Crew Chief

KRatcliff · 04-04-2019, 03:11 PM

Many may not know that my "Crew Chief" is my dad and that we are as tight as any two can possibly be. Most everyone knows the unwritten rule is that you don't touch another racer's car without their permission. However, this rule was severely violated by my Crew Chief at Indy a few years ago.

We were in the lanes for Stock and I was standing next to Leonard Mattingly's car speaking to him. Leonard was sitting in his Firebird which is almost identical to mine. I guess the way I was standing next to the car you couldn't see Leonard and out of nowhere my Crew Chief appears.

He kneels down next to the driver's side front tire and stars fiddling with the spindle cap because it appeared to be backed out. Twisting it didn't work so he takes the palm of his hand and beats it back in. I am in shock. Before I could say anything he wheels around to the other side and beats the other spindle cap in.

This wasn't a gentle procedure. He was fairly aggressive because you could see the car rocking back and forth each time the meat of his palm made contact. It is worth noting that he notices every little detail and holds me accountable for my car preparation to his standards. They weren't that far out, but he is a perfectionist and expects me to do things as well as him. Fat chance.

He pops up and a bit agitated says "How long have these been this way?" Still in shock I responded with the only unacceptable answer in his eyes "I don't know." He snapped back "What do you mean you don't know!" I had to break the news to him "Because it isn't my car....It is his." As I pointed at Leonard.

This is how I recall my Crew Chief's face at that moment.

He started apologizing to Leonard and to Leonard's credit he was extremely gracious and said no problem they probably needed it.

04-04-2019, 03:11 PM	#1
KRatcliff Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 763 Likes: 75 Liked 524 Times in 141 Posts	Crew Chief Many may not know that my "Crew Chief" is my dad and that we are as tight as any two can possibly be. Most everyone knows the unwritten rule is that you don't touch another racer's car without their permission. However, this rule was severely violated by my Crew Chief at Indy a few years ago. We were in the lanes for Stock and I was standing next to Leonard Mattingly's car speaking to him. Leonard was sitting in his Firebird which is almost identical to mine. I guess the way I was standing next to the car you couldn't see Leonard and out of nowhere my Crew Chief appears. He kneels down next to the driver's side front tire and stars fiddling with the spindle cap because it appeared to be backed out. Twisting it didn't work so he takes the palm of his hand and beats it back in. I am in shock. Before I could say anything he wheels around to the other side and beats the other spindle cap in. This wasn't a gentle procedure. He was fairly aggressive because you could see the car rocking back and forth each time the meat of his palm made contact. It is worth noting that he notices every little detail and holds me accountable for my car preparation to his standards. They weren't that far out, but he is a perfectionist and expects me to do things as well as him. Fat chance. He pops up and a bit agitated says "How long have these been this way?" Still in shock I responded with the only unacceptable answer in his eyes "I don't know." He snapped back "What do you mean you don't know!" I had to break the news to him "Because it isn't my car....It is his." As I pointed at Leonard. This is how I recall my Crew Chief's face at that moment. He started apologizing to Leonard and to Leonard's credit he was extremely gracious and said no problem they probably needed it. Last edited by KRatcliff; 04-04-2019 at 03:29 PM.