To Dyno or Not to Dyno. Thats the question
 

Ok first, this is just a thought, so go easy on me. Our bracket classes are really coming along. But, when are you going to get bored with this GPS stuff? I believe you support it because we dont have any other option. So lets just say P1 was on to something, but didnt have the means to police it correctly.
I have disscussed with Randy purchasing a propshaft Dyno for the VL class. So, If I am going to set one up, why not take a shot with one or two of the bracket classes. We'll dyno your boat at the site, and come up with a fair power to weight formula, and let you run wide open. It would probably take a few races to get a handle on it, but with some patience from the teams, who knows. We could then move it towards a spec style of racing. Class 6 would be the perfect place to start. Attrition would be higher, but we could cap the cubic inch and compression ratio. Or if I am over complicating what is already working, just say so. After all this is your party, I just cut the cake. Smitty

We are willing to take a shot at it.


Rich and Pete
Joker Powerboats 611

I would do it if you call me back!!!!!!!!!!:angry-smiley-038:

I'd prefer heads up racing. Count me in!
Bob G. 606 Lock'd Up Bandit

What ever the decision is, how about a concrete decision by Jan 1 2012. This would allow everyone 4-5 months to make adjustments/rebuilds. Just a thought??

I'm willing. Now find me a partner and a boat...

For 2012: Take care of the SCL and the SVL. Leave the Brackets alone. Perfect a small amount of boats b4 you bring it to the masses

2013: Start phasing in the Brackets

Great idea but how will it be policed? ie I show up with the 500 and you dyno me and I fit where I may, I could spend about 10 mins and increase the hp by 50 hp, if I have 4 hours I could get around 75 extra and if I have a whole day I can gain 100-150. And I'm an idiot, imagine what the guys with intelligence could do.

And Smitty, this aint our party, we should be able to bring things to your attention, make suggestions, etc, however its your insurance, its your LLC. With the board of directors you have, I feel pretty confident that whatever decisions are made wont be to far out of wack.....

I must be dumb. How does this work? Do we factor in a handicap based on power to weight?

Love it...BUT....dont f@ck up a great thing trying to make it work

Considering a mockup race to see if it works

If ya need boats for the mock up race, you can count us in (BAD NEWZ). Now that we have most the bugs worked out of our class 6 boat. Heavy old Carrera so we would need atleast a few hundred more HP than Gary & Tyler! ;) whatever you guys decide we'll be on board for 2012!!!

More HP = More weight in boat.

Boat is ready. Any ice on the Barnegat yet?? When & Where.

Now how does the boat itself get factored into this? X-Dimension, deadrise, pads, steps..that can make a low horsepower boat spank a big hp one.
Id love to do something like this, real racing!

Maybe grab 5 or 6 boats for a test race at the first round after everyone has competed in there "p" classes.

Gary and I are in.

If all class 6 agrees, then I see no reason to wait. We have at least 7 boats that raced in 2010, it would be a perfect test class.

Come on Rich, build your new engine first!!!! Then we'll test this new system.:kiss:

It is acceleration that kills a class not top speed. HP/Weight isn't perfect, hard to dial in and the weight can be an advantage Thinking aloud, what if you set a fixed time from 30-70mph. Everyone could build whatever they want to meet that time. Tech could be test boat, record weight and gear ratio, seal engine and stamp the prop.

Weigh all boats as they come out and hold the top three in the water for 30 minutes for protests.

I think out of every Class 6 boat there is only one that has a stock motor all the rest have racing engines. Put them in Class 6 by themselves and we will run Class 6 Modified or I will make them a great deal on our spare motor or they can have the one right out of the boat. If I have to add weight for the horsepower I will have to buy a new truck with a higher GVW to haul my boat !!!!!!!!!!

In my opinion only. For class 5 and 6 use the dyno only as a way to limmit the HP in those classes. Example would be class 6 has a 500 hp max and class 5 has a 650 HP limmit. And reasanable matching tourque numbers. No one adds any more weight yet. Take baby steps in these classes. Still GPS racing
SVL and Cat light keep as a spec style class and use the dyno as a way to tec the boats before and after the race.
MD

can you run a small block in class 6 that is 500hp n.a.

Not going to work for us sorry

Im down for that too

500 hp limit for class 6 wont work because every boat in the class are allready over 500 hp limit .
Well i know of one boat that might be close to 500 hp limit other than me wink wink.
I would be willing to throw some junk together to make a 500 hp engine but it would kill the class as it is now to many old school hulls in our class that need the extra power to be a player in our class .
I think the outlaw class in some way would be fun.
Leave class 6 alone its a good thing just the way it is just my two cents.:ernaehrung004:

What Gary said. Not much wrong with the class now at all. Maybe look into enforcing the breakout rule. Breakout by over 3 or 4mph and your moving up a class for the rest of the season.

Everyone would have to come out with the crane to get weighed. So staps and lifting rings will be needed for all boats using the Power to Weight formula.

So based on how much HP is read on the Dyno, your boat would need to weight X times HP after the race.

This is really the only possible answer to policing a spec class in offshore racing considering what we have at our disposal to work with.

Trent, if we properly sealed your engine hatch, could you still bump the HP?

Isnt adding a whole bunch of weight to a boat just going to make it an ill-handling turd? Not trying to throw monkey wrenches in plans here but I almost think id rather detune then add weight

Would what I could do as stated before be limited? Absolutely, however the direct answer to your question is YES

I agree with johnny i would detune before adding a bunch of weight to my boat its already weight picky boat.
Also i think class 6-5 and 4 should be left alone all are working well with good boat counts .
The outlaw class could be done with a little work and fine tuning of weight and hp maybe even limit prop size.

Don't need to build a new one, Tyler says I can "have" the one out of his boat. "Have" works well with our budget!

Agreed! And if something does change its really going to screw with our Class 4 plan...already have one motor built

Hahaha!!! I dig it!! Maybe our class should just swap engines every race!!

Just a couple of thoughts.
*I think Smitty is right-many of us race OPA because its the only place available to run smaller boats. Based on most of the class 6 responses, most would prefer heads up racing.
*Should a tech inspection just be based on the Horsepower?If someone wants to build a small block high compression engine or a large cubic inch engine-should we even take these factors into consideration as long as the horsepower meets the agreed amount?
*Tyler brings up a good point, is it time for a bracking class 6 as well as a "Modified" class 6??? Why not?? The more boats the better. Remember Pro and Stock classes wearing the same letter designation in US Offshore?
*What horsepower would be the desired amount? Most in class 6 seem to be running well over 500 HP. My personal feeling are 550-600.
Bob G. 606 Lock'd Up Bandit

A level playing field is nice or at least something close to it. You guy's are the experts, I'm sure you will come up with something fair. But please, make it affordable. I'm not a mechanic and I don't have a fat checkbook. Just a truck driver. I don't want to be mowing Jason Saris's lawn on Saturdays or helping Johnny Saris do his homework or book reports to pay off my boat rigging bills. Thanks, Jeff.
Country Service Auto Transort. Boat # 623

Jeff,
I'm with you. No one is trying to make it cost more. We are trying to keep the field reasonably level. You have a say just as all of us in class 6 do.

Let's just drop the speed limit and run as fast as your 26' or less boat will go!

As nice as that would be, 80% of the 26' or less boats run around 90 mph top end.... Dont believe me, just ask them, they arent shy, they've been posting it for awhile now.

I go 70 mph just like on the high way trust me:cool-smiley-011:

I have raced with the OPA in the old class 5 and then it was class 6 and and to be honest the reason I stopped racing was it was kind of boring , Smitty and the guy's were great but keeping under certain speed was boring . Just thinking here , why not have restrictor plates for each class , they have serial numbers and are installed @ each race by crew member in front of OPA offical then sealed .
This way they all can go wide open and no gps , just heads up and your set-up would make the difference . No weighing boats , just plain simple .
Larry

what about something like this for class 1, supercat and cat lite ?

Is class 6 entry level? Or is it who can build the fastest boat? "Heads Up" or "WOT" is great, but not for me. The competition will change from who has the best team (driver & throttle) to who spent the most money (fastest boat). What about the higher risk of injury or death driving a 24' boat at 95m.p.h. in the ocean. Before I joined OPA, I talked to Jason Saris about dumping more money for more speed into the Switzer; knowing the boat will do between 68 & 72 m.p.h.. He told me we would go out on Lake George and race. After he beats me in the first race, we will SWITCH boats and he will beat me driving the Switzer. If you have 8 to 12 boats racing at 70 m.p.h. driving "neck to neck" fighting for position checkbooks don't matter any more. May the best team win!
If it is a level playing field for next year, then the "Truck Driver" is ready for a fight!!
Jeff Boat # 623 Country Service Auto Transport