Sam Baker
06-04-2002, 09:14 AM
The weather looks like it's going to be perfect for this weekend's IHBA Budweiser National event in St. Louis this weekend. So, if there are people that haven't been to this kind of event and are planning on racing, here are some things that need to be done before you get to race.
1. If you can get to the race friday afternoon/early evening to get tech inspected, that would be best. That way you have all night to get ready and you don't have to worry about it the morning of qualifying.
2. Make a rope deflector. Race boats (Allisons, Triads, Mirage ModVP, etc.) typically don't need them, but most boats with 20" motors will need some sort of metal device fastened in place that will deflect the holding rope up and over the engine. Make sure it's installed well. It doesn't have to be much (last year we used Nick Winski's light pole tied down to his ski pole anchors - it worked), but it needs to appear to be able to handle deflecting the rope.
3. Have a fire extinguisher in the boat and one in the tow vehicle. They require a fire extinguisher in both the boat and the tow vehicle.
4. Get to the race site early!!! Registration and inspection starts at 7:30 Saturday Morning with driver's meeting at 7:45 and Qualifying starts at 8:00am. When you register, you'll have to choose a class to qualify with. Don't worry if you are actually slower or faster when you qualify, you have 1 hour after qualifying ends for the day to change your class.
5. When you register, BE SURE TO GET THE SPONSOR STICKER PACKETS. There is usually about $1000 worth of contingency money available at each race. They have a checklist of all the sponsors. Some of them require you to run their product in addition to having the sticker, so unless you have Lunati cams in your outboard, you won't need to run that sticker.
6. Be ready to qualify when they call your class. If everything goes smoothly, you'll get 2 and possibly 3 qualifying runs. These are more than just dial-in runs. They actually set the field brackets for Sunday, so do your best and try not to break out or red light.
7. I know Ray Neudecker is going to be there. Most of the outboards will pit near each other (pending pit layout) but I'm sure Ray will help answer any questions you may have. I've found that the guys are very helpful. I will be glad to help as well and I know we'll have plenty of people there to help with backing boats in, etc.
There's more info at the sldba website - http://www.sldba.net
See you this weekend.
Sam
1. If you can get to the race friday afternoon/early evening to get tech inspected, that would be best. That way you have all night to get ready and you don't have to worry about it the morning of qualifying.
2. Make a rope deflector. Race boats (Allisons, Triads, Mirage ModVP, etc.) typically don't need them, but most boats with 20" motors will need some sort of metal device fastened in place that will deflect the holding rope up and over the engine. Make sure it's installed well. It doesn't have to be much (last year we used Nick Winski's light pole tied down to his ski pole anchors - it worked), but it needs to appear to be able to handle deflecting the rope.
3. Have a fire extinguisher in the boat and one in the tow vehicle. They require a fire extinguisher in both the boat and the tow vehicle.
4. Get to the race site early!!! Registration and inspection starts at 7:30 Saturday Morning with driver's meeting at 7:45 and Qualifying starts at 8:00am. When you register, you'll have to choose a class to qualify with. Don't worry if you are actually slower or faster when you qualify, you have 1 hour after qualifying ends for the day to change your class.
5. When you register, BE SURE TO GET THE SPONSOR STICKER PACKETS. There is usually about $1000 worth of contingency money available at each race. They have a checklist of all the sponsors. Some of them require you to run their product in addition to having the sticker, so unless you have Lunati cams in your outboard, you won't need to run that sticker.
6. Be ready to qualify when they call your class. If everything goes smoothly, you'll get 2 and possibly 3 qualifying runs. These are more than just dial-in runs. They actually set the field brackets for Sunday, so do your best and try not to break out or red light.
7. I know Ray Neudecker is going to be there. Most of the outboards will pit near each other (pending pit layout) but I'm sure Ray will help answer any questions you may have. I've found that the guys are very helpful. I will be glad to help as well and I know we'll have plenty of people there to help with backing boats in, etc.
There's more info at the sldba website - http://www.sldba.net
See you this weekend.
Sam