"Live" from US Nationals 2018

[James Perrone]

Originally Posted by MFR440

Thanks for all of the photos and reports, and especially the awesome on track action! You all put on a great show.

I am curious if NHRA has a policy of a "sealed" teardown barn?

Just like Larry or Patsy and the other folks, I took a few photos at the teardown barn; but as I walked through, I was accosted by an NHRA official who first told me "no pictures", then asked if I was with a crew and working directly on a car. I said no, and he said "You can't be here. This is not a spectator area!"

Huh? I didn't see a rope, gate, door, sign, or any other barrier, and have walked through there taking photos in past years. I did get some strange looks from some of the crew guys, but nobody working or "supervising" near the cars said "boo". As a matter of fact, a couple said hi to me....Anyway, as I left the area, the tech official declared loudly enough for me and everyone to hear "If any of you see someone who is not on your crew, tell them to get out of here!"

I understand that theft and even sabotage could be a concern, but I was trying not to get too close to the cars and to stay out of everyone's way. So if anyone else was told to leave the teardown area today after me, I am sorry!

That’s the problem today everyone has a camera. And you don’t belong
Which you had to know. You taking pictures of someone motor apart is like me sneaking into your shower to take pictures of your girl. . Would that be OK ?

[GTOMayhem]

Lots of big names go down in the first round. Two B/SA heads up. Congrats to all the winners, especially the slow ones. You know who you are Steve and Jack.


Rick Thomason
GTOMayhem

[oldskool]

"...That’s the problem today everyone has a camera. And you don’t belong
Which you had to know. You taking pictures of someone motor apart is like me sneaking into your shower to take pictures of your girl. . Would that be OK ? "


Wow ! I've never been involved in an engine inspection. So, I had no idea class racers felt this way.

This makes me real curious. So, some of you guys, please tell me why a guy with a completely LEGAL engine would be so particular about somebody taking pics of it. If it's completely legal, why would anybody care what the inside looks like ? I mean, by now, don't most everybody know all the go quick tricks that will pass tech ?

Ya'll be nice now. I'm just curious, and would like to understand this better.

[Chad Rhodes]

Originally Posted by oldskool

"...That’s the problem today everyone has a camera. And you don’t belong
Which you had to know. You taking pictures of someone motor apart is like me sneaking into your shower to take pictures of your girl. . Would that be OK ? "


Wow ! I've never been involved in an engine inspection. So, I had no idea class racers felt this way.

This makes me real curious. So, some of you guys, please tell me why a guy with a completely LEGAL engine would be so particular about somebody taking pics of it. If it's completely legal, why would anybody care what the inside looks like ? I mean, by now, don't most everybody know all the go quick tricks that will pass tech ?

Ya'll be nice now. I'm just curious, and would like to understand this better.

Because to those who know what they are looking at, there MAY be some small details they could see in a zoomed in picture that might give some insight into what some of the guys are doing. Things that immediately jump to mind would be valve spring type or ring package if they have the piston out. In super stock chamber or dome shape. Whether someone is running a piston flush or in the hole or above deck. The face profile of valves. To other engine people there is a lot to see.

[FireSale]

A teardown at a race like Indy is pretty tense. Kind of like a weigh in for a jockey or boxer or a urine test for any athlete. One ounce over or a drop of anything questionable in a sample ends your day and possible puts you on the shelf for a year or more. Your 64cc chambers have to be 64cc. Your .480 lift cam has to be .480. In situations like this, photographers are supposed to ask permission to take pictures. It's just not a place for spectators.



I have training in photography and this "everyone has a camera" thing mentioned earlier bothers me a bit. People whip out their phones and snap everything without thinking and then post it on FB.


EDIT: To add to what Chad said, a legal engine isn't a box stock engine. All of the competitive stock racers have torn their engines down and blueprinted them. These subtle changes make one 350 stronger than another 350 and are closely held practices.

[Larry Hill]

If you noticed, my and Ken's pictures of teardown are just the back of the cars from outside!! No way would I go in and take any pictures. Only time I was inside was whenever we were being torn down or yesterday long enough to deliver pizzas to the guys tearing down!

Well we made it thru our heads up first round this morning! And the Boss won, too! So we will be hanging around for Round 2 tonight after the pros run and then hopefully for round 3 right before the jetcars go down for the last thing in the evening!

I think the only breakage during round 1 was Lyn Smith who was an alternate. I saw him being towed to his pits as I came back.

Good round of Factory Showdown! Leah Pritchett #1 at 8.00 and Mark Pawuk #2 at 8.02. Good job Crew Chief Kevin Helms!!

[oldskool]

"...Because to those who know what they are looking at, there MAY be some small details they could see in a zoomed in picture that might give some insight into what some of the guys are doing. Things that immediately jump to mind would be valve spring type or ring package if they have the piston out. In super stock chamber or dome shape. Whether someone is running a piston flush or in the hole or above deck. The face profile of valves. To other engine people there is a lot to see..."


Thanks for that info ! I reckin I just assumed that most of these long time class racers already knew all the tricks & had experimented with enuff different combination of parts to know what would run the quickest in their particular engine.

[Chad Rhodes]

Originally Posted by oldskool

"...Because to those who know what they are looking at, there MAY be some small details they could see in a zoomed in picture that might give some insight into what some of the guys are doing. Things that immediately jump to mind would be valve spring type or ring package if they have the piston out. In super stock chamber or dome shape. Whether someone is running a piston flush or in the hole or above deck. The face profile of valves. To other engine people there is a lot to see..."


Thanks for that info ! I reckin I just assumed that most of these long time class racers already knew all the tricks & had experimented with enuff different combination of parts to know what would run the quickest in their particular engine.

Just to add a for instance. Valve profiles. Every manufacturer is a little different and some offer custom stuff. Some guy may have been through 25 intakes and 20 exhausts to find the best flowing one for that particular head. It’s something that may be noticable with the head apart. He’s going to want to protect his investment of time and money.

[Jared Jordan]

What’s the SS teardown barn look like?

[Ed Carpenter]

Guess nhra lets u use dry ice right up to the water box now. Guess it’s a west coast deal. If u don’t know I’m talking about the SS/JA final and it wasn’t Lincoln.......wtf nhra