Other items on that SORC agenda

[Big Don]

“B) Rule 2, page 14 of the inspection manual which in part states that A
engines must operate with engine cowlings in place. This past summer, The National
Commissioner, over-turned the SORC’s ruling to disqualify a driver because the
cowlings came off while racing and thus reinstated the driver suggesting the driver was
in compliance with the rules when he left the pits. There are several other classes that
may experience cowl separation as well.”

I’m confused, and I know it does not take much to confuse me.

But based on this ruling does this mean if I go out and my engine loosens up or if someone were to bump my engine in the first turn and I’m disqualified for engine height that one could argue that I left the pit’s legal therefore I should not be disqualified?

[Joe J]

You should ask J. Michael about this, as he has expierenced EXACTLY what you described.

Joe

I’m confused, and I know it does not take much to confuse me.

But based on this ruling does this mean if I go out and my engine loosens up or if someone were to bump my engine in the first turn and I’m disqualified for engine height that one could argue that I left the pit’s legal therefore I should not be disqualified?[/QUOTE]

[Norm Schaub]

I think it's a matter of speed advantage. The cowling rule was put in place by OMC when the A/J motor was presented to the SORC, for product identification.
Since there is no OMC anymore, the rule is not needed.
Engine hight is a speed advantage.

[Big Don]

So are you saying their is no increase in HP when you take the cowl off?

[csh2z]

I agree with you Don, it was BS!

[mike ross]

Its on the agenda for a reason. This is a crappy rule. If you lose your engine cover while racing you should never be disqualified. Can you imagine telling an A drivers parents there kids out after a 45 mile marathon. I am sure this will be corrected. Mikey

[Big Don]

Don't agree Mike...

You gain HP when it's off. Do what others do...tie strap and tape make sure it does not fall off.

[42M]

If I remember correctly, at least 3 A's lost their cover on Saturday at Top O - mine included. Its somewhere in Mullet Lake. The way I have understood it is that as long as you make an attempt to race with it on you won't be dq'd should it come off. Seems that there is a loophole that Don has spotted.

[17W]

So are you saying their is no increase in HP when you take the cowl off?

I have dyno sheets that prove it, not alot but it does.

I commend the efforts put forward to get reinstated, as there was no inspection after the elimination heats.......

[BP125V]

what the rule says is.....

the engine MUST be raced with the cowls in place. PERIOD. You cannot run a sport based on intentions. Either the cowl is in place or it is not. You are either legal or not legal. The rule needs to stay but also needs to be enforceable by the judge's stand - it is very obvious when a cowl falls off, no reason to rely on the inspector to have to make the call, everyone on the judge's stand can see that it is off.

This may come across as though I think we ought to DQ more people but that is not my intent here. My intent has to do with making it easier for the race committee to enforce an existing rule and get rid of the gray area that caused a lot of headache for the race committee in DePue this past summer at the Stock Divisionals.

Think about it this way: I beat you on the race course and show up in inspection with my engine too high and I tell the inspector "But I made an attempt to race with it at a legal height....." yeah, right.

It always has been a rule and that is why I tape mine on, plus they are expensive!


Bill

PS - Backus is correct, pull the cover and your RPM's go up!

[modracer7b]

Selective Enforcement

Rules like this are part of the reason that I quit racing. While I don't personally feel the cowl is that great of a speed enhancement, my 10 year old got thrown out at a local JSR race because his fell off back in 88 and I have seen this rule enforced or not depending on who you are several times over the years. If the rule is on the books, you enforce it. If you don't want to enforce it for everyone, then you remove it from the book.

Bill Rosado

[MGallagher]

Well said Bill. Vote Brown!

[ram95]

Loose cowls a safety issue

I haven't seen any comments concerning the "hazard" presented when a cowl comes off. To me, that ought to be the first item addressed, ie security of the freaking cowl. Or the OMC cowl. or the EXpensive Tohatsu cowl. OR anything else which has shown itself prone to fall off.

Look at the overkill regarding Grade 8 bolts on the A steering bar etc... obviously safety was a concern there.

Seems to me, the cowls, especially the ones we often see come loose, ought to be the subject of an 'acceptable modification' which allows them to be properly (ie adequately) held on. Obviously, a nice tape job isn't quite the ticket when a seconds count. So maybe some other arrangement would be preferred. But to launch a boat without the cowl ADEQUATELY fastened down seems a bit unsafe. Anybody agree with that? blammmo blammo whackk arrrrrrrrrrrrrrghh ooooffff Kablammm.... yeah I hear ya!!!

Adequately would mean (to me anyway) that the cowl wouldn't come off it it got dooshed by a rooster-tail. However, if the engine got smacked by another boat... that's a whole nuther matter.

Have a nice day
Alex

[ram95]

Ohh yeah.... a snowmobile neighbor loafing around here while I typed the previous post asked me "whats so unsafe if your cowl comes off?" Since she was also a Harley rider I realized before replying that there was only a 'room temperature' IQ involved so I had mercy and politely said: Cause somebody might run into it with their prop or it could smack em in the faceshield.

"Awesome.... let's go riding" was her response.

And a NICE day it is going to be.

[ricochet112]

Rules like this are part of the reason that I quit racing. While I don't personally feel the cowl is that great of a speed enhancement, my 10 year old got thrown out at a local JSR race because his fell off back in 88 and I have seen this rule enforced or not depending on who you are several times over the years. If the rule is on the books, you enforce it. If you don't want to enforce it for everyone, then you remove it from the book.

Bill Rosado

How about the winter nats in CA when Ed Hearn helped reinstate Andy Anderson when they had to remove the cowl (because the cold engine wouldn't start) and didn't have time to reinstall it, they had a working rewind and Andy won ASH. Ed pushed it through by calling it a safety issue, lmao, it all depends on who you are and who you know in high places.

If cowling rule is going to get an overhaul, you cannot forget about the broken rewind exemption.

What is the RPM increase with the cowl off 10-15?? At best?!

Does anyone remember the trick to keeping 30H & 40H cowls on? Drilling and pinning the retaining screw on the front cover. This is what we started doing 6-7 years ago on our A stuff; we drilled a hole in the lower cowl's ledge just above the latch and through the latch, bent some small rod to make a crude looking type of safety pin. This keeps the latch from falling down and we have never lost a cowl with this retention device in place since.