Whos engine is this?

[David_L6]

the 45 should be let run in d-mod/750 as far as ime concerne,,, ..

Leave the D Mod class alone! There are parts available if someone wants to build a D Mod.

[Dave M]

Kg4

I remember Tim Kurz running FEH with a stock looking 45 engine at a race in Mio Mi and totally dominate the field.He was running a pink boat and he was hitting 93mph.I had a chance to buy that rig and i wish i would have.It was VERY fast.He told me the engine would not be legal in 45 tunnel but it looked like it just came off a tunnel.I have video of him at the mio race i should dig it out.This was around 1993.

In the classes defense, I don't think there was one other OMC he was racing against in MIO. It was all 44 Mercs stepping up to make the class for that particular race. Even Tim knows what a good triple will do to the baddest twin. And also, today, 93MPH won't win, not even close. I am betting John P was seeing speeds near 100MPH at Whitney Point this year.

Now then, if you want to talk about Tim's 45 that would compete with a triple, and probably beat it ask him about the project motor. He tooka brand new Ford Cosworth racing engine block and cut it in half, and rave valved the twin........ According to Tim it was within the rules. There was plenty of gray in those days, so it probably was legal. It was just very, very, very, very, very expensive. If memory serves me right, he spent more on that engine than most current Pro Capsule drivers spend....

[sam]

Well put, Dave. I think you are correct on all counts.

[Sonny]

This will be my third year running FEH in Eric Horn's Pugh hydro with a 45 and I love the ride. I never seem to get past the real fast guys as far as getting through the traffic goes (probably a gutts issue). But I have jumped a few times (not by a lot) and I gotta tell ya, Those boys really gotta put the work in to get arround me. On the other hand if I get "freight trained" at the line it's over. Hard to argue with buying a used 70 hp Omc powerhead for a few hundred bucks and doing 100 mph, VS 5-10 thousand into a 45 to do the same speed (tuff sale). You cant run 45's in "D" mod because the mercurys wouldn't stand a chance and I should add that it pains me deeply to say that. I love the Merc stuff. I have a brand new "D" mod Mercury Being built by George Luce right now for 2010. The 45 omc is my Tohatsu getter... we refer to it as operation "fly swater".

[Team B&H]

I am betting John P was seeing speeds near 100MPH at Whitney Point this year.

There is no way that John P would go 100 in Vicki's boat. If he did, the insurance guys would probably insist on capsules. But he did put on an awesome show- especially the 2nd heat where he started last and passed everyone. In FEH the last couple mph of top speed aren't really important most of the time- you won't pick up much distance with a 2mph advantage for the last couple seconds on a straightaway. Corner speed and acceleration are far more important and that is where JP really excelled. An engine with a broad powerband is essential to keep boat speed up in the corner and then pull hard off it as the boat straightens out. And that is where the three cyl is really good with an exhaust that produces a relatively flat torque curve. 5 more cubic inches probably doesn't hurt either.

[David_L6]

In FEH the last couple mph of top speed aren't really important most of the time- you won't pick up much distance with a 2mph advantage for the last couple seconds on a straightaway. Corner speed and acceleration are far more important...

Ya gotta "Lap it faster"?

[Morris85C]

I will put my dmr up aginst any 3holer around it did pretty good at the nats and it does good in regine 11 85c

[Modgal]

I'd have to put my money on a "good" D-Merc any day, even in Formula E.
If you look at the top 5 for the 2008 season in FER/850CCMR, two of those top 5 are D-Merc's. #1 Lonnie Morris - Runs a D-Merc. (who actually watched it run at Whitney point?) #4, Denice Morris - yep, you guessed it, I run a D-Merc. Granted, I may be a little bit biased...lol, but the proof is in the results. I can run one motor and be very competitive in 2 classes. Works for me.

I'd like to second the earlier comment "leave the D class alone" Again, a few facts.
IN APBA the D/750 Runabout class was the biggest Mod Runabout class in 2008 with 37 boats hitting the water. The class has actually grown while remaining unspoiled by a myriad of rule/motor changes that has seemed to plague some of the other classes.

[Dave M]

Close

There is no way that John P would go 100 in Vicki's boat. If he did, the insurance guys would probably insist on capsules. But he did put on an awesome show- especially the 2nd heat where he started last and passed everyone. In FEH the last couple mph of top speed aren't really important most of the time- you won't pick up much distance with a 2mph advantage for the last couple seconds on a straightaway. Corner speed and acceleration are far more important and that is where JP really excelled. An engine with a broad powerband is essential to keep boat speed up in the corner and then pull hard off it as the boat straightens out. And that is where the three cyl is really good with an exhaust that produces a relatively flat torque curve. 5 more cubic inches probably doesn't hurt either.

Sam,

I said "near" 100MPH, not 100MPH. And I am willing to bet some cash on that. Once you are close to the triple mark, isn't "near" a realitive term ? By NO MEANS am I advocating a capsule in this class. It would kill the class worse than it it did in the Pro division.

I agree with you on some points, it is important to have a good boat that handles the corners well, this holds true in any class in any kneeler class. Top End does not win races, ET does. I would venture to say that any top player in the 850 CCMH class has some fairly impressive boats. Some perform better than others, but not by much. I have been experimenting with boat design for this class in particular for a number of years now, and can say that what we have right now is pretty good.

At Whitney Point the course was so long that midrange power and torque no longer applied. It was pure cubic dollar at that point. They did shorten the course a little after the first day or two races to help move the program faster, but it was still much longer than any other course Mod's in the Midwest and south race on throughout the season. I am not sure how it compares to the West's courses. The club did a good job at getting the program in with all the weather issues though. I for sure thought we would be there the next week racing.

[Sonny]

I dont know fellas, I gotta go with Mr Mason on this one. I saw john P run that monster at Lockhaven and he blistered some fast guys and not by a little... he left'em(all due respect). he has to be in the neighborhood of 100.

[Team B&H]

I am not saying that JP was going slower or faster than 100, just that saying things like that on a public forum could attract unwanted attention by the insurance guys. We don't need any outside influences on an otherwise great class.

[Dave M]

Agreed

I am not saying that JP was going slower or faster than 100, just that saying things like that on a public forum could attract unwanted attention by the insurance guys. We don't need any outside influences on an otherwise great class.

I agree. Point dropped.

[ebss011]

Fe Motors

Im thinking abt getting into this class. What are the best motors for this!
Dustin TOPGUN RACING

[sam]

The base motor is the 3 cylinder 49ci OMC triple .. 70 & 75 hp

[pro350hydro]

The base motor is the 3 cylinder 49ci OMC triple .. 70 & 75 hp

Exactly! Snoop around the wrecking yards and find a few dead ones cheap and start stock piling parts and building some motors. You can race for quite a while and spend money on a GOOD lower unit and some props. You will be way ahead of the curve, instead of dropping thousands of dollars into a twin.

Rick Keller spent thousands and i mean thousands of dollars with Anthony years ago. Now, all that stuff sits on the shelf in his shop and he now is back to running a triple. His twin did run good at times, but he wrenched on it more than I did on my pro stuff. The three bangers are a lot cheaper, and very fast.

I also disagree that a d-mod will hang with a triple. If set up correctly, they will carry a lot of speed through the corners, and pull hard off the corner. Like someone said above, it's not all about the GPS reading at the end of the straight away, it's all about ET and excelleration.

I drove Cheney's old boat and motor at the mod divisionals several years ago and it was no slouch. I had the entire field covered until the driver and the kill switch had a disagreement on the last corner coming to the checkers.

Oh yeah, and for the record, no open capsule boat is running 100 mph

Mike Sattler