NOTE from Jok Nicholson added Mar. 11:

Since I wrote my Dead-On, the NHRA in all their wisdom has amended their oil policy. When we arrived at the Gatornationals instead of threats of $1,000 fines and the need for separate hazardous waste disposal containers, we were met with the Safety-Kleen trailer.

To quote the Safety-Kleen guy I talked to: “Bring your used oil, dump it here. Thanks for bringing you used oil to us. Here is some of our biodegradable solvent spray for you to try. If you have a separate container with solvents, we have a container for them too.”

Now that is how it should be done. I don’t know what NHRA official got the clue they were wrong but I must tell you, NOW THEY GOT IT RIGHT. Tip of the hat to NHRA for fixing a flawed policy.

Sometimes ‘the rules’ make writing this column too easy

ometimes this is just too easy.

Some of you may have read my column from last month that contained a pretty harsh rant about the “new” NHRA oil disposal rules, fines and procedures. Well, sometimes writing my column is just too easy… See if you agree.

After the Bradenton race a lot of talk in the pits was about the “oil policy, $1,000 fines, etc.” After the race, actually about halfway through the race, the talk was about how slippery the track was and how the final rounds they did complete were a joke. Both cars sideways in the Super Street final, Super Gas finals had the look of an ice-skating championship with the bravest… or craziest driver getting the win because the other guy just shut it off.

Then the crashes started. Lee Sharp destroyed his Comp eliminator car as it “spun out” just before the scoreboards and Ray Miller junked his new dragster in the S/Comp semis when the rear of the car passed the front at the 1200-foot mark. FINALLY, they stopped the carnage and scheduled the finals to be held at the Gainesville race the following weekend. Thanks, I can think of several car owners who finally relaxed a little bit.

Gainesville track prep seemed much better as the fields were fast and cars all looked pretty good. One Comp car did get loose (out of the groove early) and the driver decided he could drive through it… wrong choice. Destroyed car, barely missed the other car, Life-Flight helicopter and two hour delay and that was it for Saturday. Thank God the driver was OK and at the track Sunday, albeit about $50K lighter in the wallet.

Remember the title of this column… Sometimes it is just too easy. What I mean is it is easy to come up with things to write about. Here is another example of how far NHRA and a lot of track owners and organizations have fallen when it comes to customer service.

I went to the NHRA trailer to check on contingency decals. I arrive and ask for a sheet with the list of 2010 contingency sponsors. “Sorry, we don’t have those but for a dollar I will print you a copy.” I say, “You’re kidding, right?” They tell me they are not kidding, the dollar goes to D.R.A.W. OK, I am good with that deal.

They give me the list, I circle what I need and hand it to them. Here is the response: “Sorry, we only hand out decals from 10 until 2 and it’s 3:30; the decals are all put away.”

I asked them, “Didn’t you just take a dollar from me for the list knowing I was going to need decals? Is it that difficult to get me the five decals I needed since there was nothing going on right then?” Their reply was “Come back tomorrow, early.”

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