25XS Unrestricted

[Dave Young 94-N]

restrictors

I'm for getting rid of them. A little more punch is the only advantage I can see. It might even up the playing field with the Yamatto.

[Big Don]

So where is the data????

Just wondering where the data is that was supposed to be done on the pulling of the 25 restrictor for the Mercury in both Hydro & Runabout.

This topic is going to come up again this year at the national meeting and it would be nice to know the results of it before then.

[vislaguy]

racers have spoken

you cant have a race without racers! and the racers have spoken we want them gone,I have 2 boats in 25xs and the plates are just not needed.mike

[Big Don]

Just wanted to bump this up, it got pushed off the front page rather quickly over the weekend.

I understand there are drivers that want the restrictor gone. But…..

….as history has proven without some data nothing will get changed. So where is the test data that was supposed to be done? Or did no one do any testing?

Does no one have any topics to discuss before the annual meeting? Or, do we just not want to discuss any of the topics before hand?

If you have an issue please post one.

I have several issues that have been passed on to me from other racers… Not saying lets discuss them because I don’t want them all to come form me, just making the point that there are issues out there and the more information we share and discuss before the meeting it might just give us more time to discuss some of our other major issues, the future of our sport, equipment availability, race format, race courses, 4 stroke, …

[champhotrod]

My only concern with changing the prop height requirement in 25SSR for the Yamato is we need to change it to the same thing for CSR if we change it for 25SSR. Sometimes at the races we barely have time to add the restrictor and take out the weight. We would never have time to change the prop height. Most of us run multiply classes and they are always some of the classes that run between CSR and 25SSR. Maybe we should change both classes (CSR and 25SSR) to 1 3/8" prop height.
The only problem with removing the restrictor plate for the Merc is it leaves the Hot Rod behind and with all the work being done on Hot Rods at this time, that would be a shame.

If you pull the restrictor plate on the Merc you better remove 40lbs from the Hot Rod weight.

[Jeff Brewster 59s]

Don,
Somewhere in these posts Mike Ross spoke of his results from testing as he said he would at Grass Lake. I cannot remember where they are posted, maybe he can answer that. I hope he will be able to bring his results to the national meeting for all to see.
As I have said before, I have tested and raced without a restrictor. You do not gain speed but acceleration. Finally the motor is not a pig in the turns and adds a little excitement. Those that have run a 25xs know that the only excitement you get is at the end of the straights when she hits top speed. They always reminded me of a 30-H,, building, building, building....2 secs of excitement and darn its time to turn! It really is too bad the restrictor wasnt pulled out years ago, especially when the 25ss died off.
The one time I raced with out a restrictor, Pater (yamato) and I swapped heats and had a great race. After I disqualified myself in inspection, I explained to him what I was testing.
Hopefully the commission will let us yank the restrictor and run like AOF has done for years, with out one! My vote is to pull them in the hydro and runabout. Please dont do it in just one or the other! I am tired of switching restrictor plates in our 9.9's so I sure dont want to have to do it with the 25xs also.
Once again, good luck at the meeting, sure wish I could go!

[mike ross]

Yes i have those testing results from the Yamayo testing. I will be giving them to a commisioner to review before we go to Atlanta. I haven't revieled the results as after i presented the findings at the region 6 meeting the feedback I got was that the class didn't need any tweeking. That the racing last year was very competitive. As i have posted all along I feel the Yamato teams have worked very hard to get there rigs running and it would be unfair to lower heights or restrick the motor more. If we were to change anything the Mercury teams would be the more likley candidate. To take away from the big group who has worked so hard to develope new new props, lighter boats, different motor set ups and so on would be harder than giving the merc teams a little boost. As I have posted before the commision dosn't get the info they will likley not change anything. Jeff thanks for your imput. i wish somemore testing data was available from some of the other Merc teams who are currently racing in APBA. I know several AOF and NBRA teams posted there findings. How about the Wisconsin guys? You are one of the Teams that showed if you go test and work hard you can be more than competitive on the race coarse. Winning a heat in last years final in 25ssr was a great acomplishment. Mike

[raceboat61-S]

Merc 25 XS restrictor

Gents,
This thread needs to resurface for 2006 because it remains unresolved in my mind. Please weigh-in if you are a competitor in either 25SSR or 25SSH before Region 6 meeting this weekend.
I recommend that we permanently remove the Mercury 25XS carb restrictors for BOTH 25SSR and 25SSH. At Ford City I discussed this with Joe Pater. He told me he had been tasked by someone on the SORC (perhaps Ed Hearn?) to provide some data and recommendations about making 25SSR a more evenly competitive class. He said there seemed to be some strong sentiment to re-restrict the Merc 25XS for 2006 in 25SSR in order to make the "Hot Rod" more competitive. Sorry, if true, I personally don't buy the logic. For one, I have only seen one (1) Hot Rod 20ci run in the past 2 years in this class....hydro or runabout. Two, I don't want decisions about our class made based on an engine that MIGHT show up at our races some time in the unknown future. I'll believe it when I see a "new" production Hot Rod 20ci come out of Dean's motorbox. It may be several years before they become plentiful. I'd like to see our 25XS a little more competitive with the Yamato, and I'd like to simplify my race day by not having to wrestle with the carb, the prime pump, and the restrictor between hydro and runabout. Since the Merc 25XS is the primary engine in 25SSH no competitor will be put at a disadvantage if we're all the same. It is just easier in the pits to make them the same. How do you guys feel? Mike Marshall, Raceboat 61-S

[Mike 41P]

25xs restrictor

I only run 25xsh and don't have a need to take it out, but I would support the guys who want to take them out for the reasons they give. I also want the HR20 to come back but I would also agree that they need to get a few in the water and get data to prove the magnitude of their theoretical disadvantage.
And maybe a reduced boat weight would be an appropriate lever to use, although I think 40 LB is a glibe shot in the dark.
Mike T

[rossman]

25xs

I vote to remove the plate. The motor does not pull through a turn with that restrictor. You have to go sailing into the turn wide open to keep the thing rolling. I think it would be more managible with it gone. Brian 5N

[Steve Johnson]

Safety Issue

I have raced 25h and 25 R both with and without Restricter. Take the Dang thing out and throw it as far as you can into the lake. You can race much safer without it. Everytime this comes up it fails. backdoor this as a saftey issue. which it truely is . I'm sure you will see participation rise. I have a rig parked in the shop. I vowed never to race that class again as is. I'd come back, restictor out. It makes even a 70 lb overweight driver competeive. I'm sure Mercury couldn't care less at this point. Oh And don't worry Everyone will be able to use there existing Props.
Steve J 1G

[Tim Weber]

Leave the Merc alone and take out the restrictor for good. There are only a couple of really good ones currently and maybe this would help encourage a few more people to dust them off.

Here's the change the 25ssr class needs the most. Make the Yamato powered boats weigh more. The current 405 pounds is silly. If you want to compete, you need a special, special, boat or you need to put an ASR driver in it or go on a really big diet. I weigh 190 pounds. At Dayton, I checked in at 468 pounds. You can not compete and give up 65 pounds.

I propose to change the weight to 430 pounds for the Yamatos. This would even the playing field. It would help eliminate putting little guys in the rigs for a weight advantage. This is stock, we don't have the brute power of the pros.

Tim

[csh12M]

Leave it alone

I say leave it alone!

The 20ci hot rod is competitive right now in the Hydro class. I took second at Dayton with one. Give it a little time to catch on and new motors to be built.

Just my two cents!

[raceboat61-S]

More Opinions

Gents,
Hydroracer.net is our best grass-roots forum for issues that we feel are important. There are 68 different drivers that competed in 25SSR in 2005. All of you have an opinion. This issue needs your attention whether you run Yamato, Mercury or Hot Rod. Let's make our opinions known to our leadership in time for them to act. That is, BEFORE Regional/National meetings. Please discuss at your club banquets and meetings this Fall. Have your club representatives ready to discuss at APBA sanctioned meetings. If the issue doesn't surface by itself, get it on the agenda. Don't let the gavel crack the table without letting officials give it consideration. Restrictors OUT ! Mike Marshall, Raceboat 61-S

[Mike 41P]

restrictor

I believe the commission is pretty much obligated to listen to us and put it up for a vote if there is a formal petion. Would someone who knows how to do it (Dan, can you step in) set up a petition here on Hydroracer to submit to SORC with our names on it.

"The following drivers, registered in 25SSH and 25SSR, request that the question of removing the restrictor from the Mercury 25XS be put to ballot and if approved be made effective for the 2006 season"