Feedback Please

[jsilvestri]

Thanks for the update Ron and it sounds like everything is coming together the way you had planned. I can't wait to see the new motors! Maybe I'll have to get back in the business or racing small runabouts again.

[wagner-racing16-s]

now here is a good question on the new sidewinder motors. As we are stock outboard racing, our we going to go back to the original idea as out of the box racing with no mod's done to the motor? I think this is what has really hurt a lot of racers that can't afford blue printing and lower unit work. If it is to be stock outboard racing, set into effect that you may not touch this motors at all making in fun on the race course with a close feild of racing.

[Tony Staron]

Ron, I feel like us HOTROD owners have been baited and switch. There is plenty of parts to produce motors. Why can`t anyone get any parts, that I know that you have purchased from several people? Is the real plan to squeeze HOTROD owners out of boatracing? What happened to the orginal words out of you mouth that you`re still going to produce rotorayvalue cranks and pistonect for the HOTROD? That was said at AVONPARK May 2007 and the previous 2yrs to me! Please let me know if I`m confused. If you need HOTROD parts call my DAD, HE could keep your buisness running for 5yrs.Ron I just feel alittle blindsided, I believe you have a good concept,but wouldn`t make more business sense to produce what you know works. Then use that time to make your new product properly,not at the expense of racer who WILL QUIT RACING? Best Regards, Tony Staron

[Tony Staron]

John, Just in contrast to the article in propeller. First of all John you`re the Chair how can you not have Bais. Ed is the Chief Engineer he`s your brother. That`s like the Bush Admin and Cheney with Haliburton. How many members of the steering committee Race? How many own HOT RODs, 25xs ? I believe in new motors and what Ron`s trying to do. But don`t come out in 2005 with one plan and then bait and switch.There has mot been a deadline met that racing outboard have committed to since it`s inception. Why pass proposals with no product. This has been going on for 3yrs, can I propose an Illusion and get it passed. I think not.I also believe the Steering Committee should have more members with hotrods and 25xs. That evens the playing field or would that hinder the hidden agenda? John just my opinion,I like you better as a boatracer than a politician,.were still drinking boatracers~. Tony Staron

[Ron Selewach]

Rotary version

Only those who jump to conclusions are blindsided, so thanks for asking questions. For the original Hot Rod, new stronger crankcases have been made, new pistons are a couple of operations away from being ready and new 15 ci pistons have always been available, rings are available, rods have been forged and are currently at heat treat, gearcases are available, towers are available, new clamp assemblies are almost ready, blocks are available, gaskets are available; a new ignition system has been designed and is available. We have not been ignoring the rotary induction version. The crankshaft has been the speed bump. We are still looking for affordable solutions. The press-together crank designed for the Sidewinder uses all the same dimensions as the rotary crank, so the design may be adaptable to the rotary. We think it prudent to get time on multiple engines in race conditions to assure the design needs no other adjustments before tackling a rotary valve with press-together design. In the meantime, if there are other solutions such as people with spare crankshafts for sale, that would surely help in the short term.

Thanks for helping remind everyone the rotary version Hot Rod is not dead.

Ron

[seanp3]

Guys, Keep this in the back of your mind. There is flexability built into the plan. It is after all, a plan and we are going to have to tweek it here and there to make it work. The goal will remain the same as we all agree that these changes need to be made and we wholeheartedly believe that this goal will produce the best results for the future of Stock Outboard. the flexability we have is the time frame in which the transitions take place. The current time frame proposed is the, best case scenerio. If a plan like this had been put in place a few years ago, 25 runabout would be dead and there would be no restricted motors in the current 20SSH. Unfortunately, there was no plan, and because of the infussion of the 102/302's in those classes, some people invested alot of time and money into 20SSH & 25XSR for the second ride. Remember, the reason for this plan is so that we can all prepare for our own racing careers with the knowlege of what lies ahead.
Time to go to Sharptown!

John,

I agree things need to be changed and I'm for the class structure changes. I guess I just get thrown off guard a little when I started last year the 302 is the motor of choice to race the two class I've chosen, then two years goes by and its not longer a motor in one of those classes. No big deal, I'll just enjoy it why I can. I still have lots of expectations!!

Also, thanks Ron for the update on the sidewinder

[tj15m]

To all of those people who think that the parts for the Yamato 80 are becoming scarce, YOU ARE WRONG. The only two parts that I do not have are the cast exhaust elbow and the roping plate. I have every other part in stock, including crank shaft parts (top, center, and bottom sections), crank pins, all of the mag parts, new carbs, all gear case parts, new standard and o/s pistons and rings, and many used parts. I have spent considerable time and a lot of money to accompolish this. If you need anything call me at 517.451.9120 or email me at tjohnston@localdialup.com Do you really want to put the second biggest APBA class in the SO classic division? How many members will we loose? I thought we were about growth. Phase in the Sidewinder with the Yamato, make them equal, but not dominant.
TJ

[HRTV]

To all of those people who think that the parts for the Yamato 80 are becoming scarce, YOU ARE WRONG. The only two parts that I do not have are the cast exhaust elbow and the roping plate. I have every other part in stock, including crank shaft parts (top, center, and bottom sections), crank pins, all of the mag parts, new carbs, all gear case parts, new standard and o/s pistons and rings, and many used parts. I have spent considerable time and a lot of money to accompolish this. If you need anything call me at 517.451.9120 or email me at tjohnston@localdialup.com Do you really want to put the second biggest APBA class in the SO classic division? How many members will we loose? I thought we were about growth. Phase in the Sidewinder with the Yamato, make them equal, but not dominant.
TJ

How does a new guy find you that wants to race 20SSH but has no idea this thread is on HR I think exposure might be a bigger problem. I might be dead wrong and have not been to a race lately but Tom Cronk was the last guy that I saw who actually set up a stand at the races advertising his hardware etc. my point is ok you have all the parts but once this thread gets buried into the archives of HR we loose that new kid that logs on a month later and cant find a Yamato 80 or parts. Thats where American Hot Rod steps in with advertising right on the front page of HR soon to be linked with the AHR web site which will offer a one stop shop

I am not a part of the American Hot Rod team and do not speak for them but I clearly see there vision which is exposure not exclusion I don't see there goal as trying exclude anyone or any motor but mainly to make the sport just a bit more main stream America so that John Doe on any street USA has a one stop shop for all his or her racing needs.

[Brian10s]

How does a new guy find you that wants to race 20SSH but has no idea this thread is on HR I think exposure might be a bigger problem. I might be dead wrong and have not been to a race lately but Tom Cronk was the last guy that I saw who actually set up a stand at the races advertising his hardware etc. my point is ok you have all the parts but once this thread gets buried into the archives of HR we loose that new kid that logs on a month later and cant find a Yamato 80 or parts. Thats where American Hot Rod steps in with advertising right on the front page of HR soon to be linked with the AHR web site which will offer a one stop shop

I am not a part of the American Hot Rod team and do not speak for them but I clearly see there vision which is exposure not exclusion I don't see there goal as trying exclude anyone or any motor but mainly to make the sport just a bit more main stream America so that John Doe on any street USA has a one stop shop for all his or her racing needs.

This is where, in the race to be on main street USA, we are currently running over the guys who have propped up the sport in the years between manufactures. Don't get me wrong, I am all for the new motors and support the SW project and their vision. However, there are guys out there who have been the lifeline for parts and support for years and are going to be tossed to the curb without as much as a "smell you later". And those guys don't need displays and advertising. Everybody who is around races knows who has parts and can direct a new driver that direction in about 2 seconds. These guys are doing this for the love of the sport, not to make money.

This is not a Bass or SW issue cause it is certainly not their fault but resides with the SORC. While we are on the quest for new engines, we should not forget those guys who have kept us running all these years. Because the next time we are in a drought for new engines, these guys will nto be there to keep us going until the next greatest thing can be found.

[Charlie Pater]

I have been concerned about the DOMINANCE of one manufacturer (Racing Outboards) being projected for stock outboard racing. I have a purchasing background and the idea of projecting one manufacturer to supply motors to 6 out of 11 classes while the best supplier (Yamato) we have had over the last decade has only 2 classes projected would be unthinkable.

The 20 SSH class is a very viable class with used 80 motors available on the internet and in the racing community plus parts available from one or more vendors. Also, with the 102 and 302 motor able to compete in the class and new 302 motors available, it just does not make sense to me to put the Sidewinder into that class and to remove the 102 and 302 from the class.

Some people are indicating the 302 cannot compete on the national level with the 80 motor. I disagree with that conclusion. With the proper setup, our testing indicates the 302 is competitive with the 80 motor.

I do believe a lot of time and discussion has gone into the suggestion put forth in the last Propeller and I appreciate the hard work of the people that put the suggestion together. I just hope the comments above are taken seriously.

Charlie Pater

[HRTV]

"These guys are doing this for the love of the sport, not to make money"

I love these 1960's Hallmark card quotes that are so pathetic in this day and age. Anyone want to buy HR I am about at the end of my rope now days opps thats right you cant make a profit in the sport everything has to be done for the love of the sport

[Brian10s]

"These guys are doing this for the love of the sport, not to make money"

I love these 1960's Hallmark card quotes that are so pathetic in this day and age. Anyone want to buy HR I am about at the end of my rope now days opps thats right you cant make a profit in the sport everything has to be done for the love of the sport

So out of 2 paragraphs, you only had a problem with one sentence. I can live with that.

As for making money - big difference between turning a profit and making money, at least in my mind. Last I checked, there wasn't a line outside any supplier's motorhome to pull the $100 bills out of the couch cushions. No one is getting rich & retiring off of outboard boat racing. Everyone has a day job and do all they do because they want to (ie love to do it). Kinda like you when you started this website, right?

[HRTV]

So out of 2 paragraphs, you only had a problem with one sentence. I can live with that.

As for making money - big difference between turning a profit and making money, at least in my mind. Last I checked, there wasn't a line outside any supplier's motorhome to pull the $100 bills out of the couch cushions. No one is getting rich & retiring off of outboard boat racing. Everyone has a day job and do all they do because they want to (ie love to do it). Kinda like you when you started this website, right?

Ok Mr. 10S

[nbass]

Parity Committee?

Will there be a parity committee for the sidewinder in each class? What is parity and who defines it?
Neil Bass

[csh2z]

Dan, Stock Outboard is in a transition stage. The SORC, just this past winter, formed the steering committee. Based on the commitments by Racing Outboards, Bass Machine and Yamato, we developed a plan. We already know that some things have to be changed, the timeline for example, not only for the incoming motors but for the motors currently being used as well. That is the best part about any plan, the ability to change it when neccessary. The only thing that should be written in stone so to speak, is the goal should remain a constant. With this or any other plan at least we can all see what lies ahead so we can prepare for our own personal futures. If we had a plan, laid out for us a few years ago, the decisions we have made then, may have been different. Our intention is to give everybody a reasonable amount of time to make the transition without losing members. Although that must be balanced with the opportunity for the manufacturers need to stay in business because their success is tied to ours.
Tony, Half of the members of the steering committee ARE Hot Rod owners!
BIASED? I did not know Mr. Selawach until about a year and a half ago. I now know him well enough to believe that he is honest, cares very much about this sport and is committed enough to follow through with his goal. I was not asked my opinion on who should have been hired to engineer this project. But, I will admit that in my opinion, he got the most qualified person in the sport and that choice solidifies my confidence that this will be done beyond our expectations. By the way, I was not compensated for that opinion.
Tom, I have re-read the plan and did not see the part about the Yamato 80 being obseleted before it's time. When that time does come, I'm sure both you and the Mod category will benefit greatly.
Charley, Remember Mercury from the mid fifties through the seventies and beyond? How many choices do we have moving forward ? Don't we still have OMC's, Mercuries, Yamatoes and the Bass Tohatsu ?
Neil, No specifics are available at this time (I know, BAIL OUT!) but we're looking for a better alternative then the Parity Committee's as currently structured. Bear in mind that our goals moving forward may not be the same as those to date.
I feel it coming!