National meeting agenda ....

[Boatracer4fun]

My Concerns..

Reading up to this point I like what Howie has mentioned in previous posts.

I run 20ssh, CSH and OSY.

I bought Gary Lewis Rig, Motor and best prop. Until I crashed the boat, I was running 2nd and 3rd most of the heats. Until recently is when I have been running up front neck and neck. What Im saying is its a complete package deal as far as winning...boat motor prop driver to win races. Just becuase I bought a hot motor from Gary doesnt guarentee me in the winners circle each time.

Speaking Sidewinder. Im not fore or against but my question that pops up in my head is what is the turn around time from Sidewinder if 20 call today and order motors. I know 1 person calling will be 2-3 weeks, but what happens when the rush comes in and everybody wants one? Will Sidewinder be ready to support the demand or will racers be on hold till mid to end of season.

Those are my thoughts on the subject.

[Big Don]

… that is my point exactly. I knew the responses you would get from potential racers would be all over the board. I knew it would be from young kids to people that are retired. I knew it would be people well off to people that really can’t afford it. I knew the speeds they thought they wanted to go would vary. That is why it’s so hard for us to pinpoint our potential customer, they just like all of us, are different. We are not a main stream sport like Shep said. How do we get there? I don’t think we ever will. There is a reason the likes of Mercury & OMC haven’t come to us. Do we need Sidewinder? Absolutely!!!! Anything you want to do and be good at takes a commitment, personally and financially. Problem is I don’t think we know what is the right thing to do. We all think we do but do we really? You may have an opinion but do you really know? I know I certainly don’t.

I spend every extra penny I have on this sport. No I’m not rich but I sacrifice other things so I can race. Why because I love it. If you truly love something why not? There is always the chance I may not be here next week so why not do what you truly love as much as you can, while you can. Yes I may out live my savings but I’m betting I don’t…Something about my younger years catching up to me. And besides, that is why I had 5 kids, one of them will hopefully take care of me. Not all families can and will give up what some of us do. I was lucky for 30 years that I had a wife that understood. (I think…Maybe that was a bad assumption based on things recently) She may not have always liked it but she understood. I’m betting there are only a few of us out there that can do that. Yes there are people that are better off financially. But I’m betting the average person is not like the top 20% who go more than 5 weekends a year. They either can’t afford it, have chosen not to base on family needs, or other activities interfere. But do we know that reason?

Where am I going with this you ask?

The average person races only 7 times a year. Here is how I came up with that. I took everyone that raced this year and took the class they had the highest total races and made an assumption that would be how many days of racing they attended. Now I know that could be off slightly. Someone could have raced ASH 3 weekends and then ASR 2 weekends and they would only get counted for 6 days not 10. Or they may only race ASR one day and then BSR the other day. But I am willing to bet the number is not off that much...especially on the high end. It’s the low end I’m concerned about. 55% of the people who raced stock only raced 1 – 6 times this past year. That’s three weekends or less. Why are these people not racing more? Is it cost? Is it because they could care less if they win or not they only attend because of the people? Is it because of the lack of new equipment? Is it because of travel? Do we really know?

My point is we don’t know any of this stuff but we make assumptions and make decisions that impact all of us based on assumptions.

[steve jones]

…

Where am I going with this you ask?

The average person races only 7 times a year. Here is how I came up with that. I took everyone that raced this year and took the class they had the highest total races and made an assumption that would be how many days of racing they attended. Now I know that could be off slightly. Someone could have raced ASH 3 weekends and then ASR 2 weekends and they would only get counted for 6 days not 10. Or they may only race ASR one day and then BSR the other day. But I am willing to bet the number is not off that much...especially on the high end. It’s the low end I’m concerned about. 55% of the people who raced stock only raced 1 – 6 times this past year. That’s three weekends or less. Why are these people not racing more? Is it cost? Is it because they could care less if they win or not they only attend because of the people? Is it because of the lack of new equipment? Is it because of travel? Do we really know?

My point is we don’t know any of this stuff but we make assumptions and make decisions that impact all of us based on assumptions.

So I guess I'm the average racer?

this year I traveled to 3 races,Augusta, Top"O", Dayton. I wanted to do 5 races but work got in the way. Living down here, the closest APBA race for me is Dayton,4.5 hrs, and since I want to race marathon, I have to travel to Michigan ,Augusta, Trenton, Grass Lake all 7 to 8 hrs, Top O' 11 hrs, (1 way)
The fact that I can race marathon and closed course at 3 and maybe 4 events makes it worth while for the travel time to run CSR and 25ssr closed course and CSR marathon, if the 102 gets eliminated from 25, I will not travel to Dayton to run just C. but I will still go to the other races,

I got back into Stock for the fun of it, at my age running in middle is ok with me, finishing is the goal, and seeing old friends and meeting new,

Yes, bring on the Sidewinder, but do not eliminate any existing motors now,let the Sidewinder becomes the dominate motor and see how many they can sell in 3 yrs to fully support 3 classes ( 30 or 40 motors per class??)

For 2010, I plan on 4 Michigan, 2 Ohio(if Lakemore has a marathon)
and 2 NBRA races
Lots of hours on the road to have some fun

I agree with everything in Don's post, it is the reality of how things are today and probably tomorrow too.

[drbyrne55]

PS: the 302 DOES NOT need any more advantages over the 102...............


[QUOTE=Matt Dagostino;144925]What do you base this opinion on?? Do you feel the two engines are equal in performance on a NATIONAL level??



Maybe raise the 302 the 5/8". Then maybe we can get back to our old 302 test data.

[Mrs blueskyracer]

Slightly off topic: You talk about how many races people attend. I would be willing to guess that we would all attend more if we didn't have to work, of course we have to work to be able to afford to race. We only have so many days of vacation for travel days. In our case, we have to travel on a Friday and Monday to make it to a race site that races both weekend days,7 races are about all we can do when we combine vacation days with holidays such as memorial day and 4th of July. So we have a pretty long travel time from Montana. I for one would be more than willing to race every weekend in the summer (ok as long I get a couple for horse shows).

[Matt Dagostino]

Hum...............

Maybe raise the 302 the 5/8". Then maybe we can get back to our old 302 test data.

Thanks anyway....i was just curious how you rate the 302 vs 102 at the current transom height of 3/4" performance wise.

Matt

[drbyrne55]

Thanks anyway....i was just curious how you rate the 302 vs 102 at the current transom height of 3/4" performance wise.

Matt

It has cost us CSH top end. We will try boat design to regain loss but the 102 owners are currently doing the same. The REV helped last year.

I'm fine leaving things "as is" but it doesn't give owners of great 102's a reason to change to the 302? That's the debate right?

What would it take for Pater to run a 302 in CSH?

[14J]

It has cost us CSH top end

I hope that's not your 302 at 3/4", if so I think we better do something to help my 102

[guedo499]

Thanks anyway....i was just curious how you rate the 302 vs 102 at the current transom height of 3/4" performance wise.

Matt

102 vs. 302

We run the 302 on the CSH and 20. We do that because we run the same boat in both classes. It's quite a bit easier to change a restrictor plate than a motor. Unequivocally, our 102 is faster than 302 in CSH and I believe our 302 is very good motor. This was the case at 1/2" and the current 3/4"

[drbyrne55]

102 vs. 302

We run the 302 on the CSH and 20. We do that because we run the same boat in both classes. It's quite a bit easier to change a restrictor plate than a motor. Unequivocally, our 102 is faster than 302 in CSH and I believe our 302 is very good motor. This was the case at 1/2" and the current 3/4"

This data is GOOD data. I believe Pater has posted similar data comments. Time to move the 302 to 5/8 yet?

Or just add 10lbs to 102 boats

Just a friendly question?

[22W]

Mr. Byrne,

I do believe the reason for making the 3/4 restriction was twofold. First, it was meant to level the playing field somewhat between the two motors. Second, it was to help people who were cooking motors trying to keep up with the 102. Pain in the butt for inspectors aside, I believe that raising the 302 would be negating a large part of the reason that the heights were dropped in the first place. Since I myself only run 302's, I personally would love to get some more help. I just don't know if going back up is the right way to do it. That being said, bring on all ideas!

Burdick

[Team B&H]

Thanks for your comments Guido and Dan. I'm sure Joe Pater would run a 302 instead of his 102in CSH if the 302 were simply faster. I felt we were more competitive with our 302 stuff when the propshaft height was level with the bottom than we are now down in the basement at 3/4 inch. Sure we scuffed up some pistons to get to the point where we could run level, but I spent less on those half dozen pistons than on the props the "safety" rule forced on us. Maybe I'm just stubborn staying with the 302 instead of playing with some 102 stuff. But, hey, the commissioners by in large have been 102 guys just looking out for their own interests like most politicians do. I'd like to think that would change with elected commissioners that should be more receptive to us little guys but we'll see.

[Charlie Pater]

What do people think about making the 20SSH / BSH height the same as CSH?

[Boatracer4fun]

Making the BSH change to CSH height would kill the BSH guys running 80's

..Just my .02

[j hydro racer]

sorry troy

sorry troy but i had to show them..
troys secrets speed watch out for him at nationals