APBA D-stock Rule Change

[nbass]

The below is a direct quote from the July issue of the APBA Propeller Magazine by Ed Hearn, Stock Outboard Chairman • edhearn2004@yahoo.com

“ D Stock Class Technical Rule Clarification/Correction: In the D Stock Classes, the SO Technical Manual for 2006 incorrectly lists both 1:1 and one-tooth under gears as being legal for the lower unit for the Bass/Tohatsu Engine. This is not correct. The Bass/Tohatsu engine was submitted by the manufacturer with a proposal for both sets of gears, but only the 1:1 gears were approved by the SORC when the engine was approved. Accordingly, the SO Technical Manual has now been corrected to show that only 1:1 lower unit gears are legal for any engine in these classes. This rule will be enforced at the Stock Nationals in Moses Lake, Washington.”

Comments by Neil Bass

Mr. Hearn, you may be the chairman, but you cannot make up the rules as you go. Bass Machines has made and sold the D-stock Tohatsu racing engine for the past three four based on the decisions of the Stock Outboard Racing Commission (SORC) and according to the published rules. Racers have purchased these engines, have invested in propellers, test time, setup effort, fuel, and races with the understanding that the published rules and published SORC minutes are correct. This is no longer a parity decision or parity issue. This is a financial issue that affects your stock outboard constituents. Your published ruling is fatally flawed information for several reasons.

1. Two gear ratios have always been on our submitted specification sheets as approved by the SORC.
2. APBA published the SORC rulebook with the legal specifications for the Bass-Tohatsu as we had submitted.
3. The approved Bass-Tohatsu engine rules have been available to members for several years.
4. I have carefully read the minutes from the SORC national meetings and there are no minutes where 1:1 is the only legal gear ratio for the D-stock Tohatsu.
5. Our representative at the approving national meeting witnessed any such unrecorded ruling by the SORC
6. All incorporated organizations have do***ented rules by which its members must conduct business, and I doubt the rules allow the SORC chairman to make up and publish arbitrary rules.

Show me the proof that there was ever any gear ratio decision made at a SORC meeting. I suggest all Tohatsu drivers race at the Moses Lake Nationals using any legal Tohatsu gear ratio and setup you may choose.

[DeanFHobart]

Gear Ratio Change

To Ed Hearn and The APBA SORC,

How was this change made to the SO Tech. Manual?

[14-H]

D Stock Drivers: Only the 1:1 gears are legal in this class regardless of the engine you run. If you choose to take Mr. Bass' advice, you risk disqualification, at a minimum.

Mr. Bass: The 1:1 gears were the only ones approved. Your representative at the meeting knows this. In error, the chairman of the Tech Manual Committee printed the specs exactly as you submitted them, not as they were approved.

There has been no change in the rules, only a correction of the tech manual. Quite frankly, to use this error to encourage D Stock drivers to not only violate this rule, but also to violate the set up rules regarding height restriction is, in a word, irresponsible.

You have every right to disagree with me. You have no right to encourage other members to violate the rules. Please retract this statement.

Ed Hearn, SO Chairman.

[Russ Birch 45R]

Unfair ruling

Eddy
After are talk yesterday I have to say that rule change is unfair to all the Tohatsu owners . I have been working hard to get to this point with the motor. We are the only one's that has been able to beat the Mer 44 s , why should all the rest of the owner's be held back . If all of them were going as fast maybe you would have a concern. I have the best driver which adds another percentage for the the wins. So is that going to the parity com we can only have non experienced drivers? How can we encourage new drivers / owners to come out and race with all the bull----- going on. One spineless person complains and look want happened. We will contiune to race the tohatsu the same way we have been LEGAL. Don't ever tell me to hold back for winning for the sac of the tohatsu.

Russ Bircher 45R 151R

[99R]

How long has this been in the tech. manual? A couple of years I believe!! So now that I have spent the money for a underdrive gearcase I cant even use due to your mistake. Who should I send my bill to so I can get reimbursed for my gearcase that is no longer anygood? APBA or Ed Hearn?

Troy

[reed28n]

suggestion

Post the minutes from this part of the meeting and the minutes should clearly state the intent of the SORC at the time the motor was approved.

I witnessed the motor run at Depue and was very impressed with how close it was out of the box. It is very quiet opening up test areas. So, while the spent money is a concern the intent of the rule is as important as the introduction of the motor in a now surprisingly growing class.

This class was doomed. Hats off to all of the motor guys merc or Bass for breathing life into a class that is rising in National numers......

[J.Michael]

Let it run!

I think its a shame that people are so scared to allow this motor to compete. I have ran the merc and the Tohatsu. We have been working very hard at getting the Tohatsu to the front of the pack, but now that we have done that another rule has changed. Will making us run 1:1 slow us down? Not at all, but with the people who have spent the money I feel it is very unfair.

At the western divs. I ran the Tohatsu because it was a 3/4 mile record course also. I wanted to see how close or possibly up my record that I set with the Mercury. I ran the piss out of it and was still 2-3 mph off my record. With that said I feel we need to let this motor run as presented and lets see what happens. Its helped this class grow the last few years so why kill it.

J. Michael

[jeff55v]

My 2 cents...

I always look to see the good in people rather than the bad. This characteristic sometimes makes me vulnerable. Some may see my outlook as gullible, I like to think I'm an optimist.
I'm amazed at how far this Bass/Tohatsu project has come. Like others, I think this motor has breathed new life into the D class. I just cannot believe that this project could have gotten off the ground at all without support and enthusiasm from everybody envolved. What an unfortunate situation. An error, a misunderstanding, an oversight. This has nothing to do with parity between two engines. But rather, a situation arising from poor comunication. I don't see any bad guys here, just a bad situation. I hope the D class can get over this "speed bump" and keep driving into the future. I am optimistic about the future of this class in the APBA

Add: Upon reflection, there may have been a couple times that I assumed bad intentions from people. Nearly each time I was proven wrong.

Oh yeah, Happy Independence Day!

[nbass]

Show me the national meeting minutes

D Stock Drivers: Only the 1:1 gears are legal in this class regardless of the engine you run. If you choose to take Mr. Bass' advice, you risk disqualification, at a minimum.

You have every right to disagree with me. You have no right to encourage other members to violate the rules. Please retract this statement.

Ed Hearn, SO Chairman.

Nice try Mr. Hearn, I did not say to run illegally. I said to run “any legal Tohatsu gear ratio and setup you may choose”.

Show me the National Meeting Minutes and I will retract my statement.

Else if there are no such minutes please you retract your ruling.

Let’s keep parity in resolving this; what is responsible and reasonable action for me is responsible and reasonable action for you.
Neil Bass

[T Chance]

Neil, I don't know how you put up with it and keep your sanity. Don't give in - you are the one who is doing the right thing. In closing I want to say it is so nice that there is a Pro Division where a person can go out and buy a motor, put it on their boat and actually race it! Set up however they want to set it up! Have you ever thought about doing a little more to your motor and seeing how it will do in 1100 Runabout?

[14-H]

Only 1:1 gears legal

Mr. Bass: Only the 1:1 gears are legal in this class; your company very well knows this and has known it since the motor was approved by the SORC. It is quite disappointing that your company chose to take advantage of an error in the tech manual made by the SORC's volunteer staff. It is also quite upsetting that there has been a concerted effort in your Region to allow drivers to run illegal gears and set ups and to skirt inspections at APBA events in order to do this.

To all of you who have run illegal equipment in this class knowing you have been doing it or have been cooperating in the effort to allow this equipment to run illegally at APBA events and who yet criticize me: Heal thyself!

[14-H]

***I ran the piss out of it and was still 2-3 mph off my record. ***J. Michael

Mike: they only place you will break that record is in Alexandria, LA, where you set it. They don't call it the fastest water in the world for nothing. Ed.

[Russ Birch 45R]

Post minutes

If you Mike Ross would post the minutes from the national meeting where the totatsu was proprosed and excepted that will put this to bed.

Russ Bircher 45R 151R

[nbass]

Mr. Bass: Only the 1:1 gears are legal in this class; your company very well knows this and has known it since the motor was approved by the SORC. It is quite disappointing that your company chose to take advantage of an error in the tech manual made by the SORC's volunteer staff. It is also quite upsetting that there has been a concerted effort in your Region to allow drivers to run illegal gears and set ups and to skirt inspections at APBA events in order to do this.

To all of you who have run illegal equipment in this class knowing you have been doing it or have been cooperating in the effort to allow this equipment to run illegally at APBA events and who yet criticize me: Heal thyself!

Ed, both of us need to stop the behaviors. Bass Machines did not know about any such 1:1 gear ratio ruling by the SORC. I respectfully ask that you set asside our argument and seek how to resolve the issue with your Tohatsu members who have financed equipment under the published rules.

I am now turning my attention to a proposal that will benefit all the stock racers, one that will bring together rather than divide, one that will let old and new equipment thrive with the Tohatsu and the new Sidewinder. One that will augment the new engines committee proposal.

Respectfully,
Neil Bass

[wdlong1226]

d motor

just resolve the problem and make everyone hAPPY, BECAUSE THIS SHT IS REALLY GETTIN OLD people are trying to keep it alive,i applaud everyone for trying to keep new motors in the mix lets just iron out the small details I REALLY WANNA BUY A NEW MOTOR but all you people are really killing it THAnks