Newbee going thru start up sticker shock

[blueskyracer]

I am a late bloomer so I can't take for ever to do this. I grew up with boat racing in my front yard (Mercer Island, in the middle of Lake Washington) and have worked on limited hydros and did 6 years of R/C unlimiteds so I know what it is like to have all of those friends. I also remember how we helped everone from new folks to ones just having a bad day.

When you have been thru all of that I guess hydros just never leave your blood.

It was really fun in the evenings swaping stories and some folks really were funny when they over indulged.

One last thing is that we are only 8 hours from Seattle so if we can go there twice each year for horse shows why not a couple of hydro races also?

[Gunjumper]

Hey DougMC, maybe you should be the one to buy a skiboat or waverunner instead... This guy is trying to put a rig together and your sending him packing?! Good luck Blueskyracer, 99% of APBA is extremely helpful.

[Phil Fronce]

After a 31 year hiatus from the sport, I too am starting from scratch, and like you, I went to the CSH because of availability of used motors and class size. To date, I have spent $9,515.00, the biggest single expence being an enclosed 8.5'X20' trailer. I have no garage space, thus the purchase of an enclosed trailer. The only new purchases are helmet, cut suit and jacket, everything else, from motor to unistrut is used. I still have a way to go to get to where I think I have everything covered, but you know what.....for a way beyond mid-life crisis, it's priceless. Without the help of the members of the South Florida Outboard Club, primarily Tom Cronk, Bill Tetro, Russ Waterson and yes...Doug Mc, I don't think I would have been able to do it. Good luck and have fun!!!

[Howie Nichols]

Where in Montana are you? There is a guy in Red Lodge that has his ASR equipment up there and I think he would like to race again soon. I will PM you his #'s.

[kws]

sry for the hijack of thread..

[blueskyracer]

Does any one have a picture of a rack system to carry a boat in back of the pick up. Our living quarters is a bumper pull travel trailer so the boat stuff has to ride in the truck or it is the dog house for me. At least I have a full size 8 foot bed and crew cab Duramax.

Also, can someone explain the purpose of reshaping the lower unit? I have also been told the prop shaft has to be changed to 9/16. Is this true? I don't want trade secrets, just the reason. Thanks

[Gunjumper]

Pick up rack...

Whatever design you decide on for the rack in the bed of the truck, here is one piece of advice, don't incorporate the tailgate into the setup. Use 2x4's vertically just in front of the tailgate, and then gusset them or make a cross member to support the tailend of the rack. Reason being, you pack the bed of your truck with all the goodies - motor, fuel jugs, gear, toolbox, boat cart, helmet, cooler of beer/water, whatever - then put the boat on the rack, and then strap the whole works down. My point is, it's a pain to fill the cooler with ice or to get to the cart when you get to the race without the use of the tailgate. Whenever you can work a trailer into the picture, I would! You can lock the door and walk away- at a rest stop, in the pits at night, in your driveway at 11pm on Sunday night, you'll see... Good luck and keep the questions coming, it keeps us from going bonkers in these last few weeks of the off season! Greg

[blueskyracer]

We are located about 9 hours from Red Lodge. In fact Red Lodge is just north of Yellowstone Park and we are only 20 miles from the Idaho border.

In just about everything a person gets involved in, are there not a couple sour grapes?

[Lights]

[QUOTE=blueskyracer;98527]Does any one have a picture of a rack system to carry a boat in back of the pick up. Our living quarters is a bumper pull travel trailer so the boat stuff has to ride in the truck or it is the dog house for me. At least I have a full size 8 foot bed and crew cab Duramax.

I agree with Gunjumper. My team has a rack for the back of a truck. Sorry I don't have a picture of it. It is made out of 1 X 2 steel tubing and the boat sits on carpeted 2 X 4's. It is made tall enough so that the boat cantilevers over the cab of the truck. That way we can fill the bed of the truck with gear.

[raceright]

Who said this???? go bungy jumping with a 50lb test line
Ryan is right with boat racing (not boat playing) ya make friends all over the country,I was just talking to Dwight who is in Seattle so what is better than that???

Looked for ya at Detroit Ryan even in the bar maybe next time,Side winder looked cool,I even met I believe your cousin,real nice kid(hangs with James Luce)

Pat
PS also believe Mark Weber is gonna do a bang up job

[pav225]

Racing Advice

SIMPLE ADVICE FOR A NEW RACER:
1. Attend a few "local" races.

2. Find someone who lives within your area who you can pit-crew for. You will learn a lot about racing by being on a crew.

3. While at the races, watch the different classes and pick one that you like. Learn as much as you can about racing -this will help you make a good educated purchase when you are ready.

4. Go for a test ride with someone from the "local" club. You can borrow race equipment and safety gear.

5. Buy some safety gear. This can be more difficult to borrow than a boat, and its good to have safety gear that fits you.

4. Start looking for a used rig. CSH is a great option, but that is your choice. Usually a complete rig will be less expensive than buying everything individually.

5. There have been complete used rigs for under $2700 on HydroRacer. It won't be the fastest equipment in the country, but it will take time to learn how to race and use the speed. Be sure to have other racers give their opinion on a rig for sale before you buy it.

6. Go testing. The best thing anyone can do in racing is to get a lot of boat time.

7. Start racing and have a good time.

8. You can always improve your equipment as your experience level increases.

Good Luck!
-Mike

[RICK BIRD]

Whatever design you decide on for the rack in the bed of the truck, here is one piece of advice, don't incorporate the tailgate into the setup. Use 2x4's vertically just in front of the tailgate, and then gusset them or make a cross member to support the tailend of the rack. Reason being, you pack the bed of your truck with all the goodies - motor, fuel jugs, gear, toolbox, boat cart, helmet, cooler of beer/water, whatever - then put the boat on the rack, and then strap the whole works down. My point is, it's a pain to fill the cooler with ice or to get to the cart when you get to the race without the use of the tailgate. Whenever you can work a trailer into the picture, I would! You can lock the door and walk away- at a rest stop, in the pits at night, in your driveway at 11pm on Sunday night, you'll see... Good luck and keep the questions coming, it keeps us from going bonkers in these last few weeks of the off season! Greg

here is a rack i use in my ford. there are picture of it on a nother thread, it is
under left coast racing 2007. check it out it works very well.

[ryan_4z]

Pat, I unfortunately couldn't make Detroit this year. Yes, Dylan(aka Dr. Quinn) is my cousin who hangs out with James(aka Medicine Woman). Watch out, those kids are trouble.

[jeff55v]

Think long term.

If you can't afford it all at once ... it is worth the wait to gather stuff over another year or two.

I agree with Sam. This is how I did it, and how I do it now. Buy a little at a time.

Another something I haven't seen mentioned yet: I think you'd be hard pressed to find a motorsport as affordable in the long run as kneel down powerboat racing. Compared to any other motorsport, our equipment lasts a long time. For instance: If you buy a new Yamato 302, chances are really good that you could be racing the same motor 10 years from now (with some minimal maintenence). Or passing it down for your kid to race.

[Cameraboy]

I am a late bloomer so I can't take for ever to do this. I grew up with boat racing in my front yard (Mercer Island, in the middle of Lake Washington) and have worked on limited hydros and did 6 years of R/C unlimiteds so I know what it is like to have all of those friends. I also remember how we helped everone from new folks to ones just having a bad day.

Even though there aren't races in Montana, you might look up the Abell family out of Whitefish. They have been major players in outboard racing in Montana for years. They are the best people you will ever meet. Charlie and his wife drive from Whitefish to the Region 10 races in Oregon that their son Koell races at - 8 hour drive to Portland, then the drive to the race site. They help set up, help other racers during the day, and tear down when the weekend is done. We want to clone the whole bunch of them. My point being, you can not only race out of Montana (with inboards, the Johnstons out of Helena race in Washington all of the time), but you can do it right.

Another long distance newbie we have out here is John Wesanko, who comes down from Victoria, BC. An option some of us have talked to John about is leaving his rig in Washington between races to save on trailer costs on the ferry boat. Might be an option for you. Another thing to consider is that there is an AOF club (SLORA) in the Spokane area that races on the far side of Eastern Washington and Idaho - that would be less of a drive for you as well.