Real Numbers

[dholt]

Seen a lot of posts on the SW thread about the supposed plight of the 20ssH class several years ago and how the restricted 302 boosted the numbers.

Here are the year by year totals for each season since 1997.

20SSH
1997-86
'98-92
'99-104
'00-106
'01-101
'02-115
'03-107
'04-111
'05-121
'06-98
'07-98
'08-98
'09-108
'10-87
'11-110
'12-116

Couple points:

1. I don't remember the exact year the restricted 302 was legalized. The restricted 102 was legalized prior to the 302...there's no doubt about that. Seems I recall the restricted 102 was legal in '97...if not sooner.

2. When I started running 20ssH in 1999, I saw VERY FEW 102s or 302s in the class. The vast majority of boats east of the Mississippi were running 80s.
Maybe 1 out of 10 guys had a restricted motor up until the past 2-3 years out this way. And this was a time when 10-15 20ssH would be at every Region 6 race.

3. There are many factors which influence participation. Can't draw a simple conclusion that ONLY the introduction of an engine boosted or even decreased participation.

4. The fluctuation in participation for this class pretty much mirrors ALL Stock classes since 1997. Up/down trends are across the board.

5. 20ssH was NOT dying in the late 90's due to lack of engines. It was essentially the 3rd largest class behind CSH and ASH. Now it's the 2nd largest...as ASH has fallen way off.

[Racerkyle20]

Good research

Thanks dana. As far as region 10 goes we consistently had 15-22 csh and 20 hydros at each race this year. Which btw we accounted for 25% of each class participation in he entire country. For 20 most Mainly ran restricted 302. Few 80. No 102 restricted, 1 sw.

Our 20 drivers are mostly a younger crowd with a lot of j/a. Drivers that's have gotten too big for omc/merc classes. I'm the old man of 20ss at 28 (almost 29)! Lol. So for region 10 it's encouraging. And that number will only climb in the next few years with 11 j drivers making races in our region.

I think 20ss is going to thrive if the sw is on or not....

[guedo499]

The fastest we have even gone in a straight line in 20ssh is with a restricted 102, just couldn't get it to turn.

I blame the success of the restrited 302 on Nilsen Racing: in 2005/6?, they went out and set a record, roasting the field in a restricted 302 and old MJR.

We went onto win 20ssh in a Restricted 302 in 2007, not because it was quicker than our 80, but because we just didn't want to change engines between 20/CSH all the time.

Kudos to the powers that are in Region 10 for creating an environment where we can have fun and race with 15+ fields at every one of our local races.

[dholt]

For the record, I'm not knocking the restricted 102/302 in the class.

Just pointing out that the class was far from "dead" when the 302 was introduced...as some others have tried to say.

It's certainly helped...as you can run 2 classes with same boat/engine. And you can buy parts new...unlike the old 80.

And it is certainly now outperforming the 80.

I just don't see the need to add a 3rd engine to the mix and try to achieve parity, when parity between different outboards in nearly impossible in Stock. Recent history proves that.

[ryan_4z]

I just don't see the need to add a 3rd engine to the mix and try to achieve parity, when parity between different outboards in nearly impossible in Stock. Recent history proves that.

Maybe it would be easier to achieve parity if the motors were the same size.

[B Walker]

Hi Dana,

Good numbers.

All this is pre-hydroracer.

I tried to find the threads on rec.boats.racing.power from back in the day but gave up after wading through too much racer x BS.

What is your best guess on why an existing high participation class like pure Y-80 20SSH would allow 102 (restricted) into their class?

I see this as the key component of the issue. Viable stand alone classes NEVER allow another engine.

Part of me says it all does not matter, it is water under the bridge but on the other hand the other part of me does not want to promote a failed strategy.

I want to learn from the mistakes and am open minded to accept that allowing the 102 (restricted) and then 302 (restricted) into 20SSH may or may not have been in the best interests of the class and APBA.

Let me know....

BW

[csh2z]

If you notice, the significant drop off between 2005 and 2006-2008. That 20% loss in one season scared the crap out of us (SORC). We were concerned that that trend may continue as it did with the A classes during that time. The commission wanted to be proactive and do something to build the class before we lost too many more drivers. The 2008 National Meeting is when the 20S Sidewinder was introduced into the class as probationary. At that time, there was very little participation with the 102/302's. It was also proposed during that meeting that the 102/302's begin a three year phase out from the class, so we would have a clear view of the future for 20SSH.