So we don’t high jack Dan poll…

[Big Don]

371-M’s comments about the engines NOT being stock any longer…Isn’t the SORC the ones that have allowed most of our engines become un-stock? I understand some of the rules were changed to free up more parts/equipment.

But let’s pick on one rule in particular…let’s plug the OMC’s because it’s too hard to inspect… What we should have done is put a rule in that said it you get caught plugging your OMC there will be a mandatory 5 year suspension. Make those that blatantly cheat pay for it. I’m not talking honest mistakes…I’m referring to blatant cheating. Plugging the water hole was just that. We took the easy way out.

We have to be smarter when we approve some of our rules.

I know it was 10 years ago…just using it as an example…

[B Walker]

It is not individual rules that have added a seemingly arbitrary and at worse a completely biased slant to the concept of fairness in competition.

Lets talk about the real issue.....

The real cost, both monetarily and in the Stock Outboard concept of a fair playing field is blueprinting.

Lets define blueprinting as machining key specifications to either the minimum or maximum tolerance of the original manufacturers specifications, whichever is more advantageous, within the rules of the inspection manual

It costs 1200-1500 to blueprint a OMC, 1200-2000 to blueprint a Yamato 102/302 and I have heard 3000-5000 for a 44XS.

It is highly unlikely a racer can compete at the highest levels without this work being done. Not impossible, just highly unlikely.

This burdensome cost is one of the most important things preventing the growth of Stock Outboard in my opinion.

The solution is a sealed motor concept, or a process for claiming. Neither of which I see happening anytime soon.

Brad Walker

[Kev43V]

[QUOTE=B Walker;138812]It is not individual rules that have added a seemingly arbitrary and at worse a completely biased slant to the concept of fairness in competition.

Lets talk about the real issue.....

The real cost, both monetarily and in the Stock Outboard concept of a fair playing field is blueprinting.

Lets define blueprinting as machining key specifications to either the minimum or maximum tolerance of the original manufacturers specifications, whichever is more advantageous, within the rules of the inspection manual

It costs 1200-1500 to blueprint a OMC, 1200-2000 to blueprint a Yamato 102/302 and I have heard 3000-5000 for a 44XS.

Brad while I agree with you in an ideal world. the large range in tolerances of regular production runs makes for to large of a discrepancy in performance. So It SEEMS to me, If you could not change your motor to ideal min and max tolorances you would have to keep buying motors untill you got one of the GOOD ones. So blueprinting is probably actually cheaper for everyone in the long run.

Don Exellent point

[csh2z]

Todd, It would be great if we could slow down the current motors and I would welcome the [written proposals with testing data](usually demanded by the opposition on the commission) to do so. In the past, whenever a proposal like that comes along, the commission puts it up to the members of the class to vote for the change. Usually when put to ballot, change is soundly defeated.

[spud62w]

Why not put a claiming price on each class? Would that keep the class more competitive with out costing a lot?

[csh2z]

I just put this on the other thread.I agree 100%. It is unfortunate that over the years we have evolved to where we are now. How did we get there? Among the top of the list should be: Loose tolerances by the manufacturers as they were building fishing motors not designed for competition. That in itself drove competitive people to the machine shop to blueprint motors for an advantage and forcing everybody else to do the same to stay competitive. Cheaters, or those that pushed the boundaries beyond the limits of the specs and commissioners too afraid to stand strong on the premise of stock would just change the rules to make these motors legal. Parts availability for motors that are or were obselete. Instead of letting a motor (or class) die through attrition due to unavailable parts, we've allowed changes to specs and modifications to motors or allowed aftermarket parts to be created to keep a class alive for the unforseeable future. We have even subsidized individuals to manufacture our own replacement parts on a number of occasions. Parity- In an effort to make an older motor perform like a new motor or to allow more than one motor to compete in one class, something has to be modified.

[tj15m]

I guess that I'm working too cheap. 1200-1500 for an OMC and 1200-2000 for a Yamato? I guess I'll have to raise my prices.