NHRA Levied Actions Against Don Davidson

[Mike Pearson]

I failed a teardown at the gators several years ago. My exhaust valve was .001 below the low limit. Wesley told me if I could find a caliper or mic that would read the correct size he would let me pass. I checked that valve with several calipers and they all measured the same. Needless to say I got bounced. Fixed the heads for the next race with new valves and picked up .08 so not all infractions make you go faster.

[Jim Wahl]

Originally Posted by Mike Pearson

I failed a teardown at the gators several years ago. My exhaust valve was .001 below the low limit. Wesley told me if I could find a caliper or mic that would read the correct size he would let me pass. I checked that valve with several calipers and they all measured the same. Needless to say I got bounced. Fixed the heads for the next race with new valves and picked up .08 so not all infractions make you go faster.

Always knew you were a big time cheater! See ya Saturday! Jim

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[Jim Wahl]

Here's a tip that most already know but I found out the hard way when I was running the Cadillac, never let them check your cam or heads when they are above ambient temperature! Cool them off as much as possible. After I set a record, the cam was checked right away as it was very easy in the Caddy, it checked +.002. No good. First thing the next morning it checked -.002! Same valve. A cool cam and rocker made .004 difference! Jim


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[Jim Cimarolli]

Originally Posted by Jim Wahl

Here's a tip that most already know but I found out the hard way when I was running the Cadillac, never let them check your cam or heads when they are above ambient temperature! Cool them off as much as possible. After I set a record, the cam was checked right away as it was very easy in the Caddy, it checked +.002. No good. First thing the next morning it checked -.002! Same valve. A cool cam and rocker made .004 difference! Jim


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If a person has that luxury. They never asked me if it was OK to check it now or when it cools down.

[art leong]

Hey Jim. I wonder how much they would have charged me. When they tossed me for having to little compression?

Answer? Priceless LOL

[X-TECH MAN]

FYI.......When I worked for IHRA I was employed by the Dept. of the Navy (yeah....a Govt. job for 18 years) in a calibration lab. We have to be certified each year by a higher lab with the Navy. Some equipment we were allowed to certify ourselves. Other things we had to send to Norfolk Navy base or up to the D.C. Navy yard to be certified. Our lab its self had to be certified to be at 40-42% humidity and 68 to 70 degrees. Different labs have similar ratings but some are different by a few % and degrees. I checked ALL of my tools I used before each race. The tools themselves used in teardowns have a tolerance figure of their own such as a dial indicator has + -- .001. It was NOT required to check our tools at that time but I did it just to be sure. Its still up to the racer to be sure of what he has. The electronic calipers used mostly today and back in the 1980's and 1990's I found to be mostly JUNK. Use a DIAL CALIPER. A lot of the elec. tools are crap. Check it with a gauge block or standard. The rule of thumb is to be at or under the spec. in most cases. Cylinder combustion chambers of course have to be over the spec. I always gave the racer time to cool cylinder heads. Besides who wants to handle HOT engine parts. Use a "CERTIFIED" Burette to check C.C's and not these cheap crappy ones that are sold by some mail order places. Fisher Scientific is a good brand but cost a little more.