J Class Rule Changes?

[Merc1]

Hafer, you should follow this advice. It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.

[PRO-MOTIONRACING]

Telling almost all Outboard Hydroplane owners that they must chop off the front of there boats will.

A. In-courage new and returning membership.

B. slow declining membership.

C. increase participation.

D. none of the above.

[jsilvestri]

For all those who are so upset about the sponson tip rule you've got to understand how the rule origonally came about and why. One of my close friends was involved in an accident where a competitors boat's sponson pierced into and through his cockpit side side causing him to take a ride in an ambulance with resulting effects to his body that he will have for the rest of his life. By the way, I was in the rescue boat and the jumper who put him on the backboard before being hoisted into the crashboat. Not a good sight.

Is the picklefork rule perfect, no it is not. However, I'd rather have this rule than not have one all together. The powers to be, who we have elected into power in APBA are simply trying to make the sport safer. Just as they did years ago when wearing kevlar became manditory. There was a lot of resistance at the time but no one complains about it now because it is so much safer to wear the kevlar when racing. Not to mention when testing.

Come up with a plan to change your boat to adhere to the new safety rules, make the changes and move on. All sports and forms of racing go through this type of change all of the time. If your not willing to make the changes then move onto another hobby or interest of choice and do your best to be successful at that, there are a lot of options available.

As far as the runabouts needed to get rid of their pointed noses, I agree. That is why I built my CSR over an inch longer than the minimum overall length so I could go back and retrofit it if needed or wanted. By the way, its on the list of things to change this winter. All of my runabouts I've designed since then have a 4" wide blunt nose and not a pointy nose to them. I'm no scientist or physicist but common sense tells me that a pointed nose to any boat will pierce into and or through a surface when contact is made if the speed and weight of the hull is great enough. However, there is a better chance of a hull bouncing off of a surface if it has a blunt or rounded nose to it. Nothing is perfect, just remember that safety should always be #1 when designing, building and racing your boat. That is how I have always approached my racing career which will be 30 straight years this summer. I love waking up Monday morning in my own bed being able to be with my wife and kids.

Sincerely,
Joe Silvestri
36-S

[Howie Nichols]

No rule changes have been approved by the BOD yet. The J Committee is formed under the direction of the President. All actions by the J Committee must then go to the BOD for approval. Once this has been completed then they will be posted onto the APBA website. 30 days after this is when rules become official.

What that means - No rules are affected for the Bakersfield or Lakeland races since both races are noow only 30 days away and nothing has been posted.

The minutes from the meeting have been completed, they are back in the hands of the Committee members for review and approval. They will then get sent to the BOD for vote and final approval. You will then see all that was done.

#1- I will say that yes the new proposed pickle rule conforms to the MOD & PRO rule that is in the current rule book. No boats will be grandfathered.

#2 - There was also a tuck rule of 1/2" (same as ASH & AXH) that passed for the JH & JR classes to prevent the extreme tuck. A rebuttal to reverse the decision of this rule was submitted to the BOD by Richard Hearn. This was done to the BOD since the J meetings had already adjourned.

#3 - AXR is added as an approved Marathon class

#4 - 1/4 mile records are eligible for HOC pts if an existing record is broken.

These are the racing rule changes done at the meeting...

All members of the J Committee present are folks that have been around for quite a while and in multiple categories. I for one respect all of them and know they are doing what they think is best for the sport and category.

[fhafer]

Hafer, you should follow this advise. It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.

Professor, the word is advice. When you seek to insult someone, make sure you have both brain cells firing. OK Ace?

[mercguy]

Hafer, As I sift through your BS this looks like an excuse you have been searching for to quit racing.

what I have determined over the years is that if a person is threatening to quit because of a recent rule change, then that person had already decided to quit BEFORE the change.....

get back to the shop Joe!!!

[fhafer]

Telling almost all Outboard Hydroplane owners that they must chop off the front of there boats will.

A. In-courage new and returning membership.

B. slow declining membership.

C. increase participation.

D. none of the above.

This is spot-on!

I don't have a problem with making a change to a boat if it will increase the safety of all the drivers, but a J boat pickle fork won't penetrate a gunwale as described by Mr. Silvestri; the weight and speed just isn't there. The thing about a smaller cross-section pickle fork at lower speeds is it will more likely produce a glancing blow rather than a striking blow. At higher speeds and heavier weights, which produce higher energy levels, I am totally onboard with the theory.

Get those balsa blocks glued on! I've spoken my peace on this matter.

[Merc1]

Oh touche hafer! Well played...... but you get the point! Your right Daren, but it is FUN!

[fhafer]

what I have determined over the years is that if a person is threatening to quit because of a recent rule change, then that person had already decided to quit BEFORE the change.....

get back to the shop Joe!!!

I didn't threaten to quit. I'm just not going to make modifications to boats that won't produce a single positive change other than "maintaining uniformity" in a digital rulebook.

We'll race the really pointy runabouts, whose physics are TOTALLY different than hydros.

[fhafer]

Oh touche hafer! Well played...... but you get the point! Your right Daren, but it is FUN!

"but you get the point!" and so do you.

[j hydro racer]

J class includes ax

Fred I'm pretty sure you were at Wakefield, when I had the side of my Axh speared by the sponsons of another driver, considering it wasnt even at full speed(some kids get antsy milling) I'm pretty sure the sponsons went right through and then the rest of the boat. Who knows if the tips were rounded but even at J speeds it's still able to break wood. I had a nice bruise on my leg for a couple weeks right were the tip went through and hit me on leg. How about we just wait for everything to be posted and go from there. No sense getting all worked up. Hope to see everyone at Whitney point.

[Merc1]

"I didn't threaten to quit." Sure you have,

"This was much more than a scoring snafu....but if your goal is to get three single event drivers then well done!

We'll be racing go carts in Hampton/Langley next year and not hydroplanes & runabouts!

We made some good friends but we're moving on."

The Hafer's

Sorry Daren, Now I'm done

[stevegray]

Think about it

Ya'll wonder why the great past time of boat racing is going down hill, you people are trying to figure out rules on J, ? Give the kids a shot, let them race, How does anyone expect the future to progress, when the youngsters are hearing and listening to all the crap you promote? Race and have fun, I tune into this website for info, but you are killing the thing that you're supposedly proud of! Good luck

[PittmanRacing]

Mr. Kentucky Blue,

I live in the Louisville metro area and am happy to also update your Picklefork tips to meet the new rule....of course for free. My pleasure if it is closer than Mike. Just PM me and we will work out the details.

Paul

[G Stillwill]

An inspector admitted to me that when the Mod rule was put into effect that the little boats wasnt thought of as some couldnt make the 1/2 inch thickness all way across now its changed to 3/4 all way across which makes even harder to change. Radius is no problem but thickness is another story on a J and A boat