Great Moments In V Bottom History
09-29-2001 | 01:30 PM
#192
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 713
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From: Niagara River & Eastern Lake Erie
T2x,
Nobody either remembers or knows about this day!
The day in 1981 when Steve Stepp and Gene Whipp in a 30' Velocity were the first to run 100 MPH, at Sarasota in a V-Bottom, pad bottom, notched transomed hull, designed and built by Steve.
That was on of THE biggest days in offhore racing, I would think!
Nobody either remembers or knows about this day!
The day in 1981 when Steve Stepp and Gene Whipp in a 30' Velocity were the first to run 100 MPH, at Sarasota in a V-Bottom, pad bottom, notched transomed hull, designed and built by Steve.
That was on of THE biggest days in offhore racing, I would think!
09-29-2001 | 01:42 PM
#193
Diamond Member #001
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,808
Likes: 5
From: Coastal North Carolina
I've held back on this thread to this point because it has been so fascinating, but there are a few areas I would like to touch on with T2x:
Safety: You are right in that performance boaters have been "flying under the radar" for some time now. Some of what goes on at "Poker Runs" astounds me. (The infamous TOPPS "Jell-O Shot Run", the NYC and the 1000 Islands in particular.) This past spring, with the help of this board's membership, we put together a list of the "Poker Run 10 Commandments" which are really nothing more than some common sense. These were adopted "officially" by the NJPPC, the CBPBA, and for a while were even "officially" listed on APBA's web site. Virtually NONE of the other 50+ Performance/Poker Run organizations that we sent these recommendations out to even bothered to respond. Some that did went out of their way to give us a hard time about them. What does THAT say about our community?
Hybrid V-hulls: I own one of the "real" Swedish-built Kevlar Mannerfelt B-28's (not one of the -ahem- "later" versions built in Kentucky). I'm sure you remember this design running in 1995(6?) as "Rain-X Express". This was my first high-performance boat, and having driven it with 385, 530, and now 600 hp, I have been VERY cautious in exploring it's limits. I have also been impressed with it ability to make me look far better than I am. (If you were at the NJPPC Radar ShootOut this year or last, you've seen my boat.) Ever tried one of these?
Sterndrive History: Still waiting for your history lesson on those....
Safety: You are right in that performance boaters have been "flying under the radar" for some time now. Some of what goes on at "Poker Runs" astounds me. (The infamous TOPPS "Jell-O Shot Run", the NYC and the 1000 Islands in particular.) This past spring, with the help of this board's membership, we put together a list of the "Poker Run 10 Commandments" which are really nothing more than some common sense. These were adopted "officially" by the NJPPC, the CBPBA, and for a while were even "officially" listed on APBA's web site. Virtually NONE of the other 50+ Performance/Poker Run organizations that we sent these recommendations out to even bothered to respond. Some that did went out of their way to give us a hard time about them. What does THAT say about our community?
Hybrid V-hulls: I own one of the "real" Swedish-built Kevlar Mannerfelt B-28's (not one of the -ahem- "later" versions built in Kentucky). I'm sure you remember this design running in 1995(6?) as "Rain-X Express". This was my first high-performance boat, and having driven it with 385, 530, and now 600 hp, I have been VERY cautious in exploring it's limits. I have also been impressed with it ability to make me look far better than I am. (If you were at the NJPPC Radar ShootOut this year or last, you've seen my boat.) Ever tried one of these?
Sterndrive History: Still waiting for your history lesson on those....
10-09-2001 | 01:30 PM
#195
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,299
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From: New York, NY - Manhattan BABY!
I just saw this updated string. I have found that very little handling advice gets dispensed in the public forum. But, I have been lucky to be around a number of good racers and to be allowed to pick their brains (Russ Houston of Planetman, Jim Dyke of Popeye and Jolly Motor, Steve David, Marcus Zavattaro and Dave Dall of Wild Child, Sean Stinson, Eric Treadwell and some others). They have all given me handling advice for safer boating at or near WOT.
I have taken their suggestions and then gotten in my boat and run for countless hours at or near WOT in Lake Erie, usually in less than ideal conditions because I have no luck but bad luck for weather. Anyway, I try to go out and put into practice what they have suggested. However, since I am not an expert and know I have alot more to learn, I tend to avoid offering an opinion on handling or safe boating in these forums.
Maybe some of the other guys will chime up with what they have learned, if not, I'll come back later and post what I've been told and am trying to put into practice.
[ 10-10-2001: Message edited by: Miller ]
I have taken their suggestions and then gotten in my boat and run for countless hours at or near WOT in Lake Erie, usually in less than ideal conditions because I have no luck but bad luck for weather. Anyway, I try to go out and put into practice what they have suggested. However, since I am not an expert and know I have alot more to learn, I tend to avoid offering an opinion on handling or safe boating in these forums.
Maybe some of the other guys will chime up with what they have learned, if not, I'll come back later and post what I've been told and am trying to put into practice.
[ 10-10-2001: Message edited by: Miller ]
10-10-2001 | 01:07 PM
#200
Guest
Posts: n/a
Excellent reading and entertainment. I've learned a lot here today spending the last hour reading all these posts. My opinion is still out on racers -vs- recreation drivers because there are way too many variables to simply lump it all together. Is a NASCAR driver better on the highway and does he have better instincts to avoid incidents etc.??? Ahhh who knows...
I DO think the a discussion on performing the boats, let's say broken down into various lengths and hull configurations in order to distinguish application would be really popular for the reasons NickSlick mentioned earlier. It gives the new boat owner or first time 30+ foot owner a little to go out and experiment with to become a safe driver.
Perhaps a discussion by EACH posted here on how they will do a certain thing in their OWN boats like throttling in 4 footers (a common wave height) for airtime or passenger comfort etc. Or perhaps turning a step-hull in a turn tighter than 1/4 mile radius and be comfortable doing it. There might be another similar type boat owner to throw the flag on your comments. This kind of format could not only be educational but just as entertaining as this post has been.
T2X, I'm impressed with your experiences and I bet you'd be a great guy to raft-up to for a long afternoon of stories and advice as well as the rest of the drivers here who are very well rounded....
Rick
www.HRPA.homestead.com/homepage.html
I DO think the a discussion on performing the boats, let's say broken down into various lengths and hull configurations in order to distinguish application would be really popular for the reasons NickSlick mentioned earlier. It gives the new boat owner or first time 30+ foot owner a little to go out and experiment with to become a safe driver.
Perhaps a discussion by EACH posted here on how they will do a certain thing in their OWN boats like throttling in 4 footers (a common wave height) for airtime or passenger comfort etc. Or perhaps turning a step-hull in a turn tighter than 1/4 mile radius and be comfortable doing it. There might be another similar type boat owner to throw the flag on your comments. This kind of format could not only be educational but just as entertaining as this post has been.
T2X, I'm impressed with your experiences and I bet you'd be a great guy to raft-up to for a long afternoon of stories and advice as well as the rest of the drivers here who are very well rounded....
Rick
www.HRPA.homestead.com/homepage.html
