Future of OMC A and Merc 15

[Bill Blackwell]

With the approval of the Hot Rod A as a prototype, then probation and finally an approved engine in the A Stock Classes, what's the future of the OMC 15 and Merc 15 racing engines?

I'm guessing that these engines would still be legal in the A Stock classes (as well as the J and KPRO classes), and that the Hot Rod will be monitored and regulated to achieve parity.

Just so I'm clear, I'm all for the good people at Hot Rod and what they plan to do. It's my opinion that these new engines and products will be a very good thing for outboard racing. And clearly, Hot Rod plans to produce A gearcases so this is reassuring. I'm just interested to hear more about the planned introduction as I can't help but wonder what the value of my current 15 ci engine inventory will do.

Bill B.
Fast Boats Built Slow

[Matt Dagostino]

Hum..................

What a great question. It would be nice to see/hear the SORC's position on this. Looks like 1983-84 all over again when the OMC A came out and the SORC promptly retired the KG4's. Young Hearn looks to be setting himself up for a few grey hairs........................ What's it going to be,one motor one class or a battle of restrictor plates.

Should be interesting.

[orchy]

Just so i'm clear on this, because i'm sure a few others are wonder aswell. The hot rod will be produced as a 15ci motor, and will be competing against OMC's and Mercs that are 13.5, if i'm correct? So i'm assuming that there will be a restrictor plate involved here. Now what will ever happen to the B-Stocks? I'm just asking this because once i get too beefy for my A, i was interested in B outfit. So how is this going to change both classes? for better or worse?

[Mike 41P]

Here is what I heard. The Hot Rod A will still be 15 ci but will be fudamentally detuned, not just restricted. It will use a different piston sleeve with different ports and a different carb will be used.

[Cameraboy]

How to measure ASH height? - Not anymore!

Oops, wrong thread. Check out our time line of getting involved in outboard racing, in the class recommended to us by the likes of Tom D'Eath, Billy Schumacher, and Chip Hanauer:

2002 - looking to get into racing in ASH; told to buy a Merc, because that appears to be the direction the class is going based upon SORC actions.

2003 - told don't buy the Merc; it's 5 mph slow - bought OMC.

2004 - SORC contemplates restricting the OMC; drivers vote it down.

2004 - J Commission takes on AXS from SORC, votes weight decrease for AXS - novice drivers too old for J now only have A or faster as an option if over 18.

2005 - SORC approves Hot Rod 15 provisionally, approves modifications to Merc.

You're kidding me, right? This class is too unstable now, and for the foreseeable future.

I'm selling our A stuff and switching to the Yamato classes (20ss this season, then to OSY and C-Stock).

I'm tired of guessing from year-to-year what power plant to run or what is going to be done to what I am running. I want stability, so we are making the move. It's tough starting out in this sport without stability. Too bad - we liked ASH a lot. We'll make sure our A stuff gets raced. We'll keep the boat - Bezoats' Rock!

I'm not against change, I don't have an opinion at this time on multiple motors in a class. I am against annual incremental changes without a plan as to where those change intend to go. It makes it look like that we don't know what we want to be as a sport (or a category or a class). That's a tough sell, no matter how many motors are available.

Besides, now we've REALLY got a bad-ass looking boat.

[G Stillwill]

Does anyone know what was changes were approved for the 15 Merc if there were any.

[kws]

Oops, wrong thread. Check out our time line of getting involved in outboard racing, in the class recommended to us by the likes of Tom D'Eath, Billy Schumacher, and Chip Hanauer:

2002 - looking to get into racing in ASH; told to buy a Merc, because that appears to be the direction the class is going based upon SORC actions.

2003 - told don't buy the Merc; it's 5 mph slow - bought OMC.

2004 - SORC contemplates restricting the OMC; drivers vote it down.

2004 - J Commission takes on AXS from SORC, votes weight decrease for AXS - novice drivers too old for J now only have A or faster as an option if over 18.

2005 - SORC approves Hot Rod 15 provisionally, approves modifications to Merc.

You're kidding me, right? This class is too unstable now, and for the foreseeable future.

I'm selling our A stuff and switching to the Yamato classes (20ss this season, then to OSY and C-Stock).

I'm tired of guessing from year-to-year what power plant to run or what is going to be done to what I am running. I want stability, so we are making the move. It's tough starting out in this sport without stability. Too bad - we liked ASH a lot. We'll make sure our A stuff gets raced. We'll keep the boat - Bezoats' Rock!

I'm not against change, I don't have an opinion at this time on multiple motors in a class. I am against annual incremental changes without a plan as to where those change intend to go. It makes it look like that we don't know what we want to be as a sport (or a category or a class). That's a tough sell, no matter how many motors are available.

Besides, now we've REALLY got a bad-ass looking boat.

did you read Hot Rods press release?

[Steve Wilde]

A class time line

This is my time line racing the A stock classes:
1958-1985 KG-4 and MK-15 Mercurys,
1986-2006 OMC A engines,
2007-20?? American Hot Rod A.
Unstable? Not in my view. I'll be racing ASH with a Hot Rod if I can get someone to push my wheel chair down to the water...

[Dr. Thunder]

The only items left out of both Mike and Steves timelines are the dates that the "stock" engines were allowed to become "Mod" engines and still run as stock!!!

Lets hope that the Hot Rod "A" engine will not face the same demise ... its the beginning of the end when that happens.

[ricochet112]

Still Legal?

Will our Mercs and OMC's still be legal engines for J/A when the Hot Rod becomes approved?
I started racing in 1985 with a 30H and within 3 years my engine became obsolete.
Now in just 2 years running J will our J/E 15 become obsolete for stock racing. Change (sh-t) happens, got to go with the flow or don't race!
I feel your pain cameraboy.
112-R

[Dr. Thunder]

Obsolete for Stock Racing ... perhaps

but can you say ... FAH/FAR ... how about Formula "J" ... or is that KPRO?

I'm reminded by this thread of the content of an earlier post from Steve Warnock ... can't remember now where he found this but ...

Stock Outboard Mission Statement


Stock outboard racing is a form of affordable, amateur, outboard powered boat racing, achieving maximum recognition and reasonable reward for successful competitors. Our objective is to have competitve equipment, commercially available to all competitors on an equal basis, We wish to promote this sport on a national level and support it on a local level, giving safety a foremost consideration. We will achieve this mission by;

*Having a clearly defined set of rules. However, the General Racing Rules shall prevail in all situations not specifically covered in the Stock Outboard Rules.

*Legislating up-to-date safety equipment, requirements, rules and standardized interpretation.

*Having fair, impartial, and trained judges and officials.

*Cooperating with the engine manufactures to meet out mutal goals and needs.

*Effecting a competent inspection procedure and to avoid any unfair advantages.

*Promoting the sport to encourage new competitors to join.

*Promoting responsibility and participation of all members.

[Cameraboy]

No pain here...

...we're going racing (see you in OSY in a couple years, Mike). When "A" settles on a motor(s), we'll could likely go back - we're keeping the boat, maybe even the prop.

Yes, I read the Hot Rod press release. It doesn't tell me what SORC's plan is, just what Hot Rod's plan is. And Hot Rod has a great plan. We'll be in the market for motors in the future and it's good to have them as a choice.

Correction to my previous post - on AXS I should have said that novice drivers over a certain weight and age have their choices limited - my bad.

[DougMc]

[QUOTE=CameraboyCorrection to my previous post - on AXS I should have said that novice drivers over a certain weight and age have their choices limited - my bad.[/QUOTE]

Hey, watch the fat jokes!

[ryan_4z]

Cameraboy,

I think you are blowing this a little out of proportion. The current "A" motors aren't going anywhere for at least a few years. Hopefully the SORC will phase out the current motors, if they decide to go with the Hot Rod. But that decision cannot really be made until next years National mtg. when the commission has all the test data from this year. Hopefully then they will make a firm decision as to the future of the "A" class. But if you already have A equipment, I see no reason to get frustrated and quit. You have at least 3-4 more years to run the current stuff before everyone will have to be running a Hot Rod.

[Dave M]

True

The only items left out of both Mike and Steves timelines are the dates that the "stock" engines were allowed to become "Mod" engines and still run as stock!!!

Lets hope that the Hot Rod "A" engine will not face the same demise ... its the beginning of the end when that happens.

Most look upon it as a Stock class in Mod. How many true Formula A's are really out there ?

Oh yeah, no tuck rule in FAH either...........