thats the spirit

Mad dog,
I know your not P-5. I was just refering to your post as most guys are happy here with OPA! I know I am.
PS: Smitty I will commit to as many as possible but I am homeless building a new house and in a winter rental that goes to 6500.00 per week Memorial day so you understand my priority. I will be there as much as possible!

Thanks Randy. Our ears are open. We need to always keep in mind, that there is always room for improvement. The P classes are pretty easy to regulate, as long as the effort is there to enforce it. You are right, no matter what you have for race sites, or how much you have in a purse, If the racing isn't fair, you have nothing. We will use the prop calc and rpm. Everyone must have an MSD rev box. Mounted on top of the motor, with all wiring exposed. We will issue chips. If your boat proves not to perform at the calculated rpm, we will run it with you and make the nessesary adjustments. If you have a merc motor we can plug into it to check your RPM merc motors will not need an MSD box. If the effort is made by tech, the classes will be very close. There has been a number of calls in ref to F1. If someone wants to take the lead on that, we will extend the purse and run the class. Engine rule there has always been a topic of disscussion. I am all ears. Smitty

In my opinion in OPA F1 should run in P-class. With 3-5 different motor options and different drives options its not a spec class any more. I would rather run in P class against 10 other boats than 2-3 that would show in F-1. If it could ever get back to one motor then maybe it would have a shot. Why add another class and dilute the existing 5 classes? Spec racing is great but it also requires a lot of tec at the race and I don't feel OPA needs the extra work.

Another idea is speed run all the boats prior to the race at calm water events. We all have it backward.The racers should have to prove to the inspectors that there boat cant break out of the bracket. Most guys break out and wait for there team to get caught. If they don't get caught they win. Also at the end of the race speed run the first place boats in each class again. If there is a speed seen of more than 2 mph over there class then they are DQ. This would force everyone to run full throttle if they have a shot at winning. Yes it takes time and man power but would be one way of insuring no sandbagging.

You said you were all ears!
MD

David Jobes and I won a race in P5/APBA the first year, Pop and someone else took the boat out and ran 70.9 and we were DQ'ed. That boat wouldn't have a chance now in P5 with purpose built A class race boats with 600+ Hp running P5.

Okay,

I know this is an OPA post and I primarily race with SBI/APBA, but in an effort to ensure both organizations keep their rules somewhat the same, here's my two cents:

The more rules and restrictions you put on the P-classes, the more you create a spec class...I think Bruce eluded to that already.

Typhoon's post about running the boats in calm water has merit, although I'm not sure about the feasibility. I've had comments about my boat having 630 hp (now only 620 hp after rebuild) and how well that engine should get us around the course, but when I tell folks the boat weighs 6,200 pounds, then they think twice. But I do know there are P5 boats we've raced against that have a better horsepower to weight ratio than we do. Is that fair? Yes...it's P-class racing...not a spec class.

Nonetheless, anyone that whole heartedly objects to that idea of having their boat run to verify the speed, I have one comment: "stop sandbagging!"

Sean

Several of these ideas have merit but one must consider the limited time, personal and resources, In an ocean race where is the calm water to test flat out ?. It is not a perfect world, so some compromises must be made. I am sure if a team feels strongly that they are in the wrong class the opa would address the situation. The reason I wish to race with the OPA boys, is that seem to be having more fun then any other race body out there. After all this should be fun! Surely nobody races for the money, there aint none mw

I fully agree with Randy. I have suggested running a "qualifying run" with each boat in the past to just be told it is logistically impossible!
If you ran each boat with a qualified tech inspector on board to make sure it's WOT to a radar gun!! Come back from the run, take a peak under the hatch to make sure all is well, seal the hatch!!
I know that this will take time, but it will add to the excitement for both the racers and fans alike!
We could do something like an 8AM Saturday morning meeting mandatory for at least one member of each team. Speed trials from 9AM to Noon or so. All we end up doing on the Sat before is hang around anyway, more boating time!

Im listening,sounds like a good idea.

In Chattanooga this last year, Pop and crew put on speed runs on Friday and Saturday as part of the overall event. The closed course run on Saturday was on the race course.

Speed runs are doable, they'll take time, and most likely water conditions will change throughout the day...but if you make it part of the advertised event, maybe you'll get some folks out there to watch the qualifying speed run on Saturday because they can't make it to the race on Sunday.

Sean