The following is a letter From the Tech Director:
August 18, 1998
Two out of three Grands are now over, and I would like the opportunity to comment on some of the Tech issues.
Western Grands went well with a huge car count and very uncooperative weather. The racing was great, and I had a great time. There were three disqualifications at the Western Grands. The first two were after timing, handlers brought engines to me requesting an engine change. One was a Honda with an illegal idle air mixture screw, the other was a deco stocker with an intake manifold that was ground and polished on the inside. The third engine was found illegal after post race inspection, was a Honda with a head that was ported. I would like to thank everyone who helped with tech.
The Eastern Grands was also great, a little lower car count but very cooperative weather. It was a great week. There was one engine found illegal after post race inspection. An altered head was found ona Honda motor.
There has been much controversy over a stocker crankshaft, that went through tech. When the crankshaft came out of the motor, it was looked at, and two out of the three National Tech committee declared it legal. I was just finishing up with my daughters race when I was asked to look at the crankshaft. However, the motor was released from the tech area (as it was already declared legal). We went to the handlers trailer, where we took a crankshaft (presumed to be the one from the motor in question). When I looked at the crankshaft we took, I declared it illegal, but, I had no way of knowing or proving that, that was the cranksharft out of the motor in question. I then went to the Board of Directors to explain the situation. The BOD was willing to have the motor declared illegal, (based on the findings, that the crankshaft from the trailer, was the one in the motor that was teched). The Tech Committee was asked to vote. They voted 3-1 that it was not the crankshaft in the motor. Therefore, it was declared legal. I feel my Tech Committee is very competent and I respect their decision. I would also like to thank the tech committee for all their hard work.
Thank-you,
Steve Schmidt
