I agree with PontiacGP that you shouldn't pull the head without first checking compression and doing a leak down all cylinders. A 10 psi drop isn's very much, you might just see that kind of variation from cylinder to cylinder. You're comparing the same cylinder right? What cylinder is tech checking? Do they check the same cylinder each time?
Those rules are tough. The 165 rule almost forces you to use a stock dished piston to keep the compression down. One idea would be to retard the cam, which would make the intake valve close later, which should lower compression. Maybe that plus a thicker gasket would be enough?
Kind of odd that the rules don't say anything about porting or head mods. If it's allowed you could open up the chambers a bit to lower compression.
Another idea would be to open up the top ring gap a bit, but that would be a power killer for sure. If tech always checks the same cylinder, you could open up the gap on that one ring just to pass tech.
Do they check tech before or after you run? If before, what if you tried over adjusting the exhaust valves just enough to bleed some compression. I wouldn't race it that way so you would need time to adjust them back.
