Hight Makes Fifth Test; Drivers Cry Foul

[Meeks]

The biggest problem here was that NHRA didnt think this far and probably never thought of this scenario happening and that's why we are here now. The interpretations, in my opinion, just come as the questions are asked...which is BS.

 

[Randy]

I don't know, Alan. The release seemed clear as a bell to me. Subsequent enforcement and interpretation has made it clear as mud. After the whipping Don Schumacher took for having some sealed drums of Nitro in his pit the powers that be sure didn't seem to have a problem bending him over for it. No wiggle room at all on that one.

 

[.]

But please, answer my question. If John had meetings and they had Robert drive in testing would you charge Robert's team with the day, or John's?

Alan

If it was John's car then you charge his team 1 of the 4. If Robert was driving it then he also gets charged 1 of his 4. Pretty simple to me. And why should a clarification have been needed? It was perfectly understandable to anybody with a basic grasp of the English language what "This policy applies to both the team and driver" means. This is nothing but favoritism towards team Force by NHRA, just like NHRA does for the Harley's.

 

[.]

I want to be clear on the pictures that I posted in post number 38 of this thread.

The pictures are NOT posted in the correct order in which they were taken. The first 2 pictures were actually from the 3rd pass of the day. The 3rd picture was from the 2nd pass.... I did not watch the 1st pass from the starting line but I did see it from my room balcony. However, a good friend, Chris Anderson, who also has posted in this thread WAS on the starting line for the first pass and watched Robert climb into the car. I have no idea why John was wearing his fire suit (maybe he was cold) but I know for a fact John did not drive a car on Monday morning. Rumor around the track was..... they planned to run until 4pm, I left at 2:30 after the 3rd pass. If John ran a car it would have been after I left...... and about 4 hours since he was last spotted wearing his fire suit.

 

[clwill]

But please, answer my question. If John had meetings and they had Robert drive in testing would you charge Robert's team with the day, or John's

Both. That's what the rule says. One mark against the team (car) and one mark against Robert. Neither team nor driver can exceed 4 days.

 

[clwill]

I believe that if you were in the position that one of your teams needed to test and their driver wasn't able to be there you would be allowed to have another of your drivers fill in. At that point the test would be charged to the team, not the fill-in driver.

But this is NOT a temporary "fill-in" driver. This is a switch of driver and car, John announced that publicly. And John WAS THERE, with a frigging fire suit on. Clearly he was "able to be there to test".

This really stinks. NHRA should be ashamed of themselves for caving to the pressure of JFR.

And Don, please continue to stand up for yourself. The more you participate thoughtfully in this forum, the more respect you gain, from me at least.

 

[TSK]

Yet another example of NHRA applying one set of rules to Force and another, different, set to the rest of the teams.
Hey John, Robert missed the Top 10. Be a man and deal with it. There's always next year.
But, NHRA changed their interpretation to suit Force.
That's where the fault lies. I just wish there were more teams out there willing to stand up to NHRA.
But, if anybody protests too loudly, NHRA will undoubtedly fine them.

 

[scooter]

To settle this point graham light should be fined 100,000,and cannot earn points In reading.case closed!

 

[bukweet]

How about some fuel classes over in the ADRL?
Qualify 8.
Match race all year if you need/want/can afford to.
Free tickets so we can all attend.
More people means more t-shirt and vendor sales. More fans means more exposure for sponsors and there are enough TV networks flying around in space that one of them would be sure to want the package.
We don't need a "national" race every week.
We don't need to be NASCAR with no corners.
Let it go back to the future.
Save it while it still breaths.

Most importantly for this topic: Start and finish the year with the same operational rules.
If they don't work, change them the following year, not any other time unless it's safety related.

I said too much.
It's late.

 

[Rajunz]

If it was John's car then you charge his team 1 of the 4. If Robert was driving it then he also gets charged 1 of his 4. Pretty simple to me. And why should a clarification have been needed? It was perfectly understandable to anybody with a basic grasp of the English language what "This policy applies to both the team and driver" means. ..........................

Is it really that clear? Or does it actually read as I stated earlier, the rule applies to the TEAM AND (that team's) DRIVER? Because if it's interpreted by the latter, Robert is that team's driver.

 

[rollingthunder]

well if we are going with "THE TEAM" concept. Then John Ashley Robert and Mike are all on the same "TEAM". The have said that in more than one interview.

 

[brewmaster]

Maybe if enought other teams scream and stir the .... soup, Compton will see the Light and fire Graham. Seems like things run pretty smoothly when Steve Gibbs (and Buster) ran the show.

 

[plumbr]

Let's be honest here, Robert is not the reason that team is struggling, the combination they are running with that car is not being consistent. Does anyone think extra laps for Robert as a driver is going to help him? The man from that team that needs to be testing was completely absent from the facility, from what I read, while this test was taking place.
The other possability here is that Robert is pretty much eliminated, and Force feels it doesn't matter if Robert gets points in Reading or not, and could now test for the other three cars. He may not get points but if his performance picked up they could maybe take out one of the other Countdown teams.

 

[johnny]

Unfortunately, I think Graham should have recognized the cause and effect of the affirmative answer to John's question, and responded, no.
A fair and prudent business person would apologize to Force for making a horrible decision to the detriment of the greater whole, after explaining his error to the remaining competitors while allowing them all to come up with a solution that is fair (i.e. uncomfortable to all).
My suggestion is Hight continues only eligible for 50% of his Reading points and then officially revise the rule to current.
At the end of the season Graham should resign at the request of the association.

 

[.]

Could someone point out where it was stated that they are changing cars and teams, I must have missed that part. All I saw was that Robert was testing John's car. If indeed they are switching cars then Robert should not have been allowed to test, as this would be his fifth test day with "his team".

NHRA Story » Force, Hight swapping seats for next two events

 

[brewmaster]

Assuming that Robert is able to earn enough points to make it into the countdown by driving John's car, how does that fix the Prockmobile so Robert has a chance at the Championship? Wonder which wrap/body will Robert use in Reading? Castrol or AAA??

 

[plumbr]

NHRA Story » Force, Hight swapping seats for next two events

Sorry found that after read this thread, I edited my post

 

[Randy]

Unfortunately, I think Graham should have recognized the cause and effect of the affirmative answer to John's question, and responded, no.
A fair and prudent business person would apologize to Force for making a horrible decision to the detriment of the greater whole, after explaining his error to the remaining competitors while allowing them all to come up with a solution that is fair (i.e. uncomfortable to all).
My suggestion is Hight continues only eligible for 50% of his Reading points and then officially revise the rule to current.
At the end of the season Graham should resign at the request of the association.

Force was given the green light from Light. You can't penalize him after the fact.

This whole countdown thing penalizes everyone:

Wilkerson had a great run last year and should be the current world champ...but he's not.

Contracts should not be written with conditions for the countdown, but they probably are.

Robert Hight's team still has time to get their act together without all the crap and win the 2009 championship, but he can't if he misses the countdown cut.

All I see happening is major division and diss'ing sponsors when the 10 are decided on. Suddenly the show is about "who's in the countdown" and we will never see another Mike Strausberg/Steve Chrisman qualifying run on TV again until next year.

This sport used to be about the survival of the fittest and amazing comebacks. Now it's about whining and crying.

RG

 

[vegasnitro]

On the sponsorship front that seems to be plaguing the Pedregons and JFR in a very public manner, it was the first thing I told everyone when NHRA switched to the countdown format. I am sure many (if not all) of the front running teams sponsorship deals were written with language that includes additional funding if a team makes the countdown -or- a reduction in funding if a team does not. Almost all NASCAR contracts are written that way, why wouldn't they do the same in NHRA?

As with everything in life, all you have to do is follow the money. Ford is now the official vehicle of NHRA. It is AutoClub Raceway at Pomona. NHRA is in a tough spot, JFR is their biggest draw and he was asking for a clarification for a big time sponsor. I am not saying it is right or wrong, just that I understand why it was done. One can only hope that if the Snake, the Don or the Kalittas need the same type of clarification somewhere down the line, they will get the same considerations.

I haven't lost any respect for Force as others say they have, what he has done for this sport over the last 30 years FAR outweigh this one incident (which should ultimately be laid at NHRAs doorstep anyway).

And thanks to the Don for popping back in ... good luck in Reading and see you at Indy.

 

[Toejam]

I want to be clear on the pictures that I posted in post number 38 of this thread.

The pictures are NOT posted in the correct order in which they were taken. The first 2 pictures were actually from the 3rd pass of the day. The 3rd picture was from the 2nd pass.... I did not watch the 1st pass from the starting line but I did see it from my room balcony. However, a good friend, Chris Anderson, who also has posted in this thread WAS on the starting line for the first pass and watched Robert climb into the car. I have no idea why John was wearing his fire suit (maybe he was cold) but I know for a fact John did not drive a car on Monday morning. Rumor around the track was..... they planned to run until 4pm, I left at 2:30 after the 3rd pass. If John ran a car it would have been after I left...... and about 4 hours since he was last spotted wearing his fire suit.

Brian you lucky Dog! You owe me a Beer so get your ass to a West coast race ok?