Great to see drag racing evolving here. And the suggestion that GTA outboard drag racing could match or exceed most US events is no stretch. Haliburton was living proof, and it should be the tip of the iceberg (the one impervious to rising ocean temps).
How does Formula grow? Lots of energy and thoughts already laid out, but I thought I’d throw my $0.02 in and maybe get lost in the shuffle.
Executive summary: anyone who is consistently successful should add modest weight (sorry, Greg, but you’re just too damned cute, er, fast). Whether just Greg or others, too, why reduce “the fix” to this simple remedy? 1) Tweaking only one, two, or three boats is far more practical than the majority. 2) I would expect having a scale present at all events is either logistically unrealistic or cost-prohibitive or both. If a scale could be present once per year—fantastic!—makes sense it’s at the first event (i.e. Gravenhurst). 3) While I respect the reasoning/motivation behind the power:weight calcs, they’re ideals that are very difficult to convert on game day (but can certainly help guide progress leading up to it). Even if statistical aids are remotely successful, the road to parity inevitably seeks a judgement call either before, after, or during a race. What can any of us point to that suggests we’re immune to such judgements? 4) Blarney (north of Chicago for those unfamiliar) is possibly the closest thing to what’s being developed here—run-what-you-brung-grassroots-yeehaw racing. And they have seen, suffered through, and benefitted from, just about everything under the drag racing sun. Not leaning on their experience seems akin to starting up a website in the absence of an internet. Or forgoing “control” advice from The Hedgehog when dating a supermodel.
Reeling this back in, the decision (after seeking input) should rest in only one place: the pseudo-committee comprised of those who selflessly make these drag events happen for the rest of us and who accepted such organizational responsibilities (whether formal or implied, ha!): Jeff Williamson, Greg Keeling, John Archer, Jason Famme, and now, oh-so-wonderfully, Dean Aaron (brilliant move, that). And, by extension, the greater TORC.
Like I wrote to begin, just my $0.02.
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