NHRA Levied Actions Against Don Davidson

[Rick Pike]

I can see sending a racer home for the weekend and asking that the problem be fixed before the next race but fines are absolute bull**** and as members of NHRA we need to put a stop to it!

Where are our divisional reps on this?? Time to step in guys and let NHRA know this is totally unacceptable!! If we accept it now it will just get more worse.

The next call or e-mail you make tomorrow should be to your division stock/super stock rep.

My two cents.

Rick Pike

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Rick Pike

I can see sending a racer home for the weekend and asking that the problem be fixed before the next race but fines are absolute bull**** and as members of NHRA we need to put a stop to it!

Where are our divisional reps on this?? Time to step in guys and let NHRA know this is totally unacceptable!! If we accept it now it will just get more worse.

The next call or e-mail you make tomorrow should be to your division stock/super stock rep.

My two cents.

Rick Pike

I agree 100%

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Rick Pike

I can see sending a racer home for the weekend and asking that the problem be fixed before the next race but fines are absolute bull**** and as members of NHRA we need to put a stop to it!

Where are our divisional reps on this?? Time to step in guys and let NHRA know this is totally unacceptable!! If we accept it now it will just get more worse.

The next call or e-mail you make tomorrow should be to your division stock/super stock rep.

My two cents.

Rick Pike

This.

I can see a longer term suspension, or even a fine, for a flagrant, egregious, intentional violation.

However, in this instance, at the most, Don should have had a DQ, and have to bring it to the next race apart for inspection, maybe NHRA could keep the carburetor as well. Minor unintentional infractions should not be punished with ludicrous fines and suspensions.

That being said, I want to state clearly that the tech guys have a tough job, for little pay, and the guys in the field had nothing to do with the fine. Some of the tech guys are good friends of mine, I appreciate what they do for us, and I support them.

[SS Engine Guy]

I disagree with all this. Not even sure that he was illegal. Cam lift check with different lifters or hydraulic lifter? How was the carb measured? Probably with a worn out homemade guage or junk 19.00 dial indicator? This stuff gets weirder all the time. As has been said already in this thread, quality equipment and certified standards need to be used if you are going to get micro picky on stuff and impose fines. All of which I carry in my rig for my benefit and the benefit of my customers should we be at the same race. I also furnish an identical plunger height lifter with all stock eliminator engines because that is what I was told for years. Sometimes tech will have an adjustable plunger lifter that they set and adjust and that is fine as long as it is measured properly which isn't as easy as it seems. And I agree that 1 thou. over is illegal and a tenth of a cc too big or small is illegal. However, to impose a penalty you better be able to measure accurately to those small amounts. And that means certified calibration and standards (to verify instruments accuracy and repeatability) and climate controlled conditions on the cc stuff.
And no I won't be responsible for these variances after a bullet leaves my shop due to factors beyond my control such as parts replacement by others and winging worn out stuff in the water box. However, I encourage my customers to let me check their stuff before assembly in their presence if possible and provide scale measured pictures and video for stuff that has to be shipped. Also I like to educate my customers as to checking and measurement practices during an inspection.
And like Allen said above, I appreciate what the tech people in the field have to endure for very little compensation.

[Mark Yacavone]

Don't have time to go through the whole thing again,...but what's the SRAC 's position on this issue?

Any reps out there?

[jmantle]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

Don't have time to go through the whole thing again,...but what's the SRAC 's position on this issue?

Any reps out there?

I know what my position is and it has been discussed before. Someone sets a record knowing he'll be torn down and the tech guy discovers .003 too much lift at the valve shouldn't be fined. I could understand being sent home from the event and told to fix it before you come back but a fine is BS. Flagrant cheating is a different story and I support fines and / or suspensions in these cases and this should apply to everybody.
Most S/SS racers in div 6 have my email, send me some ammunition. If you don't have my email, call me, I'm in the book, Black Creek, BC

Jim Mantle Div 6 S/SS SRAC rep

[GUMP]

Originally Posted by jmantle

....Flagrant cheating is a different story and I support fines and / or suspensions in these cases and this should apply to everybody.....

I would still like to see what guidline the technical department uses.

[Adger Smith]

Sometimes the factory core is that large. I would guess or assume (I sure hate to use that term) that is why they -NHRA- allow the +.015 over the 1.093 spec. I don't think that is in the rule book you and I get, but is in the Policy and Procedures Manual they (NHRA) have. (the other rule book) I've been told that sometimes it is hard to find (certain numbers) of a stock unaltered carb that is within spec.

[Don Davidson]

Don Davidson won NHRA appeal. Davidson's car passed the final NHRA inspection at the Heartland Raceway in Topeka, KS on August 22, 2014 by technical director Bob Blackwell. The inspection on the engine and carburetor were both found to be in compliance with NRHA Stock Eliminator rules.
The levied action against Don Davidson during the teardown process at the D-4 race at the Texas Motorplex by NHRA has been cancelled and Davidson's name has been completely cleared! Finally!
The $1000.00 fine is rescinded and the disciplinary action has been dropped. The $1000.00 appeal fee will also be refunded.
Don would like to thank everyone who supported him during this appeal process including Jim Lewis and Jim Boburka as well as a very special thanks to Wesley Roberson.

[The Hawk]

Nice!