"Stock" what does that mean to you???

[blueskyracer]

Stock outboard racing is not actually a true statement. For example if you buy a Yamato 302 right out of the crate from Ric the way it was shipped from Japan it will cost $2100 plus shipping. But and I mean But to be competitive in C "Stock" hydro you have to put at least another $800 into the motor and gear case. That also means you have to ship different components to different folks for them to carry out there speciality.

I alway believed that "Stock meant the way it was designed and built at the factory. Maybe the definition has been changed since I last looked in a dictionary.

It seems to me that "stock" is just a less radical form of Mod.

This all keeps the cost higher than it needs to be and means a lot of time wasted before you can actually race. Plus if you are new to the sport you don't even know who to send the motor to. It just seems that stock is way harder to get into than it should be.

What do you think? Seems like stock should get back to its roots.
Everybodys opinion is welcome as long as it is kept pleasant

[26V]

Stock to me means as manufactured.
Stock outboard means whatever the rules say is stock.
I prefer the first definition but live with the second one.

[Mrs blueskyracer]

So stock today, gone tomorrow

[26V]

LOL
Yes, except it was gone before I started racing. Its one of the multiple reasons I like the Sidewinder. If you can't "modify' the motor then it meets my definition of "stock".

[Kev43V]

To me (in a perfect world) Stock means as the manufacturer built it. it would also mean a STOCK foot. just like on your stock fishing motor with a stock prop.
but then how do you stop people from tweaking the prop, motor ect?
I can hear it now.
but I hit somthing in the water I did not CHANGE the prop just cleaned up the damage. Why should I have to buy a new prop just because i hit something.

for that matter for our local race i found 3 miles per hour just banging on the alluminum prop with a hammer and there was no way to tell just by looking (I have been afraid to try it with expensive props Gene owns LOL)

I think that is why blueprinting within specs became legal. how would you prove they did or didn't do it?
it would also mean that those with pocket books deep enough to buy 6 or 16 production motors to get one that happens to have the right combinations of tolorances to be extra fast WILL dominate their class.
SO i guess it is quite the catch 22 I sure do not have the answer

[csh2z]

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.

[csh2z]

We have an opportunity with the Tohatsu and the Sidewinders to reverse this trend. It is within our power to get back to our roots, as you say, but it's going to take some backbone and a little pressure on the SORC to do the right thing.

[blueskyracer]

We have an opportunity with the Tohatsu and the Sidewinders to reverse this trend. It is within our power to get back to our roots, as you say, but it's going to take some backbone and a little pressure on the SORC to do the right thing.

I think these two motors should be the wave of the future and maybe the engines we have now should go to a classic class. Wouldn't it be fun to just be able to go into Mercury, Honda or Evinrude and buy your racing motor like they did in the good old days. Could it be done with the four strokes. Racing would be so much simpler.

Also you would not have to sign your life away to satisfy the EPA by saying the motor will only be used for racing purposes. Just a pipe dream but it is fun to dream.

[Brian10s]

Enough Already

"Stock" outboard is just the name of a category! You have Junior, Stock, Modified, Pro, etc. Pick a category and go racing. It is not hard, APBA has something for everybody.

If you want to run a STOCK motor, start putting the tiller handles back on and the long shifter shafts. While we are at it, I do not remember a factory that produced Bezoats, MJR, Hemp, Pavlick, Runne, etc. However, there are factories called Gruman, Lowe, Sea Ark, etc. (These are the aluminum fishing boats most clubs use as turn/ pick up boats). How "Stock" do you want to get????

Stock Outboard is whatever we make it to be. And we can all cry about the SORC did this or that but guess what . . . every SO member gives the SORC the right to make decisions on our behalf. If you do not like it, go to your Region meeting and either run for the commission or vote in someone to represent your interests. If you think those that volunteer their time and money to go to the National meeting are in it to "keep" their position as top dogs, go to one sometime. It is money and time spent that does not go into the "go fast" account. Every time they go to a National Meeting, their stuff goes slower. They go because they want to make the sport/ category better than they found it. To sit back and play Monday morning QB is a bit hypocrytical and a slap in the face of those who made the sacrifice don't you think?

Have tolerances and other things been tweaked - yes. It is called Racing after all. Are those "Blueprints" within the rules? Yes. Do not like it - write a better rule. Are they fair to a newbie - who said racing is fair? Is the playing field tilted towards those that have spent a lifetime around racing - duh!! Anything that a person spends a lifetime around, they are going to be better at than a newbie. It doesn't matter if it is racing or quilting or whatever. Can a newbie be as fast as a National Champion their first year - sure, just go to Nationals and bring the fat checkbook. Every National Championship rig is for sale at the right price - how fast do you want to go? Should everyone have equal right to be a champion - that is called Tball and everyone gets ice cream at the end of the game, win or lose. This is Racing. Come and join in, have fun and enjoy yourself.

Go to any other sport and see if the competition runs down the beach to fix a boat or dry out a motor to get a guy out for the next heat? Loan props out to the competition or take a newbie under your wing or even put an almost stranger into your rig that you have blood, sweat and tears into getting close?

For 2 weeks, all that has been on HR is how wrong everything is and how everyone is out to screw you out of you class. There are plenty of spots at the SO table for everybody and if you do not like your seat, move to another table. Outboard racing has plenty of seats available.

Brian 10s

[Mrs blueskyracer]

Wow Brian - Wow, everyone has an opinion and you are entitled to yours as is everyone else. I don't believe this was a slam against anything, just a simple question that has many many interpretations. Settle down, you'll give yourself a heart attack! I think the first paragraph said it all. Quote: "Stock" outboard is just the name of a category! You have Junior, Stock, Modified, Pro, etc. Pick a category and go racing. It is not hard, APBA has something for everybody.

[sam]

I think everyone should get ice cream at the end of each racing day, win or loose

[Mrs blueskyracer]

I am with you Sam. Make mine Chocolate with sprinkles!

[Mrs blueskyracer]

From what I am reading seems like we are all already on the "dark side" or at least have tendencies that direction. As long as racing is fun who really cares, of course chocolate ice cream at the end of the day with sprinkles makes everything alright, right Sam!

[propnuts]

Stock outboard racing is not actually a true statement. For example if you buy a Yamato 302 right out of the crate from Ric the way it was shipped from Japan it will cost $2100 plus shipping. But and I mean But to be competitive in C "Stock" hydro you have to put at least another $800 into the motor and gear case. That also means you have to ship different components to different folks for them to carry out there speciality.

I'm not sure who keeps perpetuating these myths, perhaps the machinists that profit from it, I don't know. Granted, the gear case should be reworked, we have tried running it with the club on the bottom of the skeg and the handling is horrible. Other than that, clamp it on and go, that's what we've done for the last 4 years and we seem to be doing OK.

[dwestby]

A long time ago it seem back in the 1980 I know someone will correct me on that Yamato were brought into the stock family. In Region 10 and I believe all Regions they had to run the brass two bld prop and were a claimer class for the motor. $425 dollars was the price of the motor and the claimer price also you had to race that motor at the next race???? The prop stayed with the previse owner. Twiking the prop was allowed. Stock for that class was the as close to stock racing we had. The motor were just like they came out of the box. No one was twiking because they could lose the motor by getting it claimed , and would have to wait till the next week to buy it back. If I remember two motors were claimed. Back then I sold tweleve motor in Spokane and Montana for $425. what a deal for less and $1000. you got a motor a used hydro and a Gentex you were a boat races???/ Then we screwed that up so here we are know. With the hard time we are having in D stock the Tohot will have more restriction on it as it has now and problably remain stock till some of the Mercury quy start racing it and want more. I am getting a head ache