25SSR Marathon advice??? Top-O-Michigan specifically

[25xs]

Hi guys,

I live near Atlanta, GA and I bought two 25SSR Marathon boats last year and have a new racer taking one of them back to Indian River for the marathon next month... I have only raced around bouys so I have limited advice for this new driver (Brent Johnson 84-F, 25SSR ).

1. How much gas required to run each day?

2. What spares/tools/drinking water/equipment to carry along in the boat w/driver?

3. How to practice? I've been putting him out on Lake Lanier which is pretty rough and tagging along in a chase boat to get him some throttle time.

4. He has safety pants, sleeves, jacket and is buying helmet. What else for safety gear?


If anyone answers this post, please reply to this thead instead of private email. This info may be of value to others reading it. To make it clear, I am not running the race, rather a new driver from Atlanta with family ties to Indian River is buying one of my 25SSR rigs and will be running the race. He's completely new to APBA and I'm trying to make him as prepared as possible for his debut.

Thanks,

Tom Brockmeyer 770-F
Lake Lanier, GA

This is Brent's new 25SSR near my dock at Lake Lanier July 29th (25miles North of Atlanta, GA)

[topomichracer140m]

I run d class but I think a 25 will probably use around 4 gallons but I would check with a 25 driver and confirm that. I like too carry extra shear pins and a wrench for my prop nut and thats all I take. Check your motor and boat before the race for loose nuts or broken parts. He wont need water..tell him too just open his mouth when the bigger boats go bye him . Seriously, I think it will be alot of fun. Keep havin your driver run around in the rough water and practice right hand turns and also practice starting procedures and getting on plane quickly too. I would recommend a good set of gloves because ya tend too get blisters from running the throttle so much. Let me be the first too welcome you and your crew to Top O. Good luck and see ya in a few weeks..Nick.

[CSR4C]

Tom,
Send me your mailing address & I will send you a copy of the helmet cam video. It should be a great help. 4-C@clearwire.net
Wear some light nylon pants between your kevlar & legs or the kevlar will rub the skin on your legs. Also gloves, I get blisters on my throttle hand, even with gloves. Padding, padding, padding.

The two of you will have a great time.

Darrell Sorensen
C-4-C

[Jack Stotts]

I've run the Top-O many times and what Nick said is absolutely on target. You can attempt to carry too much. The shear pins,wrench and spare prop nut is all I've ever carried. I carry 4.5 gallons and always had about a gallon left over running a 25XS. Practicing right turns is a must. The first two turns on Sat are right turns. A quick start and plane-off is key. It's a ball! Have fun. You can not mis. If thirsty, drink the lake water. It is pristine. Jack

[racer121M]

One other item that is good to have is a neck collar. The added support it gives in the rough water makes the ride lots more comfortable. Welcome to the Top O! You will have a great time!

Bob Hartman

[Brett L. Pruett]

They stress at the drivers meetings "the race is not won in the river". A number of the racers end up against a wall, or a docked boat, or up on shore. Take it easy in the rivers till you get comfortable, & watch the boats in front of you, to set up your next corner.

[steve smith 150m]

Marathon Races

The race is not won in the first turn of the first lap also!

[25xs]

Thanks everyone! Keep this advice coming.

I really appreciate the advice flowing so freely. Brent Johnson will be running a 25SSR boat #84-F and I guess practice will be longer runs in Lake Lanier (Rough!) and he's doing quite well with his right turns.

Brent will need some help in the pits, but mostly with putting the boat on the cart. I think he will be towing up there with the motor fully rigged to save setup time.

Tom

[CSR4C]

Tom,
Your Helmet cam video is on its way, better start gigging that 2nd boat as after watching the video you will want to enter also.

Darrell
C-4-C

[14-H]

Boat Drains

Put duck bills in the back of your boat that will let the water in the cockpit drain out as you are underway. One year, it was so rough and I did so many nose-dives that the boat nearly sank with water in it. I had to stop and go ashore and borrow someone's boat lift to drain the water out. The duck bills or some other mechanism to let water drain from the cockpit without allowing water to go in is a must. Ed Hearn.

[CSR4C]

Put duck bills in the back of your boat that will let the water in the cockpit drain out as you are underway. One year, it was so rough and I did so many nose-dives that the boat nearly sank with water in it. I had to stop and go ashore and borrow someone's boat lift to drain the water out. The duck bills or some other mechanism to let water drain from the cockpit without allowing water to go in is a must. Ed Hearn.

I use ball drains, one in my closed course boat, 2 in my marathon boat. The price is $10 ea. part #P1 http://www.boatracingr11.com/Sorense...rdware_acc.htm

[25xs]

The boat's got a duckbill drain installed...

Both 25SSR boats & motors were modified and/or built by Brinkman (which?) and have two 2.5gallon tanks, extra heavy bottoms, duckbill drains, two small center fins, extra padding, etc...

I bought the rigs from John Keyser who owns a cottage in Indian River two years ago. One of them is "going home" to race in a few weeks.

My parents 50th Anniversary is August 17th (party Aug 18th) in NW Iowa so there was no way for me to attend the marathon this year, but Brent is really working on me to go up there in 2008.

Thanks again everyone for the tips! Keep 'em coming and be sure to steer clear of Brent in the rivers/canals... He's the guy with the big white "X".

Tom Brockmeyer

[Brett L. Pruett]

More Equipement

I hate to suggest that you mess with your graphics, but, ya gotta get some kind of windshield on that rig. Not so much as to block the wind, but to deflect that easy roller from creeping it’s way up the deck & just flooding the cockpit.

Its never gets too rough on the lakes, does it guys & gals, or in the Indian River entrance chute, (below)


3 copy img000075 Brett Jr 480.jpg
Asr 56M .... top"O" 2006........ thanks Kevin

and we probably won't need windshields, but once your out there in the lake, I guarantee, at least once, you won't regret having put one on.

[Gootz 142M]

Its all good!!!!!

[pearson95m]

A reason to be cautious and take your time navigating the beautiful northern Michigan rivers. And a big reason why people end up missing a turn and hitting a dock...

Remember, the race is not won in the rivers... but can be lost. However, does anyone REALLY LOSE???