Wingfoot
Well-Known Member
Since 1980, I have been working as a part-time contract laborer for two of the independent Goodyear race tire distributors who provide race track drag tire sales and quality services at annual NHRA & IHRA major events and select division events.
I am amazed of the number of sportsman racers I've met chasing points who never make an attempt to talk to as many factory representatives, engineers and technicians as possible at every race. Especially if you are chasing points full time, or even just a handful of events each year, these manufacture reps and techs are always looking for test mules; and not in a bad way. Racers who know the manufacturer reps on a first name basis are so much more ahead of their competition! If just out of curiosity alone, or if you have a specific need, these reps are there to get a broader base of racers using in their product. All the reps are there for one purpose - to help you be very competitive to win more races; without restrictions on the manufacturer's part.
The reps are not at the track to give stuff away free, although that can happen. Introduce yourself to the reps down manufacturer row. Don't beg for free stuff during your initial contact. Trust me, it's a reps' instant turn-off that will not work for you. Start your conversation with the rep like, "Word is out your equipment is cutting edge," or "I have this problem that you may help me with." Do a little schmoozing by describing your car, class chosen, your successful events and your plans for events to be attended this year. Once a comfortable relationship is established and trusted between the reps and you, equipment tends to be supplied at reduced pricing and eventually can lead to evaluation equipment.
Equipment supplied for evaluation most likely is no cost to the racer. Evaluation equipment may cause a loss or two; that can be expected. Do NOT get pissed off, call a manufacturing engineer a f**king idiot or throw it back at the rep in anger if it does't work (I've seen it done before). Case in point, I learned later some one else used the same equipment with minor adjustments to the car and made the car fly. I've got so many stories, good and bad, about racers knowing their factory reps on a personal level.
If you have not done it before, you must start this year. There are so many more advantages that can only be discovered once the racer gets to know as many factory reps as possible.
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