Grass Lake ASH Appeal to National Commissioner

[DiGia54D]

Thanks Don.

[MGallagher]

Does anyone check runabout width anymore? Haven't seen boat speed advantage specs checked for a while at inspections. The only reason I ask is THAT would make more sense to check AFTER a race than safety specs. Also, if you have a type of collapsible sponson tip, does that radius have to meet specs, or is that solely an OPC thing? And one last thing, is it a recommendation or mandatory to replace your kevlars every certain amount of years?

[sponsonhead]

is it a recommendation or mandatory to replace your kevlars every certain amount of years?

There is no rule regarding age of cut suits or certification of lifejackets. It is totally up to the inspector to decide if the gear meets proper safety specs or is in suitable condition to race in.

R-19

[MGallagher]

Thanks Pat! How about coverage of safety epuipment, ie: torso, ankles, wrists, etc... Or is that also at the desecration of the inspector?

[Big Don]

There is no rule regarding age of cut suits or certification of lifejackets. It is totally up to the inspector to decide if the gear meets proper safety specs or is in suitable condition to race in.

R-19

Hence why Pat has his tag line... I think???? LOL

It's all good.

[sponsonhead]

Hence why Pat has his tag line... I think???? LOL

It's all good.

Naw, we're cool: We got D3 stylin' now.........

R-19

[BP125V]

Naw, we're cool: We got D3 stylin' now.........

R-19

Very true, I did not recognize him at Oshkosh!

[david bryan]

I am a ex boat racer and this kind of stuff is why. There should be a better remedy for a non speed avenge infraction than than trowing some one out at a national for a rule that makes no since to me i was hit in the stomach with a hill runabout that was ruining about 50 miles a hour what kept me from being impaled on the front of the boat was a Kevlar life jacket not a 1/2 inch radius

[Big Don]

That's funny...I couldn't either.

[Dave M]

Agreed

I am a ex boat racer and this kind of stuff is why. There should be a better remedy for a non speed avenge infraction than than trowing some one out at a national for a rule that makes no since to me i was hit in the stomach with a hill runabout that was ruining about 50 miles a hour what kept me from being impaled on the front of the boat was a Kevlar life jacket not a 1/2 inch radius

David,

I agree these rules are what is holding back some folks. Too many, too confusing, and too many gray areas for one to comprehend. Well, at least the simple minded folks such as myself. I can't afford to have a lawyer present when I read a rule book............. and I shouldn't have to. Whatever the outcome of this appeal (did I get that right?) you know at least one person will be dissapointed. And the trickle down effect will have consequences I am betting.

[BabcockBros38A]

2 cents more ....

After taking over an hour of print time and at least 35 bucks worth of paper and printer ink, I will throw in a few observations and noted rules regarding some of the postings on this thread.

I also wonder how much the original poster is grinning on how well he’s got everyone griping!! No disrespect intended, but has anyone lately called you a, “fecal oscillator”? I also wonder just how many members actually read the rules.

We all need to remember that all of the officials are VOLUNTEERS. Not paid professionals. Most of the rules are quite cut and dried, and not just someone’s opinion. Many good questions have arisen from the subject matter of the original posting.
Myself as an inspector in the past have had my calls reversed by region commissioners that were “friends of the driver whom was found by me to be in non compliance of the rules. A few examples included squeezed KG4 blocks to increase compression((at a regional championship) and yamato engines found running without head gaskets, (at a record attempt on our 1 &2/3 record course) These people figured the hicks in Maine wouldn’t catch them.

I Have read all the postings involving the boat in question. The rules regarding the sponson tip have been around regarding Mod and PRO boats have been around for I believe 5 years , the stock rules I can’t say I didn’t look back into years past, as I have been out of the sport for quite a while. But. I do know GRR-GSR Rule 8-5 States: “The DRIVER shall be responsible for the condition of the motor and hull as raced. ERRORS on the part of the manufacturer, boat builder, mechanic, or previous owner SHALL NOT excuse non-compliance with the rules. Rule 9 covers other items regarding illegal equipment.

I have also seen new boat pictures here on this site that didn’t meet the rules and the builders seemed to openly defy the rules.

The days where we had people that were inspectors only are long gone, this puts a tremendous work load on our inspectors. In region one we have about 6 or more people that are inspectors and they also race at least 2 classes each along with serving patrol boat duties. It takes a whole team of inspectors to do the job not one person can do it all.

Protests are to be filed with proper paperwork and fees are to be filed by the driver within an hour of finish of inspection of the class. It seems strange to me that a safety rule gets over ridden while a disqualification for a simple thing like a missing cowl plug gets upheld.

My club asked me to help with the inspection team in my region and I will continue to do so, But we all need to abide by THE LETTER OF THE RULE., NOT JUST THE INTENT OF THE RULE.

I can’t imagine what out insurers would think knowing we seem to be disregarding our own safety rules. Perhaps we need to change those rules to suggestions rather than rules.

Respectfully posted by
Just another racer
Pete Babcock

[G Stillwill]

As owner of the boat in question I felt I should respond to this thread. The boat in question has been run almost five seasons just the way it was run at Grass lake the picture was taken last fall and shows stickers from 2008 to 2011 which all were removed when the boat was refinished last winter, a new 2012 sticker was placed on the boat at the winter Nats in the spring. The sponson tips did not come to a sharp point and missed the gauge by an 1/8 of and inch and the vertical radius was 2-1/2 inches which was really the sponson tip which isnt covered in the rule. Now I can see missing this once even twice but five times and all was had to be said in the five years those dont meet the rule and it would have been taken care of took all of five minutes to round them off more. Just seems funny this boat has been through and placed in Divisionals, Nationals, Winter Nationals and NAC'S with never a question.

[ricochet112]

As owner of the boat in question I felt I should respond to this thread. The boat in question has been run almost five seasons just the way it was run at Grass lake the picture was taken last fall and shows stickers from 2008 to 2011 which all were removed when the boat was refinished last winter, a new 2012 sticker was placed on the boat at the winter Nats in the spring. The sponson tips did not come to a sharp point and missed the gauge by an 1/8 of and inch and the vertical radius was 2-1/2 inches which was really the sponson tip which isnt covered in the rule. Now I can see missing this once even twice but five times and all was had to be said in the five years those dont meet the rule and it would have been taken care of took all of five minutes to round them off more. Just seems funny this boat has been through and placed in Divisionals, Nationals, Winter Nationals and NAC'S with never a question.

George, you are an asset to our sport. From our 2 conversations on the phone you were a wealth of information, telling me all you knew and what you did on the Merc 15 to get it smokin' fast, thank you so much!

My opinions on upholding our rules (especially safety rules) is in no way a reflection on yourself or Matt. This is about the integrity of our rules, not about the people involved.

[csh12M]

Helmets

Why don't we hear the same cries of outrage at all the illegally painted helmets? Isn't that also a safety rule?

[Affholter66]

. Now I can see missing this once even twice but five times and all was had to be said in the five years those dont meet the rule and it would have been taken care of took all of five minutes to round them off more. Just seems funny this boat has been through and placed in Divisionals, Nationals, Winter Nationals and NAC'S with never a question.[/QUOTE]

George..not trying be a smart-A$$, you've been around racing ALOT longer than I, and I don't believe you would INTENTIONALLY skirt a safety rule. It took what..?? 5mins to "fix" it? The fact that it has been run and passed inspection at Multiple Events..doesn't change the fact that it was found to be, for lack of better term, illegal. Maybe inspectors at the other events didn't check? As an Ex-Hockey Player who did several things that were illegal during play alot..didn't change the fact that when caught..I got tossed. We can not disregard Safety Rules for the mere fact that.."I've run it that way for yrs'..how many racers had to get new helmets this year? If they would have used their old one and got caught...tossed. Rules are the Rules and as long as they're place..well they're The Rules.