Shorter Nationals ?

[Racerkyle20]

When we had the stocks in region 10, we ran a course that was 7/8ths of a mile. Great course! loved it. out driving someone was most of the racing, instead of fastest wins. I'll agree to we need more nationals courses like that!

[Dave M]

Brian

There seems to be several different thoughts on this thread, I will try and comment on a couple.

1st - SO & MO combo Nats whenever possible. Combo helps both categories in additional entries. Split Nats either has guys choising one or the other or having to try and do both (which burns up Vac and Boss')

2nd - Length of the event. Should be as long as is needed to complete it. With weather and other factors that can not be controlled, the host club has to add to the schedule enough room to make sure they complete all the racing. The first time a Nats is forced to be only X number of days will be the first time a champion is not crowned.

3rd - Length of course. We do not race the same course every weekend, why should we race the same course every Nats? Some are big, others smaller. Nascar does not race Bristol or Daytona every weekend and neither should we.

4th - a Central Loc. This would be great but as many have said, it is hard to have a single club put on the nats every year. Not to mention the sponsors, etc for an every year. If possible, it would be great but it is so difficult to pull off.

I will agree to disagree with you. Unless some things changes, we don't all race those rice burners that are special built for racing only engines, the nat's need to be considered for seperation. I know there are advantages to combined financially, but lets think about the racers first. Why make them spend a ton extra for special engines, props, etc and remove the driving skills ? If we have a combined Nat's it is always at a place that can accomodate a large number of trailers, and therefore is a pretty large lake. Large lakes are prone to blow outs. They are also more than likley used to set a huge mile and half course up.

If you have a one location year after year, and it is the right location, you have eliminated logistical issues, and made the work easier for whatever club that wants to put it on. You have a spot that becomes known, it becomes legend. This will attract more people to the sport in my opinion.

This one will kill ya, I also think all Mod motors should be required to have open exhaust !

[Matt Dagostino]

Semantics, But......

I have heard that there will be discussion at the National APBA meeting about shortening the length of the Stock Outboard summer nationals. Typically this event runs for 5 to 6 days in August each year.

Do racers and crew feel that this event should be shortened? Besides posting your vote please explain your thoughts either Pro or Con about doing so if you would like to. Thanks.

Yes - I feel the S.O. summer nationals should be shortened.

No - I think the S.O. summer nationals should remain as they are.

Tom
There is no such thing as the 'Summer Nationals"...........I think you mean to say the Stock Outboard National Championships. THE ONE AND ONLY!!

The Winter Nationals are just another race.

Merry Christmas!

Matt
ps................trying to pull off a Nationals in less than a week would be tough.

[bill boyes]

As for a smaller National course you are governed by the 1000ft rule from the starting line to the first pin.
One way to shorten the National Stock/Mod program would be to go to a 3 heat format. No elimination heats like the Pros do at Depue. Best time makes the final 3rd 12 boat heat. Everyone gets at least 2 heats.

[B Walker]

One way to shorten the National Stock/Mod program would be to go to a 3 heat format. No elimination heats like the Pros do at Depue. Best time makes the final 3rd 12 boat heat. Everyone gets at least 2 heats.

Are you suggesting the first 2 heats would have 30+ boats in it for our largest 5 classes?

If that is your suggestion, I am suggesting there is already a place for people that want to race in that format. Do we need another?

If not, I think I need some clarification to your suggestion....

This one will kill ya, I also think all Mod motors should be required to have open exhaust !

That one needs some clarification too....

BW

[Brian10s]

I will agree to disagree with you. Unless some things changes, we don't all race those rice burners that are special built for racing only engines, the nat's need to be considered for seperation. I know there are advantages to combined financially, but lets think about the racers first. Why make them spend a ton extra for special engines, props, etc and remove the driving skills ? If we have a combined Nat's it is always at a place that can accomodate a large number of trailers, and therefore is a pretty large lake. Large lakes are prone to blow outs. They are also more than likley used to set a huge mile and half course up.

If you have a one location year after year, and it is the right location, you have eliminated logistical issues, and made the work easier for whatever club that wants to put it on. You have a spot that becomes known, it becomes legend. This will attract more people to the sport in my opinion.

This one will kill ya, I also think all Mod motors should be required to have open exhaust !

Will agree to disagree.
Just because you have all that water does not mean the course HAS to be Daytona. That is up to the club putting on the race - always has been. And if the majority of racers voice their opinion on course size, then that is usually what happens.

As for the open exhaust, coming from a former 400MH driver, nothing sounds better than an open pipe (or 20H w/ kamode) running wide open. But with some premium race sites getting houses put on them, you have to make choices - races sites or open pipes. Look at the sites lost to MO in FL as an example.

[DiGia54D]

Although the idea of open pipe's was the main reason I started racing years ago, I think in this day and age quite is better. What are open pipes worth when there is hardly anyplace to run them. From CT other then Thompson i have to drive 6 hours to the closest place that will alow them.
I think the only reason to combined stock/Mod Nats is because of all the time off of work. 1 week somewhere then another week somewere else. Way to long.
almost impossible to shorten a stock nationals anyway. (A) Weather? (B) amount of entries? never know until they show up
Plus you have to have tesing at a nationals. If I went from CT to Wakefiled Mich I could be 100% posative my motor would not run the same at both locations. Been there/ done that.

[Kev43V]

I can only see one way to shorten the Nats.:
we lose up to 15 minutes per patrol boat change. less patrol boat changes=less time. I for one have no desire to sit in a patrol boat or on the judges stand for 4 hours at a time. So it seems to me we better not try to shorten the amount of days for a nat
Just my 2 cents

[bill boyes]

Are you suggesting the first 2 heats would have 30+ boats in it for our largest 5 classes?

If that is your suggestion, I am suggesting there is already a place for people that want to race in that format. Do we need another?

If not, I think I need some clarification to your suggestion....



That one needs some clarification too....

BW

BW, say you have 30 CSH's, 1a heat set has 10 boats. and 1b heat set has 10 boats and 1c heat set has 10 boats. mixed up the draw and run the 10 boat fields again for the second heat 2a,2b & 2c. The 3rd and final heat will be the best 12 of the 30 based on order of finish(points) or time when there
is a tie in points.
As the rule reads now at National events must run a 2 heat Elimination and a 2 heat final.
At Divisonals the race committee may run a 3 heat format. It is not done very often because the rule is somewhat confusing.

[B Walker]

I can only see one way to shorten the Nats.:
we lose up to 15 minutes per patrol boat change. less patrol boat changes=less time.

How about less classes?

[Kev43V]

How about less classes?

What classes do you want to drop Brad?

[Racerkyle20]

What classes do you want to drop Brad?

LOL drop AXS, approve sidewinder and merc in A and have more ASH's at nationals.... more competition with less classes.

[B Walker]

What classes do you want to drop Brad?

Heres some ideas:

Designate the highest participation classes in Stock Outboard as National, all others are Regional. Regional classes don't get Hall of Championship points for winning Nats.

Any Stock Outboard class that does not have 12 participants at the Nationals becomes probationary (no national points for following year). Any class that is probationary due to inactivity for 9 years in a row gets dropped. Currently there is no written process for dropping a class.

[Jesse_Swain]

Ryan-

I agree Bill, let's make the Nationals longer, like a month or so. I'd quit my job every year if I had to to get time off.

You would quit your job if the nationals were extended only a couple of more days... let alone a month...!!!

[Kev43V]

[QUOTE=B Walker;147728]Heres some ideas:

Designate the highest participation classes in Stock Outboard as National, all others are Regional. Regional classes don't get Hall of Championship points for winning Nats.

The highest? thats one class
how many classes do you want? 2? 4?