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Been very quiet e-mail wise other than the local T racers. There is another thread about the changes in T. The T Group is currently working on the TECH part of the rules and there is a lot of compression testing happening this week. Their focus is on the OMC 56 blocks because they are the most popular and there are 4 different versions.
I did get one question which has been asked several times before and the answer is worth repeating.
Question:
Don, I can't believe that a T boat that is 7 to 8 mph slower than another boat on the race course can beat the faster boat.
The ET has to be quicker with the faster boat.
Answer:
The most important number is ACCELERATION TIME! How long it takes and what distance does it take to reach top speed.
Oval racing is a drag race on the straights and a road course in the corner. The boat must be good a both. Watch the videos of a T race. Some boats are very good in one section of the course and not in the other part. You can have way more top speed on the straightway, only to be passed in the corner, you may have more top speed, but the slower boat accelerates faster out of the corner and you have to catch and pass it. You need approximately 3 mph more mph over the slower boat to pass it. Another important factor is MID range acceleration. How quick the motor responds. The driver is constantly on and off the throttle because of water conditions and traffic. The boat with quicker response and mid range can out accelerate the other boat. T boats have a limited top speed. I will repeat it again! T boats have a limited top speed. It is the boat itself. You can add lots of horsepower and gain very little top end speed. You cannot keep control of a T boat on the race course over 70 mph. The race course perfect T boat runs 68 mph with accleration and handling. Top end is only good if you can use it. The racers will tell you after lap two they cannot keep their throttle wide open very long. The average lap speed is approximately 60 mph in T850. T is a driver's class. Lots of boats in the heats, rough water. different models of boats and drivers with different abilities. You need the complete package to be top 3 all the time and make the best finish out of very race you enter. Get a good start and you have a very good chance of a good finish. Get a poor start and the best driver with the best boat is unlikely to finish first. Get a good dependable motor, a good prop or two and learn to drive.
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