Originally Posted by Skater30 (Post 4907177)

It's not "quickly becoming", more like "always has been" a "spend to win" deal Joe. These pics are from 20 years ago when Rod and his dad were promoting their 2,000+ HP engines at the time. The only difference between then and now is that even the outboard guys are throwing large amounts of money at the event with nitrous and other motor mods on brand new, warrantied $70k apiece motors - which are no longer under warranty after the mods. The days of a 28 Skater with a pair of $10k apiece two-strokes on the back are long gone. Funny thing is, Jim Melly's (RIP) 28 Skater was only 10-15mph slower than the fastest outboards of today that cost 10X as much!
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...eb990217c9.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...83a2c934f7.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...23c42f7af6.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...4948f448cd.jpg

Originally Posted by hogie roll (Post 4907256)

When has a popular speed contest ever not become this. This is always a funny argument to me. Yeah sometimes the event loses some appeal, but it is also inevitable. Still lots of cool normal boats running the event. Outboard Vees were pretty exciting this year.

I would love to no details on all of the setups. A nice 33 power play ran 90+. Sounded great

Originally Posted by hogie roll (Post 4907256)

When has a popular speed contest ever not become this. This is always a funny argument to me. Yeah sometimes the event loses some appeal, but it is also inevitable. Still lots of cool normal boats running the event. Outboard Vees were pretty exciting this year.

I would love to no details on all of the setups. A nice 33 power play ran 90+. Sounded great

Originally Posted by Brad Christy (Post 4907261)

Hogie,

This…..

I personally like the advancement that comes from “pay to play”. Who didn’t think Qatar was awesome? This is why there are classes. As long as they maintain the classes to allow those who can’t afford a pair of $100K engines to still participate, there will always be an appeal. We just have to accept that the higher classes are not “Everyman” classes. They never were, and they never will be.

Thanks. Brad.

Originally Posted by hogie roll (Post 4907262)

yeah, we’re talking about the top guns but I’d love to see chat on the rest of them too.

Originally Posted by Brad Christy (Post 4907264)

Hogie,

I think most of the classes offer space for people who can make up for a lack or resources with elbow grease, ingenuity and persistence. I always liked being able to compete with guys that had way more money than me to throw into their model boats, simply because I could MAKE what I needed, rather than having to buy it or have it made. Obviously, us normal people will never be able to play with the top guns, and we will just have to accept that. But we can still compete with our peers.

Thanks. Brad.

Originally Posted by Wildman_grafix (Post 4907268)

For sure, this was last year. Go to 6:20:07 its my buddy in his 29 Fountain we like to call "Mini Poker Run". He built everything himself except the motor. Was a sunk twin 29 he made into a cut down single 29.

https://www.youtube.com/live/0P_TDbW...V5KuxC-X0krYHF

Originally Posted by hogie roll (Post 4907269)

Ive seen that boat and I love it. Would love to do the same to a 42.

Who did the glass work? Is there a deck mold?

Originally Posted by Wildman_grafix (Post 4907268)

For sure, this was last year. Go to 6:20:07 its my buddy in his 29 Fountain we like to call "Mini Poker Run". He built everything himself except the motor. Was a sunk twin 29 he made into a cut down single 29.

https://www.youtube.com/live/0P_TDbW...V5KuxC-X0krYHF