Fuel Check at NHRA Races
 

My name is Terral Klaassen. Most of you know me from checking your fuel for the last 23 years at most of the national races. As most of you know, I was fired by Glen Gray after the Norwalk race. I am putting this note on to thank all of my racing friends for the support they have given me through phone calls, texts, emails and telling Kenny Snider and Vince Toso how disappointed they were that I was fired. I have never had a complaint up until this year when the Sunoco SR-18 started being used. It started out really bad at Pomona and Sunoco was blaming me for not checking it right. I knew what the problem was at the start and after a few races, the Sunoco team finally admitted that they had a problem. Sunoco makes a very good fuel and they are getting the SR-18 fixed. It has been up to spec at every race except Houston. They are still having problems at the divisional races but this is also being corrected. I talked to the Sunoco rep, Terry Thompson, at a couple of the races before I was fired and he was telling me how they were fixing the problem. They are only interested in the octane rating and keeping it uniform. This is done by adding lead and another chemical as told to me by Terry Thompson on a couple of occasions. My opinion is that Sunoco will have this problem fixed soon and has done a great job of getting it fixed. There is some fuel that doesn't pass spec at several of the local distributors and they are trying to correct this fuel. I talked to Marlene at NHRA. She was trying to help me get my job back but it didn't work out. I had asked her and Peter Clifford about the many racers that were asking me questions and have asked me questions about the fuel. I have always tried to help the racer with any problem with fuel that they had. Marlene told me that I was not allowed to discuss any fuel questions with anyone. I have had a lot of questions since I have been fired. I will no longer answer any questions. All questions on fuel now need to be referred to Tim White at the Indy NHRA office. Tim is a very good person and will do the best he can to answer the questions. Kenny and Vince will probably be doing most of the national races from now on. They will do a good job. Sunoco is our sponsor. Let's support them. They have had a good product for many years. Thanks to all of the racers for the friendship and support over all these years. This will be my last note. I will not respond to any posts. NHRA doesn't want me to say anything to anyone and I am going to abide by their decision.

Re: Fuel Check at NHRA Races
 

We will all still miss you, and thanks for all the help over the years! Wishing you good luck, success, and happiness.


Thanks again,


Larry and Patsy Hill

Re: Fuel Check at NHRA Races
 

That's a shame. NHRA lost a good tech man.

Re: Fuel Check at NHRA Races
 

Unfortunately it again seems that doing the right thing is the wrong thing in corporate eyes. I see this over and over in the construction industry. Good people with great intentions and morals sent packing because the truth does not go well with the corporation line. The new world structure . Shove it !
:mad:

Re: Fuel Check at NHRA Races
 

Yep just like are goverment hide it , it cant be are problem. To bad a good guy has to loss his job, but why anyone would want to work for nhra beats me at least in todays world.

Re: Fuel Check at NHRA Races
 

Going to miss you. Had enough problems with Sunoco, that I just won't use it again.
My air/fuel ratio shown on my data logger was changing every time I bought new fuel. I'm sticking with VP. Always the same.

Re: Fuel Check at NHRA Races
 

x2

Re: Fuel Check at NHRA Races
 

Would you not think that the racers that use the product deserve to hear this from Sunoco ? First they try to blame sombody who has nothing to do with the manufacturing of the fuel. Somebody well versed with years of experience in fuel testing for the NHRA. Why take the blame for their own error in the SR18 fuel when they can get NHRA to make a scapegoat out of a fuel tech man . As the fuel sponsor for the NHRA where is SUNOCO's mouthpiece or PR person to offer an explanation for their product failure. I guess they feel they owe nobody an explanation. NOT a good way to start off the 1st season and build trust with their consumers.

Re: Fuel Check at NHRA Races
 

hey Terral, i got a REAL good lawyer!!

Re: Fuel Check at NHRA Races
 

Sorry to see you go!!!