You keep bringing up F-1 and F-2, but they both fizzled out,when Canopied boats were becoming more popular, the accident filled 2003 Daytona race, pretty much sealed the fate of both F-1 and F-2 with the speeds they were going.

As for rough water being the equalizer, this is true to a degree, but most organizations will call a storm course, when the seas are real big, which IMO is the right thing to do. There has been numerous threads regarding how much is too big. And Most will agree, bumpy is fun, for both crew and spectators, rough is not only hard on equipment but the body as well, and from a safety standpoint the officials always lean towards the better safe than sorry side..

As for GEICO running fast yes they have, and there have been a few OH $hits from their onboards. Add to the fact they will have real time competition, not sure if they will hang it out or be a little more conservative. we will have to wait and see.

Yes, momentary speeds are up.

Lap speeds haven't changed much.

Pete...1st I don't thing the accident in 2003 is what fizzled out the F class....it was the changing of the engine packages...that even came from the F1 racers...you can say canopys are what killed F1...but SVL will never see the numbers we had in F1....Were the speeds getting to fast...when I get into F1 they were running 83...when F1 fell a part they were running 83 in race conditions...kilos...87 or so....in F2 yes ....I think running 95+ in F2 is to fast...but like any sport...it is easy to slow boats down when they get to fast....one was the 525's.....
Again....when Mike A had APBA...the class with the most excitement got the most air time....and F1 and F2 got the most air time......not the conopys....even in 2003 F1 had the most air time and we only had 7 boats in the class....and today If F1 still had the 500 engine pack and its was still affordable like it used to be....you would still see 7+ boats in the class....boats became outdated against the 525's....and they no longer came out....

There is nothing wrong with going to a storm course...but racing in 4 to 6 footer was not uncommon....and it never effected racers to come out and race.....I just think it is a real test for our sport when the driver and throttlemen have to drive and throttle the whole race..not just put down the throttle and let off a little in the turns....

Gino whats the big difference between 500"s and 525's?

Its the difference between bravo's and 6's that changes the initial expense. But The 6's are still cheaper in the end.

They tried every form to get F-1 going in SBI, and as valiant a try as it was no one went!

Jim...the differace was the guys that had the 500carb and the 500 efi did not have the money to buy a 525 and the sportmaster....and they also had to try to sell there 500's....that was the reality...guys can say it was because it was not safe....but this came from the F1 racers...but the 525's had a advatage....I ran both and I will say yes the 500's could not compete...

Canopies may not have changed F-1, but it certainly did F-2. Just as boats with the #6's helped bring SV to a close as we know it. Again the Power to weight ratio, would be good for the US, uniting the rules with P-1 rules would be good for the future.

Pete...I know they tried to keep the F1's going...but I'm telling you what the F1 racers were saying back then....so If you think its becasue of SVL came along then so be it...I'm just telling you when the engine pack started to change to the 525 thats when a lot of F1 racers felt it was not fair....its just my opinion and what the F1 racers said....

and I'm not saying F2 was the same...it was safer to be in a canopy at 100 mph...
and the #6 package helped out....but in the begining the # 6 was a dog on the SV's...
the realibilty was better....but most teams went with the XR...or ITS...but the rules in SV are much differant...SV's were staggered....and you have munufactures cutting decks down to nothing....and can change anyting on a SV....were in F2 and F1 you bought the same boat of the showroom floor....you did not have to have deep pockets or a in with a manufacture to run....if you bought a F1 fountain it 2002 was the same as the 1999 you were racing against....thats why I said I thought and its just my opionon that the Hymoligation rule was a good thing....it did not make 4 year old boat outdated to race....

Pete...I think if the power to ratio is the way to go....I think OSS is a great place to start with the class....becasue OPA is bracket..and SBI/APBA is spec....so if its the best way to go then OSS should take a shot at it....but a lot of racers I talked to with some older boats said they ran the numbers on there boats....and they would not be compeditive at all agaist the newer SV's.....but again...if thats the the way to go...then someone should make it a class..and see if anyone shows....

Well...I'm off to N.J.

Aligning boat racing thru out the world, will certainly benefit the future of the sport, And this is good place to start. P-class has its place as well, but looking at what is raced throughout the world, it is more in tune with spec type racing. with classes broke down by HP rating vice speed brackets.