Question for the old guys
 

How many times have you been torn down by NHRA ???
I?m at 17 ? I know a west coast guy had 17 in 10 years 😁😁
Provost is gone soooo who?s spent the most on gaskets ???

This might be fun

In honor of the real NHRA techmen 👍👍👍

Re: Question for the old guys
 

Good one Jack! I try not to remember my teardowns but I know that it's been quite a few times.

Re: Question for the old guys
 

Jack,
I'm at 11 since 2009, of which 5 was record sets.

Ernie Neal
SS 354

Re: Question for the old guys
 

Only 3. Last time was a rod and piston.

Re: Question for the old guys
 

11 for me, first one in '69 at Gainesville and last one at the '97 all-star race in Columbus.

Re: Question for the old guys
 

Too many to remember. Had to pull a piston at Indy one year. This is back when you had to use the GM stuff. One year i got my head to the head checking bench and saw 2 Buick valves sitting there. One of my fellow Buick racers supplied the tech guys with valves to compare mine to. Everything was Ok as usual.

Re: Question for the old guys
 

It's not easy to remember them all but I'm guessing just few less than a dozen beginning in 1971 and ending in about 2004. That's not counting helping friends or cursory checks of casting numbers, etc. I'm waiting for Cal Method to come up with a number...

c

Re: Question for the old guys
 

When Jeff Teuton formed his sportsman organization , he was very popular in the tear down barn .. I have to agree with Charles Norton , there is no telling how many tear downs Cal Method had been a part of . I do know of one that he would like to forget …..

Re: Question for the old guys
 

Six Times

Re: Question for the old guys
 

Not sure maybe 8 to 10 times. Indy a few times and always passed, never been tossed.

Re: Question for the old guys
 

I'm by no means an old timer, but to add perspective, I'm at 1/2 times. They asked to look at my car at SGMP to look under the valve covers, check casting numbers, and the inspected my quadrajet. I wouldn't consider that a tear down, but it was the most in depth check of any kind I have experienced so far in my 1.5 years of class racing.

Re: Question for the old guys
 

Quite a few, including 3 times in a little over a month
around 2010 in the Aspen Wagon.

Re: Question for the old guys
 

Once, at Indy in Pro Stock. Having Jenkins as our point man eased the urge to have to change underwear.

Pretty notable, because including the usual things, JC Collins spent probably a half hour with a jeweler's loupe looking at our mid plate. Made no sense until the news about the Glidden boys came out a few days later.

Re: Question for the old guys
 

If it comes to a bet, I would vote for Cal Method. I'm sure he quite counting decades ago.

Re: Question for the old guys
 

i hold the record for most tear downs hands down. i dont know if they keep records but i have to hold that record i pissed somebody off i guess about 50 plus times plus record tear downs i own this one!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Question for the old guys
 

Ok loge is the leader and Cal is awaiting response

And in full disclosure I?ve been tossed twice 5# valve spring pressure and was last my guy ever tossed on duration cam checked 5 times till that lobe 😳😳 both times by my good friend Travis Miller

Re: Question for the old guys
 

No record here. Only 1 voluntary mock teardown and a casting numbers ck at Englishtown, NJ in 1995 after winning class all alone and running just a hundreth under the 17.45 sea level index in GF/SA (they offered it and cc'd the head, as it had never been off since the assembly line build, car at that time
only had header and a converter).
They did find that the intake casting # was a mid-level year factory chg in October of 84 and car was a 3rd week Dec. 84 build, but Dodge never updated their (NHRA's), guide specs to include that intake for the 84 model. It took tech 22 mins. on the phone and it was verified directly from the car build sheet data.

Then they officially added to the guide officially in Feb 1996 as an accepted intake for the 99hp 135 TBI car/engine combo. Same date/ time they corrected and reduced my hp from 110 to 99 by review request letter as the only data they ever had on the single point injection TBI were all my passes.

I sat out 2.5 decades before making changes, but am fully prepared and have always carried gaskets and ck tools necessary. It will happen, and it will pass.

Sometimes positive things can and do happen. Begging someone to make a record attempt should not be necessary at the right event.

Re: Question for the old guys
 

My bets are Loge, Method and maybe Yac.

3 times in 1 month John, sounds excessive my brother.

Re: Question for the old guys
 

Well over a dozen times. I think once every year in the 90s. Rod and piston twice.

Re: Question for the old guys
 

I wrote this earlier for a similar post- My experiences included 8 teardowns across divisions 3, 4, 5 & 7 from 1987 to 1994. However, 3 of those were self-imposed from National Record certifications. Two of those 3 were just 2 weeks apart when I bettered my record at the next race. I understood that this is just part of Class racing. It is what we signed up for so like it or not, just get it done and don't make it worse by thinking about it too much.
Most memorable was Indy, at Paul Harvey Ford. As the rigs left the track at sunrise to go into town there were two guys at the gate mocking everyone singing as loud as they could- "Paul Harvey Ford!!" Thanks a lot guys. Lots of cars at teardown and it went faster than I expected. My crew chief, Dwayne Scheitlin was there and his help was crucial to get me in & out on time since a second group was coming in the afternoon.
Pomona in 1988 also had a good building for teardown at the east side of the complex. D6 tech director, Jerry Valentine politely pointed out some things I needed to correct for the future, telling me that "if you race in MY Division you will need to..."
Quickest teardown was a points meet after the finals in Denver, winner & runner-up both. They were on time and the weather was really nice so why not? Done in just over 90 minutes since we didn't have to put things back together, just button everything up enough to stay clean and put it back together at home.
One issue came up during a National Record certification in Division 4. I got to know Red Anderson and yes, he was a thorough tech inspector but me and others feel he was always fair. The issue they questioned was sent to the national tech office and after some communication with Dave Danish I did get my National Record cert a couple months later. After getting to know Red Anderson I really liked him. More like him would be good to have today.
My experiences with the NHRA Tech officials were good, all were professional, reasonable and courteous. Back then there were stories where that wasn't always the case but fortunately all my encounters were positive, no DQ's but a little head scratching to keep things interesting.
I wish that after successful teardown we would have been given a little sticker indicating the certification, maybe the NHRA emblem with "tech" a wrench and a caliper would have been great to have on the fender or hood.
I am happy to see the push for more teardowns.This gives our classes credibility. Performance based sportsman racing is an essential part of the sport. I am happy to see that there are still many that feel that way.

Re: Question for the old guys
 

Don't remember how many times, but Years AGO, 1987 to be exact I was #1 qualifier at Atlanta Southern Nats just edging Al Provost out. D2 tech Bill Holt decide to tear down after first rd . Went the next morning to Chevy dealer and tore down. Everything was good until they decided to pour the heads, 1st year of having intake and exhaust runner volumes. Don't remember exact numbers but heads poured big. Mind you I didn't freshen motor up over winter and wasn't worried because heads hadn't been enhanced at the time.
Got home and took 5 sets of heads over to Fultons on Monday night, side job at the time.
None of them poured anywhere close. Called tech line on Tuesday night and discussed findings with Bill Holt, Asked where they got specs for 882 heads at that time and he said he would get back with me.
Two weeks later he called and said the specs had been adjusted and they were more than what I had at the time. I was good to go and asked if I got a free entry to another National since it was their mistake, You know that answer.
They figured since the heads looked so stock they would give me 15hp . Only good thing was John Fowbower won race after he got the bye 2nd rd

Re: Question for the old guys
 

Was at teardown at Paul Harvey Ford in the late 80's. Was tossed because I had too much valve spring pressure. Open spec was ok, had 5lbs. too much seat pressure. The next year they threw out the valve spring rule.

Re: Question for the old guys
 

Had to look through all my log books. 12 times with the FWD cars.Seems like every other race Rosie (Bill Holt) wanted to see something in the Caddys! 1990 at Indy Buster asked me if I had zippers on the motor for ease of tear down. 3 times with the other Stockers and the SS Demon. So I guess that makes 15 times. Jim:D


.

Re: Question for the old guys
 

Close to 25, 17 for records.2 1/2 at the TRW races the half was it started raining and they told us to put it back together. Three at National event tear downs one was after winning a div 5 race at Douglass WY. Elroy Adams, Wayne Lewis, Bob Blackwell. We tore down 4 weeks in row chasing Records. I once told Wayne he did not have to look at book for my specs because he had done it so many times. 15 minuets to pull the head. The good old days.Tom

Re: Question for the old guys
 

Over 30 , most for records , a few times at Indy , once after winning a wcs (lodrs) . Been tossed 2 times, once for having to short of screws on the butterflys on my 4gc , and once for 2 lbs to much valve spring pressure at Indy.

Sometimes we would have a side contest to see who could get thru teardown, back together and running quickest. That was usually at the Dutch when a lot of records were set.

Re: Question for the old guys
 

I’m new to stock (1yr) and I don’t have anything to add regarding tear down. I am carrying all my extra gaskets and stuff needed to take apart the engine for tech inspection if needed. I was careful in building the engine and know it will pass.
On another note when I was racing super-gas with no tear down worries NHRA did approach us in the staging lanes at the Winternationals to run their sonic checker over my roll bars. They found 1 door bar under by few thousandths (no +- with NHRA) I was out if I couldn’t fix it before E1. Made a call to Hansen and got it in and back overnight with a replaced door bar.
Luckily Ricky Smith was there at the same time so they had some staff already there working the evening shift.

Re: Question for the old guys
 

Maybe some of you old guys can talk about the crazy items that got you tossed. I was talking to Jim Kronenbitter up at the IHRA event about this. His old Chevy II was tossed for not enough installed height on one of his springs. Elks Head Service had done the heads and under one of them and mistakenly stuck one too many shims under one spring. He laughed and said "One out of 16, and I'm the one that picked that cylinder". He said Westly got'em..
Earl Row was saying one year at Indy while in line to tech.... Someone came back and said they were busting the 69 Camaros with the cowl induction hood for no solenoid on the flapper. He was several pairs back from checkpoint, so he went back and grabbed the blinker relay out of his tow truck. (They were round back then). Someone in the area had a can of black spray paint. He rushed up, crammed that flasher up in the hood cavity. He said he had to hold back giggling as the tech looked up in there and congratulated Earl on having the thing they had been flunking people for all day....

Re: Question for the old guys
 

I should think it would hot be hard for NHRA to be able to "seal" an engine following a successful tear down, which could prevent unnecessary repetitive tear downs

Re: Question for the old guys
 

They do have a tube of it, but if you want the record take it apart.

Re: Question for the old guys
 

That was 1984 Southern Nationals. You, me, and Jimmy Lashley went to tear down. We were all running the same car-engine combination. Our fellow racer was running the same combo and felt since we were quicker than him, we must be cheating. He provided Bill Holt with a pair of correct valves and a pair of cut down larger valves. And as you said, after everything was checked, there was no problem!
The first time I went to tear down was 1974 and the last time was Indy class win in 1987. I don?t remember how many times I went in between!
Donnie Beeler would be another candidate for the most number of times that he has been to tear down!

Re: Question for the old guys
 

I never kept score but over the last 50 years I probably was torn down 100 times with 13 different cars and trucks. National records, class wins, and #1 qualifiers.

Re: Question for the old guys
 

And the Fel Pro gasket corporation thanks you dearly.LOL

Re: Question for the old guys
 

When I started reading this thread I really chuckled because Cal Method and I are friends and we've talked about tear down and records many times. In one 2 year period I recall going through tear down 12 times with him.

So a few minutes ago I got a text message from Cal. And I quote: "I can document 150 to 200 in 65 years, you have my permission to post that."

For the less-seasoned members of this forum, you've got to remember that years ago you got points for setting records. And it wasn't uncommon for another competitor with the same combo you ran trying to set the record at the same points meet you were attending. And this occurred at every points meet every year. And since the race was run off the National Record, not indexes, everyone was constantly looking for more horsepower. Kind of makes the AHFS look like child's play.

Re: Question for the old guys
 

I don't know ,exactly. I'll have to look when I get home next month.
I know I'll never beat Shaw or Cal. Between Cal and I, we set the R/Stock record 5 times in 1978, for the points
Cal is the first guy I ever saw using a battery drill in teardown.

I know I've been torn down by the best in the business..Farmer, Greg X , Rosie Holt, John Beidenkamp, Travis, Marty Barrett

Indy? I don't know the number, but every time !

TBC...

Re: Question for the old guys
 

Proud to have shared your last year down with you!

Re: Question for the old guys
 

my first tear down 1972 orange county raceway 70 hemi cuda last one 2018 INDY 73 satelite lots and lots of history in between

Re: Question for the old guys
 

Three times and all of them were fun.

Remember some time in the '70s at Gainesville a whole bunch of Chevys got hit for removing a small plastic piece in their Q-jets, like about 40% of the class winners.

Recall a Sportsnationals in Louisiana where Jim Wahl fabricated a story to Wesley and Jim Collins about me having NO2 and putting crawfish shells in Collins Vette. Wesley threatened to tear me down to the last bolt, where as I told him nothing of the sorts occurred, and JC informed me to bring tools to the next divisional.

Re: Question for the old guys
 

[QUOTE=Larry Merk;714439]When I started reading this thread I really chuckled because Cal Method and I are friends and we've talked about tear down and records many times. In one 2 year period I recall going through tear down 12 times with him.

So a few minutes ago I got a text message from Cal. And I quote: "I can document 150 to 200 in 65 years, you have my permission to post that."

And back in the day when Cal pulled into his local auto parts store the counter guy already had the head gasket kit laying out. LOL

Re: Question for the old guys
 

Old guy here! After 50 years I get the pleasure to dust off 6 Wallies. No nationals. 4 class trophies that cost me 2 tear downs and 2 divisional wins. Been lucky enough to been asked to assist numerous tear downs. Paul Wong alone keeps the tools and gaskets handy.

Paul Haszlauer.

Re: Question for the old guys
 

Class wins came with a good paycheck many years ago. The guys that won most of that class money did see the barn way more often than Mr. runner up.

Paul