DS Runabout

[rabbitears2]

philosophy double check

Amen to that. Couldn't agree with you more! This coming from a fellow 750ccr
driver. Just want to compete on an even playing field. Bring back the minimum
weight in our class.

[pearson95m]

I am open to ANY weight restriction (or lack there of) for the DSR class. Anything to get more guys to run DSR, I'm all for! Down the road (in a few years of so) we could address the weight and find something that works for everyone.

I currently tip the scales at 560# in my short course and 535# in my marathon boats (yes my short course boat is heavier). However, they never make it to the scales cause nobody else is running. Make the weight 350# if that's what it takes for people to start running DSR again!

Josh

[form-e one]

we deff need to build class participation not restrict it,,,,,

[Yellowjacket]

A weight limit is desireable and necessary

If there isn't a weight limit the cost of a boat will skyrocket. With the weight limit where it is now, the boat can be made plenty strong and live a long time. If you lower the weight limit the boat will fall apart sooner and that drves up costs. With today's materials like carbon fiber you could make a boat a heck of a lot lighter, but it has the potential to be a lot more expensive and a lot easier to blow over. Then, the weight of your wallet will be more important than any other factor. None of these items are desireable for obvious reasons.

The reason there aren't a lot of boats in DSR is the cost of motors, the 44xs and Tohatsu are a lot more expensive than a C stock motor, and C stock doesn't run all that much slower than DSR. That means that the only folks that run DSR are guys that are bigger and would have to spend a bundle on a more expensive boat to try to make weight in CSR, or they like the idea of a bigger faster boat and are willing to spend some more to do it. The lack of competition also pushes away drivers who want somebody to race against.

I like the idea of DSR and am in the process of buying a boat to run next year, and I would hate to have the weight limit removed. JMHO

[dwestby]

What

I started this post and NEVER HAVE I SAID TO HAVE NO WEIGHT LIMINTS. I believe the C stock guys started the whole light weight carbon fiber and such material. I am going to offer to the stock comission to reduce the weight of DSR for both Mercury and Tohatsu to be 490 # or so I will know after I get back for California next week or the week after. This post was aimed at DSR owner and driver If you one or the other feel free to email or call 509-534-7003 8 to 5 m-f. AS far as MOd leave it alone it truly a big bag sport Love it. Dennis WESTBY

[John C167]

Dennis;

Good job ! Good luck to you and Kyle on your trip to California ! Kick some buns !

John Biagio

[jeff55v]

I am going to offer to the stock comission to reduce the weight of DSR for both Mercury and Tohatsu to be 490 # or so I will know after I get back for California next week or the week after.

So, you're going to suggest we lower the weight to just 15lbs different than CSR? Heck, I can crap 15lbs!
I think you should just stick a Yamato on your super light boat and race CSR. Problem solved.

[Yellowjacket]

Ok, being a newcomer to the sport perhaps I'm missing something here, but would someone please explain what is gained by reducing the weight limit? Yes, the boats go faster, but everybody who can reduce the weight will just go that much faster, and the guys who can't reduce their weight easily will just stay home.

The way I see it, if the weight limit is reduced, and you are already in the class and are a big guy, you are screwed. You will have to buy a new and much more expensive lighter boat. That just seems more like a way to drive people away than it does increase entries.

If you are already in the class and are lighter, you have already added weight so it's not a big deal.

If you aren't in the class and want to run it, you might need to add some weight to a light boat. Is that so terrible?

If the only difference in weight between C and D can be accounted for by the motor, then bigger guys won't have a place to go. If they could run C, they would, because it's less expensive and almost as fast. They can't because they can't get down to a competitive weight, so they run D.

In a sense I don't have a dog in this fight, since I can likely make weight at either limit, I just don't see what is gained in reducing the weight other than driving some people out of the sport.

[pearson95m]

Well said Yellowjacket

I started running D twenty years ago and remember adding close to a 100# of lead. It didn't feel or run any different.

[Gootz 142M]

Well said Yellowjacket

I started running D twenty years ago and remember adding close to a 100# of lead. It didn't feel or run any different.

20 years ago????!!!! Man I am getting old!!!

[dwestby]

Weight + new design+ lot of lead= not me

Well said Yellowjacket

I started running D twenty years ago and remember adding close to a 100# of lead. It didn't feel or run any different.

this tread is getting out of hand like I posted I will make my discission when I get back in two week Like it or vote it down. First and last time Kyle Lewis is my driver for DSH DMH DMR I plan on driving the DSR at 224# with a new being build runabout. I will not add 80 or even 50 lbs of lead I feel it is not safe or good on the hull I do care if you vote for it or not. I know of 3 other new drivers that will run DSR but not in my boats by adding excess weight I will put that much weight in any boats I own. they are all 200 pds guys. I just bought another 44xs now I have 2 bone stock one and a Tohatsu and 2 moded motors. I will mod them in a heart beat except the tohatsu and run it still in DSh
I sound next year should be interesting in the northwest sounds like 4 legail dmr with 2 or three dsr set=up?? Alex my hat off to you YOU were right . Twenty year ago I was already racing 12 years

[Ron Hill]

I've Raced D Stock Runabout Before...

I first raced DU in 1959. I was 15. I finished second in the Nationals, I finished second in '60','61,'62,'63 five years in a row at Nationals.
I won in '64, I was second in '65, I won again in '66, second in '67 and '68. I won the marathon Nationals in '66 and '68.

I won again in '70 at Beloit.Didn't run again until '74 at Dayton and I won again. '75 I sucked...sucked water in my Ficket tank.

3rd in '76 and first in '77. In '77, I was 33, had two kids, an OPC MOD VP, I taught school, I had a propeller business AND AFTER MENZIES and BROOM were killed, I decided it was too dangerous.

Along the way I won a few High Points and held the Kilo record several times and had the 1 1/4 comp record in 1977.

People, including me SCREWED with the D Runabout rules. They allowed short boats. They allowed lighter boats. They dropped the Pat Ryan Trophy, I trophy I won 6 times, for the fastest heat in D Runabout at the Nationals.
They changed the point system to 15 year average. They dropped Divisional qualifiers.

I wrote the 15 race average rule. I wrote the rule that dropped Divisional qualifiers. Both were written for selfish reasons. I didn't want to go to the Divisionals, I wanted to just for to the Nationals, I had OPC race to race in, I had Alky races to race in...If you didn't have Divisionals qualifiers, it was easier to qualify because you had more spots.

[Ron Hill]

Call That A History of ...

I first raced DU in 1959. I was 15. I finished second in the Nationals, I finished second in '60','61,'62,'63 five years in a row at Nationals.
I won in '64, I was second in '65, I won again in '66, second in '67 and '68. I won the marathon Nationals in '66 and '68.

I won again in '70 at Beloit.Didn't run again until '74 at Dayton and I won again. '75 I sucked...sucked water in my Ficket tank.

3rd in '76 and first in '77. In '77, I was 33, had two kids, an OPC MOD VP, I taught school, I had a propeller business AND AFTER MENZIES and BROOM were killed, I decided it was too dangerous.

Along the way I won a few High Points and held the Kilo record several times and had the 1 1/4 comp record in 1977.

People, including me SCREWED with the D Runabout rules. They allowed short boats. They allowed lighter boats. They dropped the Pat Ryan Trophy, I trophy I won 6 times, for the fastest heat in D Runabout at the Nationals.
They changed the point system to 15 year average. They dropped Divisional qualifiers.

I wrote the 15 race average rule. I wrote the rule that dropped Divisional qualifiers. Both were written for selfish reasons. I didn't want to go to the Divisionals, I wanted to just for to the Nationals, I had OPC race to race in, I had Alky races to race in...If you didn't have Divisionals qualifiers, it was easier to qualify because you had more spots.

At Beloit, 1970, three D Runabout blew over on the way to the first turn. How many of those guys came back the next year???

Top of Michigan had more than ten D Runabout this last year. Ask yourslef why?

I'm guess but her is what I think...

1. MARATHONS IN GENERAL GIVE A DRIVER hope, hope THAT EVERYBODY ****S THE FARM AND HE CAN WIN.
2. Marathons give you more water time.

3. Older heavier boats do OK in rough water.

Myself, I'm not going back to any KNEEL DOWN boat, but a D Runabout that was say 14 feet long, max bottom width of 22 inches, sit down, Division II D Runabout, over all weight of 600 pounds...........and guarantee me two ten lap heats per day.

One boat, one trailer...Why do you run more classes? More time on the water??? A "SENIOR" Division II, where you could run any 40-44 cubic Merc, any Tohatsu )Bass or production gearcase)...

I never raced a D Runabout that had a cart under it....

[mercguy]

Dennis............

this tread is getting out of hand like I posted I will make my discission when I get back in two week Like it or vote it down. First and last time Kyle Lewis is my driver for DSH DMH DMR I plan on driving the DSR at 224# with a new being build runabout. I will not add 80 or even 50 lbs of lead I feel it is not safe or good on the hull I do care if you vote for it or not. I know of 3 other new drivers that will run DSR but not in my boats by adding excess weight I will put that much weight in any boats I own. they are all 200 pds guys. I just bought another 44xs now I have 2 bone stock one and a Tohatsu and 2 moded motors. I will mod them in a heart beat except the tohatsu and run it still in DSh
I sound next year should be interesting in the northwest sounds like 4 legail dmr with 2 or three dsr set=up?? Alex my hat off to you YOU were right . Twenty year ago I was already racing 12 years

so, you are saying your new D runabout weighs less than 70lbs???? That is the only way the math adds up..............225lb driver + 140lb motor + 80lbs lead + 70lbs boat = 515lbs!!! Not trying to argue, but just do not see how a D runabout can be that light and be SAFE!!! KNowing the weight of the class, etc, why would anyone build a boat so light, then have to add TONS of lead to make weight for the class.............build the weight into the boat (MUCH SAFER)...............we can't keep chaning rules to keep up with the new COMPOSITE or super lightweight boats nowadays............

I have seen lots of these new lightweight boats get into wrecks and they are **** near destroyed.............I will take my WELL BUILT heavy Darneille FE boat over any lightweight wooden FE boat anyday (just throwing out an example)!!! Guarantee if that lightweight boat got into the wreck I had (with Guido) in DSH at Lawrence, the boat would be DESTROYED and the driver definately would have been seriously hurt. I came out of an 80MPH impact with no personal injury and just some sponson, deck and bottom damage and drove the boat back to the ramp.........

looking forward to seeing your new runabouts next season Dennis...........

PS: if you want any chance to have the rules changed, you GOTTA write up a proposal with as much info and facts as you can provide and give it to the Reg10 stock commissions to bring to the Nat. Meeting with them...........the more detailed the write up, the better!!


..............with all the talk about eliminating classes, motors, changing weights, etc, sounds like it would be a good time for me to take a year or so off from boat racing............

[Yellowjacket]

PM lost

I apoligize for the interruption, but a gentlemen reading this thread in Greenfield Indiana PM'ed me on Saturday, I read the PM and had to leave, and when I went back to reply it was gone. I didn't delete it, but it's just gone. Hopefully he will read this and resend the PM.

Thanks,