NHRA Starter Rick Stewart retiring

[BOOOGHAR]

http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/19577-nhra-starter-rick-stewart-to-retire-following-this-weekends-event

[Brian Lohnes]

Couple seasons late.

Buster owned the starting line....Stewart stood there and flipped the switch. How many times did racers openly disobey his direct order to shut down? Lots.

[ksj2]

Not going to be missed.

[Stich496]

Couple seasons late.

Buster owned the starting line....Stewart stood there and flipped the switch. How many times did racers openly disobey his direct order to shut down? Lots.

ya and doesn't that fall on the racer being a jack azz not the starter..

[studemax]

Rick did a damn good job, but Buster RULED and busted heads when someone crossed him. Both deserve huge kudos!

I remember the story about Richard Dreyfuss attending an NHRA event as a guest, and after standing next to Rick to witness a few Top Fuel launches he leaned close and asked, "If this is your job, what do you do for excitement?".

[ksj2]

Wally knew Buster and respected him.Stewart was a Compton puppet and the racers could see that.Not the racers fault for figuring it out.

[428FE]

Any guesses who will replace him?

[Stich496]

Wally knew Buster and respected him.Stewart was a Compton puppet and the racers could see that.Not the racers fault for figuring it out.

if you are to follow what the starter says, and you don't thats all on the racer.. no matter whoms pulling the strings

[chevy3100truck]

Unfortunately he didn't have Buster's balls when it came to standing up to the big names..... The Tony Shumaker debacle of a few years back was just pitiful to watch. Shumaker should have killed it, but ultimately who was responsible for starting the race? Stewart....... and he did when he shouldn't have......

[Brian Lohnes]

Plus, in the age of autostart, all he is doing is starting the timers on the tree, his little "move" with the switch box is not being made when he flips the switch, he is reacting to the bulb flash like the drivers are. He flips the switch when both drivers pre-stage, then the autostart timers take over.

Outside of the safety aspect, the job can be performed from the tower.



Brian

[Stich496]

Plus, in the age of autostart, all he is doing is starting the timers on the tree, his little "move" with the switch box is not being made when he flips the switch, he is reacting to the bulb flash like the drivers are. He flips the switch when both drivers pre-stage, then the autostart timers take over.

Outside of the safety aspect, the job can be performed from the tower.



Brian

thought the starter was this big deal. like no joe smo could do it.. (emt/fireman safety thread)

[Brian Lohnes]

Note the safety aspect comment. That's his job. Flipping the switch can be done from the tower.

[A/Fuel]

if you are to follow what the starter says, and you don't thats all on the racer.. no matter whoms pulling the strings

Once again, your meds are probably effecting your thought prosess. If football players followed the rules there would be no need for referee's....according to you. Right?

[Stich496]

point taken...
ya no sleep and meds..

[Bamfster]

Good riddance old man ....