My response to NHRA letter

[art leong]

Hi
At the 2010 Englishtown Supernationals while going through tech inspection.
I was asked where I bought the fenders on my 1995 Dodge Neon
2095 SS/GS.
I stated Ebay and was asked what model year the fenders I had, came on.
I answered that all first gen (1995 to 1999) Neons were the same.
Fiberglass fenders are legal in my class, The fenders I had were the only ones made for the first gen Neon. They had 4 openings (louvers) in them.
I was told that it was okay to run the race. But not to bring them back.
And I would be receiving a letter about the infraction.
The fenders gave absolutely no class advantage, there is an inner fender well and a liner. So the holes opened up to a dead space. No aerodynamic advantage was had.
Enclosed is the letter from Pat Cvengros, technical services rep for NHRA
And copies of assorted Ebay auctions for the same fenders I was using.
I have since purchased steel replacement fenders which are 6 pounds lighter than the fiberglass fenders. There was no advantage at all and no conspiracy to cheat.
And I predict my car will pickup quite a bit Thanks to NHRA’s problem with my fenders.
These fenders only cost me a total of $85 but they will not match my paint.

[Chevellewagon]

They always seem to find something wrong with what ever you drive Mr. Leong! I think it's a shame.

Chevellewagon.

[art leong]

Originally Posted by Chevellewagon

They always seem to find something wrong with what ever you drive Mr. Leong! I think it's a shame.

Chevellewagon.

The thing that really bothers me is the letter they FedEx'd to my house about them.
I haven't decided what to do yet. I might paint one fender green, one purple, the bumper cover red and the hood blue.
That will get some attention.
The last time they screwed with me the ALHFS (Artie Leong horse power factoring system) . I went to the next race and went 2.04 under. Watch out if the front end is all black and not multi colored. The new steel fenders are 6 pounds lighter that the fiberglass ones
Might pick up about 6 tenths. LOL. You never know.

[jim powers]

artie, who on the tech team had the problem at etown with the fenders? if glass fenders are allowed the little fender holes that went nowhere, i would think could go under the "mild customizing" rule they just really like you

[Chevellewagon]

Originally Posted by art leong

The thing that really bothers me is the letter they FedEx'd to my house about them.
I haven't decided what to do yet. I might paint one fender green, one purple, the bumper cover red and the hood blue.
That will get some attention.
The last time they screwed with me the ALHFS (Artie Leong horse power factoring system) . I went to the next race and went 2.04 under. Watch out if the front end is all black and not multi colored. The new steel fenders are 6 pounds lighter that the fiberglass ones
Might pick up about 6 tenths. LOL. You never know.

Good luck and I hope you pick up at least 6 tenths. Guess I'll be in trouble if I can get back out and then end up in teardown after this............LOL

[Jim Wahl]

Art, you and I both know this was not just some random tech incident. Someone put a idea in someones head! Maybe I'm wrong, but I know of only one other SS/GS car that can compete with you. I wonder if this other competitor could have been the one to put said idea in the tech persons head? Knowing you as well as I do, I am of the opinion that doing such a thing would not have been the smart thing to do. After reading the rulebook I can not see that the fenders in question were illegal in any way.I think they did you a favor. I pity the competition! Jim

[art leong]

Originally Posted by jim powers

artie, who on the tech team had the problem at etown with the fenders? if glass fenders are allowed the little fender holes that went nowhere, i would think could go under the "mild customizing" rule they just really like you

It was Ryck Campbell. And he didn't have to leave his trailer or.
There is supposed to be something in the rule book that says customizing is limited to paint only.

[art leong]

Originally Posted by Jim Wahl

Art, you and I both know this was not just some random tech incident. Someone put a idea in someones head! Maybe I'm wrong, but I know of only one other SS/GS car that can compete with you. I wonder if this other competitor could have been the one to put said idea in the tech persons head? Knowing you as well as I do, I am of the opinion that doing such a thing would not have been the smart thing to do. After reading the rulebook I can not see that the fenders in question were illegal in any way.I think they did you a favor. I pity the competition! Jim

I believe it is a FWD hater. There are a few out there.
If they bitch about my roof rack it's a factory option I'll gladly take it off if I can cover the holes with someones skin.
What really bothers me is "The Letter" was cc'ed to every division director and tech.
I have never bent a rule to gain an advantage. Even in the 70's we never acid dipped any parts, The cars were light the way they were Greg X can attest to that his belly was all over our fenders and hood (71 Charger was real light but we didn't do it).
If they would have just said Artie please change them and left it at that I would not be upset.

Here is a link to the same fenders I had.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-99...item483b19fdf3

[Chris "drooze" Wertman]

Originally Posted by art leong

If they bitch about my roof rack it's a factory option I'll gladly take it off if I can cover the holes with someones skin.

Hey Art all I can say is Im glad were friends....lol.....Id be pissed to that was a silly way to handle it, sometimes, its a person who dosent have a clue trying to cover his *** at HQ ? Ive seen the same thing in programming time and time again, you give some new a job to do and they use a maximum overkill blast the hell to the White House to the GOP regional and every volunteer in between. I had it happen to me , then a whole crew of people coming back to me with blood in their eyes thinking I was the one who threw them under the bus and flew dirty laundry, when all I did was give it to a moron to handle, that only ever happened once with each employee (2) and I promptly transferred them to Data Entry

So im not depending anyone, im just saying, maybe the whole issue on how it was handled past tech was someone elses fault .... it happens....

[Jeff Lee]

Actually you should be proud they or somebody noticed you!