Forum to transparently discuss class stucture.

[61-W]

Brian and Joe,

Very well put!

Jeff Scheffler

[hshawwpba]

This thread has be started to openly and transparently share ideas for class restructuring, and not continue to hijack the Yamato cooling thread.

The restructuring idea has been bantered around for years, it is proven that no division in APBA will or has the guts to eliminate any classes. In fact just the opposite has happened over the years, classes have been added while no classes have been eliminated. Yes there has been motors allowed to run in another "new class" with a restrictor plate or some modification. This is the root cause of many 3 - 4 boat heats that get run causing racing programs to take 7 -8 hours to run all the heats required to accommodate racers wanting to keep running classes that should have been eliminated/reinvented as another "New Class"! Out west racing schedules have 35- 40 heats (more if there are eliminations and consolation heats) each day. To the spectators they see the same boat and motor run in 7 -8 different classes due to the issue of not having 7 - 8 classes based on motor type.
The other issue we are wearing out our welcome at sites due to the long race day as residence on the lake get tired of the noise after 4 hours!
Plus the volunteers and rescue staffs are asked to spend their entire day with little or no breaks. Forget the need for having less classes because the race wont happen if there is no race site that will put up with 7- 8 hours of constant "abnormal" noise and if the support groups that are needed to run the event get tired and refuse to spend all day watching same racers in same boats running 6 - 7 classes called something else due to a restrictor plate change or prop restriction or elimination of weight requirement.
One of the issues is a question that needs to be asked of APBA race management --- Why is there a need for 3 racing categories in the Outboard division? Inboard Division have Stock, Mod, and Blower classes all managed under 1 commission????
The participation numbers do not support the need for stock, mod, pro, as separate categories--- 1 commission and no duplication of classes will reduce the need for long racing events and duplication of classes run during the day.
Example :
J classes: J stock or K pro??? why
20 SSH - OSY 400 why??
There are many more duplicate classes (yes they have some modifications between them) but basically are the same classes to spectators.
There are many good comments on this tread but history has proven that the commissions will never eliminate any classes. But they will be glad to reinvent the wheel and add a NEW Class using same old engines to allow 1 or 2 old motors to be run. Enjoy the ride while it last! Long race programs drive up cost due to needed staff and ambulance fees --------