850CCMH / 850CCMR Drivers Only -Vote
Please, only drivers of the 850CCMH and 850CCMR class vote.
Do you support a rule change to eliminate the use of custom made crankcase front cover to alter the angle by which fuel/air in introduced into the crancase ? This would basically apply to all engines currently approved for racing in the class. It is targeted towards the OMC three cylinders currently being used in the class as the motor of choice.
Reasoning - Currently the rules are gray enough to allow this modification, which will obviously work. I have heard that some builders are willing to do this for a fee. I heard that fee from one builder in particular is $2000.00 if you send them your stock front cover. It will be sent back ready to bolt on.
I feel the class as it was say 5 or 10 years ago was a cheap class to get into. There are a lot of powerheads still available and they are realitivley cheap compared to the cost on this single modification. I feel this cost will be a barrier to entry for new members of the class. If you want to win you will need this mod type of thinking. The class does not need this added expense. We also do not need to increase the speeds, which this will most likley do.
I am looking for the opinion of the drivers of this class.
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Don't punish the people who have beenworking hard to win
The exaggerations of the speeds and the costs in this class have gotten WAY out of hand! If one was to believe the BS that that has been circulated on the internet, one would think the the speeds and costs in this class have increased greatly in the last few years. They would also believe the numbers are dwindling. None of the above is true. In 2008 with a full field of twelve boats in FEH (850H) the person who finished 2ND at the APBA National Championships did so with a DMH (750H). In 2010 at the APBA Winter National Championships with a full field the person who finished 2ND was also a DMH. At that race 850H had more entries than any other class.
If the majority of the FEH's don't have the ability beat a decent running DMH I think it is a fair assumption that taking steps to slow FEH down will only eliminate the need for the two separate classes.
As for these trick modified front cases that are supposed to be a "5 MPH" advantage, I don't believe it. At the Winter Nationals I was able to easily win back to back heats beating boats with the cases in question with my max speed being only 93.7 MPH.
As far as the class becoming too expensive, I am proof that a basic good stock cheap fishing engine with good exhaust, propeller, boat and setup can still do well inexpensively. And Just because one person may be charging $2000 for this modification, doesn't mean that someone like Cheney Street (current World Kilo record holder) or Jayson Hay (current APBA National Champion) may do it for substantially less. (just a hunch, I have not asked them though)
If you are looking to make the class shrink. Punish the people who are working the hardest and have made a sizable investment in the class with time, effort and money.
Sorry about the long rant, but rule changes such as this are the reason why my brother and I don't bother to race stock any more. Implementing new rules is more of a Stock mentality rather than Modified mentality. What directiond do you want to take the sport Dave?