Bass Brothers Press Release

[holeshot racing II]

Somebody Give This Man A Standing Ovation

The Process Sucks!!!!!!!!! Lets See If A New Racer Wants To Race D Stock He Cant Find Motors Gear Cases Or Parts For A Mercury, Mmmmmmmmmm Makes Me Want To Run Right Out And Try This Bull_ _ _ _!!!!!!!!!
What Is Everybody Scared Of?
Lets See How Many Records Does The (to Hot Sue) Hold, Oh, That Would Be None. (apba)
Ok, Well Then How Many Kilo Records Does It Hold? Oh, That Would Also Be None.(apba)
Oh, And You Can Buy A Full Line Of Parts,gear Cases & Towers From Hard Working Folks Like The Bass Brothers. Gee, Sounds Like A New Hope For D Stock Hydro To Me, But What Would I Know

Terry

[Dave M]

Give it Up

Neil,

You will never win against the SORC, stop trying and develop the programs that are already supporting you. Give them this battle, but continue the war. Now you know why there is so much more opportunity in other categories and organizations.

From my personal opinion, the gearbox is the widest one I know of, even wider than the ones being run on the 700 and 1100 pro motors. To run the gearbox safely without losing stability at 90 + MPH you have to run it higher than you would a mercury gearbox. This is from my own personal experience. Palmquist runs this gearbox in FEH, and he runs somewhat deeper than others, and you will notice how the boat waggles and he fights for control some of the time. I have seen this happen first hand while racing against the rig.

Engineering and lawyering aside, let common sense and realities prevail. Theory only works on paper. The real data comes from experience. As my dad and I say, it is a piece of sh** until proven otherwise. That seems to hold true on many things.

And in my own personal opinion, it does appear the Tohatsu was never given a fair deal right from the git go if all statements from all parties involved are true. It seems it was the victim of racism.

[14-H]

Response to F/8

The process is not broken. It is modeled after the J Committee which has done a very good job of bringing parity to all four of its classes. Just because Mr. Bass is not happy, does not mean that the process needs to be changed. Mr. Bass will not be happy until one of his engines wins the Nationals. I don't blame him. I would want the same thing if I were in his shoes.

But I am not. My objective is to make sure the two engines in the class are equally able to win-- just like in the J and AXS Classes. But also like in the J and AXS Classes, this will not happen overnight. The Tohatsu has only been legal in D for one year. This is its second season and I am unaware of the engine competing in an APBA SO class east of the Mississippi last season. It surely did not compete at the national championships in Wakefield.

If Bass Machines wants quicker results, I would suggest that they make sure that the engine is run at all major SO events this year where D Stock is run. But, far be it from me to tell them how to run their company.

Mr. Bass does not like the Parity Committee and would rather have the whole SORC bring parity to the D Classes. The problem with this is that he has forgotten the past. The SORC has been unable to bring parity to the A Classes with the Merc and the OMC (remember "bolt-on modifications"); the SORC is still working on parity in the C classes, some ten years after the introduction of the 302 (and you have seen recently, how popular those decisions have been); and the SORC took six years to bring parity to the 25SSR class (kinda'. remember that the 20 Cu.in. Hot Rod was left behind).

As the old saying goes: "Be careful what you ask for; you might get it!" I'm not sure these are the types of results Bass Machines would like for its engine in the D Classes. Neither do I. Ed Hearn.

[14-H]

Ed, you are just plain wrong! ***Neil

Mr. Bass: Care to respond in a substantive manner? Ed Hearn.

[nbass]

No more comment

No Ed, I think I am done commenting. This discussion has brought out lots of folks who support Bass Machines. We will support those who support us. Time to move on.
Neil

[jeff55v]

Hang in there guys!

Ed, I am convinced that if it were not for your support, the Bass/Tohatsu motor would not have been approved into D stock. I'm thankful for your leadership in that regard. Thanks for sticking your neck out. You probably made more enemies than friends with this issue. I bet it's tough trying to keep two opposite sides of this issue happy. (or at least not angry enough to walk away completley) S.O. can't afford to lose support from either side of this Merc vs. Tohatsu thing.
I'm suprised more weight wasn't given to Mr. Wartinger's opinion. I understand he was not evaluating the Tohatsu performance in an official capacity. But, maybe he should have been asked to do just that.

If Bass Machines wants quicker results, I would suggest that they make sure that the engine is run at all major SO events this year where D Stock is run.

And just how does Bass machines have any control over where their customers run their engines?
Yes, I could have raced last year, I expected to. But it didn't work out for me personally.
And for what it's worth: Bass machines DID sell me my motor at a very cut rate price to try to promote the motor in region 7. I didn't ask for a special deal, the lower price was offered to me without my asking. I only mention this because I want to show that yes, Bass Machines IS trying to promote their product across the country.
Another sidenote: When I realized I couldn't make "The Nationals" last year I called a good Merc racing friend of mine. I heard he was having trouble with his Merc. I offered my motor for him to race at "The Nationals". However, he told me that his motor problems had been resolved, and he graciously declined.
The way I see it, this Bass Machines press release does not spell the demise of the Bass/Tohatsu in DSH. Just stronger language voicing their disapproval of the way the engine is being forced to be set up in APBA DSH.
Hang in there Neil and Sid! You guys offer an outstanding product and your efforts are appreciated by many!

J. Alan Yungen.

[nbass]

Ed, lets close this on a positive note

Actually I would like to close with some positive comments. Ed Hearn did a great job bringing the Bass Tohatsu to the commission in 2004. Ed waved all kinds of hurdles that a small manufacturer could not reasonably comply with. Ed worked hard to see that we got a good chance to produce the engine. Ed was supportive right up through the dyno testing. Ed had a vision that the D-class would be saved by Bass Tohatsu and Dave Scott. I do believe that Ed has the best intentions in mind and really does believe that I am trying to pull a fast one on the safety issue. Though I am not and the APBA Mod, AOF, and NBRA guys will introduce the engine around the country, I do believe sooner or later this will be all behind us. Ed I would like to think that when that time comes neither of us would hold a grudge. Regretfully you and I got into a pretty distracting disagreement. I do hope the BOD addresses the safety issue, and I would hope that you, Ed, would open the discussion to the wider body of commissioners. If not, so be it. Let’s go racing this year and see what it brings.
Respectfully,
Neil Bass

[T Chance]

I have followed this thread with interest, but thought it didn't really apply to me as I have Mod SE (FE in APBA) and Pro 250 and 500 equipment in my trailer. Then I thought it does apply to me. What if the Parity Czar decided to come after me and demand I change the set-up on my stuff. I can't write my response on a G rated Website, but it would have something to do with a slang term for urine and a length of rope.

I now am leaning very strongly toward putting a legal NBRA Bass/Tohatsu on my wish list for 2008. Keep hanging in there Neil and Sid.