GMT 18 Mod VP

[Rayzor]

Looks like I've found a clean GMT from one of my friends for another good friend of mine. It's got a carby 200 on it right now, but we're gonna' swap it out for a stock 2.5 260 ph. I've seen some old threads on here about these boats, but nobody ever has much to say in the posts. Does anyone have any experience with these setups, and if so, how did it work? From what I hear, they're pretty fast and will turn with the best of them. I'm thinking it should run in the 105 range at least w/ a 260 and CLE or SM gearcase set about 1.5" above the bottom. Any first or secondhand knowledge about these setups would be appreciated.

[Da Bull]

I have no personal experiance with them but know that they were fast in their day. Prolly fast now too. Boat bottoms have not changed that much (if at all) in that boats catagorie sence the 80`s but motors have.

Be careful and post us some pics of your new ride.

DB

[STV_Keith]

Sounds like a COR 2.0 boat already! Come race it!

[Da Bull]

Sounds like a COR 2.0 boat already! Come race it!



I don`t think that at 18ft it`s long enough to satisfy the 19ft rule...

DB

[Rayzor]

Sounds like a COR 2.0 boat already! Come race it!

The boat is for my friend. And until COR 2.0 becomes COR 2.5, I'm not interested. I saw them run at Puddingstone just a few months ago (a well set up STV won) and the speed is just not there for me.

[STV_Keith]

Skip Ewing was already campaigning a GMT in the COR class. I believe they satisfy the current 18'6" rule. That boat is now sold to Walt I believe.

Dale, I hear ya. The speeds are slow, but APBA will never allow a Mod VP type race again. You will never see them run 95+ mph. I will say that the competition is fierce though. There is almost always a mix-up of boats for the lead. See my videos of the Havasu GP weekend and Parker weekends. 4 different heat winners over those weekends. Personally, I think the clock start screws this class, as the boats are so even, if some or any of the boats get a good start, the others can't run them down...and that's what happened at Puddingstone.

[3030]

I agree with Keith. The COR is getting more and more competitive, almost like NASCAR. We had 6 boats at the Parker Regatta and Keith has photo of the boats running side-by-side with not an inch advantage over the other. The smallest advantage whether driver, set-up, or circumstances, made the difference at the Regatta over winning and losing... that is fun, close, relatively safe racing. The GMT makes the 18' 6" rule as far as I can tell... put that boat on the water! That would make the third GMT in the COR class, two being up in the NoCal area.

[racer]

I think apba would allow for a true MODVP again but capsules would be mandatory. Meantime the 2.0 make you work on set up to get the most out of them.

[3030]

Two Stokers ran side-by-side in six 4-lap heats at the Regatta. The 20 SST certainly gets around the two-pin-turn course and carries the COR weight with the 2.0 liter very well. The GMT was up front as well and it will be interesting once the new drivers get more experience. Might be time to find or build a few new Stokers?

[Da Bull]

Skip Ewing was already campaigning a GMT in the COR class. I believe they satisfy the current 18'6" rule.



Thats cool. I was just going by the thread title of GMT 18ft. I like the 2.0L modified motor as well but i hear they are thinking about stock blocks slowing them down even more. Any truth to this or just rummor?

Keith, Where can i find those video`s?



DB

[STV_Keith]

There was some problem with the video/audio sync of Heat 1. Can't seen to fix it, so I haven't re-uploaded it as video only yet. Here are the other races from my helmet cam.

Heat 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJUYJJa2nZw

Heat 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLCSINbfGDI

Heat 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toqQ4iBLcy4

Heat 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRSKUg4pybE

Heat 6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N91qa6vuzC8

[TNTDUNER]

Ive been testing and racing my GMT for close to a year now. Learned alot so far. With the 2.0 it will run 83. I found the original molds as well. Some guy has them sitting in a dirt lot / farm down in Menifee, CA. Bob Leach laid mine up personally, its glass and kevlar, for his friend Gerry Galbreath.

[JWTjr.]

In Mod-VP's infancy (Al Stoker was a founding driver/member, he can relay info abou this) speeds were not really that high...mid-80s at best. The first rules/rigs mandated stock powerheads (it was called VP at the time) so stock OMC 235s and Merc 2.4 200s were the order of the day. Modified engines came next (1979 or thereabouts) and ruled until the end of the 1985 season, when the rules were changed to go back to "stock" powerheads. Speeds in the mid 1980s were in the 90+ range down the straights. So 80-83 mph out of a 2-liter engine is really pretty darn strong...and, if you just have to go fast to keep up with your river buddies, then COR 2.0 is the best value because you can run your 260 powerhead (or whatever) most of the time, then install the 2L for the races.

John

[Da Bull]

I watched those vids Keith. You did a great job and thanks for the ride.

DB

[timmc6]

thanks for the videos,great job,looks real fun!!!!:iagree:tim

[racer]

John is correct. The big difference is time to reach speed, the last year I ran at the Kankakee nationals we were running 98 at the end of the straight on radar. The course was about 45 seconds if memory serves. The last yr at Havasu on a much longer course could go 105 with 60 gallons of fuel, engine made 250 at the crank. These are with the stock based powerheads. A good 2.0 makes about 200hp and will run in the 80s on a long course but a Kankakee type course I doubt they would run much over 75. The competion is whats nice as they all seem to be close in performance

[FrenchPhil]

Anybody got pics of a GMT ?

[Michael J Giesler]

does it say Del Taco on the side

[Da Bull]

You can see the GMT in the vids STV-Keith posted.

DB