Availability of new dsh motor

[pops67g]

Way to go Dana!

I have always raced D, and I will always race D. Having what I need has not been much of a problem because stuff that I've needed is there when I need it. I appreciate your thoughts on this ongoing controversy and it would sure be nice if those "in power" would listen.

[DougMc]

I've never, and will never, race 'D'. So I'm not about to tell people how to spend their money.

God Bless Dave Scott and the Bass Bros. for all their work in the 'D' class. We need more people like them.

The most troubling issue to me, other than the apparent lack of interest in 'D' in general, is the TOTAL LACK OF COMMUNICATON FROM THE STOCK VP OR COMMISSION regarding the availability of Merc 44XS motors.

How does the country know Dave Scott can build/sell motors and parts??? Word of mouth? Random message boards? A little birdie?

Why hasn't an ad been placed in Propeller, paid for by the Stock budget, touting Dave Scott and the availability of the Merc 44xs? **** near every other message on this board asks..."hey where can I buy this or what motors are available for that?"

Maybe Dave could sell some stuff if the ENTIRE country knew about it and had his contact info!

Instead of the monthy space filler copy we read in Propeller about the Stock category, how about some useful information?

We better see some info regarding the new Hot Rod in the coming months...as well as info about OMC gearcase availability.


Dana

Knowing availability or prices would be a great help to those looking at any class; however, it should be the responsibility of the manufacture to market their motors, boats/kits or props.

If they want to sell their motors, propeller or boats/kits more aggressively they should take out an ad/increase their advertising budget. Advertise at races, mail info to APBA members, buy an ad on hydroracer.net, create a website such as RPM has at www.Yamatoracing.net has done or Yamato UK has at http://www.yamato.ndo.co.uk/, etc.

Maybe one of these manufactures should team up with a boat builder and sell packages, boat, motor, and prop - Pull the rope and go racing.

[modhydro]

Marketing of products

While it would be great to imagine that Dave Scott or the Bass brothers have a marketing department or marketing budget for that matter, I'm willing to bet that they don't. I'm sure that whatever funds they have available to produce this stuff is used for just that. Now we should have them spread even thinner? As an organization run by the racers for the racers, I'd sure think it would be a very responsible thing for the various racing commissions to help out the "little guys" who are making stuff available. While I don't mean this as a slam on them, I think their strong points are making the stuff availble for us, not being an advertising agency. Let's hope that Dana's suggestion is heeded and some $ get put to good use to further their cause. Guys like this are the only way that we can have a variety of new equipment to use. If we don't support them, who is going to step up in their place???????

Steve Roskowski

[pops67g]

Let level heads prevail!

I am sure glad to see some sanity finally creeping in on this issue. Thanks Dana and Steve!

[crankbearing]

Knowing availability or prices would be a great help to those looking at any class; however, it should be the responsibility of the manufacture to market their motors, boats/kits or props.

If they want to sell their motors, propeller or boats/kits more aggressively they should take out an ad/increase their advertising budget. Advertise at races, mail info to APBA members, buy an ad on hydroracer.net, create a website such as RPM has at www.Yamatoracing.net has done or Yamato UK has at http://www.yamato.ndo.co.uk/, etc.

Maybe one of these manufactures should team up with a boat builder and sell packages, boat, motor, and prop - Pull the rope and go racing.

Doug,

From a business point of view, if this was in-fact even remotely considered a business. If I started a business and invested the money that both parties have for the size of target market we have then I am most certainly sure that my bank manager would slap me upside the head. This is done as a love for the sport and class.

Now onto your marketing budget. As Steve states there is none. I think that a small ad in propellor is not going to break the bank! Do You??? The Apba HS are not without investment in this project as well and it only helps them in the long run recoup there dollars.

I have registered a web-site and I am currently working on it frantically trying to get it completed. It will include all the 44Xs stuff that I have available as well any motor services that I offer. You will be able to order from the site the parts you want and then just click on paypal to pay or send a money order. On top of that I have boat kits on the site than can be ordered for J-FEH and 125-350 or a custom built Scottcraft/Roper hydroplane. I am looking into financing package options as well, this may be available through paypals offerings. I currently am a lifeline distributor for Canada and now I am just trying to finalize a hardware deal, so it will be a one stop shop on the website. It will be a bit of work but I think that it will pay off for the sport in the long run.

So, I do agree that a centralized place for the parts are a great thing and I am willing to shell out more money to make parts, motors, boats, hardware and safety equipment more readily available.

I will ad 25XS, FEH and some other misc parts along the way. But the 44XS is my major concern at this point.

Regards,

[jsilvestri]

Dave,
I commend you on all your efforts and hard work to keep our sport alive and well.

[proprider]

I'll second that!!

Thanks Dave, your efforts are appreciated by this DSH, FEH driver. I look forward to using your new web site.
Joe Schweickert 2-H

[topomichracer140m]

first of all,thanks too matt d for his comments....im sure they will be brushed right off by all the proper people unfortunately. it angers me very much when i see how certain people are getting praised suddenly for supporting the d class. do i even have too explain why? ive been racing d class since 1989 and ill bet you all these newfound promoters of the d class dont have a clue who i am,or for that matter any of the other guys from michigan who tried so hard in the late 80s and throughout the 90s too keep the d class alive. at least the sorc is having a look at the class now and perhaps some good things will come out of this? i love mercury motors, and i love racing the d class with some of the sports greatest people. i would love for this class to thrive again, but i think this issue isnt being brought out too increase numbers in the d class,its because a few people see the chance too score a few bucks on stock racers.

[mike ross]

Dave you currently still rule in the D class. You have motor's and yours is the only one that is legal to run this year. Get a picture to Dan at Hydro Racer and get an add in propeller. Everyone at the national meeting was in your court. I now we passed the others to be on probation for a year before they become legal. But believe me the SORC is going to be monitering them quite a bit to make sure it is right for the D class. Mr Weinette is going to be dyno testing the Bass/Tohotsu and we should all be seeing those results as soon has he gets one tohim to test. The next best thing is to get every D hydro and runabout driver to dust off the cobb webs and get to the race coarse and race. Its hard for the SORC to make decsions when all these so called racers with equipment don't go to the races and support the sport we love so much. Lets see 3 elimination heats at the nationals this year in DSH. And you boys up north get your butts to Dayton and lets show them what a full field of DSR looks like. Wouldn't it be great to have elims in that class also. I know you guys could almost put a full field together by yourself. P.S. I'm going to have an entry so look out!!!!! Mike

[Matt Dagostino]

What Is The Goal...........

Since the powers to be have now allowed the "Bass Motor" to be run on a probationary basis next year is the goal of the SORC to have this motor replace the 44XS or be competing against it in the 2006 season if adopted after the probationary period???

My concern would be that competing motors in the same class benefits no-one. What is the thought process that went into this one??

Also, for the record it's Mike Wienandt of WPT Technology that will be doing the dyno work..............All the years of being around those Wisconsin guys and you can't spell Wienandt's name...............I think Hearn overworked you(Mike Ross) down in Atlanta!!

Later

[ryan_4z]

Matt, I agree that the SORC must clearly define what they want to do here. You are one of the few people besides myself who has openly spoken against multiple motors in a class. One motor in one class, thats the way our sport should be structured. Im not sure what the thought process is to having multiple motors. What it seems the SORC is trying to do is please everybody. And if there is one thing I have learned about life, it's this "In the effort to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody." I fear that this is the direction we are heading. And I fear that this thought process could ultimately lead to the demise of our sport.

My father, along with a number of other commisioners feel this same way. The approval of this motor was pushed through, and barely passed at that. Now honestly this will probably not be the end of our sport. But it could be the end of the D class, which is scary enough as it is. I am really worried that what was done at the national meeting could ruin a class that can still be saved. I really hope we dont have to loose a good class to realize that we are heading in the wrong direction, but that may be what it takes.

[mike ross]

Well i'm not sure what is the best way to go. We had great sucsess with the 25 runabout project. Now is the time to get those 44xs motors to racers. As a racer for years I hate to kick someone to the curb that offers to try to help us with a new motor. The Tahotsu may not be the answer. But until we try and see if it will work who knows. I know there are 44xs motors out there. We need to get them and the new ones Dave has out on the coarse. If they come people will follow and maybe all those other options will be disreguarded. We gave the 25ssr a shot in the arm this year. Lets see what that does for the re birth of the 25xs in the runabout class. When the Hot Rod factory gets rolling we will many more desision to make. Try to look at as a glass half full as apposed to a glass half empty. Sorry on that spelling Mr Wienandt. It wasn't Ed that over worked me it was the open bar at the hospitality room every night that did it. Mike

[bill van steenwyk]

questions & comments this subject

prefacing my comments/questions about this subject, let me state up front I have never run stock, not for any reason than when I started racing in 1956 PRO or "alky" as it was called then was the predominant type of racing in the area I lived so that is what I got involved in. Have always had to compete against different mfgr's engines in the same class, so really didn't think there was much wrong with that way of racing and in fact enjoyed it for the following reasons:
l. if one mfgr got too bold with pricing etc., it helped to keep costs somewhat competitive that there were other motor's availablethat racers could buy. It also made for good competition for both the racers and the spectators as they had in addition to favorite drivers to root for, favorite engines.
2. if one mfgr would all of a sudden pull out of racing, there were options engine wise already proven. I don't believe anyone in the US has made a NEW stock engine for sometime except for OPC, which has left you guys in a bind several times from what I read onthis board.
3. if one of the multiple engine allowed in a specific class would be far superior there are many ways to handicap them, wgt, carb restrictors, etc.

All racing fairly or unfairly seems to get compared to NASCAR these days, but say what you will about that type of racing, it thrives on the rivalry's generated by different car makes, among other reasons. One of the reasons for the resurgance in PRO racing the last fewyears is the availiability of engines, from multiple mfgr's. Unless there is something Idon't understand about stock racing, seems to me more engine suppliers is what you need, not less. Competition of any kind usually improves the sport, whatever it is. Most all kinds of boat racing need all the ideas and helpthey can get these days. Whether your problems cans be laid at the doorstep of not enough engine suppliers or not is of course for you to decide, but it seems to have gone downhill steadily since Mercury and OMC pulled out some years ago.
I sure don't have all the answers for you but if you limit yourself with equipment, seemsto me you limit your sport.

A non-stock observation

[ryan_4z]

All that the 25ssR experiment has proven is that the Yamato is a great motor. It isn't going to bring back the Merc in that class though. Why should someone buy a 25xs when they can more easily get a Yamato? 25ssR is proof that the multiple motor thing does not work.

[ryan_4z]

If Stock Outboard was bore and stroke it would be a different story. But we aren't, so therefore the only way to achieve parity is one motor in one class. That's what Stock is, thats why we run it and not PRO. Each category appeals to a different type of person.