Stock Outboard Plan 2007

[ryan_4z]

This is the plan presented by the Steering Committee to the SORC at this years national meeting. The SORC voted to adopt this plan. I thought that this would be a good time to re-post this. There is a lot of discussion going on about the future right now. It is a tough time for SO as we are in a period of transition. I thought that this might help everyone realize that while we are going through a lot right now, we do have a veiw of what is ahead. In a few years there will be more organization in SO. Things are getting done. Patience is going to be required as we work out the bugs. But things are happening for the better.

[ryan_4z]

Obviously the Minimum participation part will not be included due to the recent ballot vote.

[kws]

Ryan First thanks for posting the steering comittee plan.
Second the ballot would of probably passed had it included the exception for the new motors.

[ryan_4z]

The exemptions have nothing to do with the rule. The exemptions are not rules, therefore will not get voted on. They have already been approved as part of the plan. I tried to emphasize this on the other thread. Acctually, there is already an automatic 2 year exemption from class abolishment and class rule changed affecting new engines in the rule book(Rule 21). The exemptions approved in the plan are three year exemptions.

[kws]

I beg to differ. As the exemptions are PART of the rule, therefore the vote could very well of negated the exemptions, based on the wording of the ballot AS WRITTEN. remember the ballot said REPLACE not append the existing rule

[ryan_4z]

I'm sorry Kevin, you can disagree all you want, but the exemptions are in place. They are NOT part of the rule, they are not ballot items.

[Big Don]

And what happens next year with a different chairman and a slightly different commission and they decide to change the rules we are playing by?

[Howie Nichols]

Wow!! Seems the SORC is placing alot of weight into the new Sidewinder and its not even available yet, not that it won't be a great engine. Isn't the SORC placing the cart before the horses on this one?? Great idea but maybe a little premature, perhaps a 5 year transition should be used to phase in/out the new/old motors once they are available and hit the streets / lakes. Just an honest opinion here....

[ryan_4z]

Howie,

There are no dates to eliminate the current motors in any of those classes. We won't be putting the full weight of these classes on the shoulders of the Sidewinder. The plan is to transition these motors in, but keep all of the current motors competitive until the classes naturally eliminate the older motors, or until such a time that the SORC sees fit to remove these motors. The SW 15 is very close to completion, and the B and A motor will follow shortly after that as they are comprised mostly of the same parts. If it takes longer to get these motors running competitively, then the SORC can always extend the probationary period another year. We kind of have to rely on the SW though, it's really our only realistic option. Most of these motors are 20+ years old now. With the Racing Outboards providing new motors for three of our classes, we will essentially have a one stop shop for all of our small classes. We will be able to very easily direct new people to the Racing Outboards website, and they will be able to purchae ready to race engines. This is exactly what Stock Outboard needs, so why not base our future heavily on the Sidewinder? Besides, why should we wait to make a plan. If we don't have a place for these engines to run, then how is Racing Outboards supposed to sell any motors?



Don,

You are exactly right, unfortunately we can't just change our election system on our own. We have to hope that the new commission will stick with the plan, otherwise we will have gotten nowhere.

[f8andbethere]

The cart before the horse

Well it seems to me that Mr. Allen has the right idea. The do***ent has nothing to give it substance -- it is just a bunch of words that some folks worked pretty hard I am sure at putting together.

But in order for this to be a living do***ent -- one that transcends the current SORC -- it seems to me that the members -- the folks that the SORC work for (and yes I realize that this is for the most part a volunteer organizations) need to ask the SORC via ballot to develop its vision, mission, and values for the sport.

There is a great deal written on this process -- but essentially this kind of a do***ent (which should be ratified by the Stock Outboard Membership) then gives the SORC a fixed target to work to.

Otherwise we have exactly what we have at this point with a herky jerky motion that lacks process and gains no momentum that allows the organization true growth.

f/8

[MGallagher]

Here ya go!!!!

Just wanted to post a reminder of another plan.

[Kev43V]

And what happens next year with a different chairman and a slightly different commission and they decide to change the rules we are playing by?

Don you still got that cystal ball. I would like to use it to help plan for the future

[B Walker]

The Steering Comittee did a poor job of explaining their plan. They did not think it needed to be promoted as they worked for the SORC. It was up to the SORC to promote it.

People used misinformation and fear to put status quo leadership in place.

All this doesnt matter because the steering committee is no more.

The membership voted, game over.

BW

[reed28n]

The 2011 Class Structure

Seems we had this debate and there was a plan in place. There was so much fear distributed because the Mercury was pulled from the A Class that to prove a point the new administration abandon the whole thing.

What could have been

J - Merc, OMC
AXS - Merc, OMC
Both left to the APBA appointed J committee.....

Stock
A - OMC, A Sidewinder
B - 15CID Hot Rod, 15CID Sidewinder
25 - Mercury, 20 Hot Rod, 20 Sidewinder
20SSH - Yamato 80, Restricted 302
C - Yamato 302, Yamato 102
D - Mercury , Tohatsu

Each class had a new motor to funnel toward and a clear path for new racers.

CSR was to drop 15 lbs to attract back the big boat 25SSR drivers. Every motor had a place to race with no scheduled removal. There was a statement by the Steering committee that there was a desire for one motor per class, but that was never publicly supported by the SORC or the Chairman at that time.

This structure allows small, medium and big drivers and boats to all have a place to race at a couple different speed ranges. In hind sight with the economy the way it was this year the impact would have been minimal and people gearing up for the 2011 season would have had a clear direction for their future seasons.