Eddie good question. I don't know but I think a 496 with a XR drive is pretty much bullet proof. The question is if the manufacture can build a boat that is up to the beating of F1 class racing? Which brings us back to FACTORY boats. We are down to 8-15 serious F1 teams and I am afraid we have scared away alot of the manufactures in our class. Lets face it, if your not winning or close to winning you can do more damage to your co. than good.
I am one of the teams that has made the investment in technology but in the spirit of the sport I would be willing to change to the 496 next year. We just need a 1 year warning. Factory racing needs a boost and maybe a less expensive motor package might be the answer.
MD

how much time will it take to decide this?? Joey's donzi ( f2-21)runs about 15 secs faster than, the donzi's with the 500hp? and that was on smooth water.

Thanks Steve for you input, I know you guys do work hard for the competitiveness of our sport and spend a lot of time and effort on F1. This year has presented alot of variables, 500,500efi,525,vortects and different drive combinations I see how this has caused a nightmare creating polarity, if their is anyway we as racers can help let us know.

Eddie Simmons

PLEASE don't use that as an example IT IS A VERY POOR one!....there are still 500 efi boats beating 525 boats! we have spent countless hours working on the set up of that boat....and now you want to compare it to a boat where two rookies get in it with NO dial in time and VERY little seat time spin it out in the first race and flip in the second race...

when we started testing with the added 600 lbs and the new drives our accelerations times were low!...cornering speed was a down right JOKE!...when we completed our work...our acceleration times were cut in HALF...our cornering speed was up 15 mph at a minimum...
have a look at this clip....were slower than a few boats on the straight going into the first pin! one of the with 500's!!...and on the restart as well, it also had 500's....

http://myriadfx.com/audacityracing/daytona_v1.mpg

so if you think just buying 525's is the answer to getting back "15 seconds".....have at it and we'll just let the results speak for themselves...

well if you win all the races this year, what then, it is not a poor way of looking at it i am looking at it from the outside, and just stating a fact. i am sure you have done your testing and slide rule calculations to make you the fastest thing out there but time will tell if the 525's are faster even with the weight added. but keep in mind it is a long season and when its time for the nationals in the bahama's if other boats dont have a chance to beat you, you will end up racing there by yourself which defeats the purpose of evenly matched boats. does it not?? i had heard that the boats should run fairly even in both flat and rough water, with the hp 500's slightly faster in the smooth added weight helping in the rough, driver exp is important as well, I am only asking how many races till they decide that more weight should be added , taken away what ever. dont take things so personal, it is not attack on you.

ps...what about the teams being beat buy 5 year old boats with carbureted 500 engines???next they will want them to only run on 6 cylinders to make it more fair for their lack of effort and or skill???

sorry i feel it is a personal attack!
most have no idea of the hours everyone put into the team/boat...it's ABSURD...i do not take this like a hobby or weekend racer...sorry...we put 110% into it!....EVERY TEAM out there has all the same opportunities that we do...

you are right,,,daytona maybe are only good finish of the year...time will tell....but make no mistake we are not at rest! we are still testing and retesting to be better and faster EVERY time we go out....

add weight??...yeah so the 500's can kick the **** out the rest of the 525 worse...they are going to have a hard time justifying adding weight to 525's when there are still 500 finnishing in front of them!

1st...525's
2nd 500's!!
3rd 500's!!
4th 525's
5th 500's!!!...look for them to do better when they get it sorted out

The problem is that there is no way to calculate for experience. If Joey had 500 carbs and dialed his boat in with them there is a good chance he would still win. There are so many variables that having 4 different motors and 4 different drives configurations has people thinking its the equipment not the teams and set up. I would like just 1 motor and drive package from Merc. like it was started. That way the talent cant be denied and stop all the guessing on weights. I also feel that the 525 with the added weight and slower drives are at a disadvantage. The only way you can over come the weight is buy hours of testing and prop work. If you take a stock 525 set up and put it in the same boat you had a 500 in you will lose every time. The set up time is critical to over come the weight.
Mad Dog

You have to do apples to apples,apples to oranges doesn't work. running 4 diffrent packages doesn't work in factory racing. apba about a level playing field,make it level and SAFE and let the best guy or gal win. SCOTT

Without a doubt there are TOO many variables, it starts with the engine packages, one engine and one drive would be great. in what ever class top speed is very desirable (ie. race boat), with a emphasis on Safety. whatever vehicle you choose to race, you are putting yourself and machine to the edge of the envelope.

In my own opinion the f- classes are smaller due to the many variables we mention above, and forces the smaller guys that dont have a large budget, or a boat that is competitive out which hurts the growth of the sport. Fortunately some racers have at least moved over to p-class.

As for the skill level, nothing gives you skill like expierence, so yes testing plays a important part, being prepared for the race is also important, ie boat, crew etc.

and Joey if you didnt have the best boat out there do you think you would win???

having the best equipment helps in achieving a checkered flag, it is not a given but puts the odds in your favor.

it will be intresting to see how Randy's new boat runs.