To begin with way back at the top of this thread I stated that even though Tony screwed up by not making someone in power tell him specifically that it was OK to return to the pits without weighing, there is in fact no clear WRITTEN rule that states that a T/F dragster must weigh at the conclusion of ANY run. We just all do it. Right or wrong that's the way it is. I bet that will change now and the rule book will be re-written. Tony had a viable argument for this reason only. Critical matters ultimately need to be backed up in writing. That's what makes them rules. No room for error.
Please allow me to address the following responses in the order they were received.
Chris Cook:
I bet you will weigh after your next pass Bill!!!!
I ALWAYS stop and ask if they want us to weigh. I stop on the scale and ask. The only exception to me pulling on the scale and asking is when they step out in front the scale as we approach and wave us by. Believe me this happens alot. I have been waved off many times in both T/F and T/AD mostly during eliminations. Again things are being rushed a lot these days and every minute counts. So..........unless they tell me it's OK to go. I stay until they make up their mind and make it plain to me.
Can we expect to see you guys at all in '08?
I don't think so. Everything is for sale.
Bill Sweeny:
Understood by the majority and actually being a rule are two different things and when it comes down to $100,000 on the line you do split hairs. Tony screwed up and it cost him but again there is no rule to substantiate the penalty he was served. Further there is no rule that re-instates his opponent if he doesn't weigh who by the way didn't weigh either. Oh and by the way since we are on the conversation no one has mentioned that the run we are discussing was a qualifying run and if you really want to split hairs we all agree that you weigh following a run which improves your qualifying position which this run did not improve the teams position. OK, I know it was a winning run in the shootout, but do all NHRA rules apply to the shootout? Oh yeah that's right, there are no shootout specific rules. In fact there are no rules for the shootout. Only written specifics for what it takes to qualify for the event. Does that mean that it's really an outlaw format and nitro percentage doesn't matter etc. Only safety rules must be adhered to? I don't know, I'm just asking. Makes you think if you think about it.
Since neither of us was there we don't know if there was a honk or a wave or eye contact or anything else.
Greg Anderson was just flat dumb. He tried to "punish" Erica and it backfired on him. Like you said everyone knows how autostart works.
What was really foolish was letting it be televised.
Bob Orme
Back to my original statement. In T/AD it clearly states that you weigh at the conclusion of a run. You must also advise an official of an engine change because T/AD is a weight per cubic inch class. However T/F is NOT a weight per cubic inch class therefore the rule book only states the minimum weight required not a method for proving or disproving. I bet that will change going forwar. Now don't shoot me. I'm just the messenger. That's just what the rule book says or in this case doesn't say. Check for yourself.
1320TV should not have been allowed to record that and you and both know intimately well that Graham could have prevented the cameras from rolling and or after the fact could have issued a demand that the file be recorded over or released back to the NHRA. They are the ultimate power. Graham let it happen, period.
Bobby Miller
My opinion is if it's not in the rule book it's legal. Some would say if it's not in the rule book it's illegal. Which concept to you subscribe to? I'll bet you won't like the second way very much if you think about it.
Randy Goodwin
You are absolutely right. I would have weighed. I always do unless they wave me off. I learned a long time ago. You don't volunteer anything they don't ask for ie: fuel check, CID check, weight, SFI tags on equipment, driver suit or anything else. If they want it they will ask for it. I'm not inviting trouble.
Here is where they screwed Angelle. She was less than 5LBS light on 5LB scales. Meaning she could have been 1OZ under and it jumps to 5LBS. Why do you think everyone close to their minimum downs a big shot of water or Poweraid as soon as they get out of the car (off the bike) after the run. I have never had an official complain that I was standing on the scale with a bottle in my hand, ever. She sould have taken advantage of that concept but didn't. Also she souldn't have had the bike that colse to the minimum anyway. She was asking for it.
As far as Mel goes, pretty much everyone is glossing over the fact that she had to do more than just beat Morgan to make it into the countdown. That was just the first step. She then would have had to go additional rounds and others ie: Herbert would have had to lose etc. Beating Morgan didn't automatically put her locked into the count down. That being said it was dumb for Morgan to beat her; in my opinion. But that's just my opinion. I might be wrong.
Randy who????
