Tweet
I just read the latest Propeller magazine from APBA online. Am I reading it right that there is no minimum displacement for classes? And that they changed the length of the 250 runabout to 11'6" instead of 13' ? I guess this is to allow step-ups to make enough boats to run at their National Championships because the 125 runabout length is 11'6'. That would let the 125 boats run with the 250 runabouts legally, but what happens when some idiot puts a real 250 on a 11'6" boat and goes out and gets hurt or hurts someone else? The reason for the 13 foot runabouts was for safety as they are running too fast for a small boat. They also have taken step-up out of the rules, so you may get 125, 250, 350 and 500 runabout all running together - what a mess that would be. Come run with the US Title Series where the real Pro racers run.
-
-
Displacement Rules
Actually, eliminating the low side of displacements should bring the APBA rules in line with UIM (finally). I can think of some who proposed this rule change 10 years ago. Smart guys.....Since you can run a Mark 20H as a legal 350 and never get close to competitive speeds, why not be able to run a 250 Rossi in 350?David Weaver -
250 Runabout Length
The 250 Runabout length was not changed. It has been 11'6" for years. I found it in the 2001 rule book, before the 125 Runabout class even existed.Comment
-
Rex:
Even a 350 ccr only needs to be 12' long. And to David's point a Stock 20SSH is a legal 350 cch.
JoeComment
-
You know... I was not going to respond until I read “real Pro racers”. With all due respect Rex, what does the USTS Rule Book say? O Wait, nothing yet. I bet you when it does get written non-capsule drivers Will be able to use radios and there will be no head clearance rule for capsules. Both important safety rules that will be glazed over.
I think removing step-up rules was a smart decision by the Pro Commission. I have been beaten by 250s in 350 hydro (stupid little Nydahl girl). I have also seen 350 runabouts run competitively in 500. This makes the pro engine even more valuable because you can be on the water more with the same equipment.
As far as the “real Pro Racers” comment goes. Let’s all try to be a little more open minded. As you know I race both USTS and APBA. I plan to race both this year (now I get the opportunity to joint two governing bodies). I am sorry to tell you but there is real pro racing outside of the USTS.
I am not trying to start a fight. I love racing with both groups. I just want everyone to realize one is not better than the other, they are just different. Pro racing is great no matter how you do it.
Zach Malhiot R-13Comment
-
Zach There is head clearence for capsules cause I wrote it for APBA and USTS. And you and your Dad are real Pro Racers lolololol had to say thatOriginally posted by R13racer View Post
tell your old man I said hello
Pat WrightComment
-
Thanks Pat. My dad also pointed out to me that removing the step-up rule is not a rule until the membership votes on it. So if the membership does not like the idea, they can vote against it. My vote is to not have minimum displacements. Just my opinion.
Zach MalhiotComment
-
Pro racers
Sorry Zach, I should not have said "real Pro racers". I should have said, "the best pro racers". US Title Series races have the best competition you will find. Every race is like running "the Nationals" with the competition that regularly shows up at our races. Nowhere else can you find this caliber of racing on a regular basis. I do not know about radios in open boats, but there is a 2 inch minimum head clearance rule for the capsule boats.Comment
-
It's Business
I look at as a business marketing tool. Of course the USTS wants to be billed as the best, or where the real pro divers are. It is free enterprise. To succeed today, one has to have something to sell, and to sell something you need marketing. Slogans, etc. all work into the equation. I am not pitting USTS against APBA Pro, just trying to indicate that to survive today's competitive market, and obtain the level of performance desired, an organization needs good catch phrases, slogans, etc. Something the fans can take home with them and remember. Not one fan will take home the fact that a 250 can sometimes win in 350, or that a 20H is a legal engine, or that the runabout is shorter than the other one.
I don't take offense to any comments on here, I just have a positive outlook on where it is heading. I kind of like Rex's catch phrase or slogan. It is something you can sell.Dave Mason
Just A Boat Racer
Comment
-
Both Zach and Dave have good points on this subject-As far as The best is the Pro Series is a bold statement for anyone to make !
I started racing years ago with the APBA and no longer participate in the sport but still follow it and love it more than anything else that I have ever done, my point here is look at any particular class and see how many registered drivers you have in that particular class. Do you have enough real entries to run elimination heats even at the nationals ? I can remember at the Nationals we had to run 6 elimination heats in the 350 hydro alone as there were that many entries.....
I guess my point is when you get a Title Series race does it not make sense to try and fill the heats with participants for the spectators or just better to have 3 to 4 entries and lose part of that field during the race? The sponsors of these races expect to see competition in these races they sponsor or else the interest goes away. As far as the statement Pro Racers are the best, how many of the best have ever fell into a turn with Danny Kirts, Wayne Baldwin, Tommy Hooten, or Jim Stone ?Comment
-
US Title Series
I too remember when we ran 4 to 5 elemination heats in 500 hydro at the Nationals, but those days are in the past. Where can you go today to run against 4 or 5 past and present National champions every time you run with your club? This is the Title Series and this is why it is the premier Pro racing organization in the country. That is why I say, if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. Come and run a season with the US Title Series and see what I mean. And I have gone into the first turn with Dan Kirts, Wayne Baldwin, Gerry Waldman, etc, and if they were still racing today, like Dan Kirts, they would be running with the US Title Series.Comment
-
I totally agree it may be the so called premiere division but the sport needs promotion or it will become a handful of guys racing each other at the Title Series races . The bottom line is you need to pack the heats with as many boats as possible, so that the :HOT DOG EATERS; on the shore do not lose attention to what is going on. I knew I would catch alot of slack over my post, if I have offended anyone I am sorry but I attended several Title series races and there were only a handful of spectators, at Raleigh NC no one in the county even knew there was a race there and the sponsoring organization lost money on the race. At one time I myself organized several races in my area and we always had a turnout of spectators -news media etc....Sorry if I upset you Mr Hall , but probably the best turnout you have for a race is Depue and they always get the Nationals.. Just count up your members total and compare it to a number in previous years for a particular popular class, you will probably find the total to be surprising less.
Comment
-
Ralph, it is the sponsoring organization that does the promotion of the race. If Raleigh did not have very many spectators, it was due to the sponsors not getting the word out and possibly because the weather was bad the last couple of years there. Packing the heats with boats does not help if you are running 125, 250 and 350 boats all together to make a full field, this just spreads the boats all over the course and is not very exciting. There will always be the biggest turnout for the National Championships and I know that was true when you ran years ago. For the most part, the numbers of boats at Title Series races have stayed consistent. This is a hobby and sometimes a driver or two will not be able to make all the races due to personal commitments, but when they do come to our races they have the best competition to race against in the country.Comment
-
Freddy you need to see or ra ce at a USGS ra ce. Mr idea said to me at a race. You guys are faster and light. Years ahead of what we did and you should be getting paid for thiis and we have and will continue to..Numbers does not equal sucess
Pat. Sorry for this mess using cell its. Mr odeaComment
-
Dick ODea more or less guit in late 60s or early 70s before the advent of the newer Squareblock type Konigs and Yamatos of that era, would love to see Jerry Kirts with Elmer Grades 700 konig on that Green boat or Jack Gosman with his old coventional piclkle in a heat with the capsules today, that would be a sight but safety first which I totally agree with, but you will have to admit they were fast, just as Danny Kirts was with his laydown. And I have attended some USTS races as you well know.
Comment
Comment