The Facts
 

The Facts

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Smitty,

Thank you for our telephone conversation today, July 22, regarding your issues with OSS. I am glad that after presenting the facts to you regarding the certification history of the subject Mercury 525 engines that we both understand how you are caught in a bad situation. As this forum is your regular communication media I would ask you to enlighten your readers to the facts around this issue, just as we discussed, that do not cast doubt on Fountain Powerboats. I hope to see you at our race on August 6th. You and Anthony have done a great job and we thank you for racing our boat.

David Knight

Re: The Facts
 

David, you are a true gentleman and a class act who has shown great restraint on this forum in light of all the accusations that were made.
Thank you for always taking the time to talk to us at the races even though we are not racing one of your boats. Rodney and I consider you a true friend who cares deeply about our sport.
See you in North Carolina.
Best Regards,
Great Adventure Racing Team

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David Knight,

Could you enlighten the OSO membership to your facts around this issue. ???

We know the Wazzup side of it.

What are your details of what happened ? :confused:

Thank you for taking the time to respond......

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I see the piranha feeding frenzy has taken a break. David Knight appears to have given an explanation that led Smitty to delete the thread that many of you posted recklessly in.

As always, there are two sides to every story. I don't feel that we are in a position to demand answers from anyone. If Smitty wants to shed some light on the additional facts, that's fine.

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Phantom 1

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Long story short. I bought an SBI legal Boat. The issue here is when innovation rebuilt the motors they surfaced the heads. When merc rebuilds the motors they throw the heads away and install new ones. No surfacing allowed. The horse power difference was on an average through the dyno pull 10 HP. Please let this go, I have. Off to P class racing. Smitty

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See.........like I said. You guys shouldn't be pointing fingers until all the facts are known. Good luck Smitty, go P class racing where you can have some fun.

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Well,
Here again I forced myself to read the Rule Book of SBI.

Interesting stuff:

1.13.5

No Modifications or Changes of any type be made to an engine or any components there on... (you can read the rest on the SBI site) etc. UNLESS PERFORMED BY AN SBIP/APBA OFFSHORE APPROVED SOURCE OR APPROVED IN WRITING BY SBIP/APBA


It appears mods are allowed as long as it is done by an approved source ?
Am I reading that right? :confused:

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You know what Sharkey, I feel a little like a ping pong ball. I am worn out. I am gonna get my motors back from Mercury, Bolt a set of Whipples on them. Put a set of Wazzup Racing Engine seals on them, and kick anyones A@@ that gets in my way. The hell with them all. I am a Jersey Boy true and true. I wanna race with my Boyz. Till the drives fall off. Smitty Over and OUT

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Ok ....... :(

I tried ....... :p

Go back to having Fun ! :drink:

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Your telling me you werent having fun racing in SV. :(
I hope once everyone cools off that you change your mind.

Re: The Facts
 

Here is what we have learned so far:

Smitty’s engines have been rebuilt and “decked” (As understand it, this means the heads and/or engine block have been machined down to compensate for warping or other irregularities). By removing this material, there was a resulting increase in compression ratio. Innovation discovered this when the engines where sent to them for sealing. Innovation was instructed to grind-out material from the combustion chambers to compensate for the increased compression ratio.

My questions are:
Aside from these questions, it occurs to me that it is quite possible that although there have been have modifications to Smitty’s engines, and Innovation tested and sealed the engines, it is quite possible that these changes did not give him a competitive advantage. So, who would benefit from his disqualification? The obvious answer is Mercury and OSS for the following reasons:
As for Innovation, my experience has been that they have always been fair and up front with every racer they have come in contact with. I am disheartened to see negative posts by other racers who only a few days ago where singing praises about Innovation. Where are your loyalties and of honor?

I believe that although Smitty’s engines had been worked before they arrived at Innovation, every effort was taken by Dave Stiff and his fine crew to assure they fell into the performance parameters of the Mercury 525. I also believe that this is nothing more than a smear campaign instigated by Mercury and condoned by OSS to further the respective agendas of each.

As for David Knight and Fountain, it is the general perception that Fountain has been, if not cheating, at the very least working in the gray areas of the rules for a long time. Fountain has an image problem, and as a publicly traded company, its time for some damage control. How should they do this? Endorse every suggested rule change that they have fought for the past three years. They should support the idea of publicly posting of the dyno sheets of every sealed racing motor so everyone can see who has how much power and torque. Support the “Race ECM” program where each team puts a new ECM on the trailer and draws their ECM from the pool before each race. Support the one ratio drive rule for SSM6 drives. Support…and initiate every idea that would remove the perception that Fountain is cheating.

Fountain builds one heck of a boat and has the best factory racing support program in the sport. They also field 80% of the V-bottom boats competing in Offshore. Numbers alone give them the advantage to be on the podium every race.

Sorry Smitty, it looks to me that you just got caught in the middle of a classic political and corporate mud slinging campaign. Its not personal…its Offshore racing.

Ken Doyle

Re: The Facts
 

Before anyone starts bashing Ken, I ask that you search his past posts. His few posts have always been well thought out, to the point, and without falling into the trap of name-calling and pettiness.

Read his post with an open mind again please.

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Ken, as always a very balanced and level headed view.

I'm told that Merc doesn't deck the heads, they always install new ones during a rebuild of a race motor. There in lies the main difference.

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Ken, the only thing in my mind that I am sure of right now is, Yes we had a 10 hp advantage in power. According to merc dyno sheets. Was that responsible for our domination in OSS? No. The 38 Fountain is an unbelievable boat. They say it is not a rough water boat? Non sense. My son ran that boat too the edge and beyond. Best boat I have ever been in. Were we illegal? Yes by OSS standards. Did the crime deserve the penalty? To be determined. A lot of things have come to light in the past two days. I will go to Mercury to survey my motors, and make a determination at that point. In any case. We are done. Going back to have some fun with the Boyz. Smitty

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I dont get it all these people that offered a lending hand to get that boat back racing. Is there something else going on here or what? I think it is a bad decision to take such a good race team and just quit. I hope you rethink your decision.

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Sorry To Lose You Smitty. You Guys Are Like Family. Im Gonna Miss Boomer At The Races, Always Supporting Me And Dad At Every Race. You Guy, Hopefully Will Be Back Soon. Dont Give Up The Fight Bro

Re: The Facts
 

OLDRACEFAN
let me explain alittle to u

in the last 3 years i built not only a best friend relationship with anthony but like a 2nd father relationship with smitty.

i was at the shop yesterday for 4 hours when all the phone calls were going on- i never seen smitty this upset and out of it- and anthony is in chicago at the poker run and is just done and fed up with the sport.

they spent tons of hours-- tons of money-- time away from there families and tons of stress.

the way it was explained to me by anthony was its like work at an oss race not to much relaxin but a hell of a time after the races- testing all day saturday sleeping saturday night and trying to pick the right set up for sunday.

there not giving up as a team but there taking a break- they spent tons of money on buying the boat- got use to it last year---- and this winter they busted there asses working on the boat and made it a hell of alot faster than last year-- cause of the way anthony set up the boat

They are out of the national points chace and all there money they won that was going to pay off all the bills they put into the boat they have to give it back.

the boat is f$cking fast and they know how to set it up and they dont sandbag they run the **** out of it at all times----- yes they had people putting the money up to get them rebuilt even though smitty probally wouldnt take it-

they arent getting the money from the races they won they spent tons in travelling and they are out of the points race-- so yy rush back in...

Let them woop up on old PURPLE in st clair

they won the first three got teched the **** out of for about 4 hours after each race caused about 15 grand of damage to the boat in canada and still got teched for hours after finishing 3rd place------- Not finding nothing everything was fine. smitty then haven to spend 2500 on sending the motors over night to mercury and thinking they were spec and than all this happeneing

Let it be-- Let him and anthony relax get back in the old boat in st clair whoop it up alittle have alittle fun relax for the weekend run opa and go from there

They will be back out one day to show everyone what they got BUT FOR NOW LETS JUST LET THEM RELAX

LOVE U GUYS
DUKES

Re: The Facts
 

Chris you could not of put it any better :drink:

I'm glad there still coming to St Clair. Who cares what boat it is. Racing is supposed to be fun right? :D

It will all pan out in time, one door closes another always opens.

Re: The Facts
 

Chris,

That is part of the point that I have been trying to make. An OSS Inspector told Smitty to go fuk himself at a recent race, and Smitty posted here that "that has never happened to him before and it will never happen again." Smitty and Anthony have had a target on their back all year and were forced to endure, what sounds like to me, excessive inspection demands. My personal opinion is that the inspectors were not going to stop until they found something, whether small or big.

Please read Ken Doyle's post above again.

Re: The Facts
 

Ken's observations appear to be make a lot of sense. The only part that I find unclear is that Brunswick is still a major stockholder in Fountain Powerboats aren't they? Apparently this approach benefits Mercury at the expense of Fountain Powerboats and in the long run works best for Brunswick?

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How about this as a thread! Stories of how one boat is scrutinezed at an inspection excessively and another just slaps new numbers on their boat and your racing a boat out of your league. Probably be the longest thread in the history of OSO. I guess there is nothing that will change that scenario, whenever you have an authority figure involved in a situation there nature and personality comes to play, like one cop gives you a warning about speeding and another gives you 20 tickets after seeing your seatbelt unhooked. In a way this will definatly make the OPA even stronger, Smitty and everyone at the OPA has been doing an unbelievable job in making our races great, the gps systems we are adding will help to squelch any squawking, key word being help lol. Like Smitty said " P classes are more fun" though maybe its time for the OPA to add some new classes? ST Clair is this weekend woo hoo!
Be Well,
Louie

Re: The Facts
 

I believe It's Mother Mercury that has the part ownership in Fountain Powerboats, not Mercury Racing Division. It may not be to Mercury Racings best interest to see Fountains win but it probably is to Marcury's stockholders. I believe Mecury Racing div. is beholding to whatever Mother Mercury wants. Therein is the difference.

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Brunswick basically guaranteed an $18,000,000 loan for Reggie in 1993, in exchange for a contract to buy engines exclusively from Brunswick for a number of years. Here is the link to all of the legal mumbo jumbo.

Brunswick Fountain Agreement Link

Re: The Facts
 

like sands threw the hour glass...so are the days of our lives

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thanks chris you made it verry clear. some people jest woun't to stir **** . i hope to make the opa races some time i know it a hell of a party . and thats what it supposed to be . to wazzup come on back to nc we would love to have the jersey boys back here you guys are the best .can't wait to see you all agin . robbie rogers .

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WHO WAS THE INSPECTOR?

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Ask Smitty I'm sure he'll be happy to tell you the story, and lets not forget how his wife was treated....

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I think Smitty had a few heated words with a Race official, not an inspector, in the hot pits. If Im not mistaken, It stemmed from his wife being asked to leave the hot pits because she did not have the proper credentials. Having proper credentials in the hotpits is enforced because of insurance reasons. Usually, a wristband is issued if you have signed the required waivers, and from what I have been told, She did not have them.

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You are correct, it was a race official.

See Post 18 of this Thread

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Im confused again. IS IT LEGAL TO RUN REBUILT MODIFIED Merc 525 MOTORS WITH AN EXTRA 10 HP AND MORE TORQUE IN SBI?
MD

Re: The Facts
 

Howdy Fellas....

Some things should be said in public. This is one of them, but of well...

Smitty, sorry for your luck. While I'm not a fan of yours, I do admire what you and Anthony have done. For you to walk away without any pro-class redemption would be a trajedy. Not to mention a blow to your reputation; and more importanly, Anthony's. Frankly, the piss on it, "I'll put Whipples and race P-class" is a bad example of what to do in this situation in my book.

With that said, I'll pledge the first $500 towards legal OSS motors for you and will help raise more money from your OSS, OPA, and OSO brothers so you can get the monkey off your back and make this thing right.

At the end of the day, you're only human and you wear your heart on your sleeve (or whatever the saying is). But you need to ditch the "I'm a victim" pitch and go out and make things right for you and your son.

Let me know where to send the money.

Mark Mathews

Re: The Facts
 

If there is no advantage to modifying the motors why would the VP of fountain put used motors in his own factory boat?

Frank first you blame the OSS inspectors for not catching the cheater motors. Then Phantom criticizes them for over inspecting the boat and the bottom line is after hours of time inspecting the boat the only thing left to tec requires the motors to be torn down past the seals and bingo there not legal OSS motors. Like it or not that's why we should only have one manufacture sealing motors.
And Dave Knight, To try and tell the rest of us here that you didn't know they were not legal motors in OSS is about as lame as I would expect! The VP of fountain that has raced for years didn't know that modifications were not legal in OSS. Even if you thought that Smitty was only going to race in SBI then you should have told him that what legal in SBI is not legal in OSS. Man up Fountain and buy the 2 new motors you owe Smitty and also pay the prize money that should be returned and another $20,000 for set up time. :mad: :mad:

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I'm confused is legal to run cut down props, and cut down drives in OSS.

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Those would both be illegal if out of spec.
MD

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After reading this thread, I have come to realize is the only "Fact" is that BJ is going to give it to you in St. Clair :evilb: :evilb: :drink: :drink:

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Dave Knight never said he knew what was done at the time of his rebuild nor did he care...All he said is that the motors where sealed and legal to race SBI/APBA .... Believe me he doesn't have a clue what the OSS rules are nor does he care. No more then you knew what the SBI/APBA rules were a few days ago before this.
It is still a question in alot of people minds if anything was even done to the motors??? So lets not assume that we believe they are not to specs.

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Please tell me that last statement isnt true that he doesnt know the OSS rules and that he didnt know of the modifications. So what your saying is that Fountain doesnt give a crap about the fountains that run OSS only SBI.

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better then the viper :eek: ....i'm sure you love that viper more

mike

Re: The Facts
 

The "obvious" observation that the OSS needs to disqualify someone to put money in the coffers is "somewhat" flawed for two reasons. Number 1. The returned prize money goes to the racers who were next in line.(who happen to be Fountain's) Number 2. As the Treasurer I met with our accountant this past Thursday to reconciliate our accounts and unless we ("Hannis Bougeois" and myself) have made some drastic error we have a six figure balance at present. We are currently working on a formula to enable us to assist with some tow money for our owners.

To insinuate that the OSS is in some sort of alignment with Mercury to undermine Innovation or another organization is at best "idiotic". The racers and officials of OSS are ethical players who race and run the organization on the up and up.
My name is Stan Ware and my telephone # is 225 317 3367 or office 1 800 256 3662. 18465 Old Perkins road in Prairieville La.. I will not post negative post without knowing facts that will stand up in court. If you can"t do the same then you might want to consider that W?C. Fields observation, "never miss a chance to keep your mouth shut"!!