Forums

OK Matt's on the button, when I was last on committee we reinstated the 23cc class as P1, to get the remaining 23cc engines off the shelves back on the water. Because the Stock class had been called P1 for a while up to that point, we simply called it the stock zenoah class as defined in the NZMPBA General racing rules. Note that the Stock Zenoah can be raced in T1 thunderboat, crackerbox and Offshore, as Steve says above.

The reality is that if you want entry level classes to run at low cost then run a T1 thunderboat,or an offshore boat. Both classes are designed for that purpose. Some clubs are running the crackerbox class and having heaps of fun too.

there's no need for a modified engined boat to be competitive in offshore, Birmy Korving has won the national offshore series twice in the last three years and got second, with an un-modified Zenoah 260 zenoah. I think he might run an Ally Iso block which is why he races as a P2, but he's had no internal mods done to his engine. I've won the series twice and have run a modified P2 since 2008, I'm running my second jug in 12 years. Modified engines do not make the sport expensive, if you stick with tried and proven oils and mix ratios, and don't buy engines from people screwing the last piece of horsepower out of an engine with excessively high exhaust timings that weaken the jug.

If you want entry level you have three classes, and an entry level modeller can have all the fun they want running a unmodified engine mono and or cat in offshore and club oval racing.

The other issue with Stock engines, is we then get to fight about who's running illegal stock engines. Then the fun really starts when we start accusing each other of using teflon coated pistons etc. and demand scrutineered stock engines. No thank you maam!

This hobby doesn't need anymore aggro than it already has. Let's get back to run what you brung and start having fun again. We need people to start turning up to club days, having fun and sticking around, to grow our number, not more racing classes.

Actually Brian as you have not attended or run at club days for quite some time (years now) you are a fair way off base here. You know very well that our club days are run what you brung and we cater something for everyone. While everyone is going to have a go at winning races, the focus is on trying to enjoy what we do. With new members we try to encourage them to get their boats set up and running well, focus on finishing races first and the natural result of that is they will become more competitive. As usual you have spent more time in your own head, and no time at the pond being involved with the club days. BTW, T1 Thunderboat is as good a boat as a mono to start with, and is our most popular class. Maybe you should check yourself, because I can remember you banging on about how you were going to beat everybody with twin setups and a tunnel with a quickdraw motor etc. At the end of the day you can be part of the problem or part of the solution.

It is up to individual clubs as to how they run, that has nothing to do with the NZMPBA. The class rules that are set by The NZMPBA only apply to National championships and records, other than that they are a working guideline. There no way they can mandate or enforce anything to individual clubs. That is up to the clubs themselves and their members. You obviously do not understand what the 'Association' bit means.

I think you're both over complicating it;
1. If you have issues with faster boats running over slower boats, that's a driver skill issue. Nothing more nothing less, rubbing is racing they say, but perpetual offenders need a good talking to, and a progression of consequences if they don't change their ways..
2. The more administration complications you add, the less people you will have stepping forward to run events. The whole stock engine issue is a nightmare to administrate. Having somebody checking engine internals etc. Sounds fine in theory, but it's an administrative headache that won't solve the problem you have.
3. Newbies can and should run their offshore boats in club mono racing. Big Red has won a few national oval titles over the years, and isn't that much slower with a stock engine. You have beginner classes in crackerbox, T1 and Offshore. Get people running in those classes and maximise their time on the water buy running in the other petrol hydro events (i.e T2 (yep, there's nothing stopping you running a stock Zenoah with other brands of 26cc non-modified engines), Petrol Sport Hydro, and mono classes with offshore boats)

Actually you are all over thinking the whole thing. ALL the classes are there as rule sets that really only apply to National Championship competition and records. Aside from these there is in fact little the (engine) class rules matter for at club level unless clubs utilize them for competition.
Offshore quite frankly would be better off without classes and be run open with boats simply meeting engine class requirements to be 'legal',i.e. it could be stock Zenoah 26, P2, P3 etc. (with the one boat/replacement for the season rule intact). The end result is an overall one for the trophy anyway and you would then moot the engine class debate period.
As far as checking stock motors, there is a clear rule (T1 motor) and 'dummies guide' for this and even the electric guy could tech them. Checking stock engines is really only something that needs to be used for place winners at a Nationals or record breaking. It is also at the discretion of the contest director. Y'all make this stuff more difficult than it is really!