12 too many?

[B Walker]

Is 12 boats per heat too many?

Years ago, before motor parity, a field would stretch out decently before the first turn. Now, it is common to see 3-5 wide into the first turn.

I have regularly talked to people that said they dont want to race in full field classes anymore. 12 is too many for these people.

I know the race day is long and nobody wants to add more heats per day, but would an 8 boat final be more entertaining and more fun for the racers?

Bonus: the racers would get more time on the water if they make the final.

They only race 8 in Japan, on the other hand, it is a smaller course and not a flying start.......

Just a thought....

BW

[sam]

Exactly why I race in one of the classes with fewer participants

The bigger the field is, the more cut throat the competition has to be to win

[mercguy]

Exactly why I race in one of the classes with fewer participants

The bigger the field is, the more cut throat the competition has to be to win

the more there is, the harder you have to work !!!!!!!! No matter how many there are, you still have to beat the same people!!!!! 12 is great, when its possible............more boats out there also makes you a better driver...........racing the same 3-4 people all the time is BORING!

[Bunker hill]

I think that there is less motor parity today than there ever was before. The difference is fewer racers at the everyday races. There are very few races, nationwide, with full fields of boats. It seems that everywhere there are step-ups to make point races and **** few full fields of boats. The end result is inexperienced racers at the nationals, not that any of the drivers are incapablee of competing, just that there are very few racers with experience racing in 12 boat heats- JMHO

[mercguy]

I think that there is less motor parity today than there ever was before. The difference is fewer racers at the everyday races. There are very few races, nationwide, with full fields of boats. It seems that everywhere there are step-ups to make point races and **** few full fields of boats. The end result is inexperienced racers at the nationals, not that any of the drivers are incapablee of competing, just that there are very few racers with experience racing in 12 boat heats- JMHO

Bunker says "The end result is inexperienced racers at the nationals"

................Bunker, you might wanna review the roster for this past Nationals before you make that statement...................also, come up to Reg10, you will find several classes with full fields (requiring elims), as to parity, I think it is just fine (coming from a parity class (DSH) driver)...........

[Bunker hill]

Coming from region 12, I would say that that there hasn't been a local race requiring eliminations in 30 years, based on your qualifiers and nationals winners from region 10, I think my statment, and yours, is very accurate

[David Weaver]

Depends

...on a lot of factors. We raced at the Worlds with 15-20 comfortably.

[Gootz 142M]

The more the merrier!

Is 12 boats per heat too many?

Years ago, before motor parity, a field would stretch out decently before the first turn. Now, it is common to see 3-5 wide into the first turn.

I have regularly talked to people that said they dont want to race in full field classes anymore. 12 is too many for these people.

I know the race day is long and nobody wants to add more heats per day, but would an 8 boat final be more entertaining and more fun for the racers?

Bonus: the racers would get more time on the water if they make the final.

They only race 8 in Japan, on the other hand, it is a smaller course and not a flying start.......

Just a thought....

BW

There are times when we start our marathons with a clock start and there could be 25 - 30 of us going to the first turn....Wicked A$$ Fun!

[David_L6]

I like a full field of 12 boats.

[Bill Huson]

12 too many?

I don't think so. Scene: Denton, MD - probably the smallest race course ever. We normally ran elims for a six boat final because of the tiny course. One time the ASH young `uns voted to forget the elims and run all ten entries at once. What exciting heats! The first turn was a cloud of spray with an occasional glimpse of boat color, and then the pack came down for turn two - a little tight - two buoys about ten feet apart. YAHOO!

Course I liked large heats because it greatly increased my chances of not finishing dead last

[Graham 18ce]

I'd agree with 12 being fine. I get bored even when watching heat ofter heat of 4 or 5 boats. Many people complain when we start combining classes in order to reduce overall heats and increase the feild size. It is better racing and better spectating to have full heats.
If you were to cut it back to 8 boat finals, that doesn't give anyone more time on the water unless you run two heat elims or finals or bring in the consi. again. I miss the consi. It was always a great way to recover from a bad start or break down.

[DiGia54D]

I cant watch a heat with less then 6 boats. After the first turn its pretty boring. 12 boats you have to actually race to win.

[blueskyracer]

By all rights the amount of boats in a heat should not make a difference if they hold there lanes. Hold there lanes???????????????

[Racerkyle20]

12 is the perfect amount! Lots of parity and if you have elims some of the fast guys can get eliminated too!

If i recall 2 Silver Lake Everett's ago...J michael kelly, mike perman, jamie neilson, john peters, and possible one other fast CSH in region 10 did not make the final. Gun jumpers. Result: local racer from a wildcat club won CSH that day. How cool is that?!

[Racerkyle20]

By all rights the amount of boats in a heat should not make a difference if they hold there lanes. Hold there lanes???????????????

Only have to hold a lane to the start finish line from exit pin in outboards. After that its free rain as long as you have a boat length in stock and mod. Pro now that's a different story LOL...