59 replies to this topic

[flem1959]

After a few days to think about it, I must say that in all my years of racing I have never been to a race with so many rules.

[Ron Hershman]

After a few days to think about it, I must say that in all my years of racing I have never been to a race with so many rules.

Yep lots of rules and lots of racers in the P-O area and other areas don't seem to have too many problems with the IRRA rules or too many rules in IRRA Retro racing.

Maybe..... just maybe by the looks of attendance at other ORG's out there...... they may not have enough rules??

[Dan Myers]

Now now Mr. Hershman. You have been through Penn-Ohio tech. We enforce the rules as written. And there is just way to much to check(IMO).

Trust me the hours of practice time I miss out on to make sure of that is proven by my finishes.

[slotcarone]

Dan what could you possibly doing to your cars that it takes hours to make sure they pass tech? If a chassis is built to the rules than once it has passed tech the first time there should be no further issues. The IRRA rules are really very basic and mimic what we had in the 60's.

[Rick]

Mike, you mis interrupted his post. He is the tech director and has to tech all the cars, he did not mean his own.

And its not even remotely close to what they did in the 60's.

[Dan Myers]

We average about 70-80 cars per event. So if you estimate 1 minute per car, that is if nothing is wrong. You are pushing toward 90 minutes at the tech table. And that is without any distractions. I am usually all by myself at the table but sometimes do have 1 person to help.

And just because a car passed last race doesn't mean it will pass next race. Say it got walled and dropped a pan and when the pan was reattached it made the car too wide. Or the front tabs got bent when it hit the wall and now it doesn't make the .015" front clearance. Maybe the driver didn't bother to check his tire size and just assumed that they would be okay cause they were big last race.


So factor in that I arrive at the event at 8am(opening time) I setup my pit area, go pay for my track time and races then get my cars ready and go to practice now its 8:20 if I had no distractions or people asking me about series stuff. Tech then opens right around 9am or a little earlier so that the Stockcars are on the track around 930 at the latest. While those are running I am teching in the 20 or so Flexi-GT's so that immediately following the Stockcar final the Flexi's are ready and going.


So what have we learned here. At most I get 40 minutes to try and shake down my cars/make any changes(i.e. tire compound, tape, lead, etc.). But how's about this Mike. Why don't you come on down for one and shadow me for the day and see what its like.

[slotcarone]

Rick you are right I didn't realize he was the tech nazi. Have to differ with you on the rules though--IMO we're just checking the basic stuff--tire sizes, tread width, clearance and height are the same things as in the past.

[slotcarone]

Dan please lighten up--Sorry if I offended you as you can see I didn't realize you were doing tech.

[Rick]

Rick you are right I didn't realize he was the tech nazi. Have to differ with you on the rules though--IMO we're just checking the basic stuff--tire sizes, tread width, clearance and height are the same things as in the past.

Today we check for two different clearances, hinge movements and orientation, min tires sizes, spoilier heights, spoilier bends, tire compounds, width, overall height, min. weight, arm tags, min tire diameter, approved or not body, body thickness, check for proper motor seal. A wee bit different than "in the day".................

[Dan Myers]

Oh I'm not offended at all. Just know that most people overlook just how much the Tech guy really has to do. And how much all that work takes away from his track time. I bet Noose can attest to that.

I'm just thankful that Larry came back on board to do the race report this year so that I don't have to.

But, Mike just ask anyone that has been to a Penn-Ohio event. If I don't have a controller in my hand during the race I am working on something to keep the program moving so that everyone has FUN. And I know by the smiles at the end of the day and the amount of people that keep coming back to our races, that my hard work and sacrifice of practice time is helping to keep this sport that I love going and growing.

So if it means I finish 10th instead of 4th, I don't care. Cause in the end I still had fun, and in the long run it will open doors for me down the road.

[slotcarone]

OK OK there are a few more things to check!!

[slotcarone]

Dan it's nice to see somebody else looks for the fun in all this. Myself when I am finished setting up my car I am usually working on or helping other racers with their cars right up until tech time so they can race well and make the day more enjoyable for everyone. I wish I had the resources to make one of your events--the best part of this is meeting the people and the BSing after the races.

[Mad Mexican]

OK OK there are a few more things to check!!

You no pass tech, no soup for you, back to the line for you!

Adios

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[Brian]

Maybe more of us should volunteer to help Dan out, Jeff went through the samething last year.

If there were 3 with Dan having the last say so if there were a question about a car, thats 30 min.

The P - O is blessed to have this problem,

[Mad Mexican]

Amigos,

Open cattle call for TECH NAZI assistants that's if Dan desires any additional help.
I know this not and easy job but if we can help Dan, things can go alittle more smoother in Tech and Dan could have just a tad more time for car set up! I know this not my place to ask for help BUT we all see what goes on behind the scenes and it's not pretty!
Ask our former Tech Nazi! Mull it around guys and help out the Cable Guy!

Adios

[One_Track_Mind]

For some odd reason, I seam to recall that a rule was set in place that EACH track was supposed to supply a helper for the Tech guy anyway?

What happened?

[Brian]

Your right, OTM.

I saw Ron C. helping at NESR and I do believe with the reopening of NESR, there just weren't enough "helpers" there on NESR's part.

Dan, John, and Lester did ALL they could.

Maybe the Penn-Oh "BoD" can make some sort of rotation for "Helpers".

We all appreciate what Dan and the "BoD" are doing, maybe we can show it?

[WSCC]

You are right, Brian. Some tracks don't have the bodies needed to help. You will see when you come to Washington things will be different. I did go over to the tech table and help Dan tech the Stock Cars and Flexis. We had a racer that was supposed to help Dan this year at all the races decide not to race any more. Larry asked a couple people to help and there answer was no. Anyone that knows the rules and wanted to help would not be turned away. Any help to take the load of Dan would be great.

Ron

[One_Track_Mind]

Larry asked a couple people to help and there answer was no.

And? the Co-Director Larry cannot step up to the plate?

[Dan Myers]

I have help for Washington Ron has that covered. Thanks for the call to arms fella's. I've got a plan that should help out and make things much quicker allowing me more practice time.

[Noose]

Just know that most people overlook just how much the Tech guy really has to do. And how much all that work takes away from his track time. I bet Noose can attest to that.

Well, as most guys out here know I do it all, Dan. Scheduling, pre-race planning, promo, tech, photos, report, etc. Got it down to a system actually. Now we usually only do two classes a day; sometimes three. Tracks open at a defined time and we tech at a defined time. Tracks are shut off when tech opens. I get help occasionally for tech where someone collects the money (pit pass and entry fee) and weighs the car. I do the rest. Tech is usually pretty smooth. You get to know who the problem children are. LOL. It's pretty rare here now that someone actually fails tech.

I get plenty of track time in before the race to tune and as most know usually loan out another car that beats me. I don't live close to any tracks so most of my time running is there that day. As you said, if I too do well then cool. If not, well it was just another day of racing. No problem.

Now come to one of the big races like the Sano, R4, etc. That's when tech really gets to be fun.

[Rick]

The host trackowner should provide the help or help himself; after all he is the one gaining from hosting the race. Matter of fact, in all my years the only time I had help as a track owner hosting a series race was the Nats in '98, and I did a lot of that myself also. Most series don't provide tech personal, the trackowner does it.

There is one thing that would speed up the entire program and we did it with NOSCRA years ago, ALL cars/all classes are teched in at 10 AM and that's it. We used to run 90-100 entries through between 10ish and 6 PM. Heats were shorter, as was spell time, but it worked for us. Ewwwwwwwww, I can hear all the groans now. LMAO...

[Noose]

The trackowners here do the race directing. I agree... tech opens at a certain time and a closing time is announced. Not in line, tough.

[WSCC]

It sure would be nice if everything fell into place like we think it should.

As a trackowner I have a lot of things I have to do to get ready for a race. Rick, I think you understand as you have done it many times in the past. I am very lucky to have the PA posse to help me with a lot of things. The racers at Washington are a great group of guys and they are willing to help with anything that needs done.

Also being on the BoD for the Penn-Ohio series is very challenging at times. As a BoD member, I try to do the best I can to make our series the best that it can be. Any time that any person racing in a series race has a problem or any idea to make things better, feel free to talk to me and I will see what I can do.

Good friends, good food, and fast cars... lets keep it that way.

Ron

[Noose]

I will clarify something. When I say the trackowner race directs, I mean someone working at the track does. We have, however, helped them with some of the racers like Bill Gerhart and Mike Katz filling in for a main or two.

We appreciate the work the trackowners do for our series. That's why we do everything we can to make sure they get a good pay day so we have a place to play.