What The (boat-racing) World Needs Now...
Hi All,
First let me thank my friends Ron and Ted for creating this forum. I hope everyone had enough to eat for Thanksgiving, I KNOW I did!!! I've noticed over the few years since the creation of the internet, that info is plentiful.
When I read the numerous posts from our 'tribal elders" :) it is plain to see that there have been times in our liftimes when boat racing was much more popular than it is currently.When I proudly accepted the assignment to develope the new OPC Super-Sport class, the outpouring of support and encouragment was unprecedented. If only 1/2 of the men that enthusiastically
requested info. in the 2000 season had "signed-up", there would be over 100
liscenced drivers with equipment. As it stands now, I get the feeling of an "open-wheel racers vs. nascar racers " behavior, that is to respectfully say that since the Super-Sport boats are a back to basics format, that the racers in other classes do not appreciate the new drivers in Super-Sport as they simply show up and race without spending most of there time at the race site working on their engines...These new drivers come from a variety of backgrounds, some used to race stock outboards, some ran older OPC classes (sport-G, Mod VP, J-production,etc.), some were outboard drag racers, and some never raced any boats at all. All these new recruits share the desire to get out on the racecourse and be part of the action, some are fiercly competitive and some are content to run wide, stay out of trouble, but happy to be able to keep up with the pack and stay on the lead lap. All I ask is that some of the influential men in other regions of the country recognise this and keep in mind that from these new recruits, some of the faster, more "pure-race-bred" classes will have new participants from which to harvest new drivers from. Also please keep in mind that (with regard to the open-wheel vs./nascar mindset) , if all out performance and speed on the racecourse was the most popular way to go, Television production of IRL and CART races would not have to pan past relatively empty grandstands durring their events...and that the OPC MOD-U class would be our largest class for participants....Could it be that we need to pool our collective intellectual resources and figure out a way to admit that it is allright to pointout that the
glory days of OPC racing took place at a time when top speeds were lower and the boats were more evenly matched, and more manageable or "raceable"Thanks for your time, I appreciate your replies.
Respectfully,
Danny
Super-Sport #8 :D :D
Back When Ron Hill and I were Roommates...
:) ..it was the APBA convention in Bilouxi, Missisippi. We had arranged to bring
four turnkey Super-Sport boats for display, and we did!! they were ready and gassed up, available for demo rides, but the weather did not cooperate. We made up the free time by hangin' out in the hospitality rooms and havin' fun :D :D . To this day Ron has not gotten to take a single lap in a Super-Sport boat. Maybe with Mr. March's help, together we can get him in one durring the 2005 season, plenty of time ahead for that!!! These boats are faster than most would believe, and have very good acceleration too!!! Most men I've tlaked with agree that , in many of our current OPC classes, the high performance levels of todays equipment exceeds the ability of some of the participants, that is, the boat can go faster than the driver is willing to push it. In a well set-up Super-Sport boat, most drivers can push the boat to its performance limit without getting to far "over their head" at least not so far that they get wet...
You are talking tunnels...
All the tunnel classes are too fast and too expensive to the average dude...
I have two or three V-6 Mercury motors that would be legal Formula 150 powerheads, but to run the class you need a $4,500 gearcase and special mid sections...
Open Super Sport up to more power and more noise! What can it hurt?
Thanks jeff for your efforts
Danny Love You Like A Brother...
I was thinking about you just the other day...Broc, my 16 year old, was driving our 22 foot outboard, 2.4 V-6 (We had a nice 2.5, .044 over EFI...that Chad managed to melt...but)...Anyway, we went from Needles to Havasu's London Bridge and back...Broc ran that mother wide open all the way, there and back....He let me out long enough to see if Tito was home, then we hauled all the way back to Needles...
Seemed to me, that I should have slowed him down once we'd cleared a few three footers....but the way he was holding the wheel (Quite a lot of torque on a Teleflex steering) and pushing the hammer down.... Broc never said a word about the trip...But in my mind, I think he felt he'd won the race that day.....
I had planned to "PONDER" on the river and drink of few beers......Broc asked what the rumble was when he backed off...I tried to explain that I didn't see him back off, but that it was probably the tuner..... His answer, "What's a tuner?"....
Danny, when you Conceptualize Super Sport, there was a NOISE factor that you'd planned...but the 2006 motors never made noise....Seems to me, that there is something to be said about SOME noise...Harley rides say loud pipes save lives....
Let me make several suggestions for Super Sport:
1. Open th class to Formula 150 Powerhead rules.
2. Score any 2006 engine in a different class. (Basically Two Divisions: Super Sport 2006 and Super Sport Formula 150) (No Spedmasters). If Division II (Formula 150) goes too fast, lower them down to 2" below the bottom...
3. Read Rod Zapf's Rules for Parker, especially the RED ZONES for corners... (Basically, maintain your lane in corners, like UIM rules...enter in lane four, exit in lane four)....
4. Race on 35 to 40 second courses with single bouy turns, two ten lap qualifiers Satuday, with a 20 lap Main on Sunday.
5. Follow GNRA's lead and race 6 times a year... (Form a Super Sport Club in your area and meet to discuss your six races)...
6. Keep your weights and safety rules as they are now...
These aren't all my thoughts, but close to it..
I don't like EFI motors on MOD VP boats, as I feel the speeds, even on a 35-40 course are too fast. Not to mention they are way too expensive to be running all the time.
I was also wondering if you went to the Mt. Dora Antique Boat Show??? If I could find the mountain, in Mt. Dora, may be, I'd go to the show!!!