25SSR Record Smashed

[Steve Warnock]

I agree with Ryan on this one, pull the restrictor plate and let boat growth begin for the mercs!

Warbs

[Tim Weber]

This Merc vs Yamato thing, the more I think about it, its such a non issue.

We have this point counterpoint discussion for what, 5 Merc
guys. I went back and looked at Dana's class participation list.

BSR 30
CSR 76
25SSR 49

The Merc guys it seems want to run 10 ft boats and roll them up. Hmmm, this sure sounds a lot like a BSR. Instead of trying to make a Merc run with a Yamato, why not try and make a Merc run with a B? They are both 10 ft boats, they both roll up, and the speed is somewhat similar.

With a total of 49 25SSR's and over 40 of them Yamato powered it seems to me this is really a Yamato class. Maybe call it CXSR. With the demise of DSR, CSR has taken DSR's place as the " BIG " runabout class. My CSR is not that far off in speed from what our old 55H would run.The Yamato 25 to me is a lot like and old 30H. I think the class participation has shown there is a place for CXSR. There are drivers who simply can't drive a CSR well if they are small. With the restricted Yamato, they can and it allows for another bigger boat class.

Are we going to kill the 3rd largest class we have in the runabout ranks?

Tim

[raceboat61-S]

Roll-ups, NO restrictors

Gents,
I've just started running 25SSR this year with a Mercury and although I have only raced it 2 times (Trenton and Grass Lake) the majority engine was in fact the Mercury. At Dayton most of the engines were Mercury, too. I don't know where the statistics came from that confirm that of the 49 registered competitors that more than 40 are Yamato powered but from my perspective it is NOT an accurate count. My vote is that we remove the restrictors AND require roll-up boats! Flip a coin before the heat, I'll even race clockwise around the course....my old Rinker doesn't care ! Mike 61-S

[14-H]

I agree with Ryan on this one, pull the restrictor plate and let boat growth begin for the mercs!

Warbs

So does that mean I can run open exhaust with my Hot Rod? Ed.

[AJennings]

How about we simply remove all side-fins from the 25SSR class? Leave the rest of the rules alone. Ed...............posted by 14-h

[AJennings]

How about we simply remove all side-fins from the 25SSR class? Leave the rest of the rules alone. Ed.............posted by 14-h i think that if u dont race the class u should let the compertes that do make the decision on weather or not to change the rules and if any rules should be made at all. And sorry about the other post i hit the wrong button!!

[22W]

Ed I would love to go test that one! 25 hydro vs. "real" B hydro is pretty close, but the merc still has a little bit at least in it's current configuration. If we pulled the restrictor and you went to pipes, that could be pretty close. However, we are then getting away from a "stock" class aren't we? Those "stock only, no mods" sanctions would be a little tough with all that noise. Either way if we are to run against the yamato, both the merc and the hot rod boats should grow in size. I know that you yourself have been there and although I never heard you complain, I would imagine that you wouldn't mind having a little more wood beneath you when you are not out front. Like I said before though, lets play with the runabouts first as it was the experiment in the first place.

[MGallagher]

Restrict the mercs even more to run with the B's(2 struggling classes), and/or get rid of the restricted yamatos. Lower the C weight 25 lbs and we would be all set. A restricted 33 horse verse a restricted 25 horse doesn't make much sense anyway, right?

Matt Gallagher
58J

[raceboat61-S]

20ssr ?

Gents,
If the numbers support a new class, has anyone considered an 80 Yamato runabout class? I for one am trying to find a way to race in more classes with the engines that I have (15ci. Hot Rod, Mk 20H, 25Mod, and 25XS). Thus, I have a mix of Stock and Mod engines and both hydro and runabouts. It seems that boats are relatively easy to come by (just survey the buy/sell pages for numbers of boats versus numbers of available engines). So my goal is to try to mix-n-match as many small hydro classes and small runabout classes using the same engine. I'd like only 2 boats so I don't have to drag a huge trailer. Would seem to me that Yamato 80 guys would want to do the same. Has there ever been a 20SSR class? If not why not? I still think the 25SSR class will survive on it's own, racing Mercury vs Mercury.
What I am more concerned about is the drift from runabout to hydro. While I have been out of racing for many, many years until recently, I remember when runabouts outnumbered hydros 2 : 1 particularly in the 2-cylinder classes. What has happened in my opinion, is that the boats have gotten lighter, less stable, less able to run in rough water.....at the same time the average age of racer has gone up 15 years ! I'm 59 years old and after several laps in my old Rinker I'm bruised and beaten for days after a race. Most of my contemporaries have figured this out years ago and migrated to hydroplanes 'cause it isn't so tough on the body. Mike Marshall, 61-S

[csh12M]

CSR Weight

We put out a poll ballot to lower CSR weigth 20 lbs last year and it went down badly. CSR drivers do not want to lower there weight.

Later,
12

[Tim Weber]

Mike,

There was a 20ssr class back in the 80's. I don't really know why but it didn't make it. I think it was too close to a BSR and at that time we had a lot of real B's. Also, guys were running the Y-80 on 10 ft boats and it didn't work the best because of the top heaviness of the motor.

I also believe a Y-80 is a legal 25 motor and it requires no restictor.

Tim

[raceboat61-S]

Tim, et al.
Thanks for the reply and the history lesson. I think you are right that the unrestricted Y-80 is legal in 20SSH and 25SSR. I'd like to see them, perhaps, generate their own class in a like configured, sized, weight runabout instead of mix'n with us smaller, 2-cylinder, roll-up guys in 25SSR. I would think that the change in CG and added instability of a top-heavy motor might be less significant on a hydro (hence the popularity of 20SSH). So the question is, "Why don't those Y-80 guys want their 'own' runabout class with 'C' length boats, their own weight limits, options for roll-up or flat-turners and call it 20SSR?" For $500- $1000 they could double the number of classes they run. I suspect the reason is the general waning popularity of runabouts by current racers. But, like I said, engines are hard to come by and expensive to own. I'm not sure where those few remaining 20ci. Hot Rods would compete....but likely in the Mercury class with me. Thanks, MIke Marshall 61-S

[bill boyes]

Restrict the mercs even more to run with the B's(2 struggling classes), and/or get rid of the restricted yamatos. Lower the C weight 25 lbs and we would be all set. A restricted 33 horse verse a restricted 25 horse doesn't make much sense anyway, right?

Matt Gallagher
58J

Matt, May be you would be all set but what about all the 190#+ CSH & CSR drivers? All the class wts in SO are right were they should be.

[DougMc]

Matt, May be you would be all set but what about all the 190#+ CSH & CSR drivers? All the class wts in SO are right were they should be.

The speed difference in my CSH between a 180 lbs driver and a 200 lbs driver is around 1 mph to 1.5 mph.

[MGallagher]

Yea...., sorry about that one. Just throwing out ideas at this point. The best one to me would be to let the 25 Merc runabout drivers run without the resticter. Talking to a few people, it seems to me that this would remedy most problems.

Matt Gallagher
58J