APBA Annual Meeting Agenda

[Big Don]

I’m going to have to agree with the Hagerl’s on their runabout boat numbers that yellow on green is legal. Not saying I agree that is the way it should be but they are legal. The rule book, page 12 rule 6 RACING NUMBERS 1. it only says hydroplane, no where does it mention runabouts. Unless I’m missing another rule somewhere in the book, and I may be. Their numbers are currently legal in my opinion. Was that our intent, no it must have been deleted sometime in the past. Edward add this to the agenda.

[Mark.Wheeler]

Donny,

Read the general racing rule on numbers.

Mark

[Big Don]

Mark, Thanks I looked and missed it. Didn't read down far enough. By the way Donny probably knew where it was.

Don

We should still cover it in our SO rules. Mr. Edward Hearn keep it on the agenda.

[CSR4C]

Novice class

[QUOTE=hagerl8m]1. I would like to see the SORC take some steps to selling the sport. I know that there has been money spent making videos and websites, but is that really what gets people interested in racing? Maybe spending money on TV time, advertising, or even letting people try out boats at races, with out throwing them into someone’s rig. I remember seeing Mouse Boats at Disney, and also at the racecourse, no wonder it didn't take so long for APBA to unload them. I know that’s a bad example. But it’s in the same thing we should be doing. Everyone wants to build the sport but nothing really happens.


I think the Mouse Boat program was not the way to get new racers. Kids enjoyed riding in and driving them, but they were not race boats. Mercury was the only one the benefited, when those kids who drove the boats grow up and buys their first outboard. They will remember that black Mercury they drove years ago and that is what they will buy.

In region 11 we have a beginner class called Nor Cal 400. It is a C Hydro with the engine buried deep. Prop shaft 3” below the bottom with Y80 vintage Para mutual props. This set-up will top out at about 53mph, can get anyone on plane with no effort, lots of punch and stable. We have never had an accident of any kind using a boat with this set-up. Also the is no cooling problem at this depth. The class has gotten many new drivers into the sport. Most have been friends or family of existing racers. A few outsiders have tried the class, I wish there was more success at this end. There is a rental program, for $100 can race a boat, this includes APBA single event membership, all the gear needed, one practice session and 2 heats of racing.
Used boats that are not the latest & greatest design have easy to come by. We have a set of matched props. Drivers have been more than willing to loan driving gear. It is the supply of motors and a way to get the boats to races that has been a problem.
What I would like to propose is a national novice program with this rental class. There will also be no restriction on owning your own equipment (except for props). 5 4-boat trailers to cover most of the races nationally. One that cover regions 1, 2, 3, 4. One for region 5. One for region 6, 7. One for region 10. One for region 11, 12.
Possibility have all the boats at the nationals for a championship among the top point earners for the season.

The obstacles would be:
Funding the program.
Finding persons who would be willing to haul a rig like this to the races, storage for the equipment, etc., etc.
But I guarantee that this kind of program would bring in many needed new members.

Darrell Sorensen
4-C

[Lights]

Novice class and getting started

Darrell I like your idea. I think what discourages new racers is that you can not buy a motor of the shelf and run it and be competitive. Be it a Yamato or whatever. It has to be modified to be race ready. Maybe a new class using an unmodified 302 would work for this? If people could get there gear at a one stop shop would also help. Where race ready motors, boats and safety gear are all there.

Secondly I personally think there are to many classes. Example JSH, ASH, ASXH, FAH, KPRO. Why cant there just be JSH for the young guns and ASH for us older drivers for this hp and design of boat? This is confessing the hell out of new perspectives. They just do not know what they really need to get started.


Just my $0.02
Mark

[DougMc]

I like Sorensen's idea to build on the NorCal 400 idea. A set up like that and a more fixed in advance race schedule would get more people at least taking a ride. If the Yamato 80 is too scarce, consider the 302 or the new Hot Rods.

[sam]

Secondly I personally think there are to many classes. Example JSH, ASH, ASXH, FAH, KPRO. Why cant there just be JSH for the young guns and ASH for us older drivers for this hp and design of boat?
Mark

FAH and KPRO are not J classes .... they are in different categories (Mod and PRO). I agree that there are too many classes available, but your suggestion is equal to eliminating CSH and running all C's as Mods to cut down classes ... image the uproar that would create.

My personal suggestion is a rigid bracket arrangement where all current classes can be kept but whenever fewer than 12 boats show for 2 similar classes they are run together. If someone planned on running both classes they just have to go in FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF BOAT RACING and choose one or the other (or plan B would be for sanctioning bodies to allow racers to register and pay for both classes simulatianously and receive points for both [more registration money for the clubs putting on the races! I know this usually brings up the "more work for scorers" refrain ... but race DIRECTORS could REQUIRE double dippers to ASSIST scorers in order to qualify.])

[Lights]

[QUOTE=sam]FAH and KPRO are not J classes .... they are in different categories (Mod and PRO). I agree that there are too many classes available, but your suggestion is equal to eliminating CSH and running all C's as Mods to cut down classes ... image the uproar that would create.

I know that . I believe in that class of rig there should only be JSH and ASH. It would make for one hell of a big competitive ASH class as well as still facilitating the younger drivers. Like I said that is just my opinion.


Opinions, Everyone has one and 99.9% of them stink!

Mark

[STEVE FRENCH]

Good luck in Florida,

Cabin fever setting in here!

19P

[hagerl8m]

Bored before i have to go to math class

Thank god some smart person at GVSU, Current DII Football and Volleyball national champs, made campus wireless. It’s nice to keep up on racing stuff while sitting in the hall or even in class when it’s boring. Anyway, I read somewhere a suggestion that we do away with AX classes. Well that leaves a lot of mercury equipment wasted since you can only race it in J. Maybe the commission should try putting the restrictor in the ASH and ASR. I've been at all the meets where is has been discussed, and the argument is always, but we will lose our props, that’s not true, I’ve tested both ways, it just slows the OMC down just enough to keep the mercury competitive, does anyone watch AX or is it just anther J class?

Christopher 8

[ryan_4z]

Thank god some smart person at GVSU, Current DII Football and Volleyball national champs, made campus wireless. It’s nice to keep up on racing stuff while sitting in the hall or even in class when it’s boring. Anyway, I read somewhere a suggestion that we do away with AX classes. Well that leaves a lot of mercury equipment wasted since you can only race it in J. Maybe the commission should try putting the restrictor in the ASH and ASR. I've been at all the meets where is has been discussed, and the argument is always, but we will lose our props, that’s not true, I’ve tested both ways, it just slows the OMC down just enough to keep the mercury competitive, does anyone watch AX or is it just anther J class?

Christopher 8

The commission tried that already. The A drivers voted on it, and it failed by a huge margin.

[14-H]

The commission tried that already. The A drivers voted on it, and it failed by a huge margin.

Times change. People sometimes see the errors of their ways. Plessy vs. Ferguson said separte but equal was legal. 90 years later, Brown vs. Board of Education said it wasn't.

We had much more participation in the AXS classes in 2005 than in A Stock at our local races in Regions 6 & 7. In fact, at some races, there were not enough ASRs to race. Not true with AXSR. It's time to revisit this. Just doesn't make sense to have two A classes.

[Big Don]

I agree with Ed (for once) let's revist it.

[STEVE FRENCH]

I edited this out last night out of fear of being DRAGGED behind the BUDWIESER BEER WAGON and being TAR'D+FEATHERED, Drawn+Quartered, Walked-the-PLANK, tied to a Fire-Ant mound with Honey smeared on my BUTT
But I've had a couple beers and Beth just walked in with a bottle of wine So here it goes again...Gotta make this quick..she just flashed me....

Steve French VISION/PREDICTION/SURVIVAL SOUP...... of classes 200_?

J and J PRO--Current motors. Add the new 13/15CI. HOT-ROD (restricted?)

STOCK:
A-----becomes>current AXS. Add the new "detuned/mild ported" 15?HOT-ROD (restrict as needed). (Current A-Stock/OMC unrestricted moves to A-MOD with FAH. See MOD below)

B-----current motors. Add the stock/closed up 22 Merc and OMC from A-MOD, added 2004 ballot (where it's not competative). I ran mine as a prototype in BSH at Spring Franklin 2005 with 4 Hot-Rods and it was "in-the-mix/hunt" placing second to Mike T./41P. I did much testing with these and Archie Lewis' very strong 15 Hot-Rod on my Altralight "mold boat" and the Hot-rod was consistantly 1-1 1/2 MPH faster (OMC-61MPH/Hot-Rod 62MPH) so it should not runaway. I feel these stock 22 CI. reed valve motors are fair competition with the rotary valve 15 CI. Hot-Rod. Add new 15 HOT-ROD (or new 20 CI. Hot-Rod/restricted).

25SSH/R--Current motors. Add the new 20 HOT-ROD. (toss XS restictor if/as the HOT-ROD gains speed?)
20SSH---Current motors.
CSH/R--- Current motors. Add the 31 CI OMC mid 80's thru 2005 that looks like it will accept the A-OMC foot-probationary. P.S.> I have run this foot on my 25MOD/OMC and it is tough! (going to try that same foot on my C-MOD Merc next.) Best part...this foot is now available!
DSH/R---Current motors. Add/combine with> D-CLASSIC. STOCK Nissan/Tohatsu added.

MOD:
A-MOD----Becomes> FAH and current A-STOCK OMC/unresticted. (Adjust weights/hights as needed.
25MOD--Current motors. Add current 15 HOT-ROD (A-MOD). Add new "detuned/mild port" 20 HOT-ROD w/chamber pipe(s). Runabouts also.
B-MOD---current motors. Add 25SSH MERC./unrestricted (lower/add lbs/B-MOD boat/ as needed?) Put restrictor back if needed .....All ready legal in runabout.
C-MOD---current motors. Add FORMULA XS(25xs-MOD on C-MOD BOAT)
D-MOD---current motors. Add Nissan/Tohatsu-Bass (chamber pipe(s)probationary). Look at (AOF) Yamaha?
FE-------current motors. Add any under 50CI. "FISH'N" motor you can hang onto under 99MPH!

Beth, Quick!--Lock the doors! Load the motor-home! We're on the run!!!! Bring the wine! ......Do you hear elephants screaming/mating?!!

Finally, with the end of AFFORDABLE 2-stroke "fish'n motor" production in 2005, I feel we need to look hard at what has been available and is still plentiful, and utilize it........ASAP.

Permission granted to use any of the above for; Proposals,target practice,toilet paper,etc...................
19P Steve French---Good luck Folks!!! Keep us POSTED! Sun burns optional

[csh2z]

Do we really want to get rid of the AX class though. I think that it has a place in Stock outboard, which is where it should be. Actually, we can't eliminate the AXS class, it's in the J category. The AXS class is not in our jurisdiction.