Possible Creation of a Pro Open class?

[sam]

Between the lines

Changing to alcohol only will increase the work load on inspectors and tacitly prevent step ups.

The more restrictions there are for a class the harder it is to get enough boats on the water at any particular event

I think part of the attractiveness of the basic idea would be directly adopting the UIM rules so US drivers and European drivers would be equals driving at each other's events

[Composite Specialties]

Already there

Sam, we are already running methanol, what is the change?

[sam]

tacitly Prevents Step Ups.

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[Composite Specialties]

Nothing is changing, just making it better

Again, here is what I had in mind. Basically use what we already have but combine the 500cc, 700cc and the 1100cc but allow tunnel boats with motor lifts and power trim. Run a jetty start and run four heats and take the best three.

Not any different than we have now, just modifications to make a better show.

Here is a start of what requirements I had in mind:

- Must be capsuled
- Must be a two cycle engine
- Cannot be fuel injected
- Must burn Methanol fuel
- Engine must be from 500cc to 1100cc
- Boat can be a tunnel or hydro but must be a capsule
- Four heats of racing over two days, keep your best three for points

[epugh66]

I interpret Marc's suggestion as adopting the UIM 0-500 rules. You can run gasoline if you want to, but why give up horsepower? You can run an antique production engine, but why give up horsepower?

UIM "O" class rules are just that, "O" is generally open excepting displacement and safety rules. It's the APBA rules that restrict boat developement. Restricting boat developement is why we now have boats that for the most part perform best on flatter water with larger turns.

As a side note, a tunnel boat likes a different shape course than a traditional ABPA hydro. Tunnels also like river towns that have money to spend on things like......boat racing water festivals.

[Steve77t]

We already have what you are talking about. The drivers havent realized it yet thats all. In USTS racing we run our capsule boats, 500 on Saturday 700/1000 sunday. The only people that know the difference is the mechanics and drivers. The spectators do not as they look the same and go about the same. Concept is good Changeing the 60% sponson rule would be good. And Nic, There are plenty motors over 700ccm. I have a new Konny 1000 ccm and also a 1000 yamaha. These motors are for sale to the ones that want them

[Doug Hall]

Here is my thought on this idea. If we run the same type of race course that we are running now, I dont think the tunnel boat would be that succesful. I think the sweeping turns would hurt it too much. If we are going to change the course to a one buoy turn to benefit the tunnel boat than I think you make the hydro non competitive. I know for myself that I cant afford to go buy another capsule boat if we went to this style of course. I think you would find other people that would not want to do this either. Also, are all these people that are for this idea going to buy a tunnel boat. What would one cost, $8,000.00 to $10,000.00? I know that the thought is if we conform to UIM rules that we could have more World events here or that we could compete over there. I still dont think you would have an event here more than once every three to four years. We dont have a federation to pay for our expenses to go overseas to race like some of the Europeans do. I would hate to think what it would cost to ship everything over there. Just my thoughts.

[sam]

The 3 previous posts make sense to me

[Composite Specialties]

thoughts

Like my original post stated, lets just talk about it, especially from actual Pro drivers and owners. I would however disagree with the fact that a tunnel boat would not be competitive on our courses. It seems to me that something should be done to put on a better show than three or four remaining capsules each race, why not open it up to all boat designs, no one said you had to get a new boat. If you are fast enough, your boat should be fine, just allow the class to grow with any boat design as long as it has a capsule in it. Capsule hydros and tunnel boats should be able to race with one another just fine, that is where the radios come in and setup. You could then use trim and up and down on your capsule hydros, that is a big advantage for the tunnel boats.

[T Chance]

I like the idea of the class. I have a 500cc Motor, old but a good running Konig. Would I run it on a runabout? I just did a couple of weeks ago. Would I run it on a capsule hydro? Probably not. Would I run it on a tunnel? Maybe.

[alky6]

Tunnels

I'll make the statement nobody else wants to...
Given Mark's rules (with amending the use of any fuel), 45 SST's would then qualify to run the class. Maybe that's a good thing? I don't know and I don't drive capsule boats. Additionally, for those who would want to compete in the class on a national level and chase points, I would venture to guess that you would have a 45 driver who would win on a consistent basis. There are a whole bunch more 45 races out there than the six or seven Title Series races. Would that promote growth of the O-1100 capsule classes (and PRO capsules generally) nationally? Potentially. I am not advocating either way, just adding a discussion point.

-Paul Fuchslin

[bandit64061]

Bingo!!!

(Quote) As a side note, a tunnel boat likes a different shape course than a traditional ABPA hydro. Tunnels also like river towns that have money to spend on things like......boat racing water festivals.

From a spectators point of view.

[Steve77t]

I'll make the statement nobody else wants to...
Given Mark's rules (with amending the use of any fuel), 45 SST's would then qualify to run the class. Maybe that's a good thing? I don't know and I don't drive capsule boats. Additionally, for those who would want to compete in the class on a national level and chase points, I would venture to guess that you would have a 45 driver who would win on a consistent basis. There are a whole bunch more 45 races out there than the six or seven Title Series races. Would that promote growth of the O-1100 capsule classes (and PRO capsules generally) nationally? Potentially. I am not advocating either way, just adding a discussion point.

-Paul Fuchslin

THis is why we have that stupid 60% sponson rule now. Thanks little bro for reminding all.

[HRTV]

Like my original post stated, lets just talk about it, especially from actual Pro drivers and owners. I would however disagree with the fact that a tunnel boat would not be competitive on our courses. It seems to me that something should be done to put on a better show than three or four remaining capsules each race, why not open it up to all boat designs, no one said you had to get a new boat. If you are fast enough, your boat should be fine, just allow the class to grow with any boat design as long as it has a capsule in it. Capsule hydros and tunnel boats should be able to race with one another just fine, that is where the radios come in and setup. You could then use trim and up and down on your capsule hydros, that is a big advantage for the tunnel boats.

I like the idea, do you think a 500cc pro motor would push a modern day SST45 hull since there are tons of old SST45 hull laying around for sale. Or would the current 45 hull be to big and heavy for a 500cc pro motor?

[Joe J]

Dan:

A 45 boat is built to do around 80 mph, maybe a bit more. A good Pro capsule boat goes over 100mph. With that in mind, the amount of lift built into an 80-85 mph boat would not allow the same boat to go over 100 mph.

They are not too heavy, but simply designed for a different speed range.

Joe

I like the idea, do you think a 500cc pro motor would push a modern day SST45 hull since there are tons of old SST45 hull laying around for sale. Or would the current 45 hull be to big and heavy for a 500cc pro motor?