Question for the old guys

[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.

[Dan Bennett]

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.

[Jim Caughlin]

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

[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!!!!!!!!!!

[Jack McCarthy]

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

[Cglrcng]

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.

[Cglrcng]

My bets are Loge, Method and maybe Yac.

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

[Cotten]

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

[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.