08/18/2025
Wizard Fabrication v. National Street Rod Association. The NSRA is a mostly volunteer group of people dedicated to promoting the hot rod and custom car culture, with a focus on safety. Yearly, they promote several shows around the country and even offer a free 23-point safety inspection. When I released my product, Steer Clear (Wizard Fabrication), at the SEMA show in 2005, I visited the NSRA booth and was told that my product would not pass their inspection because it was unconventional. The chain was the issue. I asked if they would be open to reconsidering their rule in the future. The national safety chairman at that time showed little interest in doing so. As the years went b, I made a few attempts to revisit the issue with no results. I found it very frustrating that the guy in charge of safety inspections was so close-minded about it. I gave up trying to make any progress with him long ago. A short time ago, there was a post by Midwest Hot Rods asking if anyone had firsthand experience using Steer Clear (Wizard Fabrication). I didn't even find this post until there were quite a few replies, and they were all great. It was heartwarming to read comments by these very satisfied customers. Bob Ostrom brought up the fact that the NSRA would not approve it, which I liked because it gave me the opportunity to tell my side of the story. A short time after that, I was at a show in Pomona and happened to be walking by the NSRA booth. I stopped to talk to the guys. When I introduced myself and told them I was the guy who makes Steer Clear (Wizard Fabrication), the guy jumped up and came over to talk to me. He told me they had a new national safety director, which encouraged me to take up the fight again. Then he provided me with the new guy, Roger Barnhill's, contact information. After the show, I decided to give the guy a call and was told that he was open-minded about it. But he was going to do his due diligence and really try to check out Steer Clear (Wizard Fabrication). About a month later, he called me and let me know that Steer Clear (Wizard Fabrication) had been approved. Now, after 20 long years, with the help of some great people, I can finally put to rest the question of safety by the NSRA. Please share this with all your gearhead friends. I'd like to get the word out there. And a very special thanks to Bob Ostrom; I didn't realize until after contacting Roger that you were the one who commented on the post. And without your encouragement, while discussing it with you at the show, this may not have happened.
