Parity: Hot Rod vs. Sidewinder

[14J]

I know there was much discussion last week centering on the Sidewinder, it’s use in several classes, cost, handling of obsolete equipment, etc. Basically a discussion of what is best for our future.

My question is this: Parity?? Using the B class as an example, is the motor on par with the best this class has to offer? I saw it run at the Nationals, how did it fair at Dayton?

Will this power plant put a new guy in the mix? I’m speaking in terms of horsepower, I realize there are other components to the equation (boats, props, set-ups, etc.).

I'd like some input, especially from this past weekend.

[DOUGWELLINGS]

I raced my new Sidewinder in B Hydro for its second weekend at Dayton. I ran 58.6 and 58.0 for my two heats. We saw an improvement of over 3 miles per hour in the first week of working with this new motor. The motor felt strong around the entire course. You need to keep in mind they had a great course setup with big turns. I kept full throttle from the start, however, there was no drop off in power in the turns. I will make a few more adjustments before Big Rapids. I will post an update after the next race. I did see a slight issue concerning difficult starting with the smaller Jet, the remedy was to make sure the motor was warm before starting out.

[STEVE FRENCH]

I raced my new Sidewinder in B Hydro for its second weekend at Dayton. I ran 58.6 and 58.0 for my two heats. We saw an improvement of over 3 miles per hour in the first week of working with this new motor. The motor felt strong around the entire course. You need to keep in mind they had a great course setup with big turns. I kept full throttle from the start, however, there was no drop off in power in the turns. I will make a few more adjustments before Big Rapids. I will post an update after the next race. I did see a slight issue concerning difficult starting with the smaller Jet, the remedy was to make sure the motor was warm before starting out.

Glad too hear Doug!.....Best I saw at the Mod Nationals with my A-MOD 22-OMC was 59.8 (test'n) which got me a 3rd over all.
But I also heard everyone was about 3 mph slower ....something to due with the water/algae/etc ?

Like I said....my observations in the above post are just that.....what I'm see'n.....(so far).......A/B Runabouts are close with the Sidewinder......
Hope to see an "A" on a hydro run with the "A"-OMC at Lock Haven.

100N

[Gunjumper]

Sidewinder @ Dayton...

The starting issue was due to the lean conditions we had this weekend. A slightly fatter setting will clear that up. I ran about a dozen test runs on Friday with the Sidewinder 15 and it started on the second pull in the water with no holding every time. Worm was just pushing me out and I roped it over myself and it started and got up on plane flawlessly. It was a little cooler on Sat/Sun and that is what gave Doug and I a hard time with the starting, once cleared out though they ran great. I ran in the top 3 both days against the fastest BSR's in the country, my driving skills were the only reason I couldn't beat Eddie or Dana. I honestly believe that more experienced roll up driver could have kept it out front. The top end is there, the low end in the turns is there. You want a motor that will run with the best, this is it. Sure doesn't look like the Hot Rods need to be slowed down, the Sidewinder just ran deck to deck with the best of the best. Hopefully Eddie or Dana will confirm. Greg Lyons

[csh2z]

Good thread Troy, looking forward to more input

[csh12M]

Cmon Hearn and Holt

You guys had first hand experience, what did you think when you were trying to get around the Sidewinder?

12M

[Andrew 4CE]

Just curious... jets...

Is this motor tuned so setting jets up to suit weather is required?

Or were you just trying jets out to find what works best and then more or less leave it?

[dholt]

When Dean calls me out...I must wake up.

Yes, Greg's Sidewinder was very fast at Dayton. Ran deck to deck with me on the straights...and pretty much even in corner. I had the inside...which is a big advantage.

I'd say you couldn't ask for better peformance from the motor. It's up to owners to test and get the right props/set up and go from there.

[csh2z]

Greg, Are you running the same props on the sidewinder as you did on the Hot Rod?

[Gunjumper]

No, but thats not to say that my old Hot Rod wheels wouldn't work. I sold everything when we got out of B. We've been running Sleds good ASR wheel this year at all the races, it's large enough and plenty thick so it won't spin a blade, hopefully! We are kind of sticking with one wheel so that is not a variable, really just trying to nail down the perfect all around power jet and metering rod setting, then we can play with play props and setups later to really make it all come alive. The changes we are making in the carb can be easily done between heats, and this info and parts are available to current Sidewinder owners and all new motors sold will be tuned to their max. GL

[racer3j]

From what I saw this weekend with the Sidewinder in Dayton there is no question about it that the sidewinder is just as competitive as the hot rod. And I believe it was the fastest running boat there and we were running with the best hot rods in the country.

[14-H]

Greg's/Worm's Sidewinder was very impressive in BSR. It was running about the same speed as Wellings' was running in BSH (58mph). Why is that? The Hot Rod hydro is about 5 to 6 mph faster than the HR runabout.

If what Greg says is correct about props, the Sidewinder is running nearly the same props as the Hot Rods which would make sense since it is apparently the same displacement, port height and gear ratio as the Hot Rod.

Are you guys running a dry tower with the Sidewinder like all the Merc J & AXS drivers are? This always made the HR run faster.

I just don't understand how Greg's/Worm's Sidewinder runs so much better than Dudley's, Schertz's and Wellings'.

Hopefully there will be parity in the Sidewinder engines. Once that happens, I agree that very little will need to be done to the Hot Rods for overall class parity.

Sorry for the delay in my response, Dean. Still exhausted from Dayton & dental work.

[racer3j]

All though Welling's BSH sidewinder is not running as good as Greg's speed wise it is very competitive in the class. And also note this is only Welling's second weekend out with the motor. Greg My father and I have put many many hours on the motor testing to get it to run at the level it is.

[14-H]

Bsh 58

Dylan: 58 mph is NOT competitive in BSH. It's about how fast a good HR runs with a blown lower crank seal. BTW: I keenly listened to the RPM's on Wellings' & Greg's/Worm's engine. They do not sound the same. Wellings' is about 6-8 hundred RPMS less.

BTW: this is the same discussion Richard (Hearn) and I had on Sat night about the J's. Ask him who was right.

[racer3j]

Im just going by from what i saw on sunday in the BSH race it seemed to me that Welling's sidewinder was not as far off as you would think of Sidor's very competitive HR