Vertical Boat Numbers

[GEORGE KOEHLER]

For those of you around stock outboard racing
long enough to remember, perhaps you can help me
in dating the EXACT year that APBA included vertical
boat numbers as mandatory, along with sponson numbers for
stock hydro classes? What were the original specifications
as they applied to the vertical number ruling?

[mercguy]

For those of you around stock outboard racing
long enough to remember, perhaps you can help me
in dating the EXACT year that APBA included vertical
boat numbers as mandatory, along with sponson numbers for
stock hydro classes? What were the original specifications
as they applied to the vertical number ruling?

sponson number are still not MANDATORY, only recommended..........

[Phil Fronce]

I remember putting vertical numbers on my ASH in 1975.

[Blackhawkguy]

1980 something?

I remember there being a lot of discusion around the early 80's about numbers on hydros, I believe the sponson numbers were the primary numbers but were hard to see at most coarses, the vert. numbers where used but I do not believe they where required at that time just recomended. 1981 Dayton Tom Molder was told he had to change his chrome sponson numbers because you couold not read them from the judges stand and he got mad and did not run, Brinkman and White wound up with the engines he brought to Dayton, Brinkman won B runabout by 3/4 a lap. So around that time frame there were some number requirements implemented, the black on white, white on black and I believe the ilimination of the sponson number, all my rule books from that time are at my mom's down state still, but I would investigate that time period.

Kerry

[aojesus]

Whitney Point

We got a spanking in 1978 at Whitney Point for side numbers too small and in 1979 for having ivory instead of white.

[Mark 72@E]

1976 Season

The rule was new for the 1976 season. I remember being in my apartment at college cutting out my vertical boat numbers and background from Con-tact Brand adhesive shelf liner in preparation for the 1976 season, which for me began in January 1976 with the Grapefruit Circuit in Florida.

Note that there is no size requirement mentioned in the rule below.

From the APBA 1976 Rule Book:

RULE 4 – Boat Numbers

1. (a) Racing numbers must be painted with a color strongly contrasting with the background on which they are displayed. Hydroplanes must have vertical numbers on both sides which may be black on white or white on black. The background must be solid. It is still the driver’s responsibility to make sure his numbers are legible.

Rules 1. (b) to 1. (e) don't relate directly to vertical numbers.

To not disagree with Phil Fronce's answer, "I remember putting vertical numbers on my ASH in 1975", my guess is that vertical numbers may have been recommended for the 1975 season but not mandatory until the 1976 season.


Picture below is from January 1976 which shows my new (small) vertical numbers.

[G Stillwill]

I had them in 1976 this is from Whitney Point 15SS with Lenny Falcone doing some carb work on the inside