Shootout organizers announce major decision to shorten courses to 3/4 of a mile in 2017.

https://speedonthewater.com/in-the-n...-mile-distance

Doesn't that change the whole character of the event? Now it's all about acceleration instead of top end.

Yep!

Stupid idea

Enter the drag boats! "Wild Child" would re-write some records!

Here come a new era of 30' pickle fork 10000+ HP SIngle engine boats

It already was a drag race. Just as an example, boats capable of 170 mph (with their highest pitch and lots of room) were lucky to hit 150 at LOTO and a prop change was required. The shorter course makes sense.

Shorter course makes sense at this point until something else come's about.

top fuel dragsters were running too fast at 300 mph in the 1/4 mile so they went to 1000 foot, now they run 320 mph in less distance so not sure how the shorter distance helped. if you change the goal to reduce speed you have now created a incentive to achieve the previous speed with in the new parameter. racers, amateur or pro, rarely seek to slow down.

Shorter distance most definitely helped in your example. Think about it.

they should have a good idea which class/classes of boats are going too fast. why couldn't they just have those classes on the shorter course same as they don't put pro stock on the short drag track? only top fuel. heck make it simple, all cats run the short course.