Tohatsu in MOD???

[Jeff Akers]

The one guy.....

I don't know why the one guy thing keeps coming up, I would argue that it is a much bigger issue than just my own. I think Daren has used me (the one guy ) as an example and that's fine. I do know that there are others who would like to see this approved, mainly from R 10 and R 11 were the approval could help in growing classes and overall participation.

Some of the posts on this thread have helped me in understanding why it wasn't just an automatic approval of an excepted stock engine in to the D mod category.( thank you Sam for pointing that out). I do understand the process of gathering info and presenting it to the commission. I unfortunately was unable to give any for this last season do to not having my rig together in time ( my fault) . I was however under the assumption that there was data being gathered from those Tohatsu owners in other regions that were running in D mod. Not sure if that info was given at the meeting or not..? and I'm not sure why the issue didn't make it to a ballot for this year........?

My opinion is that I really don't see a down side to letting it compete in the D mod class ( in it's stock form). However, I do see a possibility of some positive benefits to some regions,the MOD and SO membership, and APBA in general If it were allowed.

Hopefully I haven't stirred the pot to much, I do appreciate your comments and opinions, and Just to be clear,
I have no problem running it as a probationary status, I plan to do so this year, when and ware I can, should be fun,and I'm looking forward to it !

[David_L6]

Jeff, surely you aren't worried about prize money or points???

I've raced as many heats of 40 cubic inch AOF D Mod with a 30 cubic inch C Mod as I have with a 40. A friend of mine used to run my D in D and E. I'd run my C in C and D and run my E in E. I guarantee you he had more time in my D boat than I did. (Maybe that's why I blew it over and destroyed it? ) Just run the thing in D Mod at your local races and don't worry about whether or not it's "legal". Just go have some fun! (Kinda like we do around here when some of us run our 44's in the 40 class (so the 40's will have enough boats) and race with each other the first two laps and then "break" on the third lap.... )


Note: The C, D, and E that I'm referring to in this post: all Mercs, all mods, 30" (30H), 40" (55H), 44" (APBA D Mod).

[ryan_4z]

I believe that you could acctually run with the DMH's as a local engine, you just wouldn't score national points.

[jeff55v]

scoring points

I was however under the assumption that there was data being gathered from those Tohatsu owners in other regions that were running in D mod.

My opinion doesn't matter anyway. But it's up to the current MOD (merc)racers to decide weather or not to allow the Stock Tohatsu into their class. Us Tohatsu guys are far outnumbered by the Merc guys.
Sure, you can race for no points as a probationary motor. But the Tohatsu will NOT be approved by popular vote to score national points in MOD.
Trust me, it ain't gonna happen. And it doesn't matter how competitive (or uncompetitive) the motor is.
As for me, I'll stick with S.O. next year. There's plenty of challenge for me there.

[Dave M]

Curious Now

Why it has not been placed into DMH. Personally I don't have an issue with it, and if I ran the class to where I could vote concerning the rules on it, I would vote in favor of placing it in DMH. Not sure why why the majority of D Mod participants vote to not allow it in. I have a VERY GOOD guess as to whom is behind not allowing it in though,a nd they may have enough pull to sway votes.

Both you Jeff's collect data this year and maybe there can be some lobbying to get it approved at next years meeting. Heck, we might even get it passed as a saftey issue so it is effective immediately... I bet we can word it close enough to be a saftey issue...

From past experience most common sense ideas get implemented into MOD as there is less controversy than the stock outboard meetings. Perhaps that trend is changing due to more stock outboarders crossing over, I dunno.