The problem with class votes is that there are very few teams that run the complete season. Some how a team that registers and races once all season and may never race again has the same voting power of a team that supports all the races and has spent a truck load of money. I don't have the answer that the teams that only race once want to hear. IMO If you want to be part of the voting then I believe you need to be at least at 1/2 the races the previous year. Show you have some skin in the game. This goes for any org IMO.
I like Janet's (Lucas) proposal !!!

Recent history proves your point ... we were really looking forward to an exciting and competitive 2013 based upon the merged 2012 Key West Extreme class (merged Unlimited V, P1 and P2 into the Extreme 117 GPS class reducing the number of classes and creating a 10+ boat class for 2013 ... even though we never wanted a speed limit we wanted to race against lots of boats). Therefore, it was extremely disappointing to spend a lot of money optimizing for these new 2013 rules to then race against just one other boat at the first two races (a different boat each race) and nobody at the third race. Besides not being able to afford changing engines for proposed new 2014 rules, why should we spend money when most teams race just Sarasota?
If the class votes on rules changes, and team racing Extreme in 2014 had one vote for each national race they competed in during 2013 the count would look like this:
6 votes Lucas Oil
4 votes Instigator
2 votes Two Cocks
1 vote Twisted Metal
1 vote Outerlimits
1 vote Airway Aerospace
------------------------------------------
2 votes Broadco
1 vote Watt Ahh
1 vote Cleveland

Thank you and I assume you mean the transition idea?
Janet

That is exactly what I mean and yes to the transition idea. Am I missing something or does that make more logic?

[QUOTE=TYPHOON;4031634]The problem with class votes is that there are very few teams that run the complete season. Some how a team that registers and races once all season and may never race again has the same voting power of a team that supports all the races and has spent a truck load of money. I don't have the answer that the teams that only race once want to hear. IMO If you want to be part of the voting then I believe you need to be at least at 1/2 the races the previous year. Show you have some skin in the game. This goes for any org IMO.
I like Janet's (Lucas) proposal
I bet there is a pile of teams ( like us ) that would love to run a full season. Some ( like us ) plan on 5 or 6. However, even that can be difficult with drive failures and what not. So we spend a truck load of money as you say to fix our stuff anyway and because we were not able to make it every race we don't matter? That's a bit lame. I realize I don't have a stake in this but you generalized so I felt like chiming in.

Not making any changes was our first choice (let's have a year without forcing changes) ... but if they must change rules, you and I are in agreement about having a transition plan because even if my team could afford it, we would hesitate to spend "a truck load of money" only to find out that once again we have nobody to race with.

Yes you matter !!!!!! Most teams would love to race every race but cant for different reasons. For those teams that do every race or most of them Im sure sacrifice lots of family functions, tons of money and days off work to be at the races. They chose those sacrifices and by doing so help keep race sites with boat count so that the guy that just races locally has a place to race. It may sound harsh to some but the guy that travels to all these sites is actually keeping the sport alive. Teams that Cherry pick sites to race at is hard on any org or race promoter. That doesn't mean you don't matter. You can only do what you can do. I get it.

I do understand your point of view as well.

Thanks Frank, my apologizes for flying off the handle with you but just like you i am passionate about this sport. I spent over 3 years building a boat for a class that is now is in jeopardy of disappearing. I spoke with John Carbonel and Billy Gluek in detail today about my concerns and why im not for the spec engines. i can see both sides of the fence but my stance remains the same. Give the teams that want to push the limits of horsepower and equipment a class to race in. Most of the lessons ive learned in this sport are from my check book but thats how we learn to keep them running. i dont feel like it should be up to a committee or organization telling me what is best for my boat. just more of my 2 cents... good luck to you as well and stay safe out there

Looks like new rules are official for Superboat Extreme. Not really everything we wanted but we will conform to the spec class with pleasure.
I just hope SBI sticks to its 8 classes and doesn't go backwards and makes a class for one or two boats that don't want to race against a non wallet class.
I guess its time to test gear ratios and props instead of just spending money on engines. Man it reminds me of my F2 days but a lot faster.
I'm proud of the balls SBI have to consolidate classes like they did with Superboat and Superboat Exteme!!!!!
If you haven't been spending money on race fuel and superchargers etc. please don't respond.

The new rules are on the SBI web site.....