OPA Question ??????????
 

Where are the on- board GPS??????

If you are going to stay with a P-class format , you are going to need GPS on the boats.


Mike

I belive they run an average speed and all you need is a stop watch

Mike,
Offshore score is correct that OPA ran on average speeds. Being in the first year of the organization it was a growth curve that had to be done and for next year I have heard rumors that GPS' s will be introduced.

Actually, as per the 2003 rules, OPA rules have both max speed and average speed. Average lap speed must be 10 mph less than max speed.

I.e. in P4, max speed is 80 mph (we don't do that 79.9999 chicken**** at OPA). Average lap speed is 70 mph.

Them's are the rulez.

I am a rookie OPA member. I have asked veteran OPA members though. Nobody can remember a boat ever having been DQ'd for speed infractions at OPA.

Introducing GPS units has been discussed. At the last meeting I attended, Kurt said that the idea has been shot down because racers don't like it.

FYI, I have three GPS systems on board, fed by two independent GPS sensors. None of them ever agree. They are sometimes off by 5 mph. A 1-2 mph difference is routine.

Also, during set-up testing, many have learned to discount sudden spikes in GPS speed (digital readout.)

Say you are tweaking the dickens out of your boat to make it go faster than 83mph (because you are hell-bent to race in P3 .... sure ..) You are trimmed all out. 83, 83.5, 82.9, 83.5 ... suddenly: 84.5. Then 83.5, 82.9 etc. Discount the 84.5. It's erroneous.

P Classes wont work,to many sandbaggers out there,also if a guy wants to run a 24 skater he has to run P 2 against some much bigger and more POWERFUL poweroats ,how do you figure that is fair.also if I run my 100 MPH v bottom how can I compete against a 135 MPH 36 SKATER. i CANT WAIT TO HERE THESE RESPONSES.The Jersey Boys have done a good job in trying to revive the sport in the North East but they need to make some major changes to keep it somewhat on a level playing field.Ie A twin engine boat against a single engine boat with a 8 to 10 length difference especially in ocean conditions,in no way shape or form should they be in the same class.Lets get some good rules with some actual parity and it will do much better.I did not respond to get blasted but I am responding to what I have witnessed over the past sevaral races held by OPA. I also did not race in Maryland because of these very much so not even close to being acceptable classes.100 MPH 28 ft boat having to race against a 36 ft SKATER with 2000 hp. NOT FAIR,IS IT or a 140 MPH MOTION NOT FAIR is it NUFF SAID.

I like it there. We get beaten by Augie in his flying condo. And I still like it there.

Peconic, you just like the Italian heros after the race. Guy's, GPS's cost money......anyone want to DONATE??????We do have some GPS's, for the last race of the season no one wanted to put them in, ya know, screw it for the last race.........THEY WILL BE IN NEXT YEAR! We could still use donations as we don't have enough to go around and this is our first year getting off the ground.

This was the first year for OPA to be on their own. As I read all the APBA junk I feel that the guys did one heck of a job getting this up and running. There are some bumps to be worked out yet and as a group we will. Overall the season has been a GREAT one, now we need to build from here. Next season can only get better. Lets just keep our laundry clean and in our own house.

Joe

Joe

Your 100% right ,they need to build from here.I think Kurt did a very good job with the OPA this year.The GPS are a must for next year.


Mike

We should have GPS on board. It keeps it fair. However, I feel if a boat breaks speed, it should be penalized by time not DQ. Say for every 1 mph over, penalize 1 minute or something like that. I dont think we should add more classes. I think P-5 should be limited to 28 feet single/ twin or 30 feet single ie: 29 Warlocks or 30 Superboats (excluding F-1 boats) It would be nice to see P-4 Single / Twin Class, But I dont think that will happen. Then more boats would probably move up.

Otherwise...Kudos to OPA/ NJORA

Bruse

Those are some Great Things they should think about.

I still think the class should be A.B.C. D .E not P.



Mike

I think a meeting in the off season with all the teams, with follow ups before the season begins, would be a great help to the board to put it all together.
Joe

Great idea Joe!
Bruce has a couple of good ideas as well. I don't think we want to have things be as rigid as F class, but certainly if we could bring some parity to the classes it would be fairer.
I still think my idea of running a timed or radar kilo run the day before the race to determine the speed class would be a good idea. You would be allowed a max of 2mph over your bracket in that run.
The reason for that is in race conditions it would be very hard to achieve that last 2mph.
I also think that it would add a lot for the race fans to see the speed runs! The more to see, the better the crowds!

TomR
P5-15 "Sonic Boom Racing"

Folks: In a world of bickering, lawsuits, unpaid bills and dirty laundry, the Jersey Boyz are doing a stellar job. I am proud of having been adopted.

And if you race OPA often enough, you will win.

Peconic,
I gotta agree with ya on that ...Not only the adoptions, they made it happen for allot of us this year. This has been one supportive group. I feel this organization will grow more and more every season. Offering more opportunities to new teams just starting out.
Joe

Bruce, Augie: I think we should do a little more research before we let a GPS decide our races. A lot of people treat the GPS as gospel. You can't. Especially not behind the decimal point. There is the issue of sudden spikes, which are not related to your actual speed. These spikes register on a tattle-tale.

As a test. run 2 or three independent GPS units on your boat. Watch the readouts. You won't believe your eyes.

These units disagree more than racers after a race.

I have discussed this with Ed, and I have volunteered to help out on the issue.

There are units that plot a graph. Much better. I have them, Standard Horizon.

Also, I don't think cost is an issue. The CP150 by Standard Horizon costs $370 ... 2 days worth of gas for me. If you are halfway serious about setting up your boat, you want a GPS with a digital readout anyway.

Peconic & Joe,

I couldn't agree more!!
The OPA is the best Damnn boat racing association, with the best people anywhere!!!

!
 

Kurt has done a great job despite obstacles and complainers, we do have room for improvment but those who have been the most outspoken critics seem to be on the shoreline watching! Typhoons 26 single engine has beaten Augies 36 twin and I have lost to both of them!! And Im not *****in !! I do think GPS is a good idea , but I also agree in time penalty not DQ,Peconic is right ,GPS accuracy is certainely not 100% and a DQ for .1 over limit ( as apba ) puts us at the mercy of electronic inaccuracys , we have room for improvment and together as an organization we need to discuss and work to make it better, Our greatest asset is our members and management (ie Kurt Smitty Augie) who are not ego freaks and just want to race ! I havnt finished a single OPA race without a break down this year and I still pay my entry fees, show up and do my best , and dam I cant wait till next year !

Jim Capie
JESSE JAMES III P4_30

Jim: You got your trophy last time :) Congratulations!!!

Jersey Boyz Rule !!!

All problems are always worked out and that is why there is an off season, to tweak other things that arise.

Problems can be worked over the phone or at meetings.

We don't have dirty laundry ... we cause dirty laundry from others being jealous.

OPA does a great job and we will grow every year with the little tweaks.

Everyone needs room to grow from infants to major corporations.

Way to go Jersey BoyZ !!!!

David

and while im rambling on, OSO has really been an amazing tool for racers and all performance boaters, and it seems like OPA racers are on more than anybody! I wonder what it would take to get an appearance from that very cool OSO boat at an OPA race? pace boat perhaps?
just a thought,

thanks bert!, that dam plastic trophy cost me an engine! I should have dropped out but it wasnt in flames so I wasnt going to stop!!
and Dave its great to hear your positive attitude, remember I was at your table in MD and you are a good sport! Things dont always go they way we want but we will work to improve
I know you wanted to give that lady your flag!!
doesnt winter suck!

Jim

Hi Jim,

Did you get a chance to get into your motor yet??

I don't think GPS's are end all and be all, but I also know that a boat that is capable of running close to or over 80mph doesn't belong in P-5!!
I know it would take a little more time, but I think speed trials to establish classes would get things close enough!
Peconic, you are right that if you are a dedicated OPA member and race each time, your going to have your day!
The other thing in regards to bigger boats vs smaller boats is some of the races are run in calm water and some are in big water! The smaller boats have the advantage in calmer water!!

I think that if we all keep discussing these and other ideas we will be able to have some positive changes for next season.

We should have a club meeting in December and maybe a couple more in the beginning of the yrear to be able to have organized group "round table conversations".
Overall, Kurt, Augie, Eddie and everyone else involved in the organization did an outstanding job of bringing us to six fantastic events for the 2003 season!

so is a name change in order for team SONIC tom?
Well congrats to you guys either way! Great to see you guys in the winners circle!

Team SONIC BOOM
 

Congrats to a great bunch of guys!!
i will email the pic too!

Great picture Jim, Thankyou both!

We have decided to stick with "Sonic Boom Racing".
We had good luck all season, nothing broke on either boat and nobody got hurt!!

Jim,
It's an amazing thing how much plastic can cost. You guys did a great job. It's RACING.... Is it May yet????????
Sonic Boom just has that ring to it.
Joe

Sonic Boom might have something to do with the noises the come out of these guys and not the old boat type!

John, am I onto something!!!

It was great seeing you guys and having you guys come down to race with us all season!!

Congrats to all and finishing with a checkered flag is just a great way to end a season.

John , just think it has been 10+years since we saw each other and we are reattached for life.(Once you join you can never leave) Ask Augie.

Congrats and who would have thought we 'd both be racing boats together.

Anyway you guys all have great families and now are part of our big family!

See all of you guys soon!!!

David
Diamond Dave Racing
F2-13,P2-13,P3-13
:D :D

And the only dirty laundry we cause is soiled underwear ....

Dave: Great that Cig trailer worked out. Heard Ron paid dearly ....

Man, I gotta lose some weight before giving out trophies next year:D Having been involved in all the BS that came along with APBA racing for years I was pleasantly surprised at how well the OPA does things. Kurt and the guys are doing their level best to make this group the most racer friendly organization in the country. Everyone involved seems intent on furthering the organization's goals and having a good time. Over the off season hopefully some of the kinks can be worked out and make for an even better time next year. I know that we need to iron out a few bugs in Maryland but we will be working on it and keeping in touch with Kurt over the winter, so it can only get better from here:)


And Dave- I promise there will be no "trailer incident" next year-just don't listen to Ron:D ;)

Ted,
You and Ron P. are the best.
Had a great time!
Before i go next year i just want to know what class has the most boats and that's where i will run.
OPA & the Jersey Boyz are only going to get stronger over the winter.
Everyone better watch out...cause were not going anywhere but UP!!!

Dave

Ted...speaking of ironing out the bugs....

do you think you can do something about those pesky mesquitos????

had a great time...look forward to next year. great job to you and the rest of your crew.

regards

Dave... I guess that will be P-1 with the new Cat..huh???

Hopefully!

No new toys to both boats are sold!!

Then it is open to season to start buying again!

Dave

Next year we will avoid having a hurricane the week prior to the race and stirring up all the bugs :D

Dave, that Cig will need to lose a motor to run P5 :D

No problem i have a 2002 Activator 27 with a 500 HP that would run just fine in P-5.
Couple of guys might complain... but if no one did life wouldn't be fun.

;)