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Most members of the APBA Stock Outboard Category today or very soon will be receiving their ballot on rule changes to be voted upon. I as a member of the current SORC for Region 7, would like to make a few factual comments about proposal #6 regarding the consolidation and or reduction of our current class structure. This proposal went to the members in ballot form due to a very close vote of the 2011 SORC in Detroit at the nation meeting. The first time it was voted on it FAILED. After an evening of lobbying by its originator, It was readdressed and re-voted on and BARELY passed.
At the Annual SORC Meeting there were three primary reasons for the presentation of the proposal which you as APBA members are being asked to vote on.
There may be other reasons, but these were the key points discussed.
Reason#1: To give direction to new members when choosing a class in which to purchase a racing engine and boat. New COMPETITIVE engines being available in all of the current classes was one of the major points discussed, with many reasons given as to why a new person could not be in good faith, be steered toward some of the current classes, namely ASR, ASH, BSR, BSH,25SSR and 25SSH.
Reason #2: To FIT a prospective new racer into a class by his or her bodyweight.
Reason #3: To help shorten the race day program.
First to address Reason #1. Last weekend I, as a member of the A-Class parity committee, attended the SORC approved A-Class parity test session in Tampa Florida. Dave Bennet, RC Howie, Ed Runne, Ron Selewach, Dave Schubert and myself spent a complete day having Dave Bennett make run after run after run with his ASR rig with both his OMC and then the factory supplied Sidewinder S engine. (41 runs total with the 15S Sidewinder (Current A engine)) This testing took place on a controlled lake with a course with bouys, the weather was perfect and stayed constant thru-out the day. With changes made to the carburetor venturi size (15mm) and adjustments made to the min combustion chamber volume (18.5 C.C.) we were able to get the new engine to perform almost identical to the supplied OMC engine (53.7 mph GPS speed). They made some changes to the spray shield to help keep the exhaust from being pulled into the carburetor in the turns. This FIXED the bogging problem of all three versions of the Sidewinder engines. We next put the 15H (B engine) on Dave's boat with the new spray shield adjustments and it ran extremely well. It accelerated well, no hesitation in the corners and went quite fast (57.2 mph GPS speed). Both of these engines will be extremely competitive in ASR,ASH,BSR and BSH respectively.
I did not attend the test session 2 weeks earlier where Tom Nuchio and his pit crew tested the 20S sidewinder engine on his 25SSR rig. After they noticed the spray shield problem, and made adjustments, they were seeing speeds in the mid 60 mph GPS range on his runabout. This is very much in line with the current 25xs mercury engine. Common sense says that that speed will also transfer into the 25SSH class once these motors are raced in the 25SSH class, making the 20S Sidewinder a competitive engine today in both the current 25SSR and 25SSH classes.
These developments linked with the availability of the new 302 Yamato engine for the C-classes and the new Tohatsu for the D-classes, reason #1 goes away.
To address reason #2. the weight to fit issue. Just because a driver is heavier, we should not assume a driver wants to go faster. Take a look at Andy Hanson, Buzz Hanson, Cooper Jess, Ed Runne, Dave Bennett, Bill Pavlick and myself etc. Take a look at the final qualifiers of the ASR race at Grass Lake MI 2009 Nationals. These are some very accomplished drivers who don’t fall into the weight formula presented here. WE don’t always want to race faster classes as the weight formula would suggest.
To address reason #3. I am not sure about this one and why it will help save boat racing as we know it today. At the national meeting it was brought up time and time again that the way to attract new boat racers is more local races. I don’t know how many times while cleaning up after a boat race a spectator would come up and ask, "If there was going to be any more races today? I got here late." Was that a perspective new racer?? We will never know.
I do not have all the answers, but I just wanted the members of APBA to know what happened and was discussed at the National Meeting in Detroit. I also wanted you as member to know what the newest developments are in regards to the new engines. If this proposal passes we would be losing our 15ci classes which are known by many as “The best ride in boat racing”. We also would be changing the 20SSH class as we know it today. It is one of our biggest national classes. The 25SSR and 25SSH (NEED FOR SPEED) classes would be drastically changed also under this proposal. With the new 20S Sidewinder engine, the 25SSR and 25SSH classes are looking at the possibility of unlimited growth.
So in closing, please think long and hard before you vote either for or against proposal #6 of the Stock Outboard Ballot. But just make sure you vote.
Thanks for you time.
Jeff Scheffler 61-W
Region 7 Commissioner
A-Parity Committee Member (OMC driver)
At the Annual SORC Meeting there were three primary reasons for the presentation of the proposal which you as APBA members are being asked to vote on.
There may be other reasons, but these were the key points discussed.
Reason#1: To give direction to new members when choosing a class in which to purchase a racing engine and boat. New COMPETITIVE engines being available in all of the current classes was one of the major points discussed, with many reasons given as to why a new person could not be in good faith, be steered toward some of the current classes, namely ASR, ASH, BSR, BSH,25SSR and 25SSH.
Reason #2: To FIT a prospective new racer into a class by his or her bodyweight.
Reason #3: To help shorten the race day program.
First to address Reason #1. Last weekend I, as a member of the A-Class parity committee, attended the SORC approved A-Class parity test session in Tampa Florida. Dave Bennet, RC Howie, Ed Runne, Ron Selewach, Dave Schubert and myself spent a complete day having Dave Bennett make run after run after run with his ASR rig with both his OMC and then the factory supplied Sidewinder S engine. (41 runs total with the 15S Sidewinder (Current A engine)) This testing took place on a controlled lake with a course with bouys, the weather was perfect and stayed constant thru-out the day. With changes made to the carburetor venturi size (15mm) and adjustments made to the min combustion chamber volume (18.5 C.C.) we were able to get the new engine to perform almost identical to the supplied OMC engine (53.7 mph GPS speed). They made some changes to the spray shield to help keep the exhaust from being pulled into the carburetor in the turns. This FIXED the bogging problem of all three versions of the Sidewinder engines. We next put the 15H (B engine) on Dave's boat with the new spray shield adjustments and it ran extremely well. It accelerated well, no hesitation in the corners and went quite fast (57.2 mph GPS speed). Both of these engines will be extremely competitive in ASR,ASH,BSR and BSH respectively.
I did not attend the test session 2 weeks earlier where Tom Nuchio and his pit crew tested the 20S sidewinder engine on his 25SSR rig. After they noticed the spray shield problem, and made adjustments, they were seeing speeds in the mid 60 mph GPS range on his runabout. This is very much in line with the current 25xs mercury engine. Common sense says that that speed will also transfer into the 25SSH class once these motors are raced in the 25SSH class, making the 20S Sidewinder a competitive engine today in both the current 25SSR and 25SSH classes.
These developments linked with the availability of the new 302 Yamato engine for the C-classes and the new Tohatsu for the D-classes, reason #1 goes away.
To address reason #2. the weight to fit issue. Just because a driver is heavier, we should not assume a driver wants to go faster. Take a look at Andy Hanson, Buzz Hanson, Cooper Jess, Ed Runne, Dave Bennett, Bill Pavlick and myself etc. Take a look at the final qualifiers of the ASR race at Grass Lake MI 2009 Nationals. These are some very accomplished drivers who don’t fall into the weight formula presented here. WE don’t always want to race faster classes as the weight formula would suggest.
To address reason #3. I am not sure about this one and why it will help save boat racing as we know it today. At the national meeting it was brought up time and time again that the way to attract new boat racers is more local races. I don’t know how many times while cleaning up after a boat race a spectator would come up and ask, "If there was going to be any more races today? I got here late." Was that a perspective new racer?? We will never know.
I do not have all the answers, but I just wanted the members of APBA to know what happened and was discussed at the National Meeting in Detroit. I also wanted you as member to know what the newest developments are in regards to the new engines. If this proposal passes we would be losing our 15ci classes which are known by many as “The best ride in boat racing”. We also would be changing the 20SSH class as we know it today. It is one of our biggest national classes. The 25SSR and 25SSH (NEED FOR SPEED) classes would be drastically changed also under this proposal. With the new 20S Sidewinder engine, the 25SSR and 25SSH classes are looking at the possibility of unlimited growth.
So in closing, please think long and hard before you vote either for or against proposal #6 of the Stock Outboard Ballot. But just make sure you vote.
Thanks for you time.
Jeff Scheffler 61-W
Region 7 Commissioner
A-Parity Committee Member (OMC driver)
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