American Hot Rod press release

[csh12M]

From the desk of American Hot Rod

BACK IN BUSINESS!!

This was the message American Hot Rod delivered at the 2005 American Outboard National Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia on January 28, 2005.

The American Hot Rod company was purchased from A&T engineering, with a subsequent purchase of some additional tooling from RH Little. (the last manufacturer to produce a significant quantity of new Hot Rods) at the end of 2004. The 2005 season will be the first in a new era of American Hot Rod. Ron Selewach, President and owner of American Hot Rod delivered an exciting presentation highlighting his love for Outboard Racing. He also sighted the following Mission Statement for the company.

Revive the American HOT ROD into a viable, dependable, responsive motor, and company.

Create a one-stop eCommerce website for the purchase of everything racing.

Work with APBA to promote boat racing to other racing venues and the general public.

American Hot Rod then laid out an aggressive five year plan to produce four engines ranging in speed from 40mph to 70mph. The following are some of the highlights of the five year plan.

2005

* eCommerce web site for distribution of racing engine, parts and other outboard related equipment

* Produce OMC gearcases to support currents J and A classes

* 15c.i. motor back full production with all new parts

* Introduce a prototype A motor for approval in 2007

* Market and support American HOT ROD and outboard racing to new racers in other markets

2006

* Growth in B classes with complete new 15c.i. HOT ROD motors.

* 20c.i. motor is in full production with all parts available new

* New A motor goes from prototype to probationary

* Prototype J class motor is developed

2007

* A motor is legalized in the ASH/ASR classes, all parts available new

* 20c.i. motor competition is evaluated in Stock Outboard class structure

* Prototype J class motor goes from prototype to probationary

2008

* Continued Growth in 15 c.i. motor classes and sales

* Growth in 20 c.i. classes and sales

* Growth in sales and competitiveness of production Hot Rod A motor

* J motor is legalized in J category, complete motors available, all parts available new

2009

* Motor of choice for J class, A class

* Provide complete motors and parts for all classes 70MPH and under

* J class – 40MPH
* A class – 55MPH
* B Class – 65MPH
* 25 Class – 72-MPH

These were the highlights of the goals and objectives for American Hot Rod over the next five years.

The presentation concluded with American Hot Rod debuting several new parts and components and promising to produce A/J OMC gearcases within the next two months and to deliver the first of the “new generation 15c.i. Hot Rods by the Winter Nationals in Ocoee, FL.

This is a new and exciting time for small outboard racing. Keep your eyes on Hydroracer.Net for more American Hot Rod press releases and updates.

Thanks,

Dean Sutherland
Sales and Marketing American Hot Rod

[Matt Dagostino]

Wonderful Stuff.....................

But what is the SORC's position on this agenda put forth by Hot Rod. Is it going to be a replacement motor or another motor in the class (IF ACCEPTED). I now sit on the fence with a 16 year old J/AXSH MERC driver wanting to move up to A in a year...................WIthout a firm direction by the SORC at some point 'soon' many members including myself will go into a holding pattern until our leaders indicate there action plan for this product(or bail out altogether).

I have always been a believer in 'one' dominent motor per class to avoid the 'few' guys who always seem to be able to beat the system and make the 'older' motor run faster (I am one of them) than the newly introduced motor. This creates a horrible situation for a member (new or existing) who is prepared to purchase a new motor but does not want to get beat by a product that is now some 20 plus years old.

I present 'our families' point not so much from a political view but as a Hot Rod Target Customer who would love to buy a shiney reliable A motor that is "EQUAL" to all the other Hot Rods out there and not have to worry about getting beat by a 20 plus year old motor.

Is this going to be the case or are we looking at a restrictor plate battle and potentially adding and decreasing weight......etc. etc. to keep both motors around?????

Lets hear it Commissioners !!!!!

Signed

Racer With Ckeckbook In Hand.................

[stu_racing]

sorry if i am making you repeat yourself, but what is being done to the 15ci hot rod to differentiate it from the one that was produced in previous years? i am a fan of the B class and am thinking towards the next couple of years. as a student athlete i have kept my weight down and don't weigh enough for C without putting a lot of weight into the boat and this year in 20ssh i'll be underweight with my new boat. i like the idea of running a smaller class and minimum weight being at 165lbs.

[vislaguy]

ab gearboxs

dean do you know when the standard hot rod gearboxs will be available to buy ?? I think those feet will be the future of many 2 cyl mod motors if there afordable??I have several projects I would like to do but theres no a-b feet around and I'm not going to get in a price war with some collector over some wore out merc foot! I hope there here soon and under 800.00 i hope thanks mike

[mike ross]

Matt these are all great questions you have brought to the commision. Keep in mind we need to see the progress of the new Hot Rod company. 1st we need to see how the new motor preforms in the current B class. They did bring into the meeting all the new parts that they improved. So it looks good that the new B motor will be a as good or better than past new motors. Ed Runne and Dean stated they have a couple ways to detune this current 15 cubic inch motor. We need to get that the B motor out first to see what it does. The SORC stated it will be monitering the progress to see how all these senerios they presented will work. Thru some preliminary testing this year we all should get a chance to see how these new configurations work at some of the races this year. The cool thing I saw was that if you had a J driver start with this new HOT ROD they could update there HOT ROD to a A and then to a B for a lot cheaper than buying a completly new motor. It all sounds good so lets sit tight and see what they do this year in B. Mike

[Steve Warnock]

Mike/Matt,

I agree with what Mike stated above. With the Hot Rod adgenda or plan there is plenty of time to adjust and twik. But I think the big issue is can the new Hot Rod company meet their commitments and when they do, we back them, if they don't, then the SORC other has options.

This is probably the most significant opprotunity to the SORC and the stock/mod community has had since 1985 when the factorys gave us engines. We need to think out of the box and the potential opprotunity(sp) this can bring to the over all boat racing organization.

Matt, you and I have had a long investments in this sport. I have 2 OMC's which have long been paid for since 1985, I have 2 hot rods, one which was converted from a 20 to a 15 in 1992(both bought in 1986). One merc, from 2002. I think most can say we have we have got the most out of our investments.

For the new guy, this can be an issue. Not sure what to say there, it depends on alot of that person's boat racing agenda.

The bottom line is that we have to give the Hot Rod agenda a place to perform its plan.

Warbs

[Matt Dagostino]

Stability...............

I like Wildes post basically pointing out every motor has a certain shelf life and 20 plus years seems about right to upgrade. Not that my situation matters in the grand sceme since we will adjust but it would be interesting to know what the Commish sees down the road as far as one motor one class (Both in D and now A).

I agree that the Hot Rod opportunity has similar characteristics to the 80's when motors were being thrown at us from the factories. The SORC clearly has to explore the feasibility of such engines but now that they have 'opened the door' to Bass and now Hot Rod it would only be fair to the membership to outline a plan of implamentation to the existing drivers who will be most affected. To make it simple..............Is the old OMC A and Merc 44xs gone if these probationary motors pan out???????????

It would seem that buying a OMC or Merc 44xs over the next year or so might not be a very good investment if the SORC elects to re-place it with the newer engine.............Just seems a good idea to have all the cards on the table.

I personally would like to see the Hot Rod the exclusive motor in the class ASAP and let everybody start over like what was done with the intro of the OMC in the mid 80's. All the blueprinting,porting,hole plugging etc etc. Look what happened to our box stock A engine over the years.

It's fun to say things like this now that I am just a voiceless J Dad nowadays......................

Good Luck

[jsilvestri]

Matt,
I too would like to see one motor in a class. Look how well the OMC "A" motor did when it was introduced. Almost everyone had one in their trailer, even big guys who only raced "D" were buying a motor just to run and have fun with. The Hot Rod could be a shot in the arm. I'd seriously consider buying another Hot Rod to run ASR if it were the only motor.