On the heads Dq'ed in West Coast. Ron because you didn't know or were unclear does not make it compliant( not saying that was your belief)and unfortunately some things are not a measurement , especially if done well. It is more looks like a duck, quacks like a duck.. Sometimes even hard to explain. What John probably wanted to say, but really couldn't was. "This was area was worked hard, then they attempted to intentionally hide their work, but I can still see/feel it was done" They try not to get into that type of discussion. ( BTW, I have no idea what was /was not done to the head out there. This is just speaking in generalities, not specifics). For some background. I have seen a few heads that I believe were attempts to fix pre 14 heads, some done somewhat well, some not so much. I have personally sent a warped head to SCCA Where we cheated each port in different manners. One so well done it was thought to have been stock. I showed John exactly what we did, how we did it and what to look for and there were no tool marks and appeared untouched, but the STR was worked as much or more than pre 2014 heads. The biggest factor in determining it had been done is feel. So don't discount that. I also think Chris has sent an example or two in as well.
A few things.. Comparing SCCA and NASA tech and compliance chief system and appeals etc..
I prefer the SCCA and would say that NASA has the same system or atleast did at the 18 nasa Champs in SM.
While we had an appeal process at the Champs, I think it was a complete waste of time and wish there wasn't one as we were done as soon as they decided to write us up. Then appeal to the same guy that made the decision in the first place? That seems silly at best. While no one will say it publicly, I am sure there were discussions behind closed doors of "if we allow this through, we will be laughed at etc." NASA ( Tech) was already tired of being looked as inferior and some even considered it a joke. NASA, to their credit, drew a line in the sand and said not today boys. They tore everything down with what I think were good intentions. But once the axle deal came up and it was public, it was never changing, regardless of our appeals. They were in a tough spot as the did not want to hear they let us go and all the BS that comes with it. But if the appeal process worked or was in the SCCA, we win every single time. There were so many rules/procedures broken etc in the process, some even rewritten now I see. IMO, NASA was in a no win situation at that point and they were going to get heat regardless of which way they decided. So it was "the ends justify the means" and the appeals were a formality. We were done from the minute they wrote this up.
SCCA is not without its flaws.. But had this been an SCCA event and a CCC deal, Todd would have been written up with an RFA and dq'ed. I could have done nothing about it. Take our stuff and go home. We would HAVE NEVER been able to have seen competitors parts, They would have NEVER gone back in a competitors trunk and remove parts at all, let alone while the competitor was not there and NEVER go back and recheck parts hey deemed compliant. In SCCA process, one guy and team goes home upset. The real winner wins the race, the race is a smashing success and 99.5% leave happy, Toyo is happy and likely excited to sponsor it again. Obviously none of that happened and it all went bad.
BTW, I am not so certain that the axle cage decision would not be appealable in the SCCA. I believe it would be. If so and we appealed, it would be in front of two totally different boards and we win the first time very easily with all the procedures and rules that weren't followed to the rule. Did that change what we did to the axles, of course not. But the rules are there for a reason for the competitor and tech staff to follow. If broken, you have to use them in your favor.