We need: PRO division controversy!

[epugh66]

There are about 10-15 PRO racers and fans here, so thats enough to start an argument, right?

All jokes aside, 500cc hydro is a hurting class due to the capsule rule. History proves that. APBA as well as UIM require capsules in anything 500cc and over ('cept runabouts).

Since it could'nt hurt the class much, do away with the 60% sponson rule for 500cc and up. If it floats AND has a capsule, race it.

Here's the first entry, except it's on it's way to the Netherlands.

Oh, by the way, due to design, tunnels and hydros dont mix on the same race course

[paul jillings]

Looking good Eric - will it be quicker than the current crop of US 500cc capsule hydro's?

The experience over here is that the tunnels obviously have different characteristics and so can be used on occassions where a conventional hydro wouldnt go.... also the rule changes mean that if you want to go fast laying down you run 125, 175, 250 or 350. If you prefer "the other way" get a tunnel style boat. This opens the class to people who want the speed - but not a hydro! And I bet there are a lot of tunnel boats in the US that could be used already.....

At titled UIM events, as you say, the hull types are now split as above. This came about when the hydrocats were competing in some classes against kneelers and cabovers. The difference in racing lines became too dangerous and so the classes have evolved from there, but in some places at local races it is still "run what you brung"!!! OSY, 125 hydro, 350 hydro, 500 cat, 700 proprider!!!!!!!!!

[HydroKyle93R]

What does a 500 - 1100cc capsule hydro weigh?

[nightmoves]

Funny you should mention this.......

My nephew is toying with the idea of 500hydro due to the fact he falls out of things w/o seatbelts but wants to go faster. The other alternative is sst's but that splits the races for us. I know there are alot of tunnel boats around but would any of these be convertable to a 500alky boat without too much cutting and duct tape.
Would anybody else be interestd in doing this if the rule was changed or would it disrupt the whole system?

[17W]

Go Fatty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is it true Nightmoves? Mikey is thinking about a 500CCH huh? Hey Fatty! Pass back the cheese!

[Fatty]

gotta love those wisconsin boys!!!

just a thought for now....not sellin anything yet...gotta see how surgery goes first.

[Dave_E71]

...gotta see how surgery goes first.

Finally getting that brain, huh?

[epugh66]

No angry mobs, must be time for change. The current Pugh capsule hydros are going on 10 plus years old. They must be heavy. There are some newer ones, Thirlby has one that has yet to get wet(hmmmm) "rolli'n on dubs, women in the tub, should I stop?, no, throw the switches to drop" That sucked, no future.

Any way, with a tunnel class, at least they could run if the weather tanked. There are lots of 45 boats used, ofcourse how for they would go past the commitment bouy would be a gamble.

[Bill Huson]

Smell the smoke???

That's my tiny brain in overdrive :-)

Do you think a tunnel would work in smaller stock classes? Like one shows up with whatever class engine and two boats, standard flat water hydro and snotty water tunnel. I'm thinking sponsored races where the show *must* go on or we lose the sponsor. Weather gets dicey, clamp the engine on the tunnel hull and go racing!!!

Option B: everyone carrys a rubber boat and a box stock gearshift and all 15-25 hp engine. Weather sucks, toss in the rubber boat w/driver & crew member who will be respopnsable for tossing water balloons at the competition, set up a figure 8 course, and drop the start flag! Right-of-way rule for the figure 8 crossover, the one with the largest kahunas wins!

[nightmoves]

Count me in!

[m174]

Eric
you might have a point to ponder, maybe to try and get the 45 class to run at some of the pro races, there have to be a million of them out there, and maybe would be closer for them to go to a pro race than travel at times, could be good food for thought, if you could get it to fly with the title series, seems theres always room for a new class

[Joe J]

Any way, with a tunnel class, at least they could run if the weather tanked. There are lots of 45 boats used, ofcourse how for they would go past the commitment bouy would be a gamble.[/QUOTE]

Eric:

There is no way in H*** that I would even think about putting a 500cc engine on my 45 boat. I am thinking that adding 30 mph to an existing boat design could be bad for the driver's health.

Joe

[epugh66]

Yeah Joe, thats why a wondered how far they would go

Option B sounds good, then we always have a good supply of patrol boats.

A 45 engine is probably a legal 1100 if not a 700.

A tunnel takes alot of ooommph to push, so a smaller, lower torque engine may not do it. However, back in the day, the russians won 2-3 350cc WC with a thier hydrocats. That was against the best hydros in the world on both ovals and triangle courses. Lemans starts too. Food for thought.

[James Aderholdt]

The bottom line.......if PRO Racing wants to revive the larger classes... something needs to happen!!!!! It seems the PRO Division has enough classes now, and adding another hull design will just make another new class with only a few people willing to make the jump. Another class only adds to the confusion of different hulls with the same type engine. Maybe F500 could be utilized in another series that already uses the tunnel boat design.

[jsilvestri]

Looking good Eric - will it be quicker than the current crop of US 500cc capsule hydro's?

The experience over here is that the tunnels obviously have different characteristics and so can be used on occassions where a conventional hydro wouldnt go.... also the rule changes mean that if you want to go fast laying down you run 125, 175, 250 or 350. If you prefer "the other way" get a tunnel style boat. This opens the class to people who want the speed - but not a hydro! And I bet there are a lot of tunnel boats in the US that could be used already.....

At titled UIM events, as you say, the hull types are now split as above. This came about when the hydrocats were competing in some classes against kneelers and cabovers. The difference in racing lines became too dangerous and so the classes have evolved from there, but in some places at local races it is still "run what you brung"!!! OSY, 125 hydro, 350 hydro, 500 cat, 700 proprider!!!!!!!!!

A few friends and I have been kicking around the idea of wanting to see how a 302 would do on a tunnel boat. Basically, a hydro with the sponsons carried all the way to the transom. This idea came up due to the fact that we could race on almost any body of water or atleast not so good water conditions. What are the specifics for why the hydro and tunnel can't run together, I've heard this before but am simply very uneducated in terms of tunnel design. Thanks.