest a fellow racer over the phone with not being present at the race and not having to put up any protest funds?

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

This part makes no sense Charlie. The way I read it, the protest was lodged and found to be legit. If the scoop was too tall, whether it's 1/2", 1/4", whatever, it's illegal based on the rules. Plus they were allowed to make it right. So said team stomps their feet and stops running events because they were illegal, intentional or not? Why should someone apologize for being right if the protested car was in fact not in accordance with the rules?

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

Well Don, when the Tech official was asked if a legitimate protest was lodged, and the appropriate fees put up, we were told "NO, NOT YET".. it was then a word of mouth complaint, and actually held no validity, in my opinion, at that point.. and yes, we were then allowed to make a quick adjustment, probably because the protest was not valid at that point, and we were placed back on the ladder, instead of at the bottom of the sheet, or DQ'd, as requested by the whiners..

I believe that an apology was necessary for the inconvenience to a team that was a mainstay in Comp Eliminator for better than 30 years, whether the hood scoop height was correct or not.. that simple jesture may have kept that team around for a while longer.. like I said, that's when who you are, and who you know kicks in.. we were apparently not a part of the right clique at that venue..

While I will not argue whether the car was actually legal, or not, a 1/2 inch height discrepancy on a hood scoop could easily have been someone misreading a ruler.. maybe the crew guy from another team who actually compelled the whiners to complain.. maybe even the Tech guy.. and I don't even believe that those particular whiners even had the funds to lodge a legitimate protest, without help.. maybe the Tech guy knew that they were trying to raise the funds, and told us to fix it while he waited.. in the end, the Tech guy may have actually helped everyone (RIP RC).. we took care of the problem, and the whiners saved their money.. and then the whiners went red in the 1st rnd.. maybe KARMA??

The bigger fact in this matter, is probably the part about people not wanting the owner, or the driver, of said team to win another championship, and that race happened to be important toward that goal.. just like the guy in the original post didn't want another racer to win his race.. but that's a whole different cliquish kinda story..

My original point is that there are rules pertaining to protests, and those rules, more often then not, are not even followed by the governing body (NHRA).. how can you accept a protest via text or phone call??.. and reportedly, the person was not even at the venue at the time.. how are the protest fees then collected.. and in the case I referred to, how do you send your wife to complain with NO MONEY in her pocketbook, and on an *** Clown's say so??.. I will say that that wife had more balls than all the men involved in that particular scenario though..

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

I have a question, After reading Charlie's post, It appears that one of the concerns was that a tech official came over to question the legality of a car without an official protest. And even though the car was in fact illegal, or should I say, had a hood scoop out of spec, the complaint was that they should never come over without a protest put up.

So the question I have, is it not allowed to approach a tech official about a concern about a competitors car without putting up a protest fee? If that is the case I never knew that.

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

You say no validity in your opinion but obviously, NHRA felt differently to take the time to check AND make you change it. So did anyone ever go back and ask if the money was put up following the "no, not yet" comment? I don't see this as being any different than an NHRA spot check and honestly, if you have nothing to hide or it's an honest mistake, what's the difference? I find it funny that you call those who protested whiners, when in fact, their issue with the car turned out to be 100% true. If someone on the offending team misread a ruler, well that's on them to go back and make up that day from 1st grade. In fact, it's pretty impressive that whoever protested could determine visually that there was an issue without actually measuring it. Or maybe it was more than a 1/2" as you claim, and obvious?

That said, why would someone apologize for being right? Because your team had to correct something that was wrong? And last time I checked, longevity in the class isn't a waiver from making sure your car is legal. By that logic, maybe financial standing should be a waiver for those who can't afford to put up the money for a protest. Maybe I get to throw an extra 1" of overhang on the nose for my 30 years? On top of that, perhaps you WERE afforded a "30 years in the class" favor by being allowed to continue by NHRA, did anyone think of that? There sure have been S/SS guys bounced for far less. I don't necessarily agree with someone not at the race calling in a protest, but your protester was.

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

This has been an interesting read, I just can't see how a racer can call a tech man over the phone, and cause this much stink. I would hate to think this is going to be the normal from now on. The rule book is very clear on how protests are to be handled, also who was the tech man that took the call and did not follow the procedure set by NHRA.

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

So...back to the issue
The Fire wall....

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

Ya know, "the issue" here has stopped being "the firewall" and started being "the phone call"! Which (IMHO) has become the more important issue here.

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

The fire wall was found to be legal. Gary continued on with racing.

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

That seems to be the sticking point - it was found to be "legal", but the rule book prohibits the modification, whether or not it makes it perform differently really doesn't matter - what matters is that NHRA is NOT following their OWN rules - first in allowing a phone call, then in allowing what the rule book describes as "an illegal modification" to be judged to be "legal". How can that be?

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

I believe it was Lonnie Grimm that made the final decision that the firewall in question was not modified in a manner that was against the rules for the class. In Super Stock you are allowed to remove certain items that are attached to the firewall. heater box, wiper motor etc. These holes have to be plugged or covered with material matching the original firewall and sealed. there are usually other holes that have to be treated the same way. possibly a fuse box that was removed. Holes drilled for wires or tubing to pass through. So some modification is allowed. Per the rule book you are not allowed to completely cover the original fire wall or move it. It has to be the original firewall in the stock location.

Protest rules are listed in the rule book and should be followed to the letter every time.

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

WTF
Modified firewall illegal
He didn’t move it back or forward Gary made it beautiful
I pride myself in my car under the car outside inside and under the hood
What kind of firewall is in your super Comp car. ?
Stay in your lane And don’t throw stones at people whose cars could win most car shows And Go Fast.
This was about Gary’s performance. The firewall is just an excuse to get Gary thrown out

Re: "phone a friend"or Tech
 

Removing things like heater boxes, or whatever stock equipment might be on the firewall, are not always able to be fixed with just a flat sheet of sheet metal, nor does that look good! If the firewall is not moved from stock location, who gives a **** if it’s “pretty”? We spend a ton of money on these cars just to make them look good, who cares if the firewall is completely smooth with Bondo? I have a bunch of ****ty looking stock holes on my firewall I would love to cover up and have painted nicely, zero performance advantage!! Like James said, this was about someone crying about his combo and NHRA let it happen.

Tim Stickles