Ron's Parker Post on Hot Boat

[Ron Hill]

Parker 300: 2008
There was a lot of interest in the 2007 Blue Water Resort and Casino 300 and I hope to keep this interest growing.

The ORGANIZERS of this event wanted a fun, safe race, with no boat left behind. They also hoped that people would give racing a try and maybe become the next Al Stoker, Fred Bowden or...

I just wanted to post here, that outboards will have a great chance of winning this event, just becasue they tend to run longer.

I was thinking that maybe people might post boats that people could buy or use for this race. Seems to me there must be a lot of outboard laying around that could run. Both boats that we ran had been sitting around, before we raced them, for 15-20 years...

2008 will see some new motors, as I know Suzuki, Evinrude and Honda have plans for 2008.

My web saite, www.boatracingfacts.com will be posting the 2008 Rules soon.

If you have any thoughts, ideas or concerns about the rules, post them or on BRF... I have sent my rule suggestions to the rules committee..We always look for sponsors and patrol boats...

AN FYI: Of my suggestions


1. Shorten MOD VP boat 18'6 like the original MOD VP rules were. This would allow Mirage, STV and 19 Daytonas to run.

2. I suggested getting away from the weight rules as weighing the boat is a pain in the ***...and the only ones to have to add weight had raced the year before and had not won....

3. Move Division IV (Outboard V Hulls) to be starting before MOD VP, as the V Hull don't run faster than tunnels, even if Greg Fosters says they do!!! Our OLD SCHOOL V Bottom ran 80 MPH and was more than a handful for Pat Bowman to drive...Our MOD VP went 85, started in Division IV and beat the winning V Bottom by four laps...

Anyway, we've raced the 300 all three times, and won't miss it in 2008 (October 18, 2008). You have time toget a "WHACKER" ready for the race....

I'll help anyone with props....just ask!

With the race being 60 laps, for 2008, I'd like to see lap money paid to the leader...Like the OLD

[Miss BK]

I have one safety suggestion - if you do allow 18' Mod-VP type boats, make absolutely sure the entries aren't the light weight "DRAG RACE" boats - which all look the same on the outside. Ever since Mod VP died, a large number of boats of that type were built for DRAG racing only - some weigh less than 500 pounds, per the original buyers request. They are built extra-light and not built for marathon, roughwater running like you see in Enduro racing.

But another boat that looks identical to that one may weigh 800 pounds, because it was built for pleasure and/or more abusive water.

Usually the boat owner knows what model of race boat he has, but if he's the 3rd or 4th owner, sometimes not. He also may not realize how rough the course may get nor how much punishment these boats will be exposed to during a race of that length. So, keep that in mind with those entries.

[steve sr.]

How about us heavyweights. They stopped trying to weigh the blue brick at 1600lbs. We'll try to get a certified dry weight, but my guess with motor and interior is going to be close to 1750lbs. Thats alot of lbs to give up to the lighter boats plus both our drivers are 2#$^&#@ + pounds. If we run the bow tank full for balist we're talking another 130 or so. So all in all we probably go in the water well over 2000lbs

Change the rules, don't change the rules we'll be back for the 4th Annual Bluewater 300. Even our crew has committed to being there already. Course they are all retired cops with nothing better to do then go racing and drink beer.

The only rules change i'd like to see is "NO TRAILER WINNERS" You run what you brung in the class it fits into but "you must be running at the end of the race" that would make it an enduro and it would give us heavyweights a chance. Hell we're going to slow to break (even though we spent 40 minutes on the trailer with a broke battery). Anybody not running gets a DNF.

[gn7]

retired cops drink beer?

[steve sr.]

Thats not all we do. We sit around and tell war stories and try to figure out which one's of us are still alive. But yes we do drink beer (and strawberry hill) gotta build those red blood cells or kill brain cells or what ever.

[Moneypit]

I am still waiting to see any offical listing for lap times. A class break down with lap times could be averaged out and help establish handicaps for 08. Anyone keep that kind of data?.........Also the handicaps should be based on actual course length, not 300 miles, so the final start times should be set after the course is set, and measured precisely...........MP

[fyremanbill]

I agree that it's a pain to weigh the boats, but I think weight is a better method of slowing them down than low prop shaft height. I'd be OK with paying a $10-15 weigh fee and somebody could be hired to work the scale.

[motion]

if we will be racing against stv's in 2008, than i need to get one now, not to be disagreeable with anyone but if thats the case the only way to be competitive will be to have one. weighing the boats is a must, we just need a little better rigging hardware available, i would be willing to supply these pieces. the weights need to be fine tuned a bit as well, i have some thoughts but will reserve them for now. i really enjoy the spirit of this event, and i hope we can all remain objective about the classes, i know the outboard side and i will offer my thoughts, hopefully people on the inboard side will help police their interest.
(consider this)
probably the best example i can quickly think of this, with the current program i could build (and have owned 4) an stv that would be capable of 115mph down the straight aways, that would be on the edge of total destruction at any moment for 3 hours. not only risking my own well being but that of all my competitors, you all know someone that would be willing to drive if not yourself, give that person a helmet and life jacket and suddenly they are invincible. i do not believe this scenario is in the best interest of the program. i personally do not have a problem with the likes of warpath going those speeds for the simple fact that i believe it is a much safer and likely less violent ride. i also believe it is all of our responsiblity to help police this event objectively, never losing sight of the spirit of the event, thanks for listening, when is that rules meeting? joe

[Ted March]

however I believe it is absolutely essential for at least two reasons:

1. To maintain parity within the classes and……more importantly
2. To make certain the sub 500 pound boats are not allowed to run.

The only way to accomplish this is weigh the boats and for safety reasons establish a maximum amount of weight that is allowed to be added. Bolting 200-300 pounds of lead into a 500 pound boat to make weight could be disaster if the boat gets into an accident or flips. It is impossible to predict where that weight is going to end up if the boat comes apart and who it is going to injure.

Mod VP had a minimum weight of 1500 pounds that seemed to work pretty well. It basically insured that fly weight boats would not be allowed to complete and there would be parity in the class.

When we bought the Yellow 3 STV in 1993, we ordered a light boat for dragging. It was delivered at under 500 pounds with complete steering. It can make 1250 fully rigged, ready to race, with a 180 pound driver, lifeline, helmet, prop, 11 gallon aluminum fuel tank and 24 volt trim system. Zero fuel.

Roark built the same boat in 1992 for Mod VP at between 700 and 750 pound to make the 1500 pound Mod VP weight rule. The extra 200/250 pounds were put into the construction of the boat. Not weight added after the boat was built.

When a super light boat gets into an accident it tends to come apart. With 200/300 more pounds built into the construction, this tendency is lessened and the safety of the driver(s) is dramatically increased.

One thing I know. I would never enter the Yellow 3 STV weighing 1250/1300 pounds in the Annual Blue Water Resort Casino 300 and definitely NEVER enter it with 200 to 300 pound of lead bolted in to make a 1500/1600 minimum weight. Thus it will never come apart…..at Parker. (Fully understand the no capsule rule...simply an example)

Seems to me you gotta weight them and you gotta have a minimum weight.

[steve sr.]

I got out of this sport back in the 80's because it just got to expensive to run. I thought this was supposed to be fun and for us poor folk on a limited budget (with the exception of a few). Part of the fun was thinking you had a chance. You let in STV's and light boats that just blows us out of the water. Were stuck in Division 5 with a rig that weighs in at about 2200lbs by nature of the power on the back. The fact that Stoker layed this boat up as a family ski boat not a racer if we're lucky it may do 90mph. Even thats not a for sure.

You guys do what you want, but this will take out alot of us that are in it for fun!!!!!