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First. I am sorry I had to miss the races. This summer has been tough on everyone in my family. Bad enough to lose Jim's Godfather 7 weeks after he was given a year and a half, to be followed by my brother in law 5 weeks after a lung transplant and 2 days before he was going home. It's been a sad time around here.

Anyway I have had some feedback from some of the racers and some fans.
First T put on a great show both days. A number of different racers had the lead and good finishes because of good starts.

Some notes and things to think about.
- full cut suits next year. Make sure you have your own.
- Zonka YES you can have a radio and a spotter. We had a special deal last year on radios and know one got one.
- on Sunday when T was last in the program you should of asked for 2 heats and split the boats. The officials may have allowed it.
- there are a least 3 new T boats next year. We should have Larry, John, Dave, Jim, Scott?, Doug?, Jennifer, Tunnelly in as well. I bet we have 16 boats per race. We are going to run heats for sure and start thinking about the grouping.
-DOC's Yamaha was leading in a race! Rice is back.
- we have found that the same head on different OMC 56 motors is resulting in different compression numbers. Maybe we should go with a cc measurement instead.
- motor inspection..maybe go with a sealed motor or a simple head and port height measurement
- pump gas is fuel from the gas station. Our motors should run fine of premium 91 octane.
- Have something colourful on your boat so it stands out. The numbers are difficult to read. Something bright and different really helps. Example Jakes bright green engine cowl.
- the clock needs a sun shade. Many jumped the start.
- more cameras on boats during races

Keep adding!

I'm sorry to hear about your family's loss Don....that is tough.

We did miss having you at the race...it's REALLY nice to have someone on shore who knows our routine and to get people moving.

Engine rules:
160lbs compression...I've only been to two races (the two big ones) and I haven't seen anyone tested...including myself. Before we go worrying about sealing motors and measuring port heights start with the easy stuff. Top 3 get tested coming out of the water....With the way things shook out this weekend it's clear that both the Yamaha and 49 can run up front. Jake and I both were at the front on Sunday...because we got the start (same old story...). Hydroid won a heat I think without trim....
My point in all of this is that instead of worrying about what is under my hood worry about not jumping the start. We have some basic rules but instead of challenging someone to do a compression test we have guys (mostly just one) flocking to get a glimpse of any motor with the hood off....politics like this will kill the class.

Splitting the class...This was brought up over the weekend because one or two racers were concerned with how rough it got. I ran in the pack on Saturday and it was rough (i'm not sure if it was rougher than Gravenhurst though) but it was also a HUGE show filled with battles from front to back. I think if/when you split the class than you've got 5 boats running around in a line and no real racing takes place. The rough is a great equalizer and it teaches you more about boat control than gliding along in the calm. TORC says we have to split the class at 12 boats and I think that is a good number if only because we'll have better racing and better racers because of it.

Is pump gas a rule or is legal gas a rule? I ran a 50/50 mix in Gravenhurst with the CES head (turns out I only had 145lbs of compression anyways) to be safe. The fuel passes tech and is only for safety sake....it also helps save OMC center cylinders that have an inherent cooling issue (according to BRF).

Dunnville was a great race weekend with a bunch a GREAT action in our class and we need to keep our eyes on the big picture here...we race for the enjoyment of it....there is no prize money or trophies and most of us are there for the social aspect of it as much as the competition. Let's not lose that....

Thanks Rick for your comments. Many of the new racers are in the process of building motors for next year. They are asking. What motor should they build. What block to use, how much should they cut the head? The question is only regarding the OMC 56. The racers want to follow the rules and are looking for a more accurate way of building the motor. Paul and Gig have built and assembled most of the 56 motors. Maybe they can give us a measurement for the head and that would be the spec.
For you new racers. Don't get caught up and worry about boat weight and motors. The key to this class is THE START and DRIVING! Being 50 lbs over weight will have little effect on a clock start. Watch the videos. You don't see a boat that is running in 4th at the start win. You see boats that are middle of the pack one heat, win the next heat because of the good start. DOC and ERIK showed that at Dunnville.
That being said. I know the comfort feeling of knowing your 100% legal and you win! That is very important to a lot of us.
We will be able to come up with some better detailed specs for those that want them. We can get a group together and work on them over the winter.

I think a quick phone call to Paul or Gig would solve that. 6 of the 10 motors at Dunnville came from Paul (6 out of 7 56's actually) so if you need info on those or parts those guys CLEARLY don't mind helping racers. I think Elsey cc'd the head anyways so the info is out there...

Just like you said Don the new guys will struggle no matter what power they choose (LC is recommending a good Chrysler FYI ) until they get the starts nailed down and learn how to turn.

Like did I miss something at the ramp I thought everyone was smiling when they got off the course.

Sounds like alot of rules for the 56...I think I will run a chizzler next year!

if the guys are looking for an accurate way of building the motors then ask someone that has built one it doesn't have to be part of the rules...next someone is gonna tell me what jets I have to run in a 56...what about deck height?....what about gasket thickness...if people want SST45- SST60 etc. specs type stuff for the class just say it and then people can decide if the class is for them or not.

You better add to the spec sheet for the class "Balls like Luksep" cause your gonna need a set to get by that guy!

Paul. I did reply to your e-mail. We will never keep everyone happy. I do think it is an easy fix for the specs. The problem is were getting different compressions with the same head on different years of 56'rs. Some heads need to be below a SST 60 head spec to get the same 160 compression. I don't see any need to do detailed specs sheets for all the combinations. The motors are very equal. But, for those guys that want. I think we can do a spec for 1 block. Those racers can all built the same motor. Will it be better than the others? No. But, it will make that group happy.

LOL...He's gonna wear out those steering cables...

Great racing with all the boats out there, I think it was better with more than 5. If you want to use compression rule could you not leave it at that, simply you must pass compression with a gauge that has been calibrated? Use stock carbs, electrics and blocks? do you want to be pulling heads at the race? Check the top 3 after every race.
I thought it was great this year having the extra launch ramp and tractors. The street being closed both days was great. The food vendors pricing was a little steep at $5 hamburg and $2 small pop. Dunnville has a history of boat racing and obviously the support of the town is still there!
I had trouble as a spectator with the new clock, i couldn't see it to tell where it was at and who jumped. Also i had friends who had never been to a boat race and thought the time between action was a bit much, i thought it went better on sunday.
Overall it was a great weekend and great to see the different competition in T boat. Lots of different people up at the front and some wild driving. Erik was using a lot of steering and ridin the sidewalls. Dave had a little ride exiting turn 4 sunday that looked like fun!

Just want to underline what Don has emphasized for YEARS: "NOTHING will replace good start, consistent lap times, good driving, and set up. Don't use lake set up, for the course acceleration is key".

This yarn may cause nausea(make u puke), but I was probably runnning the least prepared engine/boat combo out there and am compelled to share.
I was too embarrassed to admit prior to or at DV, after all the stupid mistakes I have created for myself, and # of times I have sheepishly gone down 400 to TG/Gig for help. The fastest speed the Vdoo has clocked is 69mph to TG.
I did NOT run TG's high comp 56ci(150+) powerhead at DV, because..... I blew the head gasket weekend prior probably because I didn't run higher octane fuel as I was told I should.
I was testing props, all going well, until speed/acceleration came down. Checked compression, middle cylinder down at 85psi, other 2 at 150-155, F ME!!!!
Well, that was it, I was NOT going to jeopardize this precious powerhead any more in 2012. T Season is over, done, cooked, baked, fried, sewn up with a bow on it! Viagra couldn't give me a rise.
Friend on the lake who's had enough of my sob stories, took me to task Sunday, said: "DICKHEAD, PUT YOUR PANTS BACK ON! YOU'RE RACING T AT DV, IT WILL HAPPEN!!!" and ".....why are you always taking your pants off?"

Monday night we tore down my phead, he provided his spare 56 block, another donated 4 spline crank. Block had used bearings/rings/rods/pistons(one aftermarket, looked like a Libby's bean can). From my TG56, removed carbs/manifold/reeds/flywheel/electronics, found a medium compression head which.... might work.
Got gaskets Tuesday, we put parts back together, crank/bearings/seals/rods/pistons/reeds/manifold/carbs/stator/flywheel/starter/head, put it on mid(f'n gasket slides around), wiring/fuel/controls/battery, shorted some wiring, sparks & smoke like fire crackers at Chinese New Year; OK, we MacIver'ed something together. We put in FAT jets, to make suuure it didn't lean out. But will it start/stay together, and what is comp???...Shit, with the compression relief holes in cylinders, god knows how worn pistons/rings, possible out of round cylinders, compression is at....115-120psi on all 3cyl,...WTF?....limp noodle, again. Oh well, valiant effort.

OK, sigh...will it start? BRAAAP, BRAAAP, BRAAAP, PURRRRRrrrrr! F'n YES, It's ALIVE.,...IGOR, It's ALIIIVVE!!! It was like Dr Frankenstein's moment of glory, dark of night in the tower, sparks flying, it moves, it pisses, IT'S ALIIIVE!!
BUT!! I knew the Villagers(racers) at DVille will be all over this monstrosity, swarming with pitchforks, shovels, axes, if they look under the cowl. I could already hear faint Gigerisms and the humiliation: "Hey Lukshit, WTF is THIS?,...WTF is THAT Lipsuck?" Gotta keep Frankie under wraps, quiet, discrete, stealth like a Franken Freak Ninja.
But haven't tested, propped, only have 2 small 60HP props, race in 3 days, no water or time to test. Will run it gently Friday afternoon at DV, break in, allow bearings, crank, head, to seat, hoping against hope it stays together. Tested it gently Friday afternoon and it stayed together. Max speed 62mph, not a smidge over. But, I know the boat likes it rough. But, engine not mine, don't F'n break this one too...or I'll have to sell Jr's testicles on Kijiji to some impotent Arab Prince with a harem,....hmmm, potential sponsor, the Arab, not Kijiji.
Gotta wrap this up,...the rest of the story happened on the race course.
I was motivated to drive this thing like a bat out of hell, for the guys that got me on the water.
Basically I drove a worn, low compression engine with mismatched tin cans for pistons, god knows how loose rings, fat jets, cobblled together 3 days prior, small 11.5"x22" prop(YES, no shit!), a boat only outweighed/built by the Queen Mary, NO trim, gearFOOT way deep bc of 4 hole pick up, a hook and chips out of pad gelcoat( I think Gig bounced it on 400), bow jammed with foam, foot kept slipping off pedal bc I pushed seat/weight all way back to shift weight, and 6" jackplate for an anchor.
Is anything right with this picture???? ...Other than the fact that I am NOT complaining about spec this and that, I drove the shit out of that thing and am satisfied with my results, good or bad.
I repeat, from Obee-DON-Kenobee: "NOTHING will replace good start, consistent lap times, good driving, and set up. Don't use lake set up, for the course, acceleration is key".
I will add, 4 years of hydro racing adds experience, to watch the water, constantly shoulder check who's behind/beside you, drive strategically. Seat time is key, I learned a lot Sat/Sun, will adopt new T driving strategies, different from hydros. Will I hook again in future, for sure, need drive smart to minimize this.
Get in and drive! Outdrive your own boat, your competition, then look under your cowl, but you don't have to look under anyone else's.
Adios!

Luksep...You never cease to amaze me. Put some effing pants on!

You do make some very good points in there though. I especially agree with the last sentence lol...I will add that anyone genuinely needing help to get in the class only has to ask for it. There are many guys in the class that will do whatever it takes to help get another boat racing and competitive.