Class 7 OPA "60mph" rule?

At this point and time I do not see rules or regulations changing. Expecially that many recently have made changes to keep up and stay competitive. They built or bought new motors, plus they made setup and boat changes to accommodate new power etc. I think if they made a rule change now many will drop out due to cost or feeling it is total BS......JMP thinking, I could be totally wrong!

I will say, if the majority of the actual racers like or feel comfortable with the rules and regulations as they are we from the side lines need to respect that!
So that being said, my personal suggestion do not get worked up, embrace the rules as they are even though they may not make sense and keep cheering them on!

Both sides have merit..speed limit pretty much takes buying a win out of the equation but, it doesn't show which driver has the ability to push these hulls. Guessing that most of these guys are running them far below their talent.(said with total respect for what you guys can do)

Thats whats great about America if you dont want to race like this you dont have to. The class was started because the founding fathers thought it would be and stay affordable. Ideally a 21-22 foot boat for a couple of thousand and a fishing motor and you were in business. Well you know how that goes, this guy wants more horsepower, this guy wants a nicer boat and some peeps have more if not a lot more money than others. So the only thing that had stayed consistent about the class is the 60 mph limit. Its tough to find any kinda race venue for smaller boats, hell we travel south all summer to 800' drag race because we cant find anything in the north east to go to. So again if its not for you or whom ever thats cool no ones making anyone join. JMO

All good points it from what I heard e Tec was willing to sponcer the class and give every boat 200hos. Free power? How is that more expensive? If anything it's cheaper. Than you would see a boat like the 23 krypt have the advantage in ocean races. While Linder designs would have the advantage in the flat races. Similar to the old 525 class before the closed canopy. Team saris had a 29 krypto and they dominated in flat races. But in the ocean the y2ks had the advantage. Now that's racing. Not who can go the slowest. Cause if that class was limited to 70 or 75 mph it wouldn't matter the condition cause both boats can exceed that speed in any condition so again it would come down to who can drive the slowest Lol. Make no sence. Who thinks that racing??? Just because that's the way it is doesn't mean it's the correct way.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wickedwitthestix

All good points it from what I heard e Tec was willing to sponcer the class and give every boat 200hos. Free power? How is that more expensive? If anything it's cheaper. Than you would see a boat like the 23 krypt have the advantage in ocean races. While Linder designs would have the advantage in the flat races. Similar to the old 525 class before the closed canopy. Team saris had a 29 krypto and they dominated in flat races. But in the ocean the y2ks had the advantage. Now that's racing. Not who can go the slowest. Cause if that class was limited to 70 or 75 mph it wouldn't matter the condition cause both boats can exceed that speed in any condition so again it would come down to who can drive the slowest Lol. Make no sence. Who thinks that racing??? Just because that's the way it is doesn't mean it's the correct way.

---

I see you keep mentioning my set up. I ran an average speed of 58 mph. I blipped 61 once on first lap never broke out again until last lap 62.3 for six seconds total of 169'.
I ran the boat hard and watched speed whole time. Didn't figured I'd broke out at all and at that point could only hope a couple ahead would have. Ran a fantastic new prop watch how even every boat was at the start. After that I run my own race against mph not the other boats. It was a great race. Everyone ran hard and nobody broke that I know of. That's the whole concept of braket racing. I did it for 15 yrs in a 175+ mph car and am trying to get used to slowing the boat down here basically
65 may be fun in straights now sure who would not swim trying to do that in turns. I've turned Kryptonite at 62.5 in the bay around markers but that's much different than in lap traffic w boat wash around you. The field was tight and it was an awesome race. Way more competence than last yr or 2014 when we won. Boat counts growing and competition getting better every week. Look at lil squirt w his 1980's 200 taking second. It can still be won w small motors and older equipment. Either way my kids and I will be out on my boat tubing and enjoying mine this weekend between races

There is no correct way. This is how this club races. I choose not to cause I dont like the break out either but I accept the clubs wish and just try to help the teams where we can. If Smitty wants to make everyone paint their boat pink they have the choice to paint or find another club to race with. Pretty simple.

Etec? I assume you mean BRP, offered free motors? We are a full service BRP dealer and would love to talk to the person who made that offer. Maybe we could help get it done.

I just heard that through this site. Someone mentioned it. I didn't just make it up. Idk if it's true or not. And I wasn't calling out the krypt boat. You made my point in fact. You weren't racing other boats you were racing yourself and your own speed. To me that's not racing. And I'm not stupid. I know your not gunna take turns in a step vee in croswaves at 80 and what not but coming out of a turn and being able to hit the gas would be nice. In no way shape or form was I taking shots at you. I love the boat. I just wish you can run it as it was intended. I own q Linder design and where you might not be as nimble as that hull I assure you you should have no problem taking turns at 60 in most any condition. Give yaself some time. It won't happen over night. But if u all ran the same power witch you should there is no good reason to limit you at 60 when most of those boats w minimal setback set up for ruff water won't be going much faster than 60 anyway. Than on a lake races you can add a lil more set back and a bigger wheel and make the boat a lil faster for the flatter conditions

[QUOTE=bayratpg;2863570]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bayratpg

I agree with alot of what Stix has to say. I tried to get the guys to agree to a set of rules that would have been very affordable and very competitive for "RACERS".

2.5 200 stock steel sleeve motors, 135 compression (carbs, efi, play with what you want as long as the stick porting was maintained.) This would keep everyone in the 200-250ish range

3000lb min race ready weight, crew included.

20-22' Linder style hulls. Tabs and setback not to exceed 22'

No stepped hulls.

NO GPS (boats would run 65ish)

I presented this last season and thought it would be happily embraced and approved.
OPA was willing to go for it.
THE RACERS BITCHED OUT! Not enough guys were willing to play FAIR. They made many excuses, even saying I was trying to build a class where I would have the advantage. I WOULD HAVE HAD TO ADD A FEW HUNDRED POUNDS TO COME UP TO WEIGHT!
I even suggested it as a step-up class from class 7 for guys who wanted to really race only. This would have besn optional, Class 7 to remain unchanged for the "EVERYONE GETS A TROPHY" guys. It would have allowed guys to still come in with boats from their driveway with different power and weight to try it out to see if they wanted to step up.
OPA didn't want to break up the class, and although I thought it would have increased the entrants, I respect their decision.
Call OPA, send a pic of your boat, and pay the membership dues. If I had more new guys willing to put their money where their mouth is, we would have gotten the approval!
I REPEAT, IT WAS THE DECISION OF THE OTHER CLASS 7 GUYS to stay with these rules. I was strongly considering quitting altogether but was convinced to come back and KICK THEIR ASSES with THEIR rules. We had to build a 3L to keep up with the 3L, 3.4L and racing 260's and 280's, some running on race fuel. We figured if we beat them with their rules, they'd be BEGGING for my rules! Pt Pleasant we were still sorting out the new motor which kept going into "guardian" mode. Lake Race, we were set up and running well. We'll see how AC goes. The other hulls have more deadrise, running surface and beam, but some still say we have an advantage. We get our balls handed to us in the rough, but we try to STAY ON IT. The most difficult part for us has been holding back. We want to RACE. Some other guys want to have hp and/or hull advantages. Some just dont have the SKILL or the BALLS to be competitive. I say fine, stay in class 7 as is, or STAY HOME!
If enough guys who run their mouths/keyboards stepped up, contacted OPA and paid the membership and showed up to a race, they'd likely approve my proposed rules.
AGAIN, IT WAS THE VOTE OF THE CLASS 7 GUYS THAT HELD MY RULES FROM APPROVAL. NOT OPA. Some were for it, at least when face to face with me.

Now, "ARMCHAIR RACERS", PUT UP, SHUT UP AND SHOW UP!" There are some of us in Class 7 that WANT TO RUN YOU! Win or lose, we wanna race!
I know their are plenty of guys that say they would run if their was no gps, let's see who of you are full of **** and who are for real!
In the meantime I'm going to try to kick their ass with their rules.
COME HELP US OUT!

No disrespect to most, but MUCH DISRESPECT TO THE MARY'S!
I'm on your side Stix.
Most Sincerely,
The BayRats

BTW, THAT WAS "ROLL CALL"

---

When you got TL on your side, anything is possible. Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kick ass!

I don't have near the funds, or the time to race and I would be divorced if I devoted the time. I have the boat, just not the money or the time.

BTW again, my top speed for the Lake Race was 60.8 as read on my disply on my $2000 OPA gps. Anyone who calls "bull****", call it to my face and I'll show you my saved max speed from the race.

So the truth is starting to come out....thanks Bayrat. I still stick to the fact that I respect all that run in class 7. But to me the deffinition of a race is to see who can go the fastest for the longest amount of time. Not who can stay the closest to a certain number without going over. And anyone that's racing in that class your bound to break out cause say your running 59 or 58.5. U get a gust to your back or a certain wave at a certain angle can put u over 60 any givin second. So does that mean your run at 56-57 so that is unlikely to happen? And again much respect to all of u. Especially Bayrat. But call it what it is. It's more of a glorified poker run than a actual race.

[QUOTE=Baja170;2863571]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bayratpg

When you got TL on your side, anything is possible. Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kick ass!

I don't have near the funds, or the time to race and I would be divorced if I devoted the time. I have the boat, just not the money or the time.

---

Have you seen my boat?? I dont have the money either! But I scrounge and have a few small sponsors. No kids, so I can make the time. Its alot of fun on the course and at the parties:)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wickedwitthestix

So the truth is starting to come out....thanks Bayrat. I still stick to the fact that I respect all that run in class 7. But to me the deffinition of a race is to see who can go the fastest for the longest amount of time. Not who can stay the closest to a certain number without going over. And anyone that's racing in that class your bound to break out cause say your running 59 or 58.5. U get a gust to your back or a certain wave at a certain angle can put u over 60 any givin second. So does that mean your run at 56-57 so that is unlikely to happen? And again much respect to all of u. Especially Bayrat. But call it what it is. It's more of a glorified poker run than a actual race.

---

Its racing, but could be better of course. Some guys run 56-57, go for a Sunday cruise and hope for the guys up front racing to break out. I was accused of breaking out. They couldn't understand how I could be so far ahead. We run on the edge of the speed until we're out front. We take the turns hard. We set the boat up to try to maintain the speed through the turns. If you gain .5 seconds in 14 turns, you're 7 seconds ahead. That's how you win! Not by chinewalking 57 and crying when you get beaten.

Yea I saw that 100%. U might have been a boat leanth or so ahead going into turn 1 and came out 3 leanths ahead. So I'm gunna ask you this and weather you answer publicly on this bored or not id still like to know. Obvi you have some kinda time in Linder design hulls...is your hull that much more nimble than the other hulls or...... Well we know what the other answer to that question is lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wickedwitthestix

Yea I saw that 100%. U might have been a boat leanth or so ahead going into turn 1 and came out 3 leanths ahead. So I'm gunna ask you this and weather you answer publicly on this bored or not id still like to know. Obvi you have some kinda time in Linder design hulls...is your hull that much more nimble than the other hulls or...... Well we know what the other answer to that question is lol

---

I've only driven a 21 SB center console a loooong time ago. We used to take it to Fire Island Inlet just to launch it. They are definitely a softer ride in the rough in my opinion. Never tried cornering hard in it so I can't compare there. It sure appears that the Ghost is better in the turns than the others though.

[QUOTE=bayratpg;2863614]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Baja170

Have you seen my boat?? I dont have the money either! But I scrounge and have a few small sponsors. No kids, so I can make the time. Its alot of fun on the course and at the parties:)

---

I got no excuse other than a wife with MS and trying to help pay all our bills. You know I have keith's intimidator.

I always wanted to race as a kid, I got my first boat at 8YO but now I am old and battered and can't take time to travel and break my stuff or be away from the family, we have a 15YO who will soon have a 18' Raptor next week.

I would be happy to help you in any way I can and if you ever want to come to extreme North eastern TN and hang out and run your boat or drive mine on a super gorgeous and 16 flat out mile hauling ass lake with a nice place to stay (our retirement house) you are welcome any time. Wives can hang on my wife's pontoon. Any friend of Tony's is a friend of mine. Plus I LOVE what you are doing. You go man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ever hit the gas on a twin Shadow with a couple 260's on it? That is why I first posted in this thread thinking the 60MPH thing was odd. The Shadow is CRAZY, at 80+ you can stomp it and feel like your seat is going to rip off the floor. I guess I am still an adrenalin junkie.