Should LOTO revert to the old rules?

[Hellbent]

LOTO has had great success regarding injuries/fatalities during the shootout in years past but given the unfortunate accident this year, should they revert to some of the old rules and eliminate some/all of the run-up to the first buoy? They've obviously changed the rules over the years to see higher mph's but perhaps this isn't the environment to be shooting for 300mph. Thoughts?

 

[endeavor1]

I say let them enter the trap at whatever speed they want. Why go slower just to make it more of a drag race? Top speed is always the name of the game.

 

[Ratickle]

That's a tough question to answer. The root question is, "Are the boats going too fast"?

I do not know, but all top speed contests, in any sport, are very dangerous. At LOTO, I believe the ramp up speed has gone from a dead stop, to 20 mph, to 30 mph, to 40 mph. The difference at the end, especially for some of the larger cats, would have to be almost double that initial start up speed?

 

[endeavor1]

That's a tough question to answer. The root question is, "Are the boats going too fast"?

I do not know, but all top speed contests, in any sport, are very dangerous. At LOTO, I believe the ramp up speed has gone from a dead stop, to 20 mph, to 30 mph, to 40 mph. The difference at the end, especially for some of the larger cats, would have to be almost double that initial start up speed?

Top speed contest - key word

It's not the drag boat assn ( who am I kidding, most big "offshore" boats are inside lakes) lol

 

[Bobcat]

Do they still use the "Trailer Launch Rule" ? I remember that this was the reason Miss Budweiser dropped out.

 

[Ratickle]

Not that I'm aware of. I thought they eliminated that rule when they allowed the Unlimited Hydro to run.

 

[Ratickle]

I guess my opinion is they should not try to slow the boats down unless they have an issue with insurance. We all know we do dangerous stuff in boats that could cost us a serious issue at some point in time. The Shootout is one of the safest venues anywhere there is to run a boat at close to maximum speed. If something goes wrong, you have as good of a chance there as anywhere to get help rapidly. We know the risks.

If there is any chance someone not participating in the event could be hurt, that is something that would need to be addressed immediately. Are the spectators back far enough so the result of a major failure to steering or ? would make it such that the spectators are protected? If so, then speed should not be a factor.

That boat was running around 195 earlier in the week in testing so it wasn't as if they were running at a speed they had not surpassed prior to the incident.

We'll see what the results are, but I think they should continue with the same rules they currently enforce.

 

[Ratickle]

Some history:

Year - Top Speed

2006 - 208
2007 - 209
2008 - 178
2009 - 196
2010 - 208
2011 - 208
2012 - 192
2013 - 224
2014 - 244