To plug or not to plug......Merc 15

[Kev43V]

Or if plugging is allowed it simplifies the Merc inspection to a point but also changes the competitive balance against the OMC.

question 1:
So I take this to mean that you feel the the Merc is a stronger motor than the OMC if it is plugged? or are they just closer to equal?
Q2:
I have been told that people saw a 100 rpm change with their test wheels after plugging. Is this enough change to make all records stand forever? or will boat continue to evolve to the point that it the 100 rpm can be compensated for?

[jeff55v]

J and AXS

The biggest improvement to the class would be to lower the motor a quarter of an inch and most of the problems of getting on plane would be solved.

AMEN to that!
Heck, I say let's drop the motor an INCH!!!! On plane testing and kids not being able to race because their boat would not plane out is pure silliness! This is a kid's class for pete's sake!
As for plugging or not, I really don't care much either way. As long as everyone is equal.

[Fast Jack]

Hey Carl

I am proud of the fact that my son ( Jack ) and I do so many things togather. Be it Ice fishing, boat racing, hunting, or family movie night. When Jack started racing it was thaught that I was his Grandfather !!! ( thanks a lot SR !!!) I am 45 years older than My kid!! It kills me when parents dont spend time with kids . Jack has a cousin thats a couch potato because his work at home dad is to tired , busy, late . to do anything with him. I know this has nothing to do with pluging Merc motors. I have also done the Cub scout leader bit. ( yes we won the pine wood derby )( Thanks MSR.) and so many of the kids got dropped off at events like they were laundry. Back to pluged Mercs . I tried to explain to Jack the dry stack . He wanted to try it to see if it was faster . These J kids all seem to have a need for speed. I have been puting in as much effort in to Jacks boats as he wants to , I usually average 35-40 races a season . This year it was 12 or 15. Its more important to me to help Jack have a good time and learn how to be his best. Shawn

[Team B&H]

Kev,

Stronger versus the OMC with regard to both having the same size restrictor plates in J and AXS as currently used. It is nowhere enough to make it competitive with the OMC in A but then that is irrevelant since it is not legal there anyway.

Records get changed all the time. In the not so distant past when Js ran decent 2 blade props that planned off easily and were faster, all those records were thrown out with the advent of the cheaper and junky 3 blade props as currently used. Of course, starting with a fresh sheet of records always gives the west coast guys a tremendous advantage for points for the Hall of Champions with their better conditions for record races and kilos. All the B Stock records including a fantastic one that Jan Crist set in BSH on the 1 2/3 course at Yelm were thrown out simply because the Stock guys though the 15 class should be called B instead.

[Matt Dagostino]

Don

It clearly states the following…

It is permissible to remove the thermostat and to restrict the water in any manner within the thermostat housing. So what is being done is legal under the rule.

I am not so sure the rule is as black and white as some may think. I don't have my rulebook handy but i was told by Stillwill and others that there is conflicting language in another section of the spec sheet that states you can't block the cooling water from the tuner pipe!

We always took that interpritation as trumping the thermostat language...........guess we were wrong! After the Nationals we tested a couple motors at Lock Haven and indeed blocking off the thermostat housing did increase performance substantially.

It bothers me that inspectors and other parties that were aware of the 'PLUGGING' did not question these 'questionable' engines and let the J Committee clearify the issue earlier in the game much the same way the "ring" issue was clarified last year! I also applaud the families that set records and won races with plugged motors since obviousely their interpritation of the rule was correct..........for the moment

Racing is a game of finding a edge and it is the job of the rule makers to close off the loopholes and grey areas to assure all drivers are on the same level playing field. I chuckle when i see posts about J being a division for learning and that winning isn't important. It is as important to a 8 year old as it is to a 70 year old! As long as we have a checkered flag, high points and a Hall Of Champions spot for the 'kids' then let the drama roll baby!!

I have heard idle chatter about cleaning up the J Class rule book for years now...............maybe it is time for the J Committee or the Board Of Directors to get Sam Hemp, George Stillwill, Mike Wienardt and other experienced parties to take a few hours and get it done! That's what I would do if i was running the show! Just a thought!

Have a good one.

Sincerly
The Captain..............proud owner of a freshly plugged Merc 15

[thepiranhabros]

Yes, winning is important too, but...

I am not so sure the rule is as black and white as some may think. I don't have my rulebook handy but i was told by Stillwill and others that there is conflicting language in another section of the spec sheet that states you can't block the cooling water from the tuner pipe!

We always took that interpritation as trumping the thermostat language...........guess we were wrong! After the Nationals we tested a couple motors at Lock Haven and indeed blocking off the thermostat housing did increase performance substantially.

It bothers me that inspectors and other parties that were aware of the 'PLUGGING' did not question these 'questionable' engines and let the J Committee clearify the issue earlier in the game much the same way the "ring" issue was clarified last year! I also applaud the families that set records and won races with plugged motors since obviousely their interpritation of the rule was correct..........for the moment

Racing is a game of finding a edge and it is the job of the rule makers to close off the loopholes and grey areas to assure all drivers are on the same level playing field. I chuckle when i see posts about J being a division for learning and that winning isn't important. It is as important to a 8 year old as it is to a 70 year old! As long as we have a checkered flag, high points and a Hall Of Champions spot for the 'kids' then let the drama roll baby!!

I have heard idle chatter about cleaning up the J Class rule book for years now...............maybe it is time for the J Committee or the Board Of Directors to get Sam Hemp, George Stillwill, Mike Wienardt and other experienced parties to take a few hours and get it done! That's what I would do if i was running the show! Just a thought!

Have a good one.

Sincerly
The Captain..............proud owner of a freshly plugged Merc 15

Matt:

I don't think anybody has said winning in the J category isn't important. At least I know I did not say that. I consider winning a tangential part of the experience I spoke of in my previous post.

I can't stand it when, for example, every kid on every baseball team gets a trophy at the end of the year. When I was a kid, your team either won or lost. If you won, you got a trophy and a pizza party. If you lost, you got, "Oh well, there's always next season." (Kinda like the Chicago Cubs) In my opinion, winning is something one earns, not something that is given for participation or by default. One must put in the time and effort, and gain the experience required in order to win.

My point was (and still is) that the J category is the place for the kids to learn how to drive and gain experience handling their boats in racing conditions, and that giving them too much power too soon can be not only dangerous, but a potential deterrent. I know, I know... this sport is inherently dangerous, and we all choose at what level to participate. But why up the ante by putting kids into a 42 mph JH who may not know how to handle it? Those kids are dangers to not only themselves, but to every other kid on the race course.

In my humble opinion, leave the engines alone for J, and if you want to dry the tower and tweak it for greater speed, do it in AXS after kids have had a season (or a few) getting accustomed to running J. The winning and sense of accomplishment will still be had in J, albeit a little on the slower and safer side.

Michael Mackey
21-V

[Moon child]

Maybe we can just make the class J Mod for those who dont want to run stock.

[Big Don]

“I am not so sure the rule is as black and white as some may think. I don't have my rulebook handy but i was told by Stillwill and others that there is conflicting language in another section of the spec sheet that states you can't block the cooling water from the tuner pipe!”


Matt or anyone…Can someone point this out because I’ve read the rule book several times and don’t see any such wording.

[Dave M]

Agree W/Matt

Winning teaches an important lesson to kids. Losing also teaches a kid something.

I would say perhaps 90% of the kids do care about winning or losing, and maybe 10% just want to be out there. A kids first year is important to simply learn how to drive, plane off, etc. After that, it is about competition. If you don't prepare your kids for competition how will they react in AXSH or another class ? They would be more in danger than racing a J at 42MPH. Once you move up, you need to know how to drive in a competitive situation. I don't want to go into a corner side by side with someone who is not prepared to know what might happen.

For those parents who don't want their kids to go 42MPH, don't plug it.... set it up safe. Simple as that. I think a much more important lesson though is to learn what those speeds are, and how to drive with those speeds, and race with other boats. Give them a sesne of accomplishment. You can take them for a boat ride at the local lake any day of the week with the same rig.....