A new approach is certainly needed, plus a new attitude from both competitors and management.  First: the position should be treated like a job; i.e. you are getting paid to WORK!  Not sit on a golf cart, not watch the races, not yap with buddies, etc.  That being said, I believe the head man should paid a minimum of several hundred a night.  The amount needs to be high enough to a) make people actually WANT the job and B) make sure they want to KEEP that job because that income is important.  If they are getting the proper stipend, they are not going to want to take the chance of losing it by "looking the other way", "taking care of a buddy", or even taking a bribe.  In return for that high stipend is that you are there to WORK!  In my opinion, tech should be possible at any time a car is in the pit area, and for any reason.  You don't have to rip a guys car apart, but there is no reason you can't consistently check visual items and document them and file them.  One example could be a durometer check (if that division has a minimum requirement).  If you are diligent with checking the little things and show you are always looking over their shoulder, you will gain respect.  You won't gain friends, but that's not why you are there.  You are there to do a job.  Furthermore, if teardowns require you to be there all night, it's part of the job.  You may be there 15-18 hours on race day, but you should know that and, if you are doing your job, expect that.  If the compensation is proper to the job, qualified people will WANT the job, and WANT to do a GOOD job.  How many tech guys do you know are there because they were BEGGED to do it?  They don't pay 'em jack, but they let em in, they sit on a golf cart, watch the races, etc.  I won't name names, but one time I wanted to scale my car before a warm up and the tech guy just sat there and said "you know how to use it" and kept right on breathing.  Wouldn't even get up to give me a reading.  But that's what you get with the current attitude towards tech and by tech.  If tech isn't treated as important to the overall integrity of the race product, who can EVER take it seriously?


Anthony Knoll

Supermods ought to turn 10 second laps there!   Should be awesome.

I voted for "other" since there was no "I just suck at it" choice

she'd be hotter if she didn't talk   

Little Valley all the way for food  (the beer is lacking, but that's for another thread)