Combining STOCK, MOD & PRO

[raceright]

The MOD’s are most likely sitting back to see what we mess up so they can steal half our drivers.
__________________
They will not be stolen,you are throughing them away.

[raceright]

[ATTACH]22775[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]22776[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]22777[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]22778[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]22779[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]22780[/ATTACH]

Here are some Al

[raceright]

[ATTACH]22781[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]22782[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]22783[/ATTACH]

All pictures were taken late,the auto engine I threw in for you Shelby Fans

[oldracer]

Pat, thanks for the photos. As far as computers go, I am in the same Boat as you. Need a snotty nosed kid to show me what to do,lol. Was any one else from the Island asked to show their boats.

[raceright]

Pat, thanks for the photos. As far as computers go, I am in the same Boat as you. Need a snotty nosed kid to show me what to do,lol. Was any one else from the Island asked to show their boats.

Nope Just Me Al.

There were some pretty cool Muscle cars there 442's gto's,shelby mustangs,Dodges, z28's, nice stuff. (like we all had and got rid of uggggh)

[Bob Rusnak]

Pat, any positive response from the visitors? Those two rigs should be at the Worlds next week. Specially after you great run in Hartford.......Bob

[Jeff Brewster 59s]

Wow, did this thread get led astray or what????

ASH/ASR- OMC, Merc 15, SW 'A' (all the same current motors)
AMH/AMR- All current motors plus SW 15. Yeah, throw pipes on it. Why not?
BSH- Yamato 80, restricted 102/302 and SW 20
CSH/CSR- all current legal motors
DSH- current legal motors
BMH- current legal motors PLUS Merc 25XS
CMH- current legal motors
DMH- current legal motors
DMR- current legal motors
FEH- current legal motors


Look at the APBA points page. These are the truly viable classes that exist. There is a place for every current engine to run. There is a speed range to satisfy every sized driver. There are 6 classes considered "stock" and 7 "mod".

1 Commission. 1 VP. Each class has a technical committee. 1 set of rules (4 boat minimum for high points, etc.) This is not complicated.

I've said this before, it works in Inboard. 1.5 litre Stock. 1.5 litre Mod. 2.5 Stock...2.5 Mod. Who cares what the classes are called, they are INBOARDS! Just like us...we're OUTBOARD. Why is this being treated like nuclear physics?

Thought I would get the thread back on track and congratulate Dana on a simple common sense idea. The "nobody leftout" theory is the only way our sport will make it. Dana, you are right this is not nuclear physics but many will make it seem that way. Good luck, Jeff

[raceright]

Bob
Response was very good--many questions, gave out programs with webb site info only thing is when I checked out sites--not very easy to find out how to get into stock mod or pro racing. Quite a few said OH thats what a hydroplane looks like??

[raceright]

Thought I would get the thread back on track and congratulate Dana on a simple common sense idea. The "nobody leftout" theory is the only way our sport will make it. Dana, you are right this is not nuclear physics but many will make it seem that way. Good luck, Jeff

My friend all Hydroracer threads are about improving,and adding members.
The leaders understand this--more members need to also. Yes help your catergory with simplification so the average Joe might get involved. Is that not our main goal??

Specific catergory structure will require many phone calls,and in person meetings,this thread is to lead the horse to water--more face to face communication is needed for real change.

[Racerkyle20]

Region 10

Combining stock/mod makes the most sense to me. Region 10 races only combined races with stock/mod/pro and sometimes opc. This is the only way we have ever raced. I can see where doing all three would be too much on a national scale (pro has it's own title series and are doing quite well). If we combined the stock and mods i can see it benefiting both categories in the long haul. Us being secluded up in the NW we have to run our races like this, but our entries have always remained high for that reason. See 270 total entries for 2 days at lake lawrence with no out or region entry.

Dana is right, we are outboards. Just like the inboards are inboards. Leave pro but combine stock/mod into one full outboard category. I think baby steps are in order though. This year see if we (SORC) can get our stock classes in order and back to a ABCD format. We can then revisit combination of categories when the time is right.

[Dave M]

Dana

I am with you, we talked about this how many years ago ? I guess the writing is a little less fuzzy on the wall now.

For this to work for all those saying keep it local clubs doing whatever, I say NO. This is what it is, please stick to the nationally run program, assuming it is combined as one category.

Combine the Mod & Stock classes to make them one. Put DSH/DMH as one. Put DMR/DSR as one.

If we combine the categories and run them seperate what the heck did that accomplish ?

I think the main goal here should be class reduction by combining what is out there already out there.

Please remember the ultimate goal is to put on a show that people will watch and say HOLY CRAP that looks like fun. We should not be concerned what our current racers are saying about how fun or not fun it is. We shoul dbe concerned with attracting new blood, and to do that we need to chit or get off the pot. Fred H saw the writing on the wall back in 1995. Is this sport really that defunct that it has taken this long to realize the time for change is now ? if it were any other business it would have folded years ago. Think about that. Racing from 10:00 AM until dark is not appealing. Racing for an entire week for nationals is not attractive. We need to whittle this stuff down, and we need it fast.

Seriously guys and gals........... someone needs to step up and be the A-Hole.

[HRTV]

Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series

Its old news but the same theroy applies:

http://www.lucasoildragboats.com/

For the first time in twenty years, all of drag boat racing has been united under one umbrella and will now be known as the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series. The NJBA ( National Jet Boat Association ), SDBA ( Southern Drag Boat Association), SLDBA ( St. Louis Drag Boat Association ), CDBA ( Columbia Drag Boats) and KDBA ( Kentucky Drag Boats ) have all agreed on a single rule book that will unite approximately 900 race teams across the country.

This newly unified series will hold 46 events in 10 states and will be featured prime time for 13 weeks on SPEED. The liquid quarter mile series features several pro classes including Top Fuel Hydro that run the quarter at a staggering time of 4.70 seconds and 250+ mph. The professional show will also include 6 sportsman classes to provide added excitement to the spectators.

“We are very proud of this historic alliance. We have seen the potential of drag boat racing through our years of involvement with the IHBA series. Now that everyone has united with a common goal, we can bring something truly special to the race fans,” said Lucas Oil Executive Vice-President Bob Patison.

[Luby.H77]

I'm the New Guy...

Forgive me if I am outta line here.

But, in order to attract new members (like me), there has to be an element of fun... Dave, if current members, veteran racers, aren't having fun, why would someone want to get into this 'boat racing' stuff anyway? Which leads me to my next question...

Who is going to be there to race with this 'new blood' you are trying to infuse into the sport... once you have run off most the existing membership.

The old sales adage holds true here as well... Its cheaper to keep an old customer than to find a new one.

[DiGia54D]

Luby,

Your not out of line.Your asking a real good question. I am sure you will get some answers

[YankeeRacing]

I happened to be cleaning out some files today and found some information that might pertain to this thread. Follows is a very successful step-up chart that AOF (original) uses to this day, implementing stock; mod, pro combinations. I am not saying this is your answer, or that it is better than what you can come up with, I am just saying it works, so could be a good format to look at, if nothing else. This chart was devised by some very knowledgeable people, like RC Hawie, Dave Jones, Larry McAfee, Dudley Malone, Kampen, Giles, VanOver, John Snell, Dan Parker, Philip DiFebo, Howie Pickerall, and so many others as I am sure both Doc Millers and the Masons were also involved.
The chart was devised to make sure classes had enough boats, and maintain the AOF philosophy of ‘run what you brung.” I believe, if I remember correctly, that when there were boats that were stepped-up that the classes for the day had to be approved by the drivers. The step up chart was allowed at the nationals, but only in rare cases when points would not otherwise count.
ALL STOCK ENGINES were always allowed to step up to the equivalent mod class. In other words, an engine such as Yamato 102 could always step up to the C Mod class where a modified Y102 was used.
Also note that this chart is a little out of date. I am told that at the Original AOF national meeting, the tech committee will be updating this year to add the new engines and some that have become popular or left off the chart.
The step up chart took years of study. When I was the Executive Director, I was asked to keep extensive speed records and the speeds of all classes were taken into consideration when combining stock/mod/pro. Speed was one of the main factors in the combos, but safety also had a part. Also of note is that capsule boats were not allowed to run with non-capsuled boats.
Here is the chart, which may not be the newest updated chart: And also, some of the classes are called different names, and mod is super stock , but you should get the idea:

Runabouts:
O to A
ASS to BSS and B1
B1 to C
80Mod to B1
C to D SS
C, D, D SS to E
CSS, D, DSS E to SE
125 cc to B SS , B1 and 80 M
SE, 250 cc, 350cc to 500

Hydro
O to A
A to B, B1 and Y80
B to B1
B to C
B1 to C
B1 to 102 S
Y80 to A
80M to B1, C
25XS to Y102s, B1 80M
C to D ss
C, D SS to E
D to D SS E, SE
125 cc to C
SE to 250 cc
250cc, 350cc, 500 cc, 700cc to 1100 cc

Again, you would probably have to know what engines were allowed originally in each of the classes. Also, this chart is not always used, but is nice when someone shows up and wants to run. It can be a stepping stone to a new combined division (stock/mod/pro) at a later date. I was told once that the theory was that if a stepped up engine ran faster than the engine lower on the step up chart, then the bigger guys had some work to do, or the tech committee did.
I believe that the main author was either RC Hawie or Dave Jones. Both are just a phone call away. If they successfully did this for AOF, why couldn't they help for APBA? Worth a try.