Proposal to save the sport of outboard racing

[chuck w]

We have fewer classes in NBRA. When we put a old class back in, it did not take off. We are having our most growth with the Tohatsu motor and with electric start, it is attractive class. The runabout is a wild but safe ride. We are a mod. Group with two stock classes, csh and 20(A). Our weights are twenty pounds lower than APBA, which makes it hard for a 180+ person to compete in the stock classes. Our growth in those classes has been fueled by women who are naturally lighter. I see a lot of growth in APBA in the 302ss class which would just split our numbers in the stock classes. We are getting 8-10 hydros in those classes, which puts on a good show. My only commit about the success of our group, is that we do not take times except at championship events, thus you only need to win by a foot, creating closer racing. We regularly pay thousands in tow money. We need sponsors, thus someone has to work hard to get that money and the many Things that is necessary to put on a race. We, What's up Doc? Racing, feel that fewer classes and more heats would reduce the cost of racing, while making the many miles driven more satisfying. We use to test on Saturday and race on Sunday then gas went up and drivers wanted to race both days. Let's go to three heat racing.

Does nbra do marathon events?

[Hydrodynamics Racing]

Marathons are awesome fun! Lots of action. Testing can often be a problem for some people. Uncontrolled waters, need for a kicker boat, nobody around for advice. More test days would be nice. Just costs $$$.

[chuck w]

Marathons are awesome fun! Lots of action. Testing can often be a problem for some people. Uncontrolled waters, need for a kicker boat, nobody around for advice. More test days would be nice. Just costs $$$.

Never raced a marathon but i sure would love to test my endurance in a boat. I have previously raced mx and pitbikes and it takes a tremendous amount of endurance. Anyone who has ever suffered from arm pump knows exactly what i am talking about. Where do these marathons occur? Sure would be nice to have one here on long island. Our only problem is bringing in enouph entrys however maybe in the future we can have some good incentives

[laddies]

Many good suggestions, the idea of all classes that retain older engines running in a class with new engines is great, with the exception the new engines should not be given a speed advantage, that is a advantage for those with deep pockets. Get stock outboard back to its grass roots as it started. At that time anyone could buy a rig and win, no special advantage if you knew the prop guy or the engine guy. No one ever enjoyed a sport that the odds were so stacked against a newbie that it was impossible to win if you were not a friend of one of the old boys. I you want to grow the sport then ever one must have the opportunity to at lest place. Just saying that it's a LEVEL FIELD is not enough, It Really Needs to Be.

[chuck w]

Many good suggestions, the idea of all classes that retain older engines running in a class with new engines is great, with the exception the new engines should not be given a speed advantage, that is a advantage for those with deep pockets. Get stock outboard back to its grass roots as it started. At that time anyone could buy a rig and win, no special advantage if you knew the prop guy or the engine guy. No one ever enjoyed a sport that the odds were so stacked against a newbie that it was impossible to win if you were not a friend of one of the old boys. I you want to grow the sport then ever one must have the opportunity to at lest place. Just saying that it's a LEVEL FIELD is not enough, It Really Needs to Be.

Agree with you on a level playing fiel however the given 1 mph advantage on newer engines should stay because all of its parts are readily available for a new driver to purchase compared to a older engine that is harder for new people to get parts for.
Remember all parts for new engines should be readily available with a simple online transaction.

[laddies]

Chuck, If it's a level field no one has an advantage, if a current racer wants to buy a new engine and has the money that's great or if he feels that he will have a easier time finding parts that's a advantage but don't penalize those that don't have the money to buy new stuff and then wonder why the sport is dying, I can not think of anyone who likes being a also ran continually. Even worse than that is when a new engine is either not completive or dependable and it is allowed to be modified and current engines are not.

[Ram4x4]

Well said Laddies. Another thing that I scratch my head on is allowing modifications to "stock" engines or props. Just as you mention, who knows or is buddies with the engine or prop guy gets an advantage. Why does "stock" racing even have that?

Isn't there a "mod" class for those tweaking stuff?

[laddies]

I certainly agree to that statement, stock outboard was founded on the idea of a boat and motor that could be purchased at a dealer ship and raced with a stock fishing power head, later racing lower units were added and Stock Outboard grew by leaps and bounds. A level field, anyone could be competitive then came the innovators as they like to portray them selves with warmed over motors and props. They bent the rules to suit themselves and it's been all downhill since. Stock Outboard was intended for amateur racing and was taken down the primrose path by the innovators and there warmed over stuff. Suddenly some could buy performance and money took over and Those that were not good enough or money to run Mod or Pro stayed in Stock Outboard and ruined the armature class with their money and influence just like Sprint Cup teams do in Xfinity races.

[chuck w]

Laddies
Again i might agree with alot of these thoughts however the idea behind this proposal is to bring in more people and eliminate the confusion. There are 2 classes suggested that are sealed engine claimer classes. The proposed evolution is a highly affordable engine that can be factory sealed. I have been keeping my personal thoughts out of this as i do run a class with a older motor that isnt competitive with new motor at all. The 1mph advantage should work. Deep pockets arent needed for a good start.
lets keep this positive and constructive.
For example
lets not call it stock outboard racing being there not stock at all.

[laddies]

Chuck, I think that we all would like to see Stock Outboard grow and your right a good start is hard to beat that's and experience should be the only advantage out there. Let's continue Stock Outboard with stock engines even if they must be 4 stoke (perish the thought) isn't the rush of racing in the competition of the race and the speed for the crowd. I think 4 or 5 guys can have a great time with rowboats and 5 HP engines racing one another as long as the equipment is equal, it's just boring to watch.

[Ram4x4]

I've walked around in the spectator areas of a couple events now and I've overheard a lot of comments along the lines of "this is boring". The spectators seem to think it's cool to see the fast boats (comments like "wow, those little things scoot along pretty good"), but why is it boring for them to watch?

I think partly because they don't understand all the classes, partly because there isn't much "action" in a race (not a lot of passing, or position changes) and partly because there's no "announcer calling the action"...at least no speakers in a large part of the spectator area where they can hear it when it is being called. Some of the lakes don't provide a great set up close to the spectator area so it;s hard for them to see as well (not much we can do about the topography).

I don't think a lot of the spectators are aware they can sign the waiver and go into the pits either.

I know a lot of the drivers are busy during the race day, but what about having drivers and crew go out into the spectator areas and talk with them, see what they think, explain things..invite them back to the pit area...and sell Racer School to them. "Did you know we can train you to drive one of these?" "We have Racer School, come on out and take the class and drive a boat!"...

I guess, let's get the drivers and crews actively involved in bringing the spectators in, instead of letting them sit out in the grass wondering what it's all about.

[Dave M]

If you want a GREAT template to modify your format, go to the NBRA website and look at how they effectively combined Mod/Stock engines into one category except for the most dominate of both categories. Those that can stand alone and produce consistent 8 - 12 boats at each race have their own class. The only engine that APBA currently races, that NBRA does not have in the rules is the "A" Evenrude/Mercury engines. We did add it one time per the request of some racers who wanted to cross over at a Nationals, but it did not work to keep it in NBRA rules as APBA got a little upset that we referred to "APBA" in the rule book. At that time we simply said "Rules to be the same as APBA" so that those cross over racers did not have to adapt anything. We were forced to remove that from our rulebook.

Currently, the NBRA does not race marathons, yet Recently, the USTS (former pro division of APBA) was a part of the NBRA, and used our model to build upon their own sucuess and branch out on their own as a sanctioning body. They are doing very well.


The only reason I truthfully commented on this post, is the fact that their is an organization that has combined, eliminated and otherwise whittled down the race day to a more manageable format that is more appealing to sponsors and spectators alike. We do produce thousands of dollars for most all races in terms of tow money payouts directly to the drivers. So it does not matter if you finish 1st or last, you are getting the same payout to put towards your expenses. We always are done before 8:00 PM, most days we don't start racing until noon or after, and we are done by 5:00 typically. This leaves time to mingle, put your stuff away, enjoy a meal, and sit and relax with your boat racing family.

Go check out the NBRA website, look at the combinations done to accomodate. Surprising enough, the competition is fierce, and I wouldn't bet money on any one brand in any class. I have seen them all win.

[chuck w]

Thanks for the comment dave. You always seem to be on point