2009 J Rules & Proposals

[reed28n]

Numbers

Do we have statistics on who how many merc's are raced in J vs. how many OMC's?

Why are people more willing to buy new boats for J only use, ($2500 to $3500) then replace the boat to step into AXS or A? but not willing to change the motor.


If you are a J Dad/Mom that wants to step you kid from J to A get an OMC.

If you are a J Dad/Mom that wants to step your kid from J to AXS get a Merc.

If you want to win in J it seems that the last few years more people have better succes buying a new Merc and winning.... than finding a 1984 OMC motor that is still competitive.

[bill boyes]

Mercs are available whereas OMC's can be difficult to find.

[Dave M]

Me too

Oh My God!!!!

Did this really happen???

Rautenburg - Hemp - Warnock agreed on a subject?

Either He*l froze over or a new Law Firm was established!

I suppose EDDIE is the Senior Member, Maybe?

WOW!

Warbs

I also agree with Sam... and I was told hell froze over when I attended Burlington this year. So I guess it really did freeze over. Does this mean we gotta sing or something ? I hope not.....

[Big Don]

Just throwing this out there.

If the J class’s are truly for learning then why do the J’s get someone elected to the HOC but the AX classes don’t?

Should we take away the HOC away from all J classes?

Since I have two or three drivers in the J category I’ll say yes take it away. I feel that it causes more harm than it does good.

[Kev43V]

I think it is best to have the Mercs. continue to dominate in ALL the J classes.

Well Don in many ways it would make more sense to have the AXS classes able to go in to HOC and not the J's.
what is your reasoning?

[Jeff Brewster 59s]

I agree Don...

If the J class’s are truly for learning then why do the J’s get someone elected to the HOC but the AX classes don’t?

Should we take away the HOC away from all J classes?

Since I have two or three drivers in the J category I’ll say yes take it away. I feel that it causes more harm than it does good.

I will have two in the J category this year once again and I not only wish there was no HOC but no hi points of any kind either.
Let's teach them to love racing, learn sportsmanship and forget about the rest of the b.s.

And to add my 2 cents to an earlier post, I remember topping out in my Jsr in 1973 at 29 mph and loving it. Cause I was flyin'

[Kev43V]

I still think it just isnt quite right for a new person in J that has bought a new motor and conversion+ Foot. then they have to send the dang thing to a shop and pay someone to go through it!. sigh
But it doesn't really matter as the cows are already out of the barn. closing the door will not help.

[Big Don]

I think it puts a lot of pressure on the kids to perform up to their parents expectations.

Don’t get me wrong in our family as in most families kids are very competitive but why put that extra pressure on them.

As for AX…if J’s are going to be eligible than the AX classes should be eligible.

Once again…if the J & AX classes are there to learn than they should not be eligible. And if the J class is going to be eligible then so should AX.

My vote is neither should be.

[Team B&H]

The problem with the J/AXS HOC is that the J category is only allotted one position. The committee didn't want to have the situation where an AXS driver won the HOC and deprived a younger (generally) J driver from the HOC. There has been an instance where an AXS competitor won the Nationals in both hydro and runabout and Nat High points in both. The HOC Committee has the ability to add one or two additional inductees each year based on special cir***stances, so the AXS driver made the HOC. Just beating out the J kids isn't enough, you gotta be really good to get into the HOC racing only AXS.

[Team B&H]

I still think it just isnt quite right for a new person in J that has bought a new motor and conversion+ Foot. then they have to send the dang thing to a shop and pay someone to go through it!. sigh
But it doesn't really matter as the cows are already out of the barn. closing the door will not help.

Just show us a J OMC motor that is factory box-stock, unmachined, unhoned and unblueprinted. Show us an OMC J that has survived and still has stock metal reeds. The Mercs are not allowed any machining that is not allowed on an OMC except decking the block and head because the Merc doesn't have a removable head.

[reed28n]

Axs

Even though a few years back Stock Outboard resisted the AXS class, AXS should be put in stock outboard leaving the universal J Class in the J category. That resolves the HOC and the novice restriction that should be placed on the AXS class, if it were to be left in J. I have a hard time with seasoned veterans racing in the J category. I have no issue with them racing at the AXS speed they are attracted to, but they should not be racing J.

Or make the AXS(J) class run the J propellers to keep with the spirit of the category.

It makes more sense to be a stock class and keep the speed step between J, AXS then A.

An opinion, have fun.

PS With Merc Rings built for the current motor
(sorry couldn't help myself)

[reed28n]

One Step Further

Request Stock Outboard to purchase one complete J Rig each year. Boat motor and safety equipment to be awarded to a Region that will put kids in it for the whole racing season and sell it at a discount to a start up family.

This way any head count numbers that benefit Stock from the AXS change in category will directly benefit the J classes which are the future racers for all of the categories and APBA can continue to promote the Mercury motors as they do now.

[raceboat61-S]

J Sprint Course

I have an idea that I have been thinking about for a while..... in addition to burying the engine about 3/8 inch more, I think it would be better for JH and JR to run a Sprint Course instead of the traditional longer courses that all of the rest of us race each weekend. Just add 3-4 extra J-buoys about 150 yards past the clock and let them race on one-half of regular course. If some think adding a couple of laps to become a 5 lap/3 mile race would be better, fine, let's try that too. I think it would make the boats more evenly matched, keep the leaders and the pack closer together, give the kids more head-to-head "racing" experience, and might shorten up the race day by a few minutes. The primary goal is to give the kids more time skill building while racing as opposed to just a boat ride. Mike Marshall, Raceboat61-S (J grandad)

[Team B&H]

Mike,

There is absolutely nothing preventing your club or any other club for that matter, from running J classes on a smaller course than the other classes. More than 3 laps are also permissable. Just put those conditions on the race circular and go for it!

[Kev43V]

I do not see the added value of moving Axs to Stock. (disclaimer I am still on my first cup of coffee after a late night) I only see J parents buying J and stock memberships so their kids can run both classes. With the intent of AXS being a transition class from J to A I feel it should stay in the J cat. It does nothing to resolve the HOC concerns that some people have voiced.

Even though a few years back Stock Outboard resisted the AXS class, AXS should be put in stock outboard leaving the universal J Class in the J category. That resolves the HOC and the novice restriction that should be placed on the AXS class, if it were to be left in J. I have a hard time with seasoned veterans racing in the J category. I have no issue with them racing at the AXS speed they are attracted to, but they should not be racing J.

Or make the AXS(J) class run the J propellers to keep with the spirit of the category.

It makes more sense to be a stock class and keep the speed step between J, AXS then A.

An opinion, have fun.

PS With Merc Rings built for the current motor
(sorry couldn't help myself)