How a race series should be...
 

WPPA Xcat (class 3), how a series should be done.

The WPPA announced its 2009 schedule with a $1.5M US dollar prize fund. Pays down to 15th at all races and to 25th at some others. $150 crew fee and no entry/reg fees. 20-30 boats in a fast (100+ mph) semi-spec class, fastest boat/team wins.

Jan 16-17 Dubai, UAE
Jan 23 Abu Dhabi, UAE
Feb 13-14 Dubai, UAE
April 17 Abu Dhabi, UAE
April 27 Doha, Qatar
May 8-9 Dubai, UAE

Is class 3 the Super Stock O/B class?


Edit*
Found my answer with a quick Google search. Also found the web site if anyone is interested.
http://www.thewppa.com

yes it is.

here are the pdf's.

1
X Cat World Powerboat Racing Series
X Cat defines the most challenging and Xtreme Powerboat Racing in the world, the largest International
contingent in the Powerboat Racing world, the biggest challenge in the Powerboat world. The Worlds
largest fleet and the greatest number of International teams competing anywhere in the World. This
combined with the most spectacularly competitive race class in the World at some of the Worlds most
glamorous and modern venues provides an extravaganza of motor sport with a unique entertainment
experience. X Cat defines the adrenaline fuelled Xtreme sport of Power boat Racing.
• 30 plus race boats on the start line.
Many claims are made in racing with the talk of the Worlds Premier Class or Greatest Challenge. X Cat
stakes its claim at the pinnacle of Powerboat Racing and defines itself by its very nature as the No 1 in
the World.
Speeds approaching 120 mph on a track as rough as any off road motorsport. The seas are
unpredictable one moment smooth the next a wild ride over the wave tops. The roar of 60 to 70 V6
engines, state of the art advanced carbon technology and paint finish the envy of any custom car owner.
• 14 Nationalities from all corners of the World racing within its ranks, it is the only
International Offshore racing where great budgets do not easily convert to success.
Competitors have a wide customer choice when choosing an X Cat Race boat as there are many
manufacturers around the world, resulting in competition between the builders and excellent
innovative new boat technology.
X Cat Race boats are raced under different names in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and the
Southern hemisphere enabling it to bring together the best of the Worlds competitors, Champions and
Professionals from the different continents. The technical regulations make this the most fiercely
competitive powerboat racing anywhere in the world. The skill of the pilots is the difference between
winning and losing.
2
• Prize fund in the region of $1.5 Million Dollar(U.S.) prize fund
The Worlds largest prize fund in Powerboat Racing spread over the Series and at each race event down
to at least 15th place. In addition some venues offer prize fund down to 25th place.
• 3 confirmed venues have 1,200,000 UAE Dirham prize fund per race, 3 other venues offer
600,000 UAE Dirham equivalent per race.
The X Cat Series has been developed in the Middle East under the guidance and vision of Saeed Hareb
the Managing Director of the Dubai International Marine Club with the support of the various Middle
East states. What began as a local competition has grown to become the largest International entry list
in the Powerboat Racing world. Competitor interest from all corners of the globe from Scandinavia in
the North, the USA in the West and Australia in the South is driving future new World venue interest.
• X Cat has become the initiative to take this into the future.
In 2009 the Series moves again to the World stage with the largest International fleet in Powerboat
Racing, taking place at the Middle East’s major venues.
X Cat 2009 Race Event Dates and destinations:
DATES VENUE
16 – 17 January 2009 Dubai International Marine Club, Dubai, UAE
23 January 2009 Abu Dhabi International Marine Club Abu Dhabi, UAE
13 – 14 February 2009 Dubai International Marine Club, Dubai, UAE
17 April 2009 Abu Dhabi International Marine Club Abu Dhabi, UAE
27 April 2009 Qatar Marine Sport federation, Doha, Qatar
8-9 May 2009 Dubai International Marine Club, Dubai, UAE
3
X Cat also combines state of the art technology for the first time in Powerboat Racing, Virtual Reality,
with live time information first used at the final of the 2007 season in Dubai and proved a resounding
success. The benefits of Virtual Reality for the sport are phenomenal, providing live run time on the
internet. Information from the race course is limitless providing coverage never before seen.
The virtual system also provides for the next generation of Race Management and statistics never
before available. This provides unparalleled information to Race officials for implementation of
sporting rules and regulations on a fact basis.
• Every Race Boat fitted with transponder equipment from the WPPA enabling Virtual
feedback information.
The X Cat race series is the first offshore powerboat racing to be developed for International television.
The race circuits have been designed to incorporate tight corners, sweeping high speed curves,
chicanes and fast straights. X Cat has combined with one of the worlds premier TV producers to provide
the best programs in Powerboat Racing for World wide distribution across the globe benefiting from all
the latest programme specifications and graphics. Linking all the benefits of the virtual system’s
information, similar to that of the Worlds Premier Motor Sports. Each round of the X Cat series will
have a dedicated TV production along with possible live feed and broadcast. It is estimated that X Cat
will reach a potential World wide audience in excess of 800,000,000 viewers.
• All World wide Television distribution schedules available in advance.
Premier World Brand names have shown interest in the series and its lifestyle images.
For any further information, details or entry information please contact:
WPPA Secretary
Sid Bensalah
Tel: +9714 3995777
Fax: +9714 399 4181
Email: [email protected]
UK/Europe/AUS/US Contact:
Rory Power
WPPA Race Director
Tel: +447802 232242
Email: [email protected]
Middle East
Adel Abdul Al Fattah
Tel: +9714 3995777
Fax: +9714 399 4181
Email: [email protected]

I know this is great racing over there..... but a couple of things...

"WORLD SERIES"???????

-The entry fee is $150.00 per race......

-Registration is from $1,500.00 for you number to $750 for higher numbers and then $100.00 per year.

-Plus annual measurement certificates at $150.00 per year.

In the past the fuel was also free, I am not sure if they are still doing that.

I think it's still cheaper than SBI events plus they have a nice purse.

you know better than most that every org wants to be the "world".... the wppa should just call it the great middle east challenge or something, but whatever.

and basically the cost for the whole season is about what it is to race in KW only.

i was just pointing out that they seem to have their act together, they aren't adding new classes for anybody who wants one, they have serious prize money, very low entry fees, a huge boat count, major tv contract, virtual boat tracking/scoring live coverage... basically everything we talk about on here about what we want for a series.

hopefully the doha race will be joint with class 1 again, if it is i will try to go again, that was a great race to watch.

I hope to make one or two this year as well.

Im jealous of you guys that will get to go. Definitely neat stuff. :cool:

Please Understand , I was not rtying to take anything away from there series. I THINK IT IS GREAT!!!! I wish them the best.

I myself,with my boat, cannot afford to race there & would rather try to support & fix our racing here in the US than bolster the racing in the middle east.

I believe the shipping to Dubai to be around $15,000.00 for the boat. Flights are $1,000.00 plus......rooms are not cheap there...

You also need a secure storage area and tow vehicle.

The prize money is VERY inticing there as well...paid in CASH!!!!!

For myself it's just too much to think of racing there.....

I wish we could figure out what it would take to get all of the outboard boats back on one circuit here in the states.

Jan 16-17 Dubai, UAE
Jan 23 Abu Dhabi, UAE
Feb 13-14 Dubai, UAE
April 17 Abu Dhabi, UAE
April 27 Doha, Qatar
May 8-9 Dubai, UAE

That is our "off season" who is going over there to race against these guys?? Is Gary Blough going?? What does it cost to ship a boat ove there?? That would be a awesome experience!!!

Races are to close together,

I would love to see that to Ryan.

Julie

GB and PW are racing the series over there, the "OLD" Mapei boat is still GB's and stays there.

It's about $15,000.00 to ship a boat there....

They say they are expecting "30 boats". That is a great class, but not a great turnout. If a US organization paid $15k for 20th place, would all the current racers move to SSC? I certainly would if I could sell my SV.

You don't think 30 boats is a great turnout ????
I don't think it will be 15K for 20th place either.
I believe 1st place is going to be around 35K.

30 boats in 1 class, no speed limit=great event! One that all can understand, no question of who is racing who, no question of who broke out!

I think the biggest class killer for the SS class in the US is the

fear of the outboard.

It doesn't sound like a big block.

The epa threat.

Takes alot of skill to drive on the edge.

Other than that it is perfect.

What would you rather watch? 3 extreme boats race or 20 SS boats. Cost the same if not less.

Ryan,
No I don't think 30 boats is a great turnout. OPA and OSS both have bigger event turnouts than that with a fraction of the purse. It is however an outstanding turnout for a CLASS, as I wrote above. My point is if we (the US) had a $250,000 per race purse with only one class, I believe we would have more than 30 boats in a short time.

Skater and DW would need to add a couple more shifts.

I couldn't agree with you more. I wouldn't care if it was SVL or SSC, I would be in that class. Unfortunately, it appears we can only dream about it in the US. :mad:

So how many boats have to be in racing in one class to motivated you sale your boat or buy a new SS or SVL? Is it more about purse size, or boat count.

30 boats and $250,000 purse sure would do it!

In the real world at what point 15 boats $10,000 got to start somewhere.

No, I already have 8+ boats and a $5k purse. The rewards need to be big enough to presude people to sell there current boats at a significantly lower value and build new boats. The current SVL fleet is too old to recycle those boats and there is not enough canopy SSC boats available.

20 boats, and $25,000?

They build new boats

Just wondering at what point.
There are alot of people sitting on the fence.
Just where is the commitment point to stop the excuses.

I think people would have to take that very serious. Especially if there was a long term contract for the purse. A US class like that would we gain TV coverage and the sport would grow.

I know Gino is trying to create something now and I hope he succeeds.

The first race is this weekend. Best of luck to GB/PW go USA!!!

Biloxi is only like 80 days away, looks like we could possibly have 4 or 5 SS OB boats there, that would be a great way to get the US series back on track, there are still several boats out there for sale. OSS has opened this class up to ANY propeller and ANY stock motors.....

Hi Ryan hope all is well. Open to any stock motors ?

No Drag or F1 motors, 8200 max, Stock as produced from the Manufacture, Mercury 2.5, 300, 300X, 300xs, Verado. Evinrude, Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki....bring it.....

Good luck Gary and Paul....

sdfasf
 

it would be nice to see them lower the rpm limit. since none of the other motors can come close to the 2.5

and actually make it a stock class

30 boats in one class is awesome and in my opinion Class III is the best racing class out there. Over there you don't just get teams from one country, you get them from quite a few different ones. Just awesome.

The first Class III race of the season, is tomorrow!

Last I heard 26 boats .....not bad for the first race of the season.

Julie

Dave, in OSS we as a class make our own rules and this is what we have come up with for the year. This change aligns us with the rules in the Middle East, New Zealand, & Austraila. Some of the other motors do not turn the 8200 but make much more torque allowing them to run about the same propellers. We have made this concession to align our class with the rest of the world and try too get some new people out there should they want a different motor choice. We really shouldn't be penalized with the equipment we already have to allow another boat to race that probably won't show up anyway.

Thanks for the reply.

yea i know the racers make the rules, i was poking fun that the merc 2.5 is anything but stock. since you guys are all about the mercury truck why not get merc to give you guys 300xs motors and dump those high maintenence two strokers. go green!! could be the new motto