Sidewinder in A class

[Big Don]

Only saw the sidewinder run on an A Hydro once this year. And I must say I didn’t get a good feel for it. Andy Hanson put one on his A Hydro and it was out of control. So here is my question. Who all has run it on a current OMC A Hydro and what did you see and what do you think needs to happen to the boats if anything. Andy felt he needed a bigger boat. He actually pulled off the course because he felt it was unsafe. It certainly didn’t look like fun from the shoreline. He said the engine had a lot of torque and felt good.

[reed28n]

Tower Height is different

Please share more information.

Do you know if Andy was able to run the motor at 1 3/8" below the bottom?

Was he set at the same kick out as his A?

What were the water conditions?

Did he run the same prop?

What was the distance from the trailing edge of the bottom to the prop location?

How boats in the field?

[dwilderacer]

Handeling

We ran our Sidewinder at max height with @ 3/16 tuck and it handles well. Our boat seemed to be the answer, as it was not designed for high tuck and had NO inset on the transom. It seems that the package likes a more traditional hydro than most people are running in A lately. I know that Schwartz had to hack out transoms and move them aft on his boats to get them to ride. P.S. Run the same props as we did on the OMC, so you don't need to run out and spend alot for wheels initially

[Howie Nichols]

I think that Racing Outboards is doing a great thing producing these motors, however my thoughts are they should concentrate on getting the 15 (B) and 20 ci motor tuned better so that anyone can buy one put it on a boat and get a decent ride. They may not be out front immediately but they should not be without spending some time to dial in the rig.

My vote is NO to the Sidewinder in the A class at this point, fix your other 2 motors and finish all the development then submit again in another 2 years, perhaps then the A class will have dwindled in numbers to where it needs help and the B / 25 classes will have grown with the new Sidewinder helping them out and everyone can have a decent class to run in.

[reed28n]

Paths to take

Howie that is one path.

What is wrong with having a motor that people can buy for the A class so the numbers don't dwindle.

Stock Outboard membership gross total numbers have remained very flat for the last few years.

The issue is that we have great number of different faces. We get new drivers every year which means we lose an equal number of drivers each year.

By having race ready motors that can be procured easily we can boost the number of new drivers.

[csh2z]

Howie, All three motors are competitive right now. The development is complete on all three models. All of the specs have been submitted already. There have been 4 "A" motors running nationwide all year. Their performance has been consistant and equal to the better OMC"s.
This manufacturer has accomplished everything they have set out to do.

Now it is time for Stock Outboard to honor our committment to them.

[Howie Nichols]

Nothing is wrong with having motors available. But in another thread it was stated that the Mercury should not be allowed in the A classes so that it can stay available for the J drivers.

If you bought a Merc then you should know that you would NOT be able to win and are just out there to help the field grow (which means INCREASED #'s)

So why is it so different that the Sidewinder be accepted when as John stated it is competitive with the best OMC's out there. Doesn't that take away from everyone who doesn't have the best but still goes knowing this?

Becky and I logged 1000's of miles the past 2 years to go and race knowing we did not have the best or fastest equipment. We went because we love the sport, the people in it, and to have FUN!

I just think you may be repeating the past (1985 OMC vs KG4)by bringing in a motor to a class that is one of the largest out there. Aren't there other clases that need more help? DSR, DSH, 25SSR, 15SS just to start?

[Norm Schaub]

I think that if Racing Outboards is able to supply motors for all 3 classes in a timely manor, we should approve it now. This is the best thing that has happend to Stock Outboard Racing in years.
While the Tohatsu was a shot in the arm for the "D" class, Racing Outboards can help to grow more classes.

[Tom Cronk]

Just a joke

THIS LOOKS LIKE ALL THE STOCK COMMISIONERS
OVER THE MERC A MOTOR

[3rd Chance]

Sidewinder A

I can't believe anyone would vote no to this........You're not eliminating any motors. You are adding (much needed) new blood to the A class.

It boggles my mind that this is even a poll on here.....

[T Chance]

I have a granddaughter that is going to start in J next year. She'll be nine and her parents and I don't know if she is actually going to race or just get some boat time. But, being a Pro family if she likes it she will probably move on to K-Pro at some point. But there are also Stock races within reasonable driving distance.

A new out-of-the box multipurpose stock motor would really be nice.

The photo is Lyndsay McGrath next to her never been in the water new hydro.

[Kev43V]

I think that Racing Outboards is doing a great thing producing these motors, however my thoughts are they should concentrate on getting the 15 (B) and 20 ci motor tuned better so that anyone can buy one put it on a boat and get a decent ride. They may not be out front immediately but they should not be without spending some time to dial in the rig.

My vote is NO to the Sidewinder in the A class at this point, fix your other 2 motors and finish all the development then submit again in another 2 years, perhaps then the A class will have dwindled in numbers to where it needs help and the B / 25 classes will have grown with the new Sidewinder helping them out and everyone can have a decent class to run in.

THEY HAVE done just that

[26V]

Shawn
I created the Poll to get an idea of how the racing members felt about the Sidewinder A motor ( 15HS )
The racers that have run the motor seem to all agree that the A motor is competative but not dominating the races it has run in. To me that is a win win for the Stock division and APBA in general. Racing Outboards and Ed Runne have done a great job with this motor. I hope the commissioners vote to make it legal next year. After all the time and money that Racing Outboards has put into this project its the least the SORC can do.

EX Commissioner

[Howie Nichols]

OK, You guys keep saying that Racing Outboards has done it all, maybe they have.

I just talked to Ron and he filled me in on some of the Sidewinder happenings. He is totally dedicated to the sport and wants to continue to promote it and is doing so by building these motors. He also stated they are doing their best to ensure that each motor sold will run competitvely right out of the box.

Look, I support Ron and his endeavors, God knows we need all the help we can get, but I still think they should concentrate on getting the 15 & B rolling, leave the A alone for now or run as a probationary status (I think the Sidewinder will be approved in time)and put all the efforts into the 15 & B to get those perfected then come back to the A. Now in doing some research I found out that several years ago the SORC asked Racing Outboards to delay the development of the B and concentrate on building up the A.

Is this true? Maybe some past members of the SORC can enlighten us as to the thought process of why and if they thought all the OMC's will dry up and why they thought it important to delay the B production and focus on the A.

[hydroracer25]

Really?

[QUOTE=csh2z;144450]All three motors are competitive right now. The development is complete on all three models. All of the specs have been submitted already. There have been 4 "A" motors running nationwide all year. Their performance has been consistant and equal to the better OMC"s.
This manufacturer has accomplished everything they have set out to do.
QUOTE]

C'mon John, I've listened to this rhetoric from you for a few years now. If "they have accomplished everything they set out to do", then answer a few more things...to humor me.
1) I know there are 3 "15H" Sidewinders running in late 2009. They are not going to beat good Hot Rods in Region 6. How do they plan to sell the "15H" Sidewinder if they are not going to be beat by a handful of remaining Hot Rods? Do you eliminate the Hot Rods?
2) Who has run the "20S" / B Sidewinder engine besides Rich Runne in the 25SSR class? I know you say it's competitive, but let's face it, 25SSR isn't the best comparison for competitiveness. You got Hearn who waxes the field when he get's the "super 25XS" and runs average when he gets the "average 25XS". You got 2 or three tough restricted Yamato and then what from there? Please inform me if there were others run.
3) I heard that a driver was going to test the "20S" Sidewinder before Lockhaven on the hydro and planned to run it against the Y80s in 20SSH at that race. What were the results? Testing? Racing? Racing against the Y80 is a much better indicator as there is more parity in 20SSH and 25SSR.

I won't disagree with the "A" / 15S data as there seems to be a pretty good concensus on it's performance. My only questions would be if it's running mid to front pack in ASH/ASR then it's running somewhere between 56-58mph (?). Once this engine gets "dialed" in will SO have a 60mph "A" and is that what we want?

One big difference between implementing the Sidewinder "15S" / A today and the OMC 25 years ago is the fact that they didn't have to create parity because there was only one legal motor - the OMC. Because we are trying to create parity to implement today (for the many various reasons), I think the racers want to make sure they have set specifications and have very similar speeds to the class(es) they are being merged with.

I know it doesn't sound like I'm a Sidewinder supporter and this is far from the truth. SO needs Sidewinder, but when SO is trying to create parity it needs to be done right from the initial implementation so heights, weights, and specs are not constantly changing to hit the right target.

Mark