the X-dimension is a required height,and when you have to pull a boat to get it on plane to be able to run a kilo at your own factory,then other people figure somethings up....benny is a fast son of a pup,but even reggie got d'qued at that race runnin with his boy,for ventilating the step of an EFI boat!and lets not forget,bennys kilo boat got rolled back into the factory and the doors were closed and came back out a few hrs later and was able to get on plane by itself without drive spacers in place!you gotta love reggie,his boats would take the flag on the course,and loose it during inspections!

Al,

Thanks for all that great info. you've really shead some lite on things now,great positive in-put. So I guess the reason in ran 87-88 in my last kilo is the same reasons.
By the way the Kilo Benny set was in Sarasota,upps
HERE WE GO AGAIN...

Frank
Koolhand

hey, not *****in at cha, dont get your panties in a wad.....good job.....besides, you saved my butt in st. cloud two years ago..........I am definitly not *****in at you!

Trent,
At the last meeting which included Mercury Racing, we were told that Mercury Racing couldn't guarantee how long production of the HP500 would last, and didn't seem to want to use the HP500 for Factory class racing.
In fact, Mercury Racing wasn't too awful excited about doing anything with APBA Factory class racing that they were not already doing, which pretty much came down to the 525 or nothing.
I don't think we need to go into the Fountain fiasco again, but concerning Franks boat ...
If he can run an APBA legal 87mph, why doesn't he hold an APBA world kilo record?
If his boat is that fast, then I'm sure he won't have any problem finding a driver.

Thanks Gordo,

So from what you have seen you think Merc,and APBA are leaning toward the 525's for next year. Gordo I ran APBA two years ago and had a blast,really enjoy racing with some really great teams,and a great bounch of guys.My problem is the traveling with the APBA sites,I just cant take the kind of time off from my busssiness,witch really sucks but we have to make a living first. It will be interesting to see where APBA will go next year and the set up for the factory class. Who knows what next year will bring it would be great to race there again with all my old friends.

Frank
Koolhand

It looks like justabout nobody is leaning towards the HP525 anymore in F1. (Except for Mercury Racing.)

- Most of the racers think the HP525 is way too fast.
- APBA thinks that the whole F1 race is way too fast.
- Target power is something a tad less than the HP500
- Gordo gave a good characterization of what Merc said re HP500
- APBA would like to see Kilo runs no higher than 80
- As of this moment, reports of a 87mph run might seal the fate of the HP525 forever.

Disclosure statement: I own a HP525. Reports of its impending demise don't fill me with joy.

The Kilo run Frank did was with a 500 EFI

PS Awesome job Frank

Thanks Scott,

As always you are a gentlemen,thanks for the support.

Frank
Koolhand

Gordo,


Thank you for your insight, I was not obviously at that meeting and I am basing my information from the guys over at Merc in the Kissimmee/St Cloud/Lake X facilities. I guess they are misinformed also. They really are the the technical side so obviously they they deal with the marketing stuff. I apologize to you.


I can also attest that Frank wanted to run some APBA races this year, but the ones he wanted to run got either canceled on changed to another date, hence he was not able to take the time off of work(Bahamas, Labor Day Sarasota) He really does miss the teams on APBA and hopefully everything will be set in concrete next year and he will run the Fla races if not more.


And you are right, he shouldnt have a problem finding a driver, but drivers are a dime a dozen, good partners are hard to find.