As much as I feel for you Randy, But I do not see that many teams spending 31K on older boats to keep racing, if the object is to get more boats back in F1 its got to be cheaper, would you have gotten the 525 package to run in your older boat? it wouldn't't have made sense. But how many would stay if the price was more like 12 grand and everyone would be equal, One engine, One weight, One Drive.

If this is the decision they decide to go with, I thank the engines should be available to the general public, work a deal with Merc to get these as a package for new guys building new boats. Also tune these engines with the EFI headers, most all of us have a set of these pipes and go back to the standard lower. This combination would be the most cost effective and should attract more racers and isn't that the main goal?

Also, this all started to slow down the F2's so that has to be in the formula somewhere.

Generally speaking the team that does the most homework will be faster. That means test time, but that alone will not produce success. There needs to be some real thought behind the testing process. Slowing down boats that spend countless hours working on their boat getting it dialed in is a recipe for disaster and will do nothing but foster fustration on that team which will likely quit racing. Also, just handing rule exceptions to teams that are not competitive is also not the answer.
I would like to see the LLC s put some money back into it's business and product. Race teams are the product, without the racers the LLC will cease to exist. If a team has an exceptional race program the LLC should encourage that team to move up to the next class by providing incentives to that team. They could help that team secure sponsor money, they could waive entry fees for the following two years, they could provide a one time cash "grant" to that team that is payed over two years. The "smaller" boat classes need to be feeders to the larger boats.
As part of it's sponsorship agreement with someone like Merc, there should be a deal where the slower teams get a seasoned professional to help dial the boat in. Could be Thursday or Friday before the race. This will give some of the newer teams more insight and get them through the learning curve quicker. The LLC could even have a resident expert on their staff to help the teams get dialed in.
I just don't like seeing outstanding teams getting punished for their hard work. I would rather see those teams move onto the next class through incentives.
Also, like Ron said, the rules need to be set in stone. Let the current rules play out over a 3 year period.

MR V is right on. F2! the same world records exist from the same boats of 3 years ago...how are they going faster???!!....you tighten up the competition there is going to be more incidents. personally i would like them to loosen the weight rules and speed up F2.

"Also, this all started to slow down the F2's so that has to be in the formula somewhere."...."Formula" is right!

.

Hey Guys,

Even though I have been out of racing in F1 class since 2001 I feel I have some ideas and opinion on this matter to bring parity to the factory classes.

After reading this post and hearing talk of possible new motor packages,and weight re evaluated to get F1 and F2 to "closer racing" I feel there are other variables that need to be looked at by the A.P.B.A. for example :

1. bottom design : single step,twin step,no step
2. beam 7'or 8'
3. crew experience ( this is worth allot )
4. motor package and freshness ( hours )
5. boat set up : props, balance, drive height
6. weight
7. heart and desire ( very important )

I have personally been on both sides on the race coarse.
In flat water where I have been a mid-pack boat at best whether it being: weight,bottom design(no step),prop selection ?? who knows ??
To a rough water race (4-6 footers )and being a half a lap in front of the nearest second place boat and racing in a 28' footer that I know is 2-3 mph slower than the nearest boats in calm water conditions.Was I in the lead due to experience,heart and desire,boats rough water handling,set up??? Who knows ??

I feel maybe having having a third party from APBA like a Steve Miklos run all F1 and F2 boats on the same day and water conditions ( possibly Friday before the race ) with a crew member and see where all the boats really are at in speed,and acceleration.

The boats that would be 2-3-4 MPH off would benefit from reduced weight, possible motor upgrades,maybe added technicanl support from Mercruiser. Another thing is to slow the 1 or 2 of the fastest boats in the class down a bit by possibly a lower X- dimension,weight,props ( these are just ideas ).

This would allow to have the boats as equal in performance as possible on the top speed and acceleration and let the crew worry about prop selection for water conditions,boat set up,crew experience,and desire to win all come into play.

I have heard on race day so many times from teams "we are going to lay back and see what happens " I have also seen and raced teams that have run BALLS TO THE WALLS from the start to the checkered in rough water and calm water.

I do agree the class would be better with only one or two motor options instead of 4 but I am not certain the motor issue and weight are the only problem that need to be looked at.

You will have good days and bad days.

This is only my 2 cents!!

I will see you all in Ft. Lauderdale race in a few weeks when we debut our new F2 "cut down " 35' Survivor.

I look forward to seeing you all again.

Regards,

Jo - Pantera Boats

Mr Velocity.
YOU ARE 100% RIGHT WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID. I COULD'NT AGREE WITH YOU MORE.

I think once it is determined that all the boats in the class are all fairly close in the MPH department ( after inspection )then if a boat goes out and wins by a good margin then let it be.The team just had more experience,better set up,and boat bottom line handled better on that given day.


JO

Frame what Mr. Velocity said . Hang it on the wall.

BETTER YET.
SEND MR. V'S STATEMENT RIGHT TO APBA. OTHER THAN HAVING TITS AND ASS INVLOVED SOME HOW, IT'S THE MOST REASONABLE AND SIMPLE STATEMENT I'VE SEEN TO DATE.

JO...so the teams that work their ASSES off to get a "possible" competitive edge would be penalized and those that did nothing would get the help and a handicap? same thing goes for the manufactures...if a boat or two emerges in a class as a better design...the rest need to step up. NOT step down to the others!!!!

ps...JO how can you "cut down" the 36 to a 35 and still be legal for APBA??? so by cutting 1 foot off you get to be 125# lighter? is this a one off boat or production?? look forward to see'n ya at the races.