Your Chance to Make Changes!!!!!

[mike ross]

You have till next Wednesday to e-mail me any item you would like us to go over as far as rule changes for the 2006 racing year. My e-mail address is Mike_Ross@countrywide.com If you put it in microsoft word I can cut and paste to make it easier. I have recieved some stuff from Tom Johnson reguarding some Yamato parts that need to approved. I know Dewey and Joe Pater have voiced there ideas on what to do in the 25 runabout class to make the playing field more level. Please don't wait. Myself and Ed Hearn plan to have the whole agenda done so we can post it before leaving for Fort Lauderdale. This way we will post the motions made and if the pass or fail each day at the meeting. This is very nice to see what is going on even if you couldn't be there. Ed did a super job last year putting this agenda together for me so I could have the information to the rest of you. Remember no crying if an issue you could have sent me and didn't gets passed. You could also pass this info to your commisioner and he or she will forward it to me. I can't stress enough how important this is. I was at a national meeting a few years ago and we got into a rule being changed that if I hadn't been there to voice an opionion I am sure the final outcome would have been different. Get off your butt and get to the computer or a piece of paper and tell us what you think. Owe ya my first one is to raise the csr weight to 550. I think its fair. I'm sick of getting passed by that light weight Joe Pater. SEE YA Mike

[TardBoy]

What changes are you looking at for 25ssr?

[mike ross]

Looks like an increase to the Yamato total weight. This will inturn slow the Yamato down a bit. Weight will be determined in Florida after commision looks at the testing data. I have only recives 3 or 4 ideas so far to put on the agenda. Keep them coming!!!!

[mike ross]

Ok last chance to get those ideas to me. I have recieved several that I will include in the agenda for the meeting in Fort Luaderdale. I talked with Ed Hearn last night and I will have a final copy to him Monday. I will not take any more ideas after Friday. Ed will get the final on Monday so he can post it for everyone to review after he adds any last minute things that I forgot. As the meeting goes on we will post the updated motions and if they passed or failed so you don't miss anything. E-mail me or call me with what ever you have. 1-248-568-4622. Now if your idea doesn't make the agenda then you will be at Ed Hearn's mercy in Fort Lauderdale. He has told me he will here ideas but discourages this method. In the past other VP's didn't allow you to bring any new ideas to the meeting. So lets make Ed happy and get me your thoughts. Thanks for your help Mike

[bill boyes]

How about changing the rule that prohibits using a 102 gear case on a 302.

[53M]

Mikey,

thought you would try out the carbon boat @ Grass or Big Rap this year---- I had it ready fr ya --- I take it Kevin sent you my testing data on the 25SSR.
joe

ps dont really know if you would fit in the cockpit !!!!!

[Bob Dunlap]

Mikey,

ps dont really know if you would fit in the cockpit !!!!!

Now that's not a nice thing to say to Mikey

[Tom Eynon]

I think added weight to 25 SSR is the best way to go. It is easy to do and a year of running with added weight should tell us if it has achieved the desired results.

[17W]

ps dont really know if you would fit in the cockpit !!!!![/QUOTE]

Joe- I believe I would have no problem fitting......Congrats on the "HALL" induction, enjoy next weekend!

[Big Don]

I know we have beat this to death in other post but I think that is the big question. What is our desired results? Where /what do want this class to be? What do we see SO looking like a year from now, two years…what is our goal? What is our class structure. Are we going to pick up any additional entries if we handicap the Yamato any more than we already are? Are you going to loose more Yamato’s than you gain in Mercury’s if you slow the Yamato’s down? Your still going to have big boats with Yamato’s making holes for the little 25 boats. Brian Rhodes & Vic Brinkman seems to be as fast as anyone with their 25’s. Seems to me that maybe the two just are not compatible.

[csh2z]

I'm preparing a proposal for this years meeting that will hopefully if passed be a first step toward creating a long term method for answering these questions and more. I'm not prepared to say any more right now, except that it's going to require patience and cooperation from everybody. I've asked Ed to reserve some time on the agenda for a short presentation and discussion. John 2-Z

[STEVE FRENCH]

B-Stock classes

Mike, I tried to send this by fax to Tom Johnston but have not been able to verify if he got it yet. This copy has been revised from the one I faxed Tom. I will try to scan and send a signed copy if needed ASAP/today.

01/10/06

To the Stock Outboard Commissioners,

Please accept this proposal to the following Stock classes;

B-Stock Classes;
To allow the Stock, through tower exhaust, 22 CI. Mercury and OMC motors that where voted into the A-MOD class (2004 ballot) and legal 2005, to compete in this class as a probationary motor. These motors where voted into A-MOD using the 1974 Stock specifications at that time. Jeff Williams has the specifications for these motors or I will send ASAP.

They are not competative in A-MOD.

I ran mine (22 OMC on a 25SS Mercury tower/foot) as a prototype at the Spring Franklin race 2005 in BSH with four 15 CI. Hot-Rods and it was "In-the-mix/hunt" placing second to Mike Thierfelder 41P during which we were sometimes "Deck-to-deck".

I did much testing with the OMC motor and my stock 25ss Mercury, with several props that came with the Mercury when I bought it from Sam Hemp and several of my "short-course" 25 wheels. I was consistant in the 61 MPH range on my GPS. Then ran 62 MPH with Archie Lewis' 15 CI. Hot-Rod on the same rig, same day. Boat used was a 2003 Altralite "mold boat".
I bought a new OMC/Hot-Rod tower adapter plate from Dean Sutherland and a stock Hot-Rod tower/foot from Chuck Z. at the Zanesville swap meet 2005. I hope to compare it to my Merc. tower set-up this Summer.

I feel these stock 22 CI. reed valve motors are fair competition with the rotary valve 15 CI. Hot-Rod. These are closer in parity than the (57-59 MPH) 20 CI Tohatsu that was tried a few years ago. I ran the Tohatsu myself several times and liked it, but it just didn't seem to have the potential to be competitive in B-Stock.

There are many of these race ready motors sitting in motor boxes, garages, in collections, and on Lake-Racer's rigs, waiting for a place to compete with us. Let's offer them a place to join or COMEBACK to APBA competition. Many long-time racers were lost with the introduction of the XS series engines. Here is a chance to get them back.

Parts are still plentiful (New and Used). Powerheads are still plentiful and inexpensive. Mercury 22 CI powerheads were produced 1958 through 1982, and the OMCs were produced 1960(?) through 1976. There are literally thousands of them available on old "Fish'n" motors in various stages of disrepair and on E-bay. Drop the "1970 and newer" spec on these nearly unchanged powerheads, and you include a near unlimited source of powerheads/parts supply for these motors.

New towers, foots, and OMC powerhead adapter plates should be available soon from Hot-Rod and would be a plus to that companies marketing avenues.
I am also working on an adapter plate to put the OMC-A foot on the factory--- OMC and Mercury towers, another marketing prospect for Hot-Rod and their OMC-A foot..
The older 22 Mercs (Mark-28/200 series) will fit the A/B/20H towers and the 25SS towers with an afternoon's effort. The Mercury towers are often available on E-bay.
This could also be another chance to market the APBA/XS tower with adapter plates for both powerheads. So consider making the APBA tower a legal/probationary tower with these motors and the Merc A/B/C/25SS/XS foots and the Hot-Rod foot (another marketing avenue for Hot-Rod).
I will make my OMC powerhead adapter plate to the Mercury A/B/20H and 25SS towers available for copying and have a laser machine shop (Corry Laser Inc. Corry, Pa.) working on an estimate for producing the adapter plate blanks.
Tad Olson might also be a prospect for producing adapter plates for these powerheads like other adapters his company produces for the APBA/XS tower.

Consider; looking at the Bass tower with through tower exhaust/foot for these powerheads.

Reason;
This will help boost and sustain the ranks of the B-Stock classes with a low-cost engine and compliment the introduction of the New Hot-Rod and give them several more marketing avenues.

The motor specs are already available with only a few minor changes to consider that are suggested above.
I feel my testing is accurate and unbiased (I would like a new Hot-Rod also).

It has to be a win-win prospect for the class, Hot-Rod, present racers and to retrieve some that still have these motors from the past!

Also, if a race site cannot allow open pipes, the 25MOD guys that have a powerhead/tower that meets the stock specs, can pull the pipe and still support the race in a class where they can still be competative.

Finally;
With the end of AFFORDABLE, two-stroke, small fishing engine production in 2005, we as fellow Racers, need to look hard at what is available around us and plentiful TODAY, and utilize it...........ASAP.....to SUPPORT the future of this sport we LOVE!

Thank you for your consideration,

Steve French 19P
TRORA board member 2006.

[STEVE FRENCH]

Mike,
I've tried to scan and send the above proposal.
Please forgive my computer ILLITERACY!!!!!!! ....DOH!!!!
Please print from above. Go to page set-up and change to landscape and print.

Will be at the lake tonight through Monday 814-694-3511. Or my cell-814-218-1196.

Thanks,
100N

[mike ross]

Steve I got it so I will include in the agenda

[STEVE FRENCH]

Mike,
Appoligies for being a pain, but have revised several times sense I E-mailed you. please recopy above.

19P