I am bit confused

[Dave M]

Ironic

This same discussion comes up almost each year. It almost always turns into a pissing match between categories. Is Pro better than Stock ? Is Mod better than Pro ? Is stock better than any of them ? Hell no, it is personal preference as to what you run. And the one very, very, very common theme is that each person is passionate about boat racing. That leads to a lot of pissing matches between categories. Perhaps some day it will all be one, but I doubt it now. Hell if everyone can't even get along on a forum how the hell are they going to get along in reality ?

And I agree with whoever basically said, put your money where your mouth is. Get involved.

Now then, to add another spin, why not go with the two strokes from Evenrude ? Still available, and are NOT affected by the EPA laws. They are the E-Tech engines. They still build them new..... Would add to inspection as well, but they are two strokes... If you don't want to see the four strokes.

Have a fun debate, maybe we all should go back and refresh our opinions from the last few years threads on this subject ?

[Steve Johnson]

?que est mas machos?

[T Chance]

I'd like to see a stock motor, or spec motor if you like, and a one design boat. This would put our racing more on driver skill rather than boat or prop design or motor design as it is in Pro. Let's compare apples to apples not oranges. If someone wants to get funky let them run mod/pro.

Is this to suggest it takes less skill to drive a Pro boat?

[BP125V]

I have an idea....

Fall elections are coming up. Obviously our current crop of commissioners, not to mention Ed, are worthless and pretty much suck, so how about you guys who have all of the answers concerning classes, engines, promo etc step up and run for office? That way you can make all the changes as you see fit. While you're at it run for club offices too so you can make sure your local clubs don't run anymore 3 boat heats. (good luck paying the bills)

Seriously. If you guys want to see positive changes to this sport you will have to get involved to help make it happen and posting here on HR.net does not count as being involved. You have to help because the handful of people who do actually work for this sport and make it happen are already spread way too thin. Enough of the armchair quarterbacking.... GET INVOLVED!!!

Bill

PS Kudos to Tony Perman. He expresses his ideas here too, but at least he is willing to get involved to make things happen.

[David Weaver]

Are you suggesting that

I'd like to see a stock motor, or spec motor if you like, and a one design boat. This would put our racing more on driver skill rather than boat or prop design or motor design as it is in Pro. Let's compare apples to apples not oranges. If someone wants to get funky let them run mod/pro.

Do you mean that boat and prop design should not be significant elements of a successful driver within SO racing? Or just within your hypothetical class?

By extension of your thought above, should we assume that successful drivers in PRO primarlily win races due to their superior engines and boats? This could be the case. But, I believe that there have been drivers in PRO that won due to skill rather than superior equipment. And, then there are people like me with capable equipment that lack the talent or B*&&s to win in a tough class.

Frankly, when yoiu consider the stroke/bore classes in PRO say from 125cc through 350cc, you have drivers with very similar boats and engines. And, I would suggest that the 50% or more of the contemporary 125 and 250 engines (VRP and GRM) are essentially raced in the same configuration as they left the factory in Italy with less internal machining than the average SO engine.

A friend of mine began racing PRO in addition to SO's (within his family). He said that it is ironic that his child's competitive J / ASX motors had more than $1,000 of intneral work done in order to be competitive, while his PRO engines are competitive right out of the box, as delivered by the factory.

Why not try one class in SO that is restricted as follows:

1) Maximum displacement
2) Must be a "service" motor in its original configuaration
3) Must be naturally aspirated (no EFI, superchargers, etc.)
4) Limit the exaust, so that "sliding pipes" would not be allowed or require confomrity on the exhaust mechanisms.
5) Allow internal modifications, so long as no materials are added to the internal workings (use the original heads without being machined?).
6) Use whatever carb that you want
7) Consider limiting the type of lower unit allowed, such that the same foot is used by all drivers, but the choice of gears can vary with the driver's prerfence.

This is just an idea. It is a little different. Frankly, I have not seen a better viable suggestion put forth, in my opinion.

This discussion also raises the question as to what exatly is Stock Racing? You cannot buy a Ford Taurus and drop that engine into a NASCAR Winston-Cup car and be competitive. The "stock" automobile is simply the base from which to begin from.

Not my category and I have no further thoughts on the subject. Whatever SO figures out, I hope that it works and that it gets done soon.

[HRTV]

Good post Tom, here is my answer boat racing in America has no backing, we have several sanctioning bodies across the country but we have no one marketing the sport. So many people will say what about APBA, the answer is forget it, the true definition of APBA is a sanctioning body they have no interest in marketing etc. nor should they. In order to succefully promote and retain drivers in any sport there must be a professional PR marketing firm in place to handle the job of marketing the sport to the masses. We do not have this in Stock Outboard boat racing, we have a sanctioning body which governs the rules and a commission to over see that the rules are followed (SORC) all well and good but you are missing the main component of any succefull sporting venture the marketing PR dept.

[Tomtall]

Production class

This was probably one of the largest stock production classes in OPC racing.Sport "C", Louisville Kentucky, Marithon Nationals. How big is this class today? Why have the #'s droped so? People got bored with it in my belief. It was great in it's day though.

[Cameraboy]

Your not wrong, BUT you will need to find out how long Yamaha plans to supply 2-strokes in the U.S. They are the last manufacturer to still sell them. No Merc, No Evinrude/Johnson, No Honda, No Tohatsu*.....

*they still sell small (ie. 40/50 HP DI engines)

Mark

Mark, this article is a year old, and it is talking about big motors, because the DFI technology is used on motors for larger, more cost effective markets.

http://www.yachtingmagazine.com/yach...169547,00.html

[Lights]

Wrong....AXSR didn't run last weekend there were only two of them.

OK I'm wrong on the class (s). But while I was in the turn boat for what seamed like eternity there was a bunch of three boat heats.

Mark

[Big Don]

Wrong....AXSR didn't run last weekend there were only two of them.

[Lights]

And watching a three boat heat makes you sit on the edge of your seat ?

I watched a bit of that this weekend. Lets see ASXR, FAR same darn three boats motor and drivers. Can you say Boring.

[HRTV]

Check out this link.

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/outboard...alculator.aspx

Go to bed Doug shouldn't you be out on the campaign trail

Check out this link.

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/outboard...alculator.aspx

[HRTV]

It's been fun debating tonight, but I got to go to bed...been a long day already.

Mark

Good debate Mark I'm also done for the night, lets pick it up tomorrow its time for the west coast crew to take over for the night.

[hydroracer25]

I'm done now

It's been fun debating tonight, but I got to go to bed...been a long day already.

Mark