Wow...almost 12 boats race in Miami!

Definitely need the lid though 'eh Sean . . . .and bolted in seats :leaving::seeya:



The 28 is faster with the Bravo but yes you give up some handling, especially in ruff water. It can handle a Bravo much better than the 24 though. The DouProp also starts to be a drag as you get over 90. Actually running the DuoProp might be a good equalizer to bad they quit making the DPX, I did hear they introduced a new one though.

you gotta bolt EVERYTHING down... :ack2:
 
So back to my post that no one acknowleged.....

So what are ya'll going to do about all this instead of complaining and bashing? :)

The grandiose chest pounding and hand waving is entertaining but actions speak louder than words! :patriot:

There was just an announcment made in Clearwater Florida at 11:00 AM EST.

Offshore Racing will be broadcast on CBS on Sunday's starting in October. Maybe this will help some teams with securing New Sponsors for the 2009 season.

The Seminole Indians have been instrumental in putting this deal together. Stay tuned....


Julie
 
Last edited:
There was just an announcment made in Clearwater Florida at 11:00 AM EST.

Offshore Racing will be broadcast on CBS on Sunday's starting in October. Maybe this will help some teams with securing New Sponsors for the 2009 season. The Seminole Indians have actually put this deal together. Stay tuned....


Julie

Julie, Please start a new thread. This is big news.
 
There was just an announcment made in Clearwater Florida at 11:00 AM EST.

Offshore Racing will be broadcast on CBS on Sunday's starting in October. Maybe this will help some teams with securing New Sponsors for the 2009 season.

The Seminole Indians have been instrumental in putting this deal together. Stay tuned....


Julie

That's great news!!!

Good ole Native Americans! :)
 
There was just an announcment made in Clearwater Florida at 11:00 AM EST.

Offshore Racing will be broadcast on CBS on Sunday's starting in October. Maybe this will help some teams with securing New Sponsors for the 2009 season.

The Seminole Indians have been instrumental in putting this deal together. Stay tuned....


Julie

This is great news not lets see if the people involved calling the shots dont phuck it up AGAIN!!!!!
 
Rich,

I would like to here your opinion on Adrian Thompsons VSV and the safety cockpit which includes 1" bullet proof glass. They have had the 50' over 90 MPH. Cuts through the waves susposed to ride like a dream, what could this concept bring to real offshore racing? Have you ever explored advancing this design, I know it's only about 90 years old?
 
Here we are 30 years later. There has been great progress made over the last 30 years, but where are the boats that can still race in the ocean and not have to be rebuilt after the race?

They are overseas with Class 1 & Powerboat P1 along with OUTERLIMITS ....





Interesting read in this month's Performance Boats Magazine about the Miami Boat Show.

Public Relations 101 by Eric Colby:

"I didn't see any powers-that be from the organizations that sanction and produce offshore powerboat races in this country-no press conferences or any other kinds of events that would help people learn about what's going on in the sport in the states.


Excerpt:

"Instead, two overseas organizations, Class 1 and Powerboat P1 both held press conferences that were well attended by information starved editors who were at the show."

Excerpt:

"While I was in the Fountain booth watching the video footage of racing from 2008, I saw much more coverage from P1 than from Offshore Super Series or SBI, even though Fountain won championships in both organizations last year.


OSS has now teamed up with Performance Boats Magazine to provide their video coverage for broadcast on the PBM website and FOX .

At least that is a step in the right direction and of course adding the Powerboat P1 Rules to OSS. Question is, will there be any takers on the new rules ?
 
T2X excellent post...I needed a good laugh tonight! THANKS!

I like plain chips my self...no dip...classic Lays with a Coke and I am in heaven!
 
Rich,
You're on the money (again) on why our canopies in Unlimiteds are "almost" perfect. Almost because we have lost a driver in the 21 years in which canopies have been mandatory. George Stratton was killed at San Diego in 2000 in a freak blowover. He landed in shallow water and it appears the spar entered the front of the canopy and the resulting implosion of water snapped his neck. In those 21 years there have been over 125 blowovers in excess of 180 MPH with 4 more serious accidents, yet all drivers survived. One was Dave Vilwock in the Bud in TriCities in app. 97. In that accident the boat landed on it's canopy lid backwards at about 165 MPH and the rear of the cockpit collapsed and crushed Dave from the back. He was not breathing at the scene and revived by the dive team. The canopy shattered and severed part of his hand. Since then all of our cockpits have been redesigned to have a deflection shield on the back side. Another accident was about 93 in Kansas City when George Woods blew over the Tide at about 200MPH. The boat did a complete 360 degree landing right side up. However it landed flat and resulted in a compresson fracture in Georges back. As a result of that accident the seating has been redesigned to support the back in a different manner.
In app 86 Steve Reynolds blew over the Cellular One at Mdison at about 200MPH and the boat sheared a sponson. The air bottle departed which caused one set of problems. Since then, the air bottles have been placed inside the cockpit in a specific mounting technique that would prevent that from happening again. Further we learned that a neck can stretch pretty far and thus, clearance between the helmet and the canopy have been expanded to no less than 4 inches. The 4th. accident with serious injury was Mark Evans in the Llumar in Detroit in about 2001. He blew over at over at about 195 MPH entering the roostertail turn in front of the Detroit Yacht Club and did a 360 as well. The landing compressed his leg and caused a severe multiple break. As a result of that accident cockpits were redesigned with either "leg trays" or other structural changes to allow for leg support in the event of such a compression.
In our category (Unlimited Hydro) the safety rules will be changed immediately when a need is clearly expressed by accident results whether in our class or events elsewhere.
In 95 I blew over at Madison in the T-Plus at 203 MPH and did a 180. The boat was badly fractured but the cockpit and canopy were fine as was I. In 98 in Seattle I blew over the same boat in turn 3 at 184 MPH and again the boat was fractured but the cockpit and canopy stayed intact.
We've learned so much, yet sadly at the expense of others lives or injuries.
As for your opinion that the large offshore trubine cats will suffer significant injuries if they go over at above 180 MPH, I completely agree (and maybe much less than 180 MPH). It is only a matter of time before we read of tragedy in that class. it's just far too much surface area to take that impact without something giving. of course, that's only an opinion, and we won't know for certain until the accident happens. I think at that point, it will be too late to warn anyone......As I read various postings about how fantastic their rigs are, multiple cameras, numerous computer feedbacks, etc. I am reminded of the design team of the Titanic.....

Take care Rich, and Good luck to those who believe they are invincible

Steve
U-1
 
All of this probably annoys many of you....but facts are facts.


I believe I can speak for those who follow racing when I say that we eagerly await your posts on any aspect of the sport.
 
Here's a shot of JBS on their last lap. Coming out of the turn about 200 yds before the start/finish line. Easy to see what is getting ready to happen.

sbimiami419092579800.jpg


It was great offshore water- made for better pix. The set is here.
 
Steve, Thanks for weighing in. What I am curious of, would the base safety designs used in your Unlimited canopy/cockpits minimize the risks taken in the offshore races? As you have said, what your organization has learned is put to good use. Would those details help. I'll email you.
 
Back
Top