Problem Solving 101

[Steve Johnson]

"Stock it to me"

why don't we all just cash in Stock out board and put 110% behind superlight tunnels as the new S.O. ? the Equipment is new , can be bought at dealerships, and will never get blown out. This could open up many new venues. All existing classes / boats could be folded into MOD division. Let the dremmal tools find the pairity. This answers about all the points made here. Safer. Slower ? fewer classes, and can be bought by anyone with no connections.` Just thinking WAY outside the Box here. what does Stock exist for ,except as a quiet Mod division? Who does stock serve. Manufacters?
By the way I race Both. SO And Mod, Pro too..
O.K. " stock it to me"

[dwestby]

where or where

where are the days of starting out resonable cost in this sport. I sold yamato 80 shortly after first came out for a $425.00 and good starter C stock boat used $ 150. to $ 300. GENTEX HELment $ 100. Maybe we need a motor Tohatsu, Mer, Omc< Yamaha what ever for a like the novice class. Modle 80 class when it first got started was for new drivers, if you won you got xxx number of points when you got so many you were in a nother class can remenber what it was maybe b hydo. model 80 was stock, stock 2 bld brozen prop and a claimer motor class if I remember. I was going to get into a j hydro not me but for some kids after see the price tag I can buy a nother FER. I have seen the D Tohatsu run and was impressed no one will let me drive must be my attitude or something , but where are the driver that have ran this outfit?????? RICK"""""" post and tell the world first hand I know you can spell better than me. Money comes and go I think it is cheaper to run 350 and up pro classes than it owning a FEH and FER. I take that back i sold the FEH for about 1/4 of what I had into it great time with cheney though. well worth it what a freind. the spud oooo one last thing went to race last year with nwms a group in spokane . I do not agree with every thing they do but they put on a good race someone is on the pa system all day talking and talking about drivers class. this person I could kill with my bare hands by the end of the day but it is GOOD FOR BOAT RACING AND GETTING PEOPLE INTERESTED good job guys

[Dave M]

Man O MAN !!

why don't we all just cash in Stock out board and put 110% behind superlight tunnels as the new S.O. ? the Equipment is new , can be bought at dealerships, and will never get blown out. This could open up many new venues. All existing classes / boats could be folded into MOD division. Let the dremmal tools find the pairity. This answers about all the points made here. Safer. Slower ? fewer classes, and can be bought by anyone with no connections.` Just thinking WAY outside the Box here. what does Stock exist for ,except as a quiet Mod division? Who does stock serve. Manufacters?
By the way I race Both. SO And Mod, Pro too..
O.K. " stock it to me"

Steve, Nice touch !! I like the idea !!!!!!!! Only problem is those dam 44xs carbs have no business on a good Mod engine !!

[jon66w]

Old DSR Driver

As a racer who raced in the 60's and 70's when we had 20 boats at local events and easily over 50 boats at nationals in DSR, see my comments on "Ron Hill Here" thread. Jon Walters 66 W

[Steve Johnson]

I've never tried those carbs, but I have followed some around. I expected to take much more abuse for this post. come on ,any thoughts. By the way this Idea would cost me 3 44xs motors and a boat. so my neck is on the line as well. Thanks Dave . Hey I could use your Dads Phone # I got an FE ?

E-mail SJ77G@aol.com

[Richard K.C. Mo.]

#61

Steve , your post #61 on tunnels may be a little tongue in cheek but i do see them on tv with spectators actually watching.

Been a long time since i could say that about kneelers witout a supporting cast of inbreds.

[kws]

this is in reply to the people who say that finding a good a/j omc isnt a problem. if thats true or you have one you will part with please contact someone in region seven. one guy has been trying all year to get one for his son thanks in advance Kevin

[bfitz]

Steve , your post #61 on tunnels may be a little tongue in cheek but i do see them on tv with spectators actually watching.

Been a long time since i could say that about kneelers witout a supporting cast of inbreds.

now that's FUNNY!

[14-H]

OMC's available

this is in reply to the people who say that finding a good a/j omc isnt a problem. if thats true or you have one you will part with please contact someone in region seven. one guy has been trying all year to get one for his son thanks in advance Kevin

Okay you guys, COUGH 'EM UP!

[ryan_4z]

There was another thread just started by someone looking for an A motor. It has Gary Pond's phone number. He has quite a few very good OMC A motors for sale. Philip DiFebo probably has a number of motors for sale too.

Add:Gary Pond can be reached at 804-794-8952.

[dsh-147-f]

More Racers

It was obvious to me that with the advent of the 65 mph watercraft that young or old could hop on and go fast any where that Stock Outboard was in jeapardy . What if you had two or three hundred new racers ? where would they get their equipment from ? There are no new 12 inch universal towers and lowers out there to my knowledge . In my opinion the only future for this racing scene is to allow multiple types of engines in a class and start doing what the full size v6 outboard Drag guys do and use stock cases with properly designed nose cones and pickups to get the ability to run high . All this old equipment is long overdue for a rehashing . New people want to come in ,buy good complete rigs and race , not search the world for a gearcase or a piston . The only reason full size high performance boating exists is because of readily available parts and services . If I need a block or powerhaead for my 260 2.5 , I pick up the phone and if I have the money I am running this weekend . Manufactuers are not gong to produce parts and motors for 20 or even 50 racers . Radio control racing is bigger than Stock ,Mod and Pro put together . Why ? Equipment is available now , very simple . Sad to say but billboards and fliers wont save Out board Racing in its present or past format . Tom .

[Ron Hill]

Great post 147 F...

The great Von Dutch once pin striped my neighbor's car.... on half the hood he striped the fire out of it... but did nothing to the other side of the hood....My neighbor protested and said to match it on the otherside....Von Dutch replied that he only had one steering wheel didn't he????

John Drake, close family friend, (Of the Offy/Meyer /Drake fame) once built Carroll Shelby 25 heads. Carroll loved them and placed an order for 25,000. John refused the order saying to Carroll, "Do you know how long it will take me to box 25,000 heads?"

I worked for John Drake for awhile....he disconnected the 800 number because all people did was call and order stuff....

See people see things differently......If we had 300 new members, where would we park their trailers???

Production gearcases with nose cones IS AN ANSWER.....Not THE answer, but one answer....

[mercguy]

couple answers for ya Ron......

1. Part of returning "FUN" to racing could be "FREE BEER" as we use to offer Free Coors at our Needles Races...
2. Change the Point System to one boat beat per heat and one point per lap......Right now, you get your four boats for your class...worst case you get 4th...NO REASON to get any other boats off the trailer...but with a point a boat, it would encourage more boats to run...and per heat encourages a "POINT CHASER" to get every boat he can on the the course every heat.... I understand points...I got the 15 race average on the ballot.....It is a dumb idea...High Points should be the guy that beats the most boats.....Gary Lewis has 21 races in 20 SS Hydro with 8,900 points. Is he the "HIGH POINT" driver in 20SS Hydro????
3. Double and triple Point races are OK with me, Winter Nationals, Shadow Cliffs, Libertville.... Petition the Commission for double or triple points....a nationals could be double or triple... But double or quadruple points on a two day race?????
4. GPS records for all classes at all lakes.....Saturday during testing..."Official" GPSs could be used and Records could be established...Maybe, I couldn't win the race, or be National High Point, but maybe I could have the fastes boat on the lake........
5. The 45 SS Nationals were at Bakersfield...two weeks ago....No one posted the results on this board.........Why does a Nationals have to run every class??? 455SS Nationals at Bakersfield gave that race a little more than had it been THE BAKERSFIELD RACE....
5. Why do you have to kneel down...why not ride like a Jet Ski with high side boards, the driver would be safer than he is currently and he'd have an easier ride.....

2) yes, he is
5) I have been awaiting Ann Hoban to email me the "official results" since the race ended.........

BTW: I WILL be posting all of the Reg12 SCOA race results ASAP next season, as the SCOA Editor.

[Jeff Brewster 59s]

Ron, I am embarassed to say I have never heard of your point system. I understand it! Why has it never been implemented? What are the reasons the SORC has not taken a look at this?
Our point system sucks! I have argued that for years and remember sending a letter to Apba years ago about it to no avail. Why do they bother putting hi points in the propellor mag and on the web? It doesnt mean a darn thing!
It is good for the driver that want to see his or her name in print and that is about it. It also shows who has the most money and time off work to race the most. (Or live in a warmer climate and get to race before anyone else) As they are the ones with the most points.
I begged to stop the listings in propellor at 15 races so we could atleast see who was on top. I was told it couldnt be done.
Gotta disagree with your idea on how we ride in boats, I feel your way would not be safer. I prefer the low center of gravity and 1/2" of mahogany protecting my body from a side hit. It isnt much, but it's something! Sitting up high with my legs exposed would be really scary!

[Haüenstein]

Some thoughts

Proposal #1-Class Structure/Legal Motors

ASR/ASH-OMC A, Merc A
BSR/BSH-15 cu.in. Hot Rod
CSR/CSH-Yamato 102, Yamato 302
DSR/DSH-Bass Tohatsu D
20ssH-Yamato 80

...

Proposal #2-Class Standards

In order for a class to maintain National Status it must have 40 active participants and 12 boats at the nationals. ... If after any season a classes participation drops below 55 participants a special committee would be put together to research the future of the class.

...

Proposal #3-Introduction of New Motors

Once a decision has been made to bring a new motor into a class there will be a 3 year phase in period. During the first 2 years the new motor will be probationary. In the third year both motors would be legal for competition. After the third year only the new motor will be legal, the old motor is now considered to be obsoleted.

Proposal #4-Promotional Booklet

A committee should be formed to put together a booklet to be given to prospective racers.

...

*Used Equipment Network Director*

It took me a long time to find this, so I'm going to repost a bit of it as a refresher. Anyway, there should probably be a thread for High Point discussion, but I'm afraid that changing to a # of entrants-based points system would just punish the regions that are struggling the most. Changing the system in some way might be for the best, though. I'd like to hear some of these proposals, etc., and maybe take a crack at it myself.

I'll just run over some observations on Ryan's thoughtful post from a couple days ago:

Proposal 1: Those don't seem like "long-term" classes. Might as well cut out the Yamato 80 if you're cutting out the 25xs and 44xs. This structure also doesn't take into account the Mod division, which currently is the same thing. Limiting classes should be left to the local race committee's discretion.

Proposal 2: Again, local race committee. Losing national status is probably a good one. But we shouldn't be turning classes out in the cold and telling them to run wildcat races, possibly drawing other members from other classes with them.

Proposal 3: Sounds good; I would take out the two probationary years though (no reason to buy a motor/no reason to produce a motor).

Proposal 4: Ryan, you could probably go ahead and write it. As they say, a camel is a horse designed by committee. (Don't get me wrong, camels are cool.)


David Weaver mentioned previously that he would probably suggest someone get into 125cch at this point, and I agree that that's a good idea-- probably better than telling them not to race. Hopefully the class becomes viable on a local basis and doesn't require traveling to a completely different set of races. A possible scenario I see a few years down the line, for a streamlined small outboard schedule, would include some Hot Rods for the smaller Stock part of the spectrum; small-displacement PRO hydros for bigger guys or those into, you know, PRO stuff; and big Mod rigs for those into torque and all things Mod.

This could provide new and available engines except the Mod classes (different goal) and covers all driver sizes and speeds.

So, I guess my plan would be to combine Stock and Mod and incorporate PRO on a local level as we phase out old technology, out of production engines. At the same time, continue developing the new technology engines (4-strokes+) and the boats to go along with them, and one day potential racers can buy their engine at their local marina again, all shiny and with a cowling.

And stuff.

MAH

PS: On an unrelated note, maybe we get rid of weather blow-out days, unless there's lightning or the judges stand can't operate. (I'm learning from you, Mr. Hill! )