Reconsider your BSR rules...

[14-H]

You BSR guys are ***are not interested in 'different' new boats, drivers, and their class west of MN.

Nice argument, although none of it is accurate.

Of course the B Stock drivers, and the rest of the SO category are interested in growth. The question is whether you'll get it by changing the rules as you've suggested.

Your suggested change will not create real growth, though. It'd just shift existing drivers from other classes into the BSR class (assuming you're right: Holt validly points out that hardly anybody did this before the rule went into effect; BSRs weren't on the West coast then, either).

Real growth is attracting new members who do not currently race. Shifting the 450 members we currently have, around into different classes, is not an endeavor I'm interested in spending too much time putting effort into.

[14-H]

Did anyone ever say YOU HAVE TO SWITCH TO A SIDE FIN BOAT ?!? NO !!!!
I think Anderson is competitive in ASR, just like Bowman and Burdick in CSR.
So I suspect your sacred BSR wouldn't change locally at all. *** Are ...

Kevin: If you're going to engage in argument, you ought to try to be intellectually honest. If you really believe that there is no competitive advantage to a side fin, then first convince your father-in-law not to use one in 25 or C Runabout. Then I'll listen to this absurd argument you've made. Eddie.

[dholt]

Touche`, counselor!

EH,

Right on the button...on all counts.

[csh2z]

BSR should stay exactly as is, NO side fin. When the new Hot Rods come out and prove themselves to be dependable and worthy investments this class should grow like nothing we've seen before. The only thing that has been holding the B class back is the dependability of the motor. I don't drive runabouts(understatement) but a good Hot Rod on a hydro is the best ride in stock outboard. I'm building my BSH boat this summer, and I can't wait! Ryan is chomping on the bit for his BSR. John 2-Z

[MGallagher]

You might say....

You might say that the side fin killed boatracing. Ever since the late 80's when (I think) the side fin started to skip around the outside, the boatracing(particularly runabouts) population decreased exponetialy. please someone correct me if I'm wrong, and I'm sure someone will.

Matt Gallagher
58J

[G Stillwill]

John glad to hear you and Ryan will be joining the B group need all the boats we can get. and I will agree with you its the best ride going as far as boat handling.

[nightmoves]

I think your right Matt, But I havnt heard anything from people supporting fins on these boats accept Kevin, Or is this one getting slipped around the side as a "Safety Issue" like the A class prop shaft angle rule??

[Big Don]

I love this class. Wish I could have figured out how to drive one when I raced.

Are drivers not racing the class because it’s a roll up class, or is a lack of being able to get a power plant. I believe that will be answered when the new engine is available. We’ll see then if it was the style of boat or an equipment availably issue. Maybe both?

27 drivers raced the class last year. 9 of those raced more than 10 times. 12 raced it more than 6. 13 raced 3 or less. That is one of the problems with our sport. Any other form of racing would have gotten rid of the class a long time ago. Your local boy scouts wouldn’t put a pinewood derby on with these kind of numbers. Don’t respond saying your school only had 8 kids show up at theirs. Only making an example. Don’t get me wrong, I think that is one of the positives about our sport. I can buy a rig and more than likely be racing the same rig 12 years later other than maybe a call to Dewald every couple of years to get a new prop if that was what I wanted to do. But these numbers indicate something is broke.

The class is broke along with other classes and we need to fix them. In this case (BSR & BSH), it is being addressed with the Hot Rod project. BSH numbers are about the same, so maybe that tells us it’s not a boat design issue but an engine issue.

We all threaten to leave or change classes if you mess with my class, how many BSR would really go away and not race something if the class put side fins in today? Hearn, Anderson, Jess, Holt, Scheffler, Trolian, Pavlick, Swain, Gallagher, Hemp, Defiebo, probably none of them? Maybe a couple? Maybe Cooper Jess since he’s close to retiring anyway, which after he wins in Wakefield might happen faster than we all thought. (heard he was testing last week when it was 36 degree’s) I would have included the Green boat with the yellow numbers but I’m not sure if he will be in a 45 or a BSR next year. We are all diehard racers and threaten to leave but it’s hard to leave this sport once it’s in your blood. We get mad and we get over it. I remember years ago I got a call form someone at the National meeting and they said the SORC just dumped the 20 Hydro class. The good part is if you trade your Yamato in on a Mercury 25 engine they will give you a $$$$ credit. So I sent my Yamato engine to Mercury because I wanted to continue racing. (I want to think it was a pretty good one) Then a few months later the SORC put 20 back in. Had to sell the 25 and go back out and get another 20 engine. Talk about being mad, and costing me some cash. I often wonder how many 20 engines were crushed in that decision?

If you want the class to grow when the engine is ready and that does not fix the low numbers, to save the class you might have to let them in. Let's hope not but we might.

I love watching BSR the way it is. I sit and watch, wonder how the he** can Ed put the boat on it’s side and not fall out, when Anderson only left him a foot and a half between the buoy and himself. Let’s hope it is an engine availability issue. Other wise the flat turners are coming.

And Christopher, (green boat with yellow numbers)…It’s broke buddy. for the time being.

We should be thinking and making decisions in general as if our entire sport was broke. Because if you are not looking down the road, your going to get passed by. Can you imagine a corporation thinking; well we made money this year so we don’t have to change anything…. Those that think that way are out of business.

And no more comments about, that is the way the class was designed. Because we’ll make you go back to racing 1940 design boats, two blade props, them goofy helmets….

[AJennings]

waite

why dont we just waite until the new hotrod comes out and see if that helps the class, before we go trying to help it with what you can run in it. my 2 sents.
AJ

[spud62w]

Date Line Dayton

It seems that this is getting just as much ink as when I showed up at Dayton with the real one. If only I would of charged a Beer just to look at it I'd still be drinking free Beer.

[Ken G]

whats the differ.

I have to say that ive read every bit of this text from page 3 on ,, and well my own personal view from running a roll up BSR (not curently,but loved the ride)back in the day ,to not running one in the last 10 years,,, my question is simple, if people(racer in particular) want to flat turn a B stock, then why not run hydro, I know that we all want to help Ron and the whole hot rod movement, but isnt BSR unigue because they all roll up, would that not blend hot rods right in with the rest of stock outboard,,ican understand the natzy BSR purist mentallity because they are desperatly fighting for what they believe in and all they are saying is that the type of change you guy trying to get ( adding flat turners) would completly kill their style of racing. Is that fair? I say if it means that much to you learn to flat turn your boat with out a side fin,,dont kill off the roll ups just cause you want them to be just like eevry one else...you never know rollups may make hot rod even more desirable.....12kenF

[bethann]

Fin or no fin Stover would beat you all anyway!

[csh2z]

The rules in BSR are not going to change in the foreseeable future. Don't worry about it! John 2-Z

[mike ross]

Your right on the money John. This class is not going to change. The new motor being available will make the numbers grow. Someone please get a rig and beat up on Ed Hearn. This way kevin will be happy. Andy Anderson is the only one Ed is afraid of. And Andy will only run a boat if it is 15 cubic inch or less. Mikey

[53M]

Nice argument, although none of it is accurate.



Real growth is attracting new members who do not currently race. Shifting the 450 members we currently have, around into different classes, is not an endeavor I'm interested in spending too much time putting effort into.

As for shifting classes around, I would like to think of it as ADDING another class thus the boat count would go up ----