Do you believe that the NHRA techs are doing their job? - Page 2

Larry Munk · 08-03-2010, 07:00 PM

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 · 08-03-2010, 07:20 PM

Quote:

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 · 08-03-2010, 08:04 PM

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 · 08-04-2010, 09:04 AM

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 · 08-04-2010, 09:31 AM

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.

Wade Mahaffey · 08-04-2010, 10:18 AM

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

J DeForrest · 08-04-2010, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

I agree. Many tech guys I have ben in contact with work very hard for long hours because they love the sport. Try to get something by Wayne in D5 or Travis in D3. Very knowledgeable guys who are paying attention. We have been in teardown twice in the last year with a SS car in D5, and Travis went through all tech cards in Joilet checking classification/weight/etc for all Stock and SS cars. He had a long list of car #s that he thought something that was not proper. He addressed me with something minor, but had actually worked out as a plus. Nobody is perfect, but I have alot of respect for the tech guys I have been in contact with.

Jason

X-TECH MAN · 08-05-2010, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J DeForrest

I agree. Many tech guys I have ben in contact with work very hard for long hours because they love the sport. Try to get something by Wayne in D5 or Travis in D3. Very knowledgeable guys who are paying attention. We have been in teardown twice in the last year with a SS car in D5, and Travis went through all tech cards in Joilet checking classification/weight/etc for all Stock and SS cars. He had a long list of car #s that he thought something that was not proper. He addressed me with something minor, but had actually worked out as a plus. Nobody is perfect, but I have alot of respect for the tech guys I have been in contact with.

Jason

Dave Ley from Div. 1 and Travis from Div. 3 are among the best NHRA has on staff.

08-03-2010, 07:00 PM	#1
Larry Munk Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 135 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Do you believe that the NHRA techs are doing their job? 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.

08-03-2010, 08:04 PM	#3
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: Do you believe that the NHRA techs are doing their job? 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. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

08-04-2010, 09:04 AM	#4
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Do you believe that the NHRA techs are doing their job? 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

08-04-2010, 09:31 AM	#5
novassdude Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: usa Posts: 752 Likes: 204 Liked 136 Times in 49 Posts	Re: Do you believe that the NHRA techs are doing their job? 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.

08-04-2010, 10:18 AM	#6
Wade Mahaffey Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 581 Likes: 0 Liked 18 Times in 8 Posts	Re: Do you believe that the NHRA techs are doing their job? 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 Last edited by Wade Mahaffey; 08-04-2010 at 10:29 AM.