All SST120 and SST200 drivers

[largecar91]

The ballots are out for the voting on the 120/200 class issue. All APBA 120 and 200 drivers should have received their ballots by mail. No matter how you feel on this issue, PLEASE VOTE!!!! Thanks

[Shep]

I sent this out to 120 drivers. There are valid points to both sides. I'm not going to get in a debate over it just wanted to express my views as a racer, promoter,and a club member.


To: All SST 120 Drivers

From: Kris Shepard, Current SST 120 Driver

You have received or soon will be receiving a ballot asking to remove the SST 200 from the SST 120 class. I know this is a very sensitive issue for all of us. There are several things that need to be carefully considered before you vote.

First, the SST 120 has been approved as a legal SST 200. This means that a race site doesn’t have to offer SST 120 to get a boat count. All they need to do is sanction SST 200 and they can run both classes. SST 120 loses races for national high points.

Second, there is valid concern about the SST 200 beating the SST 120. This may be true; however, we won’t have valid test results until there are actual production models of the new generation motor on the course racing – not a pre production model driven by the one guy in the world that has more time with the Optimax then everyone else combined.

Third is the concern about having to share prize money. Most races don’t have enough prize money to split. It is also my personal experience that even if you win first place doesn’t pay enough to cover expenses and it really won’t make much difference.

Another reason to keep the classes combined for now is local racing. Many times we have just barely enough boats to make legal starts. Removing the SST 200 can put viable entries on the beach or even cancel the class for the weekend. It is important that we are careful to consider the casual / grass roots racers and not just the series racers.

In my opinion I believe voting the SST 200 out of SST 120 will only hurt us in the long run, accelerating the demise of the SST 120 Class.

It is my recommendation that we keep the SST 200 in the class and work with the promoters to offer both classes at all SST 120 events run them combined Leaving the option of scoring them separately when there are enough SST 200’s to do so.

We also should work with the promoters to adjust the course lengths in such a way that it is fair to both classes.

Please consider this information carefully and join me in keeping the SST 200 in the SST 120 class for the time being. The time will come when we need to separate the classes but it is not now. We need to grow our sport.

No matter what your personal choice is on this matter, it is very important you vote!

Thank you,

Kris Shepard