NHRA Levied Actions Against Don Davidson

[Tony Janes]

Originally Posted by FireSail

If a racer was given an annual suspension from an infraction at a National event, would his local track have to bar him from bracket racing for the rest of the suspension period, too?

Dale

Any NHrA function or NHRA Track.

[farmco r/sa]

Originally Posted by Don Davidson

I really appreciate the support from all the fellow racers who have responded and offered encouragement since my engine was torn down at the last Lucas Oil D-4 race in Ennis, TX by NHRA. I am still trying to process the chain of events that have happened since that day and it has been extremely difficult as well as very stressful. I have received numerous phone calls and had many questions come up from other racers as well as myself concerning the proposed fine. The NHRA states, "Please understand, we take no pleasure in imposing such penalties and assure you that our interest lies only in the enforcement of NHRA rules and regulations." I am still wondering how a $1000.00 fine could be imposed without receiving a warning with some instruction or even a suspension before a fine is imposed on a racer? I want to comply with NHRA rules! in fact, I never intentionally violated NHRA rules. I seriously do not feel this penalty was a just punishment for an unintentional violation that I could have corrected very easily and willingly if I would have known about it. I am concerned for my future as well as other racers because the economy already makes it a challenge to afford the expenses of traveling and racing. Though I do feel rules are necessary to maintain standards I do NOT feel harsh fines on sportsman racers will help promote the sport that we all enjoy. It is a shame that this situation could not have been handled differently.
I would appreciate any advice or suggestions. I do plan to do my very best in order to represent the best interest of all my other fellow racers.
Thanks for the support!

don, obviously very well thought out response. nothing tacky
or done in poor taste. dose not go without notice for me this is
you first post. seems to me fine is excessive, D.Q., return for inspection after corrections made used to be normal
penalty for something like this. Is appeal (of the fine amount) possible? stock/ superstock
and i think all sportsman racers behind you on this.

[JRyan]

Tony,

Fred Lippencott Jr. might start racing again at NHRA tracks.

Jerry

[Randall Klein]

Floyd

[SStockDart]

Hey guys.....NHRA provides the rules and if we want to race, we should abide by those rules.....or go outlaw racing at an eight mile track some where....I believe Don made an "honest" error......I believe he should be DQ'd....where I have a problem, is with a fine????? Face it, if you were racing someone and during tear down, they had even a thou too much lift,,,,,,the case could be made that they are illegal....NHRA can't say "that is close enough". They have to draw the line...if you had a "heads up" in the finals,against someone that was "close enough".......you get my point. .it makes no difference how nice the guy is or how close the infraction is (I have been DQ'd for a half cc in the combustion chamber, even though I made up for it in"deck height"). The line NHRA has to follow is what is in the Spec sheet.........the fine is uncalled for......same as an "oil down" fine.

[HR9121]

Originally Posted by SStockDart

Hey guys.....NHRA provides the rules and if we want to race, we should abide by those rules.....or go outlaw racing at an eight mile track some where....I believe Don made an "honest" error......I believe he should be DQ'd....where I have a problem,is with a fine????? Face it, if you were racing someone and during tear down, they had even a thou too much lift,,,,,,the case could be made that they are illegal....NHRA can't say "that is close enough". They have to draw the line....it makes no difference how nice the guy is or how close the infraction is (I have been DQ'd for a half cc in the combustion chamber). The line NHRA has to follow is what is in the Spec sheet.........the fine is uncalled for......same as an "oil down" fine.

Well said, rules are rules but the fines are ridiculous. I agree with what someone posted earlier that they are not checking as often so they are deciding to use the fines as scare tactics. I think I will just keep the majority of my business with IHRA. Sounds much cheaper to race with them.

[gbur]

Originally Posted by jmcarter

It's across the board, look at the Atlanta Pro numbers. If the Johnsons weren't racing at their home track they would only have 14 Pro Stockers. That said, unless NHRA discloses their "new" criteria for penalizing sportsmen racers by fines it might be wise to for each of us to ask our SRAC reps for them to pursue the matter; otherwise Class Numbers are headed to the Competition Elim. numbers. I plan on emailing my rep as well as Divisional Director.

Also look at the quotas ,rather low

[Fireofficer5]

It comes to a point where no matter how accurate the testing the equipment, the sanctioning body, (in any sport) has to quit measureing
to such a minuit fraction.
There are too many other variables in the atmosphere.
As has been stated in other posts, temperature, dust, etc.



Some times there is a tie.

[Mark Lewis]

Do not know the details of the valve train in Don's engine. Valve lift could have checked good by the builder. After some runs, do not know how many, there could be a rocker arm stud that has bent or flexed enough to cause a different reading in the cam lift. Been there and done that, just did not get the t-shirt. Had 2 lobes that were .015 short and Holt decided he wanted to check 1 more lobe. Guess what ,.002 too much. Tapped the stud with a hammer and set up again and it checked below spec, although too late. There are variables that could give the wrong reading beside the lifter.

[njk53]

Although I don't agree with a $1,000 fine for such a tiny degree of an infraction, I do agree that the blatent cheaters should be fined for obvious rule violations. A $1,000 fine isn't chicken feed to most sportsman racers including myself and sure is an incentive for the obvious rule breakers to legalize their engines..