302 Super Stock Hydro nationals prize money

[Stu Ford]

Great job Dave. In all my years I got plenty of hardware but never enough cash.

[daveracerdsh]

302ssh

Here is another way of looking at the prize money thing. I am not chewing anybody out...nothing like that....the stock commission, as well as the 302SSh committee...has known for months that we were going to do some kind of promotion involving money for the 2013 nationals. It has been no secret...I can pull up old posts etc that both Jeff and I have made, as well as e mails etc. This is not something that has just came out of the blue. Jeff and have almost BEGGED people to come up with ideas...yet nobody has come forward with anything....aside from Mike Pavlick that came up with the prize money distribution schedule. If we as a group are going to get this thing going...we have to have ideas and support within the commission and the 302 committee..I can't do it all myself...I do not have the talent,and Jeff has to oversee the whole stock catagory...he does not have the time. I need help with this...people have to step forward and offer us ideas as to how to make this class a huge hit....I feel that the very future of stock outboarding may rest with this class...remember....we have around 300 people in the catagory...meaning 1 in one MILLION people in the United States race a stock outboard. Pretty sobering stuff in my view. The checks for prize money are in the process of being written by APBA...it is a done deal. I want people..the commission...their friends...you name it...to let people know what is going on with this class...that there is prize money being given out...it is the "wow" factor.....people are getting a nice check for winning a race! If you do not agree with that...I respect your opinions..I really do...but I want more ideas from al of you as to how we are going to build this thing. Again...please don't hesitate to contact myself or Jeff. Enough for tonite.....work calls! Dave

[DtwSailor]

Misread.

Dave,
I retread my list and as well think it may have been too argumentative, and if so apologize. I love what the so team has done for the 302 class. I don't mind a little cash in the pocket but I believe the point I am trying to make is that the sorc are not the only ones that can promote this class. What better feel good media story than drivers winning cash, getting checks, and the. Turning it over back to help a driver or club? I'm in marketing and that's not something you see everyday.
I'll stick to my stance, and pray that the live streaming is up, so while I am on video conference on one monitor, I can secretly watch the races on another.
226m

[Dave M]

Getting Started

Who doesn't love cash ? Just the baby in that insurance ad.

I am in favor of it, not sure if I came across as against or not. I guess I am used to getting it at every race, and maybe am taking it for granted to much.

Here is a tip, keep it BONE STOCK. No moving of water lines, no extra anythings. Meaning, pull it out of the box from Japan, clamp it on and go race. If you do this, there is potential to offer this engine to Marinas all over the U.S. to display and sell as a racing engine. That is way off in the future if promoted right, but it is something you should think about, the big picture, and the distant future. You can't survive on short term sustainablity, and that is all the MERC Challenge did for boat racing. Short term spike in numbers. Don't let this fall into the same trap.


Adapt boats to the class. Market it as a 302SSH boat. People like to see that, and those that are not sure what we do, will know THAT boat is for THAT engine. No confusing it with a CSH, 20SSH, OSY400, 25SSH, or whatever else in on the schedule in stock that runs a form of that engine.

In my opinion, you need to invest in your future. Not sure if there is any cash left for APBA, but it should be investing in multiple rigs for this class, a trailer, and props, gear for all sizes, etc. You know, kind of like the MHRA rig........ Only on a larger scale. Last time I was in Constantine for an ABPA race I saw Hearn had a new enclosed trailer, big one. It was all decked out with vinyl graphics of the classes they run, etc. Something like this is what I am talking about. Display it, promote it, and most of all LET people try it for free. Invest in your future...........

[blueskyracer]

I agree it must be run just as it came out of the box from Japan.. Just add kill switch hook up and find a good cooling height and let them have at it.. Right now stock should really be called "light Mod".. Expenses need to be kept down till the folks get hooked..

[DeanFHobart]

2014 Moses Lake

I might have to consider 302 SS Hydro for next year at the 2014 Moses Lake
Washington SO Nationals. Here in Region 10, we have 302 or C Novice Hydro,
which is a blueprinted powerhead and all the same props, picked by drawing one from the 'hat'.

Too bad we cannot somehow combine these two.

Good Luck to all in the upcoming Nationals in the 302 SS Hydro class.

Dean Hobart... Racing boats since 1962.

[daveracerdsh]

302 Super Stock Hydro

Again...I have no problem with people giving me their views...I welcome it! Life would be no fun if everybody just agreed with everything I do...we are going to look at ways of integrating the local novice c class into 302SSH...more to come after nationals on that. Dave

[DeanFHobart]

Parity...Yikes

Again...I have no problem with people giving me their views...I welcome it! Life would be no fun if everybody just agreed with everything I do...we are going to look at ways of integrating the local novice c class into 302SSH...more to come after nationals on that. Dave

How about this: For motors that are blueprinted... both powerhead and foot,
make them run a little deeper.... Just a thought... for the 302 SS Hydro.

This would require some parity testing to make it reasonably even.

[daveracerdsh]

Posts

Went thru all the posts in this thread and re read all of them....some great ideas are put forth,,,Jeff and are going to have a meeting next week at nationals with as many committee members and interested parties as possible...we will let everybody know the day and time. If you have ideas we would love to hear them. Dave

[Hutch06]

Promo Tent

Nice work Dave on trying to infuse the class - it is a very cool idea that I have not seen often in my relatively short racing 'career'.

There are definitely a lot of great ideas that could be used to build this class and with some hard work could get this class to the entry numbers that you talk about.

I'll make sure I drop by the promo tent for a while at some point over the week.

-Elek

BTW, great to see you in Waterford a few weeks back Pav's!

[daveracerdsh]

Promo tent

I will be in the promo tent.. either that look for me in the region ten camp...we are the group that has the stack of beer cans 10 feet high in front of pit area. Dave

[rumleyfips]

When we got the first Yanotos in 1979 I ran mine just as I got it. Never timed it, set the carb or anything.

It was quick enough to win a qualifying heat at the Saranac nationals but people were already altering them and making all kinds of excuses why they shouldn't have to follow the tech specs.

I didn't like the way stock was going and sold everything the next year. The Yamato went first.

John

[dholt]

Kudos to you Dave, Jeff B. and all involved in getting this class off the ground. I've seen at least 5 302ssH on the water at all 4 races I've attended this year.


One thing to consider for the future. The lure of big prize money could have unintended consequences. What's to prevent a 10-15 year veteran from breaking out a rig in order to win $500? Is that who we want racing in this class?

For the most part, I've seen almost purely newbies racing in it this year...but when you start dangling serious money out there...all bets are off.

And has there been any discussion of a "term limit" for this class? How long do we want newbies in it? Or for that matter, veteran racers? Ultimatley, isn't it intended to be a stepping stone class? Like 'J' for adults? The goal should be to graduate to CSH, 20ssH or something else...not a career...right or am I wrong?

D.

[Andrew 4CE]

I drool over this class... This is what STOCK racing should be like. I hate wrenching and don't have time for it if I did. We're good wrenchers... just I got better things to do. And I want to out drive someone, not out wrench them. I want pull and go. I hope they keep the motor stock-stock-stock... don't cave. Put an APBA engine claimer rule in that they (and only APBA) can buy any motor for $400 over the cost of a new one (or whatever value)... if an engine some how manages to be winning everything, APBA has the right to buy it back, investigate and then convert it to a CSH motor or whatever and get rid of it from 302SSH.

I see this as long term cost effective race program... not a nessecarily a newbie race program. If it grows to regularly having elims... you can divide to newb (5 years and under?) and veteran classes. Any newb needing more challenge can move up to veteran at any time.

[daveracerdsh]

Brief history of class

Thanx for the input Dana...Let me give people a quick history/rundown of how the class was formed and who it is targeted towards. I have noticed over the years how many racers purchase "stock" equipment to race..whether it be an A to a D, only to become frustrated over time when they can't win any races etc..always at the back of the pack, you get the idea. I felt, along with others, that there was a place in stock racing for a true "stock" class....no modifications to engine whatsoever...run it essentially like it comes from the factory. Almost all other forms of amatuer racing...cars, motorcycles, karts..have a class where no modifications are allowed. Some of these classes use a claiming rule, others require you to run a factory sealed motor etc. Of course..many racers get their edge in stock racing thru props...so in addition to a sealed motor we decided to use identical 2 blade props. The target speed for the class was around 60mph top speed....and we hit the mark right out of the box last year at Grass Lake first time out...I think I hit 59.7 or something on the GPS. The class is not just aimed at newbies...it is also aimed at veterans that may not want to spend the money in whatever class to be a front runner...or are looking for a new challenge. The boats have fairly broad rules associated with them...you can still do some tinkering on them to gain a little edge. There is much more to come in the future with this class....hopefully we can make it where you just click on a button on the APBA website and buy a complete rig ready to race. (that may be the case now...have not looked in a while) Anyway, from what I have seen, people really enjoy racing the 302SSH...I wish I could get a rig to run at nationals. Dave