Constructive............
What would be constructive to start with would be our Stock Chairman refraining publically from taking insulting pop shots at existing APBA members that travel and support our sport. This forum should be used to kick around ideas and banter about our passion........boat racing!
Earl D. posted several positive comments above about the positives the Merc 15 serves in ASH/ASR Class in Stock Outboard. Since the Merc is an approved motor in Stock Outboard and is readily available through APBA and aftermarket sources(merc dealers, e-bay, craigslist) i would think the question should be why the interest in removing the motor from the class by certain Commish members whom obviously are behind this effort
Granted the Merc is currently not Nationally competitive with the 'fast' OMC's and really at this time pose no threat to overtake the OMC as the motor of choice in the class but in these tough economic times do we really want to be removing the motor from the class and eliminating entries in a already declining A Class.
In my days as a Commisioner and currently as a loley racing dad, i do not support classes with more than one motor in them! But in todays Stock Division we do not have 800 plus members anymore and i guess have to do whatever works.......J Classes are a perfect example. The OMC and Merc seem to be working in harmony. I know it still has some rough edges but it works and someday it would be nice to see only motor eventually be legal.
Messing with motors in classes is the most 'testy' political hot potato a Commission deals with. Eventually someone gets hurt but we try to minimize the pain for the overall good of the sport! Some of those moments came in the mid 80's with the OMC 15 and a few years later when the YAmato 102 replaced the Merc 30h. Those were monumental moves and were made only after the probationary motors(the OMC A and the Yamato 102)were proven, available and generally accepted by the majority of the existing membership!
I imagine the cards will be put on the table in Raleigh to see what is driving this proposal and no doubt the right decision will be made by our knowledgable leaders.............
Matt
APBA Member, Stock Outboard Cataglory
Originally posted by reed28n
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Earl D. posted several positive comments above about the positives the Merc 15 serves in ASH/ASR Class in Stock Outboard. Since the Merc is an approved motor in Stock Outboard and is readily available through APBA and aftermarket sources(merc dealers, e-bay, craigslist) i would think the question should be why the interest in removing the motor from the class by certain Commish members whom obviously are behind this effort
Granted the Merc is currently not Nationally competitive with the 'fast' OMC's and really at this time pose no threat to overtake the OMC as the motor of choice in the class but in these tough economic times do we really want to be removing the motor from the class and eliminating entries in a already declining A Class.
In my days as a Commisioner and currently as a loley racing dad, i do not support classes with more than one motor in them! But in todays Stock Division we do not have 800 plus members anymore and i guess have to do whatever works.......J Classes are a perfect example. The OMC and Merc seem to be working in harmony. I know it still has some rough edges but it works and someday it would be nice to see only motor eventually be legal.
Messing with motors in classes is the most 'testy' political hot potato a Commission deals with. Eventually someone gets hurt but we try to minimize the pain for the overall good of the sport! Some of those moments came in the mid 80's with the OMC 15 and a few years later when the YAmato 102 replaced the Merc 30h. Those were monumental moves and were made only after the probationary motors(the OMC A and the Yamato 102)were proven, available and generally accepted by the majority of the existing membership!
I imagine the cards will be put on the table in Raleigh to see what is driving this proposal and no doubt the right decision will be made by our knowledgable leaders.............
Matt
APBA Member, Stock Outboard Cataglory
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