Hounddog wrote:
Hounddog wrote:
You will remember that on another site Jim was very concerned that the T850 speeds would get too fast. The reason for his post was a result of him testing the 100% legal 56'r I put together. On an 880 lb boat his GPS speed was 72 mph in 17 seconds. That was 5 mph faster than his yamaha on his current 767 lb. boat. Jim's Oasis T boat will weight 745 to 750 lbs. with that motor on it. Being 130 lbs lighter than the test boat he will at least be 1 to 4 mph faster than the test boat and much quicker.
A note on the Speed Concern in T850Class members View of T Class Specs.Most of the racers want No teardowns and keep it simple.
For some the quote is: If they want to tear me down I will just DQ myself. I do not care about
points.
CBF and TORC’S view is to keep it safe and have the speeds below or near the Records for the class.
Do not get them involved if you have spec issues with racers when you are not enforcing them.
The current rules have the boats running in the desired speed range.
Do we have a problem? Not Yet. Could we…yes. The only problem I currently see is an under weight boat with a STRONG OMC 56’r on it.
We know a few of the boats in T850 are below 725 lbs.
A legal stock 49 cubic inch OMC or a Yamaha 70CES can get high 60's to very low 70’s on a 625 lb boat.
The problem comes when a strong 56’r runs on that same 625 lb. boat.
Now your in the Mid 70’s and very dangerous for the size of boat.
Hdog and others, it is timely(60days prior to WF) to establish a process, the criteria and method, by which to enforce slowing down T850 rigs exceeding an established speed threshold.
A boat could exceed the threshold due to lightness of weight, overpowered, or other. T850 rules have established minimum weight, cu.in., compression, and other specifications. All drivers must be familiar with these and will be held responsible to ensure their equipment meets these specifications. Lack of understanding these rules(NOT guidelines)is not an acceptable excuse to be permitted to race.
Options to slow down boats in excess of threshold has been previously mentioned(eg: propping down). Who will inventory a range of props, bring to venues, enforce propping down on raceday, determine which prop is selected? T inspector? Or how(bolted of course) and where(transom/floor) will weight be affixed to a boat to make minimum?
Most agree it is not in T interests to have an excessively fast boat(70/72/74/76+?) on the course which compromises the safety of an individual or other drivers. No individual driver should get a pass and allowed on the course to race in excess of the threshold if they consent to be DQ'd, whether before the race or instead of being subjected a teardown. Being on the course jeopardizes their safety and that of others. If an accident occurs, TORC/T will have much larger issues of risk/liabilty/jeopardizing future racing, if discovered the racer was permitted on the course with equipment outside established criteria/rules.
Although 'T-party' event early May is meant for pre-season inspection(eg: weigh-in, compression test, safety eqpmnt, cu. in., etc...), not all 2012 racers can attend. How/when will inspection be administered and enforced prior to each venue for those not previously inspected? I'm thinking those not previously passed must have this completed the Friday evening prior to Sat/Sun racing. Of those previously passed a random number should be re-inspected to maintain integrity.
The concerns over speed Jim911/you raise are valid, have been raised before, remain in the interests of all drivers and the class should defer to your collective experience. 2012 has several new drivers, and other drivers who have upped their game for 2012.
T class Fair Competition Rule is in effect, but I see a need for further defined criteria around maximum speed threshold and practical raceday enforcement. If a protocol is established and practiced successfully in 2012, this can be proposed and accepted into Tclass racing rules for 2013.
