Question for the old guys

[Larry Hill]

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

[JP1738]

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.

[GTX JOHN]

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

[mikeloge]

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!!!!!!!!!!

[Cotten]

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

[mikeloge]

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

[Ron Ortiz]

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.

[Bill Ringer]

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.

[Mark Lewis]

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

[mnmaxwedge]

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.