California pickles

[Racerkyle20]

Mixing APBA Rules with UIM Rules is a slippery slope.............i kinda think that if you live and race in the USA then ya do things the AMERICAN way. If ya want to go race in Europe or some other foreign land go live by there rules.

When in America, learn to speak English and race by APBA Rules is my motto!!...........

Most of us do this for a hobby and are not very happy with getting 'nick nacked' with constant rules dreamed up by 'do-gooders' with good intentions. As my main man Alex the Mad Russian says, "The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions".

Perhaps as Commissioners we should adopt a RULE that for every rule we pass we must eliminate two from the rulebook!!!!!! I would support that rule change!

Thanks for that matt I'm sure glad our 'do gooders' are trying to help keep our sport safe. We race boats at a high rate of speed. Whether it's 50mph or 100mph. 50mph is still fast (even though we don't think so anymore), Energy is energy and can be dangerous. I'm glad someone is thinking we should try and make our sport as safe as possible. NASCAR has done it since Earnhart's death in 01. And look! No fatalities. That's because they stepped up there safety game in all aspects, from the tracks to neck restraints, etc.

65 MPH is fast enough to penitrate a cockpit wall. Part of Bob's presentation is a CSH boat from Region 10 that went through the cockpit of another CSH. HINT NOT JUST UIM EXAMPLES WERE GIVEN. No composite sides and point tips from about 3 years ago (year before the rule was adopted). Sponson completly through the cockpit and hit the driver. Driver was fine, but wouldn't it have been better if the sponson and the cockpit side deflected off each other like Peeters crash example on a previous post?

Also part of the UIM rule is composite sides, but knowing that most AMERICAN racers don't like added expences only the pickle rule was adopted. Missed ya in Dallas

[Racerkyle20]

Kyle,
UIM racing is very different than the type of racing we do. Their hulls have a wedge at the aft end of the bottom to help make the boats plane faster for the LeMans start. That wedge also has the negative effect of making the boat more prone to spin-outs. Being in a laydown, low center of gravity position also is attributable for spin-outs. In our racing, we usually flip before spinning out (not that it doesn't happen once in a while, but very, very rare).
Another factor is that the vast majority of their data was compiled for their Pro hydro classes, which due to their lighter engines and the driver location further forward in the boat, again primarily to plane off quickly, also contributes significantly to the spin-out issue. So the majority of their testing was done on boats going 90+ mph. That velocity is not nearly approached in our category.
A third factor/difference is that in order for a sponson to pierce a combing it must hit at close to 90 degrees or perpendicular to the combing or else it will graze off or at least reduce significantly the impact of the collision.
It requires nearly a "perfect storm" of very unlikely and rare circumstances in our type of racing, with our style boats, to create the scenario that blunt end sponsons will be any safer than pointier sponsons. In fact, in cases of a collision less than 90 degrees the blunt sponson may cause more damage than a pointy sponson.

OSY examples were also used. Did you see Bob's presentation? It had an American CSH crash with a sponson thru the cockpit wall at 60 mph....

Also isn't the point of safety rules to help the rare occruances WHEN WE CAN ACTUALLY GET IN ACCIDENTS?

[G Stillwill]

I stopped making real pointy pickles a few years ago one reason I got tired of walking into them. Even with all the hub dub about mine they were not pointy. I have no problem with the one inch radius rule or the pro UIM rule most boats can make it without a problem. The APBA rule is a different story for almost half the boats unless you want the boat to look stupid. Really if you take a direct hit in the side there is nothing short of a guard rail going to stop the other boat from taking out the combing. Launch a two by four into a block wall at 60 mph and see it go through it.

[csh2z]

1. The issue has been dealt with.
2. Boat racing is inherently dangerous.
3. We can't write a rule to protect ourselves in every possible situation.
4. The SORC has recommended reinforced cockpit sides for those that feel they are at risk.
5. I too, want to make racing as safe as possible, in the context of what we do.
6. Refer to statement #1.

[ricochet112]

NASCAR has done it since Earnhart's death in 01. And look! No fatalities. That's because they stepped up there safety game in all aspects, from the tracks to neck restraints, etc.

The gen 5 CoT being one of the biggest factors in NASACR's safety record had a serious backlash that was finally addressed this year by the new gen 6 car. It started with GM threatening to pull out of NASCAR it didn't change the way the cars look.

The members should stand up and fight for a grandfathered cause like Mod has. To have to retrofit all older small boats (J AX A B's) is dumb, numbers for 2013 will suffer with this rule as is.

I thought APBA should have adopted the UIM rule, instead of the the 1/2 radius, with a grandfathered clause. The last boat I had built was made to UIM specs.

Look for a new product coming soon, Pickle Exteynze, guaranteed to add 2 inches to your pickle or your money back!

[stockc]

pickle extenze

Not that I am a pickle gazer, but couldn't help but notice with the new requirements it is apparent that some pickles will be lacking girth as well. Will this new product address this also? Figured I would ask this for those with deficient pickles that may be too embarrassed to inquire.

[Matt Dagostino]

Runabouts...........

Also part of the UIM rule is composite sides, but knowing that most AMERICAN racers don't like added expences only the pickle rule was adopted. Missed ya in Dallas

Missed you too. Maybe it's time to consider taking the pickle tips and razor sharp side fins off the Runabouts?? What's Wart's take on that?

[Tim Weber]

I thought California was famous for sweet pickles?

I agree with John Runne in that there are some dangers involved and it's time to move on.

Matt, you and me buddy, first turn without the sissy fin in a rollup. Oh yeah, B&H's don't roll up

Tim

[ricochet112]

Not that I am a pickle gazer, but couldn't help but notice with the new requirements it is apparent that some pickles will be lacking girth as well. Will this new product address this also? Figured I would ask this for those with deficient pickles that may be too embarrassed to inquire.

Yes, the NEW Pickle Exteynze will do it all, length, girth, width, thickness, radius* AND circumference!






























































*actual results may vary

[csh2z]

That's enough out of you Tim Weber. Now, GO TO YOUR ROOM, TROUBLEMAKER!

[Tim Weber]

John,

I get sent to me room for agreeing with you? Man, you are tough!


Tim

[john527]

And you wonder why membership is declining! I guess I will be putting tennis balls on the ends of my forks!

[csh2z]

John527,
Tennis balls are only 1 7/8" dia. Not legal.

[john527]

when are the test results on hitting a human at 70 mph with 1 inch radius pickle vs a 2 inch radius pickle going to be released, it will be interesting to see the results!

[csh2z]

The results are posted annually on February 30th.