Offshoreonly.com - Szolack withdrawing from Shootout Action

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Quote:

Originally Posted by thirdchildhood (Post 4492610)

Darr has the answer ��:

"Jim David Darr · Chief Executive Officer at Gateway pool and spa
. Im working on a blow over system that will virtually eliminate them "

Yup, a 7hp outboard motor on a 12 aluminum boat. LOL.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SB (Post 4492615)

Yup, a 7hp outboard motor on a 12 aluminum boat. LOL.

....and a fat, sweaty Betty in the bow for added security. (And shade/warmth, depending on season).

Good for you Ron! I was worried about you at shoot out. I'm glad you couldn't get the motor running right the last time :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by thirdchildhood (Post 4492610)

Darr has the answer ��:

"Jim David Darr · Chief Executive Officer at Gateway pool and spa
Agree. Enough is enough. With Ron. Win. Kenny. And the Parveys either hanging it up or on the edge I think its time to stop the high speed runs. Im working on a blow over system that will virtually eliminate them but stopping the events is the answer"

I wonder how well that will hold up on his cardboard bussel..... :lolhit:

Quote:

Originally Posted by FREEDOM US1 (Post 4492657)

Good for you Ron! I was worried about you at shoot out. I'm glad you couldn't get the motor running right the last time :)

I felt the same way about Summer in Dail 911. I had a terrible feeling about it. I was so glad they loaded up and couldn't lay one down.

I hope they come to the same conclusion as Ron.

As an avid fan of offshore racing and especially the LOTO Shootout since its beginning I have to say I don't care how fast they go. I just love watching and listening to the boats run. They are works of art to me. I have always admired the guys and gals who put their asses on the line to put on the show at the Shootout or in offshore racing. Three of my favorites are Dial 911, Garth and Jim in their Skater and Flight Club. When I saw a video of Garth and Jims's pass at Lake Havasu I was an instant fan. It was a thing of beauty. I couldn't wait to see them at LOTO. Their performance at LOTO was amazing. I cannot tell you what a thrill it is for a guy with a 23 ft Wellcraft, to see and hear these boats, and meet the people that drive them in person. I really don't care if they squeeze every last mph out of them. The number is not why we go to the shootout. Its the people and the machines. After the tragic accident that week by a very skilled driver coming back from dinner, I think there was a lot of apprehension from spectators and participants alike. I will gladly watch Summer Richardson run 153 safely knowing that boat can and has run 191. I watched a video of Chip Romer running Dial 911 up to 191mph and its hairy. I love Flight Club and we were bummed you didn't get to make a few more passes on Sunday but in all honesty I was more thrilled just to see and hear the boat up close and in person. Mr Szolack I admire and respect your decision. We love seeing you guys go crazy fast but I don't ever want anyone to die doing it.

And please don't stop the events, just be as safe as you can be. For clarification, I mean please don't stop having the events. They are one of the most amazing things in motorsports. As I said, I totally respect any ones decision to participate or not participate especially when you are literally putting your life on the line.

A Hans device and a airbag deployed style wing is what is needed in this sport ASAP. An Airbag is instant and could lower the craft back into a neutral position asap, and also be relatively cheap as most are already mass produced.

Throttle chop will drop the nose on most every boat some harder than others . If a boat is flying already it will do nothing obviously. On most boats the prop is just behind a fixxed surface. Granted the prop spinning will create lift. In most aplications a boat weight at the transome and will be enough to hold the back down for the most part.

The really definative " never let up " comes from 3 point hydros and boats with a prop not directly behind a fixed surface. That is why unlimited Hydros have to have a canard now adays because the back is supported by the prop only when the power is on. And if you cut the throttle it drops the back about a foot and becomes a brake drag pulling the back down forcing the front up. All hydro guys swear you can never let up at speed for that reason.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Double Rigged (Post 4492420)

As a cat owner and reading this thread there is a lot of talk and maybe a few good ideas being thrown around. Jim Melling was a great guy that i have had many conversations with and i will sorely miss him. I pray for both his and Garth's family in these tough times.
Regarding this thread I think most of you guys are missing a big point. We have a boat that was designed in 96 with the intentions of being run in the speed range of 120mph or so. As time progressed more hp was added and the speeds went up. I agree the lift in the tunnel originally designed for 120mph was far to high for the speeds that was achieved and it took a small change in somrhing that set things in motion. Jim and Garth new the risks and I am sure they took whatever precautions they could afford. This boat was not run on a unlimited budget.
The first thing we all can do is ask ourselves are we really doing the right thing by pushing old technology beyond it limits. I bet if you guys ask Randy Scism or Pete they will tell you a boat designed to go 200mph would have a.different tunnel configuration along with other considerations as well. Maybe these boats have reached their limit with the power available today. There is a reason JT was absent from the last 2 shootouts. I whole heartedly agree with Ron and his decision. I believe that alone will do more our sport in the near future than anything else. IMO regardless of technology and whatever failsafes computers can provide it cannot replace the human element.
We all need to be smart about how we go about the sport we love and make good decisions. This involves more than designing a wing. Many others have died this year in pleasure boats out for a fun day on the water. May Jim and Garth RIP!

The Skaters were never CAD/CAM engineered or wind tunnel developed. They were guess-work design at best, and they made "changes" based on best-guess analysis after testing or an accident. If one of them stuffed, add more recovery to the front entry. If it barrel-rolled, widen the tunnel. And etc. So, what makes the 1996 model limited to a certain top speed versus a 2006 model? It was simple, too much bow rise, add a little wedge in the back to hold the nose down, or change props, or raise drives. It was all common sense testing, find errors, figure it out. Fix it. I'm NOT disrespecting Skaters contribution to the industry, I just don't think people are aware at how little technology is involved in these boats.