Do you believe that the NHRA techs are doing their job?

[Larry Munk]

Yesterday was the GOOD OLE DAYS. Today you plan.Tomorrow won't be bad if you don't want it to be. Pay your money and make your choices while you can.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by art leong

As far as the good old days go The tech inspectors did a lot more in tech than they do now. Most of the time they check the safety equipment And not much else.
Years ago they got carried away with the nit-picking I remember a car not being allowed to run because the emblem on the glove box was wrong. Thank God it isn't like that anymore.
They allowed me to run my fiberglass fenders with louvers for 2 years. Then bitc**ed about it when I went to Englishtown, Told me not to come back with them. The louvers went into a dead air space, absolutly no advantage.
So now I bought some steel fenders (3 pounds lighter than the fiberglass). Am in the process of painting them to match the car.
I'll have to thank them for making my car pickup half a second the next time I get to an NHRA track. LOL
I always thank them for the presents they give.

I remember before I went to work at Div. 1 with Greg X. I think it was around 1970-72. I was at Maple Grove Penn. with Jim Morgan and his 428 69 Red Mustang Convert. SS/I at that time. The old guys will remember that car. Jim installed a nice gauge pannel to hold an oil pressure gauge and had it in the place where an ash try was supposed to be. It was a real nice car all over. Greg X got him in tech and called Jims Mustang a "Gutted out Gasser" and we had to remove the oil pressure gauge and "engine turned" pannel and borrow an ash try from a spectator who had a Mustang in the parking lot before he was allowed to run. Now is THAT chicken poop or what !.

[Ed Wright]

Everywhere I have been the Tech guys have been under paid, hard working, dedicated, helpful people.

I have no complaints, and sure would not want their jobs. I'm thankful they work like they do so we can play. If you think they are lax, just tear down in Div 4.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Too many cars.
Too many classes.
A lot of knowledge is required for the 'nit-picking things'
I got DQ'd for incorrect head-light bezels and grille trim.
Give me a break!! Didn't change the performance of the car.
But I didn't complain, they were incorrect
Things would be much easier if they limited the classes, and went to
some kind of bracket set up.
Easier for the techs, to focus on the most important item "Safety"
I hate to say it, but 'Pinks' with their 10.00, 10.50 and 11.00 brackets
seem to get a lot of action. And do you notice the racers, they all seem very happy!
pc

[novassdude]

Paul you can go race lots of places if you want those rules. Stock is supposed to be a class with very restrictive rules. Those rules need to be held. I don't think it is so much the tech guy's fault. I think the peoblem is the direction they get from Glendora.

[Paul Ceasrine]

NovaSS,
I agree. You are correct, as Stock does have rules.
But, what is enforced and what is let go.
Can changes in non-performance items be waived in tech.
ie: Installing a 70' Nova SS grille assembly on a 68' Nova SS
or installing the 70' front fenders (w/3 hash-marks) on a 68' SS.
It only would make the car look a little sharper.
Would that be easier for the techs, and everyone involved.
The only thing the driver/owner would have to do, is document the changes
as non-performance related.
pc

[Wade Mahaffey]

I think that the NHRA Techs reflect the fabric of any other work force. You will always have some folks more passionate about their job than others. I know some will say, this is about safety. I saw it in my job as a career firefighter, for some it's just a job. Also it is the job of the supervisor and/or director to motivate and insure the subordinates carry out their job to the level of their training. Most Techs see the same cars race after race, and therefore don't look as hard. I also think if they see a car for the first time, if it appears professionally built they will not look as hard (maybe thinking/trusting the home div has givin it a good looking over/blessing. I think that there should be flexibility on very minor issues ie. trim, badges, dash correctness, etc. I will say that in my short time in this type of racing, I have much to learn about how to play the game. I can also say that I had a situation in which I spoke to several Techs and Div Tech Directors about an issue and the only one that was correct was Wesley Roberson. The rule book was revised the following year so that everyone that was in violation (and there were many that had been getting away with it) where now in compliance with the rule book. I did find out that the system worked, I followed the proceedures all the way to Bruce Bachelder and I showed him the violations were wide spread. I am not and have not ever been a Tech person. But I do know that it is paramount that all Techs work from the same manual and recieve regular continuing education, bulletins, case studies, rules amendments, etc. over the internet and requiring their signiture as having read the information.
I have great respect for the work that the Techs do. However there is a thing called experience, that has to be gained as a worker becomes seasoned at his job. I say give them a break and discuss any issue you may have with them. If they're smart, they will listen to the racer and bring the issues to their supervisor for clarification.

Wade Mahaffey

[Bob Pagano]

Ed Wright is correct I also know Div ! is tough but its not the tech guys that are at fault, its their bosses that put hand cuffs on them. Just look at how Travis was overruled at Indy. Some tech's wont go to National events because of that very problem, the knowledge is there but it is stifled by nhra. What is going to happen when the current group of tech's are gone? Drag racing as we know it will be gone along with them and that day is fast approaching.

I think NHRA Tech, tries hard and enforces what they can. Nothing is perfect, but taking this mentality will lead us on the road to hell. Where do you draw the line? Cowl hoods on cars that don't come with them. Call a 67 Camaro a 69? Sombody will always take things to the limit, and make their job alot harder. If you don't like the rules, go to where they fit your needs.

"I hate to say it, but 'Pinks' with their 10.00, 10.50 and 11.00 brackets
seem to get a lot of action. And do you notice the racers, they all seem very happy!
pc "

These discussions always come up, how we shoud make things alot eaiser, like Pinks, bracket racing, IHRA, AHRA, the NFL and Ect... I know people that love to go to Pinks. They make a weekend of taking 2 or three time shots, and thats it. No system, other than a bunch of guys in the tower looking at timeshot data trying to figure out what are the most even races. You almost have a better chance of winning money in the lottery, than you have of getting picked to race. Maybe of you put a pinks all out sticker on you car, or blow oil down the track you might get a 3 second clip on TV. Guys go to race there beacuse......

Chance to run in front of a big crowd, if you are picked

Running heads up

Maybe get a shot on TV

The glory of winning

The money you can win

winning the admiration of your peers

Here's a bulletin. Anybody than can build a class legal car, has this opportunity now. No matter how fast you car runs, et wise. This is what drew me to class racing, and out of brackets. I bet more people know who Ben Wenzel, Peter Biondo, or Anthony Ftech because they have won in our racing. Can you tell me who knows or cares who won Pinks all out two years ago in Charoltte? Pinks is very popular, and if you make it fun to race in. But it is not a blueprint for changing our Classes here....

The Tech's do a great Job if they are allowed to

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

NovaSS,
I agree. You are correct, as Stock does have rules.
But, what is enforced and what is let go.
Can changes in non-performance items be waived in tech.
ie: Installing a 70' Nova SS grille assembly on a 68' Nova SS
or installing the 70' front fenders (w/3 hash-marks) on a 68' SS.
It only would make the car look a little sharper.
Would that be easier for the techs, and everyone involved.
The only thing the driver/owner would have to do, is document the changes
as non-performance related.
pc

[vic guilmino]

well said Todd