How do you measure ASH height now?

[jpro60]

Thank you!

John, Thank you VERY much for shedding some light on the situation. All I had to go off, was unfortunately limited, and subjective knowledge. Your insight has clarified things very well, and made at least some sense of the issue. Though I still do not agree with the change, I can see that the powers that be (like it or not) pull all of the strings. With this in mind, I can see why the decision was made. Thank you again for you insight
Mike Perman 32-R

[Richard K.C. Mo.]

A IS fer 50 + -+

Class A Runabouts, hydroplanes are included tho with reserve,history,said hydro's wern't inluded, as there weren't at this time .


Runubouts,utility,Hair,Bend ,OOhR,
Tomorroe,s A new Day , Wiffe? said she'd? drive.
Only if i shut up?
!!!

[kws]

ill ask again, how long has the extreme tuck been used by those winning?

[propnuts]

Kids nowadays... I don't know where they get these crazy ideas that rules or rule makers should make sense. All I can say Mike is shut up, suck it up, and go do some testing. Sheeesh

[Jeff Brewster 59s]

Richard KC???

Does anyone know what the h*** he is talking about? I have never met you Richard, but I hope to some day! I bet you would be fun to pit beside! If anyone knows Richard, maybe they understand him and can translate for us!

To Mr Hearn and the 2005 SORC Commission......

I am usually called "too negative" by my brothers when we discuss our sport. I just try to be like a lot of you and speak my mind. Sometimes it comes off good and sometimes not. One thing I always do though is give thanks when it is merited.

So, thank you gentlemen and (ladies?) of our leadership for having the foresight to make our ASH class a safe one for all involved. You knew this would fire up some people but you stuck to your guns and did what you felt would make it safe.

I can't wait for the first heat of ASH at Franklin Pa this spring. I have a feeling it will be a very competitive race!

[Fox]

I have been racing the tuck under since around 97 but it's seems like every year since then people have been running greater and greater tuck under measurements.

54-M/19

[Steve Wilde]

ASH tuck by the numbers

I have worked out the numbers to show the impact that the new rule will have on various ASH set ups:
First: Tuck was worked out with a 12" span on the gage. Yours may differ.
Second: The OMC prop shaft is 2.40" long.
**For every 1/4" of tuck measured, the difference between the back/front (prop shaft/gearcase) measurements is .050" (fifty thousanths of an inch).
For example: A tuck of 1/4" with the split line at maximum height will put your prop shaft down .050" at the aft end. A tuck of 1" will put the aft end of the prop shaft down .200".

[ricochet112]

micro-management and over regulation

The new height rule has felt like there were hidden agendas in it's passing.
I'm very concerned about safety with my son racing A in 2 years.
Inspection will now require pulling props to accurately measure height.
Did the BOD and Safety Comm. really strong-arm the SORC into passing a rule that the SORC deemed that there wasn't enough conclusive evidence to make a rule change at this time?
Sounds more like a conspiracy than democrcay.
On a selfish note this means I can race A this year with any boat and be more copmetitive now.
Can anyone tell me which region has had NUMEROUS one boat straight-away accidents? (is it this same person over and over?) If you crash your ASH, without an equipment failure, IN A STRAIGHT LINE, then maybe you should rethink your choice of hobbies.
Take up knitting instead, oh wait, sharp needles in hand, must mandate kevlar gloves and rubber pointed needles. Not a good analogy. LOL
With boat racing declining the last 20 years it's sad that our sport is being dictated by insurance companies, laywers and politicians.
I thought we already had rules in place concerning unsafe setups and racing in an unsafe manor, where the referee could DQ that racer.
Not push through a rule that the SORC almost unanimously deemed unecessary.
My 2 cents worth, Mike Bartlett

[hshawwpba]

hshsawwpba

Two seasons racing ASH. Each offseason, wait out the National meeting to see if we have to make changes to the racing program due to rule changes. The first year, not - the change was voted down. This year, yes. Go from tweaking a known setup to an unknown - start from scratch. New props, new height checker, extra testing. Maybe we'll stumble on something that works. And then what - another rule change for next season? That's attractive.

If we're going to have to go through all of that, maybe we should just sell the ASH stuff and jump to CSH. Nobody seems to want to screw with that class on a regular basis.

This was the most compelling safety issue in stock outboard racing?

THIS WAS THE BIGGEST RAILROAD JOB I'VE EVER SEEN. IT IS SIMPLY A CASE OF FATHER AND SON RAILROADING LAWS THRU UNDER THE SAFTEY ISSUE THAT WOULD NEVER PASS ON A BALLOT DUE TO COMMON SENSE.
ANYONE THAT VOTE MR. HEARN BACK IN AS STOCK COMMISSIONER NEXT TIME SHOULD HAVE THEIR HEAD EXAMINED.
HE CHOOSE NOT TO LISTEN TO HIS COMMISION AND WENT TOTALLY AGINST THEIR WISHES TO DADDY WHO FOUND A WAY TO SLOW DOWN THE COMPETITION.
THIS RULE JUST WILL STOP PROGRESS IN BOAT DESIGN AND PROP ADVANCES TO MAKE SPEEDS QUICKER AND ALLOW FOR ADVANCEMENT.
AND NOW THAT HOD ROD WILL PRODUCE A NEW A MOTOR IN THE COMING YEAR AS PRESENTED AT THE STOCK MEETING IN ATLANTA I WOULD SELL THAT AXS AND OMC FAST AS IT WILL BE OBSOLETE SOON. UNLESS THE THE TEAM OF HEARN & HEARN DEEM THE HOT ROD UNSAFE!
THE GOOD OLD BOYS NETWORK IS WORKING ONCE AGAIN IN APBA AND YOU SUCKERS (OOPS RACERS) ARE PAYING THE COST AND GETTING THE SHAFT IN THE END.

[hshawwpba]

hshawwpba

There is a lot that goes on at these meetings that doesn't end up in the minutes. To those of you who are running the extreme tuck set-ups. This is NOT about you. By the way Mike, 3/8" tuck is far from extreme. 1" - 2" tuck is the issue.The SORC discussed this issue for some time. We almost unanamously determined that we did not have conclusive evidence to rule one way or the other. We did determine that we should monitor the situation during the year an act appropriately next year. That evening it was brought to the attention of the APBA Board of Directors, and the APBA Safety Commitee. After some discussion they decided that something had to be done. They sent a directive to the SORC to pass a rule to address this issue. We were informed that if WE did not make a rule, THEY would. Of course, most of us were pissed off, but we all knew that this was not a bluff. We thought it our duty to pass this rule rather than probably be subjected to a much more stringent rule. This was by far the lesser of two evils. You can still tuck your motor as much as before, but you will have to lower it about 3/8"-1/2" to comply with the rule. ??? Why did the BOD interfere? It's all about the cost of, and the ability to get reasonable insurance. It is our responsibility (SORC) to try to keep our sport as safe as possible for every boat racer. This includes our best most experienced veterans, to our rookies, our children, our friends, and most importantly (to the sport), the people who are considering joining us in the future. It is the APBA BOD's responsibility to remind us of this occasionally. Like it or not, that is who we are and what we do. IF, there is a compelling reason after this upcoming season for this issue to be readdressed we will do what we have to do regardless of anyones individual opinion. Question: Do we really want 60MPH A hydros? Is that really in our best interest? Remember: we race boats for fun. Take yourself out of the equation if you can. Be objective. Thanks, John Runne

If anyone believes all this I have a bridge to sell you and some nice land in Florida! Watch out the spin is on!

[hydroracer25]

who the h33l are you???

HSHAWWPBA,

Are you H. Shaw of the Western Power Boat Assoc. or Wash. Power Boat Assoc? What do you race? Do you race? Were you at the National Meeting? Have ever been to a National Meeting? Have you ever been on the commission?

Everyone is entitled to there opinion, but you can lay off Mr. Hearn. Ed Hearn runs a good meeting and does a job that very few people would want to take on. You say not to vote him back in. Well, hate to tell you, but your commissioners who you elected, elected him.

You say he's trying to slow the competition down. Don't you have to race the class to be slowing down the competition? There was no agenda here, Mr. Hearn believes this is truly a safety issue as do many others. He doesn't build boats, or props or even race ASH so what is the "agenda"? He also openly told the commision what he did in regards to going to the board. He didn't try to put a spin on it and explained why he did so.

I've read you're many posts that are filled with negativity towards our commission and the way they've done things and do things. If you don't like it, run for a spot in 2005 at you Region 10 mtg. Then be prepared to spend your own time and money to make tough decisions that will affect our sport and it's future. And why don't you start signing your name? It may give your statements a little more credibility, but only maybe.

Mark Miskerik
APBA member 22 years.

[Steve Warnock]

Mark,

Nice reply. Mr. Runne's reply is very true. This was a struggle for the SORC. Those that critize the political process need to get involved. You must remember we ARE APBA. If you really have issues with the dicision process, then get involved, I did back in 1984. If people need accidents to prove the point of this issue, I can provide data from the Region 7/6 point of views. But I don't think we need to bring those 6+ incidents into play. Because our own ASH drivers did asked their commisioners to address this issue. Opinons are opinions. This a safety issue and I am confident this was the right decision. Will it correct it completly, time will tell. Just a reminder, there were/are BOD members that are aware of this issue and felt that the original SORC dicision was not enough. This was not just a SORC VP communication to the BOD conversation.

As my dad once said, "Any one can complain, but those that can complain with a potential solution, thats who you want to listen to".

Warbs

[kws]

thanks for answering my question FOX
on anouther note i will apoligize for HOW I wrote that tirade yesterday morning
but not for how i feel .(i see it was removed lol )
btw well put Steve W.

[14-H]

***Take up knitting instead, oh wait, sharp needles in hand, must mandate kevlar gloves and rubber pointed needles. Not a good analogy. LOL
With boat racing declining the last 20 years it's sad that our sport is being dictated by insurance companies, laywers and politicians.
***My 2 cents worth, Mike Bartlett

So what would your position have been on the original height restrictions, mandated kevlar, mandatory requirement of 2 safety boats and an ambulance at the race site.... I could go on; Are these instances of pandering to the insurance companies and the lawyers or were they passed for legitimate reasons?

[14-H]

*** A tuck of 1" will put the aft end of the prop shaft down .200".

Sounds to me like this change in the rule will make little difference and that our committee needs to consider further restrictions if the problem continues.