Rules 2011

[sbracing]

Do you have other classes in OPA besides these?

pat W

SC,SCL,SVL,EXTREME

[shifter]

Why do you have those classes too?

pat W

[2TR]

Why do you have those classes too?

pat W

P-classes (or bracket racing)
Class 1 115mph
Class 3 95mph
Class 4 85mph
Class 5 75mph
Class 6 70mph

Spec Racing
Super V
Super V lite
Cat Lite
Cat 750
Cat Extreme
Cat Outboard

[sbracing]

Why do you have those classes too?

pat W

Gives everyone a place to race. We generally run 2 or 3 races on a Sunday
depending on the boat count. 1st and 2nd, P classes, 3rd fast boys (some spec, some p class). If the boat count is lower, 1st p classes, second fast boys (some Spec, some P class)

[Wazzup Racing]

Pat, Smitty here. How you been. And first of all how is Vern?
The Offshore rules are different amongst the groups. Reason being, you are where we were a few years ago. Not enough boats to make a race. So you invent classes to entertain the boats you do have. Look at P1 over seas.
Why did they use power to weight? When they began they had no boats. They were racing Yachts, against row boats. So Power to weight was their answer to our GPS. AS they began to grow and bring in new product, they should have switched to spec motors, and balanced out the field. Instead stayed with the power to weight which can never work. Too many engine variations allowed. Anyway, my point. After 7 years of consistant rules, our classes have filled, and finally new teams come in understanding the classes, and are building boats for a class. We are no longer building classes for the boats. So my advice if it means anything, what ever rules you come up with, must be good for a long period of time. Look towards your future, what boats do you think you will draw, write the rules and lock them down.

[shifter]

Hello Smitty!

I am still baffled why you guys are adding another 6 classes to an already sucessful format. It seems to be diluting the racing. I am looking into the future and Spec does not seem to fit. Look at the mess in SVLT.

We missed going to OB this year (engines are still on the dyno, we are working on a new intake....) It would have been fun to go on another road trip. Looks like you guys had fun there.

pat W

Lastly, I dont talk to Vern anymore.

[Sean Stinson]

Hey Pat

Good luck out there with the racing this year.....POPRA needs to make a comeback then the East-West Shootout could be revived again!!!!! It would be nice to see a set of rules that would roll over to each org so racers could race all of them if they so choose to do so!!!!!! If that happens remains to be seen!!!!!

Sean

[Sean Stinson]

Smitty congrats on another successful year of racing!!!!!!

[Mike A.]

I am a big fan of spec racing. The reason is simple: It is the best way to grow the sport.
There are more potential racers out there who want to be able to simply buy a ready made package than those who want to engage in the engine building game.

[Sean Stinson]

I am a big fan of spec racing. The reason is simple: It is the best way to grow the sport.
There are more potential racers out there who want to be able to simply buy a ready made package than those who want to engage in the engine building game.

This is a very valid point!!!!!

[shifter]

Not one of the west coast boats runs a factory package.

90% of opa is not spec either.

All the spec engine programs do is allow for cheating at it's finest. Light flywheels, special fuel, hot ecu's, hidden ballast tanks, extreme engine mods, fake seals, etc........forcing people to junk their 10 year old boats for the latest hull to keep up with the latest winner, yea that works.

What needs to happen is what works right now. Spec is dying. So let it blend back into the fleet. If you want to run a stock engine package great! Don't force out the people that are mechanically minded like WAZZAP engines....sorry Smitty.

Guidelines work, not spec.

pat W

[Sean Stinson]

Not one of the west coast boats runs a factory package.

90% of opa is not spec either.

All the spec engine programs do is allow for cheating at it's finest. Light flywheels, special fuel, hot ecu's, hidden ballast tanks, extreme engine mods, fake seals, etc........forcing people to junk their 10 year old boats for the latest hull to keep up with the latest winner, yea that works.

What needs to happen is what works right now. Spec is dying. So let it blend back into the fleet. If you want to run a stock engine package great! Don't force out the people that are mechanically minded like WAZZAP engines....sorry Smitty.

Guidelines work, not spec.

pat W

Teague runs a factory package Pat.....anyway spec class racing is here and I believe it will not go anywhere.....sometimes the latest hulls don't perform like they think they will....anyway I don't care what everyone wants to do when all the dust settles I will decide what I want to do!!!!!

[Mike A.]

Not one of the west coast boats runs a factory package.

90% of opa is not spec either.

All the spec engine programs do is allow for cheating at it's finest. Light flywheels, special fuel, hot ecu's, hidden ballast tanks, extreme engine mods, fake seals, etc........forcing people to junk their 10 year old boats for the latest hull to keep up with the latest winner, yea that works.

What needs to happen is what works right now. Spec is dying. So let it blend back into the fleet. If you want to run a stock engine package great! Don't force out the people that are mechanically minded like WAZZAP engines....sorry Smitty.

Guidelines work, not spec.

pat W

Pat,

Don't get me wrong. I think it is great that after all these years you are finally getting involved in a productive way. All I am saying is that if you all want to grow the sport in a meaningful way, you must have classes which are based on production engine packages i.e. Ilmor, Mercury, etc. It is easier for potential racers to get involved if all they have to do is stroke a check, race, put it back on the trailer, and then go race again. P class or bracket racing is a great entryway but the fact is that classes built on boats and engines of different shapes and sizes is intimidating for most potential racers. But, if you can make that work, great. Good luck.

[shifter]

Teague runs a factory package Pat.....anyway spec class racing is here and I believe it will not go anywhere.....sometimes the latest hulls don't perform like they think they will....anyway I don't care what everyone wants to do when all the dust settles I will decide what I want to do!!!!!

What he does only he knows. I know if it was me I would race what I build.

Having a spec class with a monopoly on the package spells disaster. That was proven in the past.

There seems to be two paths for parity. GPS and torque sensors to weight.

pat W