APBA Secures Agreement for More Mercury J & AXS Engines

[krazy karl]

J Class

Karl, Bill is speaking of Region 12. He does not speak for Region 11. This will not happen in Region 11 at this time. I will not allow the "J" Category to be compromised.
Frank Banducci has several JA rigs that he wants to get on the water next year. So if your 13 year old wants a ride contact Frank.

I already have, but I didn't get much detail so I thought this might be part of it.
Karl

[Skoontz]

Herezz the deal

Ron Hill and myself and others, are putting equipment together for a regional J class with it's own designation. There are numerous necessary reasons for this, unles of course you are of the school of thought that what has always worked is still working, hence, stuck in the box, no bending of the noses intended there........

First, current J classes work for those born into racing families who have resources and access to engines with expensive hot rod gear feet. You will drop a minimum of $1,600 for a tired motor that will work, but you really need a strong J motor to have the current J set up work for you. So, cost goes with that legal J motor, and here are some out there that have dropped $4-5000 in a J motor......

Second, ease of operations. No doing the horizontal deck hop attempting to plane your boat off, because, the engines will use factory F-N-R gearcases with no restrictor plates. Engine hieghts will control speeds. At this writing, we have discussed no engines prop shaft will be higher than 3" below the boat bottom. A stock OMC 9.9-15 with F-N-R gearcase has a prop shaft 4.5" lower than the hot rod foot..... We have even discussed a special boat, which won't cost a dime more than a standard J-A boat. It might have deeper sponsons, it will have a wider bottom, and it just might even have a seat...We have not gone into that in great detail at this juncture, but it will be a run what ya bring class. If a A boat you got works, then run it.....

Third, engine availability. 9.9-15Hp fishing motors are all over for under $500.00 A person can get a virgin cherry barely used motor for $800.00. You are not for any reason going to see $5,000 BPed motors in this class, in fact, they will probably be made illegal.

Fourth, and this is the prize. We hear the cries for new blood. We hear the request to grow the sport. I only hope to pack shores as we saw watching races when I was a kid, and I know Ron and for that matter everyone into this awesome sport would love seeing that....
And, we continually see racing families, who have years of history, reenetering with kids, cousins, grandkids, AND THAT'S GREAT, BUT, you really aren't attracting new blood, you are bringing family back in. The goal, is to keep it simple stupid, (KISS) by allowing people to run engines they can get their hands on for affordable prices. I see and feel the need, and I think Ron does too, but I'll let him say his thoughts here to go outside the normal box, which clearly, for attracting new blood from non traditionally racing families failing miserably. This sport, grat as it is, has bene dying a slow death since the 60's and will continue to do so unless you get outside the proverbial box.....

I also see several others, like myself, who feel the current J class as an entry level class, is not really an entry level class by any means. And we have it a little easier than a total new commer, we raced dirt track and asphalt 1/4 midgets for years, and basically, the rhythm of racing is the same. The current J's are a slow and safe class for those who are entering the sport to get their feet wet, and so long as thier racing families continue supporting them, they will not grow frustrated as we are, and walk away. And I can tell you many stories of the search for equipment...Once again, get into some circles, that's about the only way you'll find legal equipment. If you want things to grow, you gotta make equipment as easy as buying a new boat to get, and it has to be afordable. This class is designed for budget minded entry level people to spark and grow into other classes, or be content with this as set up and have a ball racing.

We spoke of keeping the availabliity of the class within 150 miles of region 12 racing, and, I certainly hope it takes off and flies. We will offer rides for kids in the crowd, from racing families or not.

Now, I know, there are those who strongkly disagree and that's great. That is one of the greatest things about being American. We can disagree...I feel this class brings hope and optimism without the frustration of failures to this sport. And trust me here, there is nothing worse than seeing your daughter come to shore in tears because her boat did not plane. That will never happen in this class, and the speeds will be kept to current J speeds without choking the motor down.

So, that's it thus far. I may have missed a few things, and there may be some things tweeked...Thats where it's at at this juncture.

[Richard K.C. Mo.]

Right On Skoontz!!!

I think your on the right track, inexspensive ....
In NBRA they're trying to do just as you say, at the Nats. last yr. they had 80s ,102s and omc motors in what we call novice class, weights ran from 290# to nearly 400# speeds were close , in other words it was a race.
Now correct me if i'm wrong but i think most don't want to be a novice at anything very long so why should it cost as much as it does?
I think the gearcase and blueprinted motors are the big cost here.
I really hate the inspection thing so there just has to be some way to right the rules so Adults can't interfere as iv'e found most kids are honest.
RichardKCMo

[G Stillwill]

Acctually this thread was started to let everyone know that alot of people worked hard to get Brand New Mercury Motors for RACING in the J Division. Not to bring up another class and call it a J class or a regional class. With the J Division growing as it is do we really need to have it undermined by another look alike class only to find out that if you want to go any further you have to put out for a complette racing outfit. All though you will have over 3000.00 in this motor it is leagle in six classes divide 3000.00 by six and you have your 500.00 motor. The blue printing doesnt add that much to the cost but yes the gear foot does but a new fishing gear foot lists for over 1200.00. Im all for keeping the cost down but at some point the bottom line is it cost money to race with a real racing outfit. Racing is going as fast as you can and still be leagal in the class your running and that is called competion. The novice class runs alot faster then the J APBA class its more like AX speeds but with a much bigger boat. Run an A boat with C boat and you better get out front or pray getting through the turns. Again just look at the results from last year and see how many there were in the J division and see how its grown and is still growing with new kids and that is where our future is.

[Matt Dagostino]

George is right again!!

. Again just look at the results from last year and see how many there were in the J division and see how its grown and is still growing with new kids and that is where our future is.

The new Merc has now shown to be competitive and basically equal to each other when properly set up for racing. I believe that is what we call a level playing field! This is what the OMC A's use to be like back in the 1980's and 90's.

With APBA's continued support and Mercury's ability to keep new motors in the pipeline at an 'affordable' price the J Class division has a bright future!

Folks like George and Wienandt Machine and Vic Brinkman should be commended for helping in getting the bugs out of these motors and tuning them for racing application! We have been involved with them for a few years now and they have shown to be the real deal!!

Good job guys!

Matt & Val

[propnuts]

Thanks Mark

That is outstanding news, now we can build more HARM J's knowing there is a motor for the racers to buy.

[Richard K.C. Mo.]

I think It's great!!!

All we have to do now is make the boats a little bigger to carry the same weight at the same speed, about 35/40. hell of a race.
RichardKCMo

[ricochet112]

Thanks Mark Way to go! I have my eyes open, looking for 15 Mercs to convert, I'm sure HARM could use a couple next year.


[QUOTE=Skoontz;95377]
Third, engine availability. 9.9-15Hp fishing motors are all over for under $500.00 A person can get a virgin cherry barely used motor for $800.00.
QUOTE]

Skoontz,
Will you please notify me when you see one of these motors for $500 ($400 in another post). I have customers in weekly looking for used trolling motors and they're getting harder and harder to find one's that are "cherry".
I search eBay, Craig's List and the newspapers, and don't see many 15HP 2 strokes. So please let me know when all these motors become available.