What Do You Think About This?

[Jim Wahl]

Bottom line........ they were illegal and as he admitted, they were cheating. If it had been a TnT day instead of qualifying I would say no problem. However they were cheating and made qualifying passes at an official NHRA race and affected the ladder. To brag about it on the internet is just plain stupid. If I were the Division Tech Director I would tell them to bring a set of gaskets with them the next time out. Jim

[dartman]

what if some one did something like that and ran 1.30 under,got up the next day and left the track.saying he broke or what never.would/could they hit the combo for hp?only saying what if.

[larry dowty]

Toby, I believe you are right. DQ for that race only. As you know, we had that very thing happen, this year, at the Seattle points race, and he was sent home, no fine or suspension.

[Andys dad]

His friends and companions should explain to him - in no uncertain terms - the error of his ways

A divisional points race is no place for crap like this

We do not need tech to talk to him - we need to - as a racing fraternity

A band of brothers regardless of our brand preference - who all believe this is just plain wrong

I am surprised MOPAR wants there name on the article



:-) peace

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by Jim Wahl

Bottom line........ they were illegal and as he admitted, they were cheating. If it had been a TnT day instead of qualifying I would say no problem. However they were cheating and made qualifying passes at an official NHRA race and affected the ladder. To brag about it on the internet is just plain stupid. If I were the Division Tech Director I would tell them to bring a set of gaskets with them the next time out. Jim

There ya go.

[Jack Matyas]

Toby - It was wrong . Period ............And why they would brag about it is beyond me -- maybe some of you racers on the left coast need to have a serious chat with these folks about affecting the outcome of championships etc .................

[Chris Barnes]

I am gratified that you guys have read my work and mortified that I really stepped in something deep and stinky once again. I write for a bunch of people who have no idea about Stock Eliminator drag racing and I try to make it interesting to get their butts in the stands. I guess I made it too interesting this time. It didn't occur to me that 3000+ class racers would be reading it. Maybe Mopar Max will give me a raise or fire me. Either would be fine.

I am very sorry for what I did. I should have known better and now I do. I tried to do the right thing by not competing. I never had any intention of running the car in eliminations with the wrong carb. Assertions to the contrary are incorrect. I should have realized that qualifying the car would screw with the program. I should have told the NHRA to take me out of the qualifying ladder because I was illegal, not to mention that it was the end of the season and there was more important stuff on the line than my stupid test and tune fiasco. I was dumb. I meant no disrespect to Stock Eliminator. I am an ambassador of our sport. I dream about it. I don't consider it to be "glorified bracket racing" I consider it to be the hardest class in drag racing. I am honored to participate. Please accept my sincere apologies and the promise that I will try not to be such a bone head in the future.

Now in my defense, ask most people who know me, I am not an idiot or an asshole. Don't ask the other people. I'm the guy who would give you the shirt off his back. With the help of friends, fellow racers, and my family I have been able to put together a couple of Stock Eliminator cars from scratch. It took years because I didn't fall into this, I clawed my way in. I savor every moment that I am at the track or working on the cars. I feel like the Stock Eliminator community is a miniscule sliver of society that is my family. We are the only ones who really know.

Keep up the good work.

Chris Barnes
Wagons of Steel
Stock# 6621

[Jeff Goss]

Don't sweat it Chris. Perfect response in my book.

Lesson learned. Move forward. Bracket racers have a different mentality.

I, for one, understand. But, I also had a bunch of Stock and Super Stock buddies that would have never let me make a pass with a different carb.

Good luck!

Jeff

[Greg Reimer 7376]

Chris--You on your own manned up and did what was right here. Thank you for exhibiting the right attitude here. Let's all, in the Stock Eliminator family, remember this,lest we also be tempted. Test and Tune is where we can experiment without causing any grief, let's all remember to tinker there. As for the Div.7 racer that found Jesus, I'm glad for him,but we all have a long way to go . Thanks for your response.

[Phillip marvetz]

Chris,
Thank's for the response.
I for one know you and do not think for a minute you meant to harm any other racer by trying to figure out a new racecar that was not working they way it should have after all the hard work that it takes to build one. I would not have the interest in stock that I have if not for your enthusiasm about it. Hopefully this is a good lesson for a of our fellow racer's.
The wrong time and place for a test session? Yes. But how many of us haven't or wouldn't test something after a 300 mile drive and a disapointing first pass in new car?.
Putting the car in the trailer and going home without competing was the right thing to do at that point.
The interesting thing is that another racer was caught racing with a big carb this year and not a word was said about it here.

Toby,
Chris has given you the shirt off his back and this is how you repay him? I smell the stink of Sean Kennedy on you.