New 26 is sitting here. Just trying to figure out what to do w/ it.

I think OPA's Current system works fairly well ( the speed limits not the actual Recording Device ). There are some boats that are definitely overpowered that need moved but only a few...... i think. If a guy has his boat propped, geared and chipped to run at or near the class speed and it seems as though he is running away with races, then the boat should be ran. Alot can be answered by just switching up to a larger propeller and give it a go. IE: 5200 RPM w/1.5 gear 26" prop 10% ( just for figure sake ) =76.8MPH This is a good candidate for 5class OPA, if it is suspected that this same engine is totaly out accelerating the class, slap on a 28" this at same RPM =82.7 assuming the engine can pull it to the same RPM as the 26". If so i say try a 30" Now your at 88.6 if it can pull the RPMS with this one, then its time to move up to class 4.
Now the problem would be the safety factor coming in, if the participants simply don't want to race this vessel at class 4 speeds. THen what do you do?? One doesn't want em to dominate class 5 when it really should be a 4 boat, as well as you don't want to push em into 4 and then right out of the sport. However if they built such a powerful boat then i would suspect they wouldn't mind the closer competition the next faster class would offer.
Point is the GPS limit works well and brings some close racing. I think a clapped out top end number of 78 in the 75 mph class is not bad, even 80 mph boat in the 75 class. it is only a problem when the total top end ability of the boat exorbinately exceeds the class speed that it needs to be looked at and by then hopefully the rest of the competitors in that class have allready spoke with each other and the boat in question to have it checked for its abilities.

What do you do, tell them to not overpower the boat for the class they want to race. It is really pretty simple. If your boat can run 90 race in a 90 mph class and get some balls.

That is the part that is killing me with this discussion, if your ego tells you to put in big power to impress your friends, impress us all and race it at the speeds it is capable.

Case in point, in 2002, Harry Clack put a whipple on his bat boat (now my bat boat) at the SBI worlds that year (New Orleans) he ran the boat on P2. A bat boat for gods sake..... that is what you do, show some balls and race in the class your boat should be in. If all the racers would do that there would not be a problem.

Sorry, but the problem is not with the rules.

Rick

I thought the sport was called Boat Racing

If Brian will bring out a F1, I will bring out another F1 !!! Any more manufactures willing? Dave

Noun: racing reysing
A sport of engaging in contests of speed, were competitors push themselves or equipment to the limit(s) of speed and endurance.

Derived forms: racing, races, raced

See also: racer, racial, racing, racy

Thanks.. this is exactly what I am saying, you are only a racer if you are interested in pushing your self and boat to a limit, propping down does not do that.

How much longer before somebody buys a 36' Skater and props down to run P3/P4? What a smooth ride that would be at 80 mph, and most likely untouchable. Even though they would be in a race, you could hardly call them racers.

There is no doubt in my mind everything I am saying is unpopular with some, but in the end you know when you are cherry picking.

Don't get me wrong, if you have a boat that has a top speed of 78, I can see you setting up the boat for a top speed of 75. My issue is boats that can run 85+ being set up for 75. Seeing 36' boats with twin engines and big power running P4 is the issue. That has pushed the legitimate P4 boats into P5 to be competitive and the development of P6.

Let's face it the only reason there is a P6 is because of cherry picking and that is the reason that Randy asked the orginal question, it used to be P4 that we talked about, now it is P5. Issue remains the same. In the end it will never be solved.

The only way you can avoid it is to move to a spec or unlimited class. Maybe we should bring back the A and B classes?

Well the one thing you can do....is the racers who are going to actully be racing with OPA IN 2008 get all togehter on a call....and come up with some ideas...and bring them to Smitty....and while the rules are in place for 3 years....It never means the can not be tweeked to keep the class fair...
There will be 12 to 15 Class 5 guys next year....either way...if you guys come up with some limitations or something in that area....or I'm sure Smitty will make the desition on whats fair and what class a boat should race in...
but the sooner you guys can put something together the better....
You might first get a list of all the P-5 guys who race last year and get together...
Like Ken said....all you guys in Class 5 can hit the 75mph mark...its how fast you can get there is were how close the racing will be....

The bottom line is Knowledge and Cubic Dollars. People like myself have the knowledge and the resorces to build and set up my own boat to be competitive and win ( I have no money ) Then there are people with money that pay other people to set up there boats and build engines. If class 6 were for beginners where were they?? Everyone that raced in class 6 raced before. You can't tell me there are people out there with bone stock boats that are willing to pound the $hIT out of them on a race coarse if we wait for them you just eliminated class 6. They eliminated A and B class and also F-2 and there are 1 or 2 F-1 boats still running the whole idea with P class racing was to get all the old race boats back out and maybe some new ones which it has with minimal BS and tech inspections that last 10 Hours. If you don't have enough power to run the class you are in step down a class as long as you fit in the rules for that class.

Conversely, Should a boat with too much power step up a class, and what do we consider too much power?

I definitely agree we don't want long inspections and all the tech stuff, but in class 6, if my 496 MAG HO is not getting the job done, I can't step down a class. That leaves me no
alternative but to build a bigger bullet. But the issue is
how big should I go? As the rules read I can put as big a motor in as I can fit. Should I call Dave Scott & buy one
of his 1500hp Sterlings?
My point is, do we need a HP cap or do we go with the 70MPH
as our only restriction?
Tyler had his Joker set up to rock and roll and
it was a perfectly legal boat. But, If a new guy shows up
with a mountain motor in his boat, do we all have to build new
motors to keep up?

Just thinking out loud
Rich
Undertow 611