Heard in the Stands at the Indy

[Jeff Kempton]

Originally Posted by 270DART

With Skillman’s Ford being on of the big 3 manufactures my assertion holds a bit of water. Truth be told Jeff, they led this racer to believe if he followed their protocols he could race. He bent over backwards and did exactly what was required, If not an out and out conspiracy (as you stated being extreme) what then prejudiced the sanctioning body against this racer?

The #1 car in Stock was Summers not Skillman. A 35 year old Ford Mustang II qualifying #1 at a Chevy sponsored event. Embarassing enough to the sponsor that it had to be tossed out? It doesn't appear that way.

Carey has indicated that he wishes to take this formally up the NHRA ladder in search of answers, in a logical and factual way. I think that is the right approach, and may give him some closure on the incident and encourage him to continue racing with NHRA. He is definitely owed an explanation and hopefully an apology too. At the least the rules should be updated to keep this from happening again.

Perhaps this was an individual inspector with a grudge that created this mess, or perhaps it even came from a higher ranked official. But the implication that there is a formal agenda to keep any high performing non-Chevys out of a Chevy sponsored race (or Mopar race, etc.) is pretty extreme. And to suggest that the entire sanctioning body is in collusion to stack the odds to make that happen is something that I just don't buy. If you truly think that the entire organization is so deeply corrupt why do you even race?

Just my opinion; yours may be (likely is) different. You're entitled to yours, I'm entitled to mine.

More importantly, I really hope that Carey gets the needed answers. I for one want to enjoy the sight of that S2000 racing in the future.

[270DART]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kempton

The #1 car in Stock was Summers not Skillman. A 35 year old Ford Mustang II qualifying #1 at a Chevy sponsored event. Embarassing enough to the sponsor that it had to be tossed out? It doesn't appear that way.

Carey has indicated that he wishes to take this formally up the NHRA ladder in search of answers, in a logical and factual way. I think that is the right approach, and may give him some closure on the incident and encourage him to remain in Super Stock. He is definitely owed an explanation and hopefully an apology too. At the least the rules should be updated to keep this from happening again.

Perhaps this was an individual inspector with a grudge that created this mess, or perhaps it even came from a higher ranked official. But the implication that there is a formal agenda to keep any high performing non-Chevys out of a Chevy sponsored race (or Mopar race, etc.) is pretty extreme. And to suggest that the entire sanctioning body is in collusion to stack the odds to make that happen is something that I just don't buy. If you truly think that the entire organization is so deeply corrupt why do you even race?

Just my opinion; yours may be (likely is) different. You're entitled to yours, I'm entitled to mine.

More importantly, I really hope that Carey gets the needed answers. I for one want to enjoy the sight of that S2000 racing in future SS fields.

Good points Jeff. I used Skillman as an example because the Honda would have been in SS. I’m passionate about this because I saw the same thing happen to Ohio George when he ran his turbo Mustang around 67. A number of the hoops Cary has to jump through now were what George experienced back then; much for the same reasons I spoke of earlier. I guess I was responding to a pattern I saw. Advocacy for this racer is paramount and it certainly doesn't seem to be coming from said representative of the sanctioning body.

[Mike Pearson]

I don't think there was a conspiracy at all. The problem was he could not get the bell housing and the mid plate to conform to the rules as it is written. According to what is posted here the max space around the crank hub is 1 inch. He admits that his mid plate is cut to the outside dimension of the flywheel. Not all combinations can be run in specific classes with out major modifications. I think the car is really cool but really belongs in comp eliminator. Not really a super stock car in my opinion. I do wish him luck in getting a resolution to the issue. The bellhousing manufacturer should do the engineering and submit the fix to NHRA for approval.

[rognelson777]

carey is trying to race the car in Comp Eliminator now not super carey, you should speak with Browell on the chain of command at NHRA and who you should approach first. Browell has a bonus program in division 3 and alsois a big supporter of comp

[Stewart Way]

Carey
Looking at the picture you posted of the Funny Car, 2 things of note. There is a different rule for the space between the OD of the crank flange and the ID of the hole in the plate for a FC. FC has a limit of 7" max on the hole size, not the 1" difference. Can't tell what the ID is on the one in the photo. Second. if you look at the block plate/firewall it has a recessed area that the flywheel sits in that I think NHRA will likely tell you will be the solution to your problem. Think that piece has to be made by the same manuf as the shield. Just my thoughts and doesn't change the fact that you got hosed.
Like most, I can appreciate the effort you have put in and hope you stick with it. As an old tech man, I can tell you one of the hardest things was telling someone that just because you passed last week doesn't mean you did this week. Doesn't sound like telling you was all that hard for the official you ran into. Just wondering, if you has turned in a tech card, what would you have done about dates on the shield and clutch?