Mike - My Nationals observations

[jpro60]

i've watched mod, pro and antique guys get stuffed at the end of region 10 schedules the 5 years i've been involved.

There's a reason for that. They are LOUD. Everywhere we race in region 10 besides Mossyrock, Moses Lake, and to some extent Newberg, are populated lakes. We HAVE to consider the residents, who with one complaint to the right elected official can chase us off. To that end, as long as I am making the schedule at Eatonville, there will never be a loud class in the first flight. I believe most race directors/referees at our populated race sites feel the same. It is most definately not anything personal, or bias toward stock racing, or against pro or mod. It is just the fact that we have to consider the foot print we leave with the community.
-Mike

[sponsonhead]

I'm going to guess here Mr Dingman didn't make the distinction between CSR and 25SSR since they were all the same boats.

Actually, they weren't all the same boats, since one of the 25SSRs couldn't seem to get started for the 2nd heat, so there were only 3 of us. Or didn't you hear about that one?

R-19

[propnuts]

I heard

Actually, they weren't all the same boats, since one of the 25SSRs couldn't seem to get started for the 2nd heat, so there were only 3 of us. Or didn't you hear about that one?

R-19

That was no good. The motor that crapped out was suspect BEFORE it took a bath on Friday. Such is racing I guess. I will still be Yamato man for life.

[Mrs blueskyracer]

Can we spin this (and the other threads on same subject) into a positive? Do we merge them all together as that is what we do with matching threads? Leave them open or close them to additional comments and let them die? I will let you know this afternoon.

[Mrs blueskyracer]

.......I want to share a letter I received today from The Eatonville Family Agency (food bank).

Thank you so very much for your financial support to our Food Bank! Your kindness is sincerely appreciated. The thoughtfulness you have shown will help many in need that come to our agency.

Thank your for your donation of $1,439.00

Great job group. You are to be commended.
Jim

Great job guys, great job. I am sure in a small community like Eatonville this was huge for them. Excellent idea SOA for putting the race together with a food drive. Other clubs should consider picking up this idea too!

[Mrs blueskyracer]

There's a reason for that. They are LOUD. Everywhere we race in region 10 besides Mossyrock, Moses Lake, and to some extent Newberg, are populated lakes. We HAVE to consider the residents, who with one complaint to the right elected official can chase us off. To that end, as long as I am making the schedule at Eatonville, there will never be a loud class in the first flight. I believe most race directors/referees at our populated race sites feel the same. It is most definately not anything personal, or bias toward stock racing, or against pro or mod. It is just the fact that we have to consider the foot print we leave with the community.
-Mike

Perhaps stated a little earlier this could have stopped the fuel being placed on the fire!

Evidently the Mod/PRO guys have never had this explained to them. Might also change the way that some people set their schedule when planning races to attend and vacation days from work. (They are in most cases pretty limited.) Now we know!

[Howie Nichols]

Stock classes got 2 heats like everyone else. where are you getting 3? Only class that ran more than 2 heats was CSH, they had eliminations which at a nationals require a 2 heat elimination and 2 heat final format. CSR waited at the water for our 2nd heat because we were racing for double points (didnt get the 8 boat count, but 5 boats still get double winternational points).

Just an FYI,

I beleive that is a MOD rule only not a Stock rule that require 2 elims and 2 final heats.

[99R]

Can we spin this (and the other threads on same subject) into a positive? Do we merge them all together as that is what we do with matching threads? Leave them open or close them to additional comments and let them die? I will let you know this afternoon.

You probably would just have one thread had someone not closed the original one.

99R

[Dave M]

Bingo

[QUOTE=Howie Nichols;179484]

Stock classes got 2 heats like everyone else. where are you getting 3? Only class that ran more than 2 heats was CSH, they had eliminations which at a nationals require a 2 heat elimination and 2 heat final format. CSR waited at the water for our 2nd heat because we were racing for double points (didnt get the 8 boat count, but 5 boats still get double winternational points).

Just an FYI,

I beleive that is a MOD rule only not a Stock rule that require 2 elims and 2 final heats.

You are sooo very right Howie. Hmmm.

[PRO-MOTIONRACING]

The day was the day and that's racing. Many of you know I like to build a sense of urgency when on the barge, " be ready I guarantee when this class hits the beach you will be going". I realize there are all kinds of circumstances like motor swaps and driver changes, but I can also accept that it is my responsibility to be ready. When I see time being burnt up looking for drivers, test laps and jacked up motors not getting on plane, that stuff costs every one.
Perhaps we could all try to be a little more "urgent" a little earlier.I also feel we should always put our "Show" Classes (CSH, MOD, PRO, etc) in "prime time" (second half of the second flight) for maximum spectator effect and try to build around that rather than building our day around one motor two boat teams. Not that they are not important but four classes with one motor or one heat with a pro/mod boat?.
Lastly. Thanks for all the hard work by the barge scoring crew and had time allowed CMH was approved for a priority second heat as time allowed based on all the support from Montana. We just ran out of time. 50-R

[RuthieRae]

Interesting

what i meant to say was when single heat format was called, DMH was in the water ready to go. at the end of the 4th flight the first class (in my opinion) that should have got the nod should have been DMH.

i understand that winter nationals are a double point race but all folks pay to play and should be treated equal.

like you too man... your stuff looked really good this weekend.

Uh, actually the one heat format was CALLED when AXH was on the water. They had one of the higher entries for the weekend 6 to 7 boats and only got one heat. Also, KPRO is on that list as was JH of the classes with higher entries that only got one heat...oh yeah, and they are quiet.....so you tell me how the race committed screwed "just" these people again becasue they are MOD? Next time know what you are talking about before pointing the preverbial finger yet again Bill. SOA, you did a good job, and like Mrs Hydroracer said, you can please everyone none of the time. I paid 140.00 for one driver, and yeah, two of our classes got one heat and had we been running our normal hectic day, all but one class would have been a one heat format. And we too were trying a new boat and would like to have had two heats, but I am not disappointed.

One thing I hope the Spokane/out of state/Montana drivers can come to understand is that bodies of water have different regulations all over the state/country. For instance, in Newberg, you can run your socks off until the cows come home, where as Eatonville we are a strict 6pm. We WILL lose this beautiful site if we do not enforce that, and that is something that SOA will not do. Had we been able to extend our day, I guarantee that the volunteers and the club would have done so to accomodate these drivers. Please do not sit here and post that there is some sort of hidden agenda and try to make it sound like we only do this to the MOD/Pro classes because as I clearly defined in the prior paragraph, this simply is not true....just ask my kid.

[propnuts]

My last word on the subject

Sorry I missed the race sounds like there were chills, spills and thrills galore. I have a bunch of people to thank so here goes, if I leave someone out it's only because basically everyone contributed:

Rick Sandstrom, Howard Shaw and Mark Mallory: They are the guys that actually make stuff happen. From unpacking the trailer on Friday to packing it up on Sunday these guys work non-stop doing all the big and little things that make the race happen.

Jimi O.: Without Jimi doubling up the amount of pit space available to us I'm not sure we could pull this off. The grand total cost to SOA, nada. Thanks man.

My Race Committe: Lisa Peterson and the crew (Carla, Linda, Denise), Rick Sandstrom, Mike Perman, Dave Salmon, Steve Greaves, Dave Anderson, Dave Sullivan. As always the best race committee a man can gather.

Roger Carr: For giving up sunny Socal for nasty Northwest, and for all his hard work.

Dale Bartley: For providing the inspection tent and the stove that kept Roger from icing over.

Christine Gleason: for not only sponsoring the race but cutting all the checks and helping me keep track of my financials.

Everyone who contributed to the race so that we could write the check and help feed the needy of Eatonville, great job people.

That's it, just about time for me to get working on my summer race. Remember we're all brothers and sisters here trying to accomplish the same thing, race our boats and have a good time doing it.

[daveracerdsh]

Food drive

I think the food drive was a really nice thing to do for the area.....the look on the food bank people's face when they saw the stack of food we had for them and the money we donated to help some of the needy people in the area was the highlight of the weekend for me. The thought that maybe a local family will have food on the table tonite because of the generosity of the people in SOA makes the whole weekend worth it. I hope SOA and CORA do something like this at every single event this year. David Anderson

[ricochet112]

" be ready I guarantee when this class hits the beach you will be going"...for maximum spectator effect...

On these 2 notes; does anyone follow NHRA? Did you see Las Vegas, the Funny Cars?

Tony Pedregon was in the semi-finals, but because of NHRA going for more TV ratings they tried to do it live (ish? I DVR it all anyway...), which meant less time for drivers between runs. Tony blew a engine advancing to the semi's and had to replace it, instead of the usual rebuild with the block in the car the entire engine had to come out. Well since the 70 minute (?) time between runs was reduced he couldn't get the engine changed in time so, solo run for Johnny Gray, not so good for ratings...

[Racerkyle20]

Because i have time on my hands LOL

[QUOTE=Dave M;179508]

You are sooo very right Howie. Hmmm.

Rick Sanstrom used the 2 qual and 2 final heat format probably based off these two rules- 14 CSH boats:

e) During the calendar period of winter, the SORC shall be empowered to award a Winter National Championship. The only qualified
driver will be the defending Winter National Champion. Qualifying will be run on a race basis for which national race points will be
given. Bids for this race must be submitted prior to the Annual Meeting

e) At the Closed Course National Championship, elimination races shall consist of two heats for each group of 12. In the event that the
National Champion or a Divisional Qualifier wishes to enter elimination races, he must relinquish his qualified position to run in the
eliminations. Points shall be given for all elimination races.

Rule 22-3; 1E and 3E

'Qualifing will be run on a race basis for which nationals points will be given'-A race in my definition would be 2 full heats, especially with HOC and double points on the line. So a race for quals and a race for finals.