Lake Huron or Lake Michigan will really slow everybody down when it kicks up. Evertbody will need 4-6 weeks to glue their boats back together then the cost of racing will really go up. Plus the chance of more accidents on the race coarse also go up.

I agree but thats TRUE OFFSHORE racing! Thats what most of us have built our boats for. Flat water blows in my opinion and takes very little team talent. It also adds great expense to team that have older boats that cant compete with the new stepped bottoms. I think an older boat has a better chance in the ocean then in flat water any day.
MD

I am all about the rough water too I think if you can run out front in flat water you should run out front in the rough if you got the balls!!!!. The step bottom boats have free speed with less power. I think you can turn a non step bottom harder without the chance of spinning out. I think this thread started because nobody wanted to spend money upgrading their motors to keep up they rather spend money on fiberglass repair. Also they are trying to get closer racing how many boats started in Ocean City and how many finished in 2006. I am not knocking the rough water races I am just stating what the out come is.

Need big water??? Grand haven or Chicago would be two additional sites worthy of an OPA visit. Just check out the pics and articles on past poker runs from those areas...big, rough water with great city sites (both have beaches that draw big crowds on any weekend).

You're killing me. What do you think? We just walk into a city, collect a check and go boat racing? There is a little more involved than that.

Sounds good, why not?! LOL But seriously, I threw those sites out there for a reason as potential sites for the future. Both have great history with performance powerboats.

Grand Haven has been a coast guard town forever and VERY supportive of the powerboats. A popular site for races when the Silver Cup Series was alive in this area. Rumor has it the people who organized those are still around, I'm sure someone could pass along contact info. Blondin and Luellen (Smoke organizers) would be perfect contacts for this venue as well.

I said Chicago but I think it was actually Milwaukee. Anyways, it was the APBA site for a couple years and had great viewing from the dry pit / city park area. (especially when the turn buoy came loose and drifted closer and closer as the race went on!).

Point is, these would be excellent sites that have been supportive in the past. No need to re-invent the wheel, just get the wheels in motion of past organizers (or atleast hit 'em up for valuable info).

Any thought to site sponsors Smitty??? PM me with details, I have a few companies that might be interested in the Metro race you just added.

Smitty....count to ten......those P5 and P6 guys have been bounced around to many times.....and there a little slow....

The combination of calm water races and rough are great....
some guys have great ruff water boats and some are good clam water races...plus if all were ruff....with racers every 2 weeks there is no way teams could put there boats back together after ruff waters....and then teams would say...well I'm out of the points so why do all the remaining races...

Thats one thing thats should change in Offshore....a little less complaining and a little more being apprecating on what we have in OPA...

Tyler...I could name a number of boats that are not both ruff and calm water boats...

Team Wanted....a great ruff water boat...but in the clam its a hand full..
any 29 Fountain.... a great calm water boat...but in 4 to 6's forget about it....
JC performance....great boat for 2 to 3 foorters....
Crime Pays....great clam water boat....can't keep up in 4 footer..

I could go on an on....but thats whats great about it....


Thats what is so good about OPA....Teams are coming out because they feel they have a shoot in either the calm or ruff...and will go out and do there best in the oppisite.

Smitty....keep the blinders on and keep moving foward...there is no way you can please everyone....it will never happen.....I know you want to listen to everyone and that great....but when it comes to schedules and citys paying out the money.....do what you have to do and we will show and make that city happy....

Personlly guys...and its only a opion...don't you think Smitty has enough on his plate then to justifie why we race were we do...

Some Orgs do not even have race sites to race at in 08....

This thread is about whats really fair in P5 and P6 with the big HP.....You would be so much more succsesful if you all get together in your prospected class's and came up wtih some idea's if you feel you can make things better and present it to OPA....

You guys all know each other....get together and come up wit some ideas....Vinny said it best....build a boat to fit the class not the other way around...

[QUOTE=MANITIE;2357455].....You would be so much more succsesful if you all get together in your prospected class's and came up wtih some idea's if you feel you can make things better and present it to OPA....
QUOTE]

Ya but then I'd actually have to listen in on these damn customer conference calls instead of jumping on OSO!

In all seriousness, Smitty should not be taking too much of this to heart. Online forums are just a place to toss around ideas and let others know what's on your mind. Thoughts and ideas shared here are only the starting point but a good one. I'd imagine no one really expects any changes for the '08 season, I know I'm not. I'm just sharing ideas based on what I experienced this season.

Smitty and OPA has indeed done a great job and as such the organization has been a HUGE success. Watching myself and friends boat racing at a Michigan venue...on FOX?! Are you kidding me?! Ya they're doing something right!

Gino you forgot one our old Velosity great calm water boat ....... Did not survive rough water............ I agree with Vinny build a boat to fit the class. ( I did )

What about 3.5kg per HP like the Evolution Class, I think
that equals to 7.7 lbs per HP. Don't hate me, this thread was
started looking for ideas and its just that, thinking out loud.