Postby Mark » Fri Jun 17, 2016 3:29 pm
k.a.m. wrote
Where does it end?
Should we ban all electric devises including digital thermometers?
So wood fired rotisseries should be banned as well? I have a friend who built a rotisserie that is wood fired only and he has to maintain the fire just like an offset but he uses electricity to rotate the carousel.
I strongly believe that the issue at hand is fire management plain and simple. k.a.m. you know as well as I do that a constant temp has to be maintained in order to do well in a competition and to produce a quality product.
Digital thermometers and motor carousels have nothing to do with fire management. Digital thermometers aid the cook as to what is happening in the pit and carousels aid in the finished product. Heck, a flashlight lets you see inside the pit. I don't even have issues with a meat probe. I use those as well. None of these items, or the countless other tools we use during a cook, will open the door, feed it fuel, stoke the fire, or blow air into the pit. Fire management is where the issue lies.
I really don't care if a guy sleeps, drinks, listens to music, or does any of the other countless things people do during a contest. He sent his money in just like everyone else, and he can choose to do whatever he wants. People can show up in a big coach, 5th wheel, toy hauler, camper, or a tent. They can use the kitchen while having all the comforts of home if they choose to do so. I really don't care. However, whether in be a contest, game or match, there are and should be rules to even things out in order to create a level playing field. Electric devices that run a pit without human aid to maintain constant temp do in fact create an uneven playing field.
I believe that this issue is the fault of the governing bodies/organizations of competition BBQ. Companies that produce these devices are sponsoring and donating to these governing bodies. By allowing these types of electronic devices/pits to be used in completion BBQ, they would be jeopardizing the money and sponsorship that they are receiving.