Rules 2011

[shifter]

SCCA has buggered up every successful pro series they ever had (Can-Am, Trans-Am, Formula 5000). When will the rulemakers ever get it that the more restrictive the rules, the more prohibitive the development costs become to stay competitive?



I am helping out on the 2011 Popra rulebook next week. Above is a statement made by a friend about racing. Interesting how things are not much different.

If anyone has any input to what they would like to see in our rulebook let me know.

Thanks,

pat W

[Wazzup Racing]

Keep it simple. GO FAST, TURN LEFT.

[heater63]

How bout the same rules that will be in the OPA rule book?

[imco offshore]

Pat ,,did i see a thread where ,Brad said APBA was working on your rules ,,about a week or two ago,,

[shifter]

Keep it simple. GO FAST, TURN LEFT.

I agree with that. but still restrictive need some rights too.

Brad is the president but also a client so he is involved in the rules. He is a puppet though.....

pat W

[shifter]

2011 POPRA Board of Directors

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

President- Brad Johnson
Vice President- Troy Juve
VP of Race Operations- Ross Wallach
Treasurer- Bill Gravel
Secretary- Sarah Burdick
North Competition Representative - Trevor Rebolo
South Competition Representative - Pat Weismann

POPRA
P.O. Box 6165
Tahoe City, CA 96145

(530) 550-1638


Congratulations to Ross,Bill and Sara our newest BOD members!!

www.pacificoffshore.com

pat W

[Ron P]

Hey Pat, is POPRA running as an APBA catigory this year?

[shifter]

Yes, Offshore category.

pat W

[XtremeRacing]

Good luck

[shifter]

Ron,

Do you have your rules set yet?

I talked to Brad tonite about the rules for a while. I am not sure why there is 5 mph between some of the classes. It needs a haircut.

I was looking at:

Sportsman class = newcomers seeing if they would like to race.

P3 up to 85 mph

P2 up to 100 mph

P1 up to 115 mph

PX anything to 160

Nothing else. Tech was back to Jackets, fire extiguishers, Class C licence, radios, compass or GPS, Helmets, etc... Standard Performance rules.

After the race chips turned in and speeds are checked. Done.

pat W

[Steve Miklos]

Ron,

Do you have your rules set yet?

I talked to Brad tonite about the rules for a while. I am not sure why there is 5 mph between some of the classes. It needs a haircut.

I was looking at:

Sportsman class = newcomers seeing if they would like to race.

P3 up to 85 mph

P2 up to 100 mph

P1 up to 115 mph

PX anything to 160

Nothing else. Tech was back to Jackets, fire extiguishers, Class C licence, radios, compass or GPS, Helmets, etc... Standard Performance rules.

After the race chips turned in and speeds are checked. Done.

pat W

Those are big spreads in MPH. Unless you have specific boats in mind that will most probably not make for close racing.
Steve

[Ron P]

Pat - OPA used the following for bracket classes.

Class 6 - 70mph
Class 5 - 75mph
Class 4 - 85mph
Class 3 - 95mph
Class 2 has become Super Vee
Class 1 - 115mph

Pull our rules at www.oparacing.org and take a look.

Class 5 is by far our largest fleet.

[Ron P]

Pat,

I've got to ask since I can't see it...

What is the benifit of paying APBA dues and fees to become an APBA club? OPA looked at it too, but we just couldn't see the benifit when compared to the costs....and giving up some control. I guess SBI feels the same way since JC gave up the APBA liscence.

[XtremeRacing]

Way to costly and no benifit at all that we could see.... Absolutely no support !

[XtremeRacing]

From what I can see there many goal is to mandate you buy their insurance and that is their cash cow.

[Ron P]

Exactly Frank, that's all we could see of the APBA proposal too.

That's why I asked. Maybe POPRA saw a benifit that we missed.

[XtremeRacing]

A better question might be what is APBA, they dont have races , rule book, and they dont supply support at the race sites. So what do they really do and what is their purpose??

[shifter]

Ahh yes. The mysteries of offshore one step at a time.

The first step for me is to reduce the classes.

Get prize money for the competetors is #2.

We made big steps last year at Popra. Now we need to make more positive steps.

The first event for us in 2011 is the Salton Sea Kilo run. It is an APBA certified event. The course is surveyed and uses timing lights for acuracy. I like the fact that the competitors get something besides a trophy or a plaque. The also get into the record books.

The problem I see is the boats are now soft. The poker runners do not race because they know the boats cannot turn. What do they do about it? Nothing. So they are cruzing along at an event at 170 plus and someone crosses into their path... can they turn? Doubtful.

First we start with reducing the classes to concentrate the racing. This will benefit the fans and get the racers some much needed competition.

pat W

[Ratickle]

Ron,

Do you have your rules set yet?

I talked to Brad tonite about the rules for a while. I am not sure why there is 5 mph between some of the classes. It needs a haircut.

I was looking at:

Sportsman class = newcomers seeing if they would like to race.

P3 up to 85 mph

P2 up to 100 mph

P1 up to 115 mph

PX anything to 160

Nothing else. Tech was back to Jackets, fire extiguishers, Class C licence, radios, compass or GPS, Helmets, etc... Standard Performance rules.

After the race chips turned in and speeds are checked. Done.

pat W

I do not believe you have enough classes for GPS mentioned here.

The reason I say that, there are not a lot of "weekend warrior / pleasure" boats that will run at 85mph and still handle in a race type situation. I've wondered, and discussed, the 70 mph and 75 mph classes in OPA. But, after a lot of review, I have come tot he conclusion that they have made great increases in the number of boats just because there are those two classes. The additional rules requirements of hull type and size, and number of motors, is what make the difference. And it is the weekend warrior you are trying to attract into racing their pleasure boat now as a double duty hull, then move up into a race only boat later.

Face it, even if I have a boat capapble of 95+ mph in a 70 mph class, I cannot compete with it if any size and design of hull is allowed in that 70 mph class. So, the 26 foot, Vee only, single only, rule makes the boat capable with the others. Same thing with class 5, 75 mph 30 foot, rule.

I do like the breakout rules in P1 (?) for their sportsman class much better than the one in OPA or SBI though. There are too many races where a lot of boats break out. Then the winners are decided by who did it the least and when? Giving a little leniancy, 3 times by less than 1 mph with time penalties or however it reads, seems to be better in my mind.

The rule I struggle with the most, if a boat breaks out often, (not including the river runs where there is 5 or 6 mph current to deal with), when do you require them to move up a class????? Ever ???????

[Whoz Your Daddy]

K I S S
Keep it simple STUPID

One reason we race in 5 with OPA We are able to run a 1979 old school race boat have fun and with a little luck have a shot at a checkerd flag once in a while. Is it always perfect? Not a chance!!! But it works for a lot of guys running way to many types of diffrent boats and motor packages and in 95% of the cases it keeps things pretty well rounded and a level field. We race for fun. There will never be enuff $$$$ involved in this class of racing to make it so serious as to spend years of arguing about rules and classes to make it worth it. OPA works use it as a crystal ball if you will. If it aint broke? Why fix it.

My 2 cents

Mike O
Bored at home LMAO