Just my opinion but if you're going to have an Extreme class then that's just it, make it extreme.

The boats should be extremely fast, who cares what power they have.....

Hydro's used to run piston power, then the turbines came in and they couldn't compete any longer.

If you think your chit is extreme and you're the fastest around then enter the extreme class. If you want to race for extreme bragging rights for piston power, then enter a piston power class. If you want bragging rights for turbine then run in a turbine class.

In my mind, extreme means extremely fast and I don't care what power it has in it! :)

Packaging is in the works with some very key people involved.

United We Race ! United We Will Have TV !

This past weekend in St Clair was more than a race.

It was a new beginning...

2008 will be great !!! :circle: :party-smiley-020:

Destin had the the live footage and it was excellent!! I'd watch the boats fly by the front of the course and then watch the TV to find out what was happening on the back side of the course.

Something set up on the beach with some huge projection screen TV's might help!!!!:eureka:

Thank you for the complements Dave. A year and a half of looking at the Bud Select Transom can be a little discouraging. While both boats were running "poker run" power this weekend they seem to be evenly matched with each having their advantage in different areas. I have a slightly different view of Extreme class racing. This is literally the biggest baddest dog in the house and to claim that title there needs to be competition...in class competition. This will foster growth in the respective development programs.If one s looking for perfect parity than there are a host of very competitive classes to choose from.

Taking checkered flags with little or no competition has no honor and deserves little recognition. I would happily take a fifth place behind all of the boats listed above than a flag by myself Scotty B included. If the t-55 "drag" boats want to threaten to come and race on a closed course, we would welcome the competition with open arms and it just may mean we have to up our game. As you and I are keenly aware Dave Extreme is not just a test of speed but of endurance with big power and management of that power into and out of the turns.

If you like the sound of big blocks root for the Bud boat. If you like turbines and the futuristic power root for GEICO. Don't run two boats by themselves with equal power. This recipie proved to be a great show just like the Chrysler Hydro (piston) running a gainst the Elam Hydro (turbine)

On this subject we will just have to agree to disagree. I still look to the entire Bud Race Team with admiration

I applaud Smitty for the iniatiave in putting us in the same class and by the looks of the poll it seems our fans and co-racers do too.

Best Regard's

Marc

Running turbine boats vs. piston boats is a tough one. Back in 2002 when Dave Callan, John Pompi and myself put turbines in the old Tencara (yes there were turbine boats on the courses before AMF) we really didn't know what we were starting with. I think we ran 165 at the first shootout we went to and got our butts kicked by Miss Budweiser. We came back the next year and ran 200+ mph. We learned how to set up the boat and tune the engines and i think our efforts showed the gains that you can make with turbine power just as Marc and Scotty and the Gieco Team have made remarkable gains in the last year.

The Bud Select and Geico boats are at opposite ends of their respective powerplants range. Dave Scott is pushing impressive power out of a piston engine but i think everyone will agree there probably won't be more appreciable gains in horsepower without a serious investment which the sport probably doesn't justify. The AMF team and John Arruda have already gone from 1,500 hp to 1,800 hp with a different model turbine. Change to another model and you have 3,000 hp; change again and you have nearly 4,000 (We still have a pair of these out of the old 55 in the trailer in case DS gets to frisky at LOTO). My point is that while the piston engines are limited the turbines are in a sense limitless. If the piston boats are put in the class with the turbines the pistons will eventually go away like they did in the hydroplanes.

I know that Dave Scott loves the power of his turbine powered MTI but seeing the grin on his face when Johnny fires up one of his blower motors is priceless. Whether you love the raw power of piston or the technlogy and speed of the turbines is your choice but i don't think they can coexist in the same class. I think a spec class with 50 ft. Mystics and Turbine Marine T53 packages is really the only way to go but that's just me :D

Happy racing.

John Cosker
Owner - Mystic Powerboats Inc.
Throttleman - "Miss Longlite" - LOTO Shootout Course Record Holder at 208 mph

who steers for you?

Do you think it can coexist until more competition came out to run against these boats?

I understand the concept keeping the 2 classes apart. But last weekend sure made things alot more exciting not knowing the outcome of the race before it even started....
Those 2 giants running head to head was the best and fastest offshore race I had ever witnessed.

Sure made my weekend....:D

The hauler or the boat ?

Oh wait...... That's one of the same....:D

Nice hanging with you Dave this weekend at the ramp.I thank you for your help[tools] and your crew helping me.You and JT are a class act.
JC

Probably gonna be your boy byrdman pretty soon:snide: