IMPBA Boats per class

[FloridaScaleBoater]

Six boats unless agreed to by the drivers of that class/heat

Jerry,

Making that decision at race time does not work when setting up a race and it's heats. That needs to be planned before the race is advertised. Limiting boat numbers will also limit the total entry numbers for the race. It becomes a double edged sword. Reducing the boats in a heat can make the CD work easier as well as less carnage for the racers. The racing can be improved as well not having to dodge dead boats each lap. But then racers gripe about not getting into a race, especially a major one. It is a tough balance to consider. Each race site is different. Some sites have the room to do 8 boat heats and some do not. It needs to be site specific decided by the clubs hosting the races and not legislated at the national level.

Very well put John,,

As you know, first hand.... It IS a BALANCING act.

To please all of the racers, is never an easy task!

 

[Jerry T]

Sorry guys, I was thinking about smaller races where you have boats not showing up or dropping out, and you can combine heats.

Instead of running 2 heats of 4 & 3, run all 7 at once.

 

[Joe Warren]

Six boats unless agreed to by the drivers of that class/heat

Jerry,

Making that decision at race time does not work when setting up a race and it's heats. That needs to be planned before the race is advertised. Limiting boat numbers will also limit the total entry numbers for the race. It becomes a double edged sword. Reducing the boats in a heat can make the CD work easier as well as less carnage for the racers. The racing can be improved as well not having to dodge dead boats each lap. But then racers gripe about not getting into a race, especially a major one. It is a tough balance to consider. Each race site is different. Some sites have the room to do 8 boat heats and some do not. It needs to be site specific decided by the clubs hosting the races and not legislated at the national level.

I dont know of a Single lake that has room for 8 F hydros or Twins on the front stretch at the same time!!!!! You either have a short end of the lake on the right or the #6 buoy & bank are a Pinch Point. I ask this question for Safety. Not clubs overselling their event. Its only a matter of time that a few boats get pushed up onto the bank on a start. Because of the numbers. If you are running 8 Boats in F hydro, F mono & Twin classes you may want to restrain the spectators from the waters edge & keep them on there feet.....

 

[henry velasco]

Not always but more than six boats per heat you wind up doging dead boats and going that fast is not good for the old ticker :unsure:

 

[Tony Jacuzzi]

I cant think and call fast enough for 8 boat heats with boats that are cooking quick . When the dead wood starts piling up I have a very hard time finding the dead wood, telling the driver where it is and what lane and then help him with the race etc.

 

[RonShaw]

Six boats unless agreed to by the drivers of that class/heat

Jerry,

Making that decision at race time does not work when setting up a race and it's heats. That needs to be planned before the race is advertised. Limiting boat numbers will also limit the total entry numbers for the race. It becomes a double edged sword. Reducing the boats in a heat can make the CD work easier as well as less carnage for the racers. The racing can be improved as well not having to dodge dead boats each lap. But then racers gripe about not getting into a race, especially a major one. It is a tough balance to consider. Each race site is different. Some sites have the room to do 8 boat heats and some do not. It needs to be site specific decided by the clubs hosting the races and not legislated at the national level.

John,

I agree for all classes except F and twin classes. Only those two classes should have 6 boats per heat national limit. All others should be decided by local clubs and site conditions.

 

[David Murany]

Anything more than 6 boats becomes a battle of survival. Its hard to have good racing when its like that but the discretion of the club is really the last say.

 

[SeanKewley]

It needs to be site specific decided by the clubs hosting the races and not legislated at the national level.

Yep.

 

[SeanKewley]

7 boat Sport 40 heat in Mendota, IL. Big pond. Only issues was the rough water.

 

[JeremyEdge]

We have raced 8 boat heats of 40 and 60 down here in Flordia, But it does get crazy real FAST.

 

[BigChuck]

Scale class has a six boat limit..........Why??? Is the price of the equipment any different...??? over the years even a 8 boat tunnel heat is not a good thing.

One of the added down sides to large numbers in a heat is time lose in retrieval. What you hope to gain in cutting down the number of heats you lose in time on race day.

 

[SayMikey]

Chuck try putting a sponson on a scale boat! Isnt it funny how some races fill to the brim in a few days while others struggle to just race. As John Knight said you just have to deal with the numbers sometimes as in Atlanta with huge class numbers its a struggle. When I saw 8 40 hydros in a heat I bailed,call me wut you want but im not made of money. I will however enjoy the classes I entered and video as much racing as I can. Maybe instead of a hot dog vendor we need a sponson and boom tube vendor LOL Lets race

 

[Don Ferrette]

"One of the added down sides to large numbers in a heat is time lose in retrieval. What you hope to gain in cutting down the number of heats you lose in time on race day."

BINGO!!!!!

This is 100% SPOT ON THE MARK!!!! Chuck absolutely nailed it here as there is nothing that kills the tempo of an event more than excessive boat retrieval. I've spent enough time both racing and in the CD chair over the years to know this all too well, higher boat counts in the heats don't save time, they cost you time. :wacko:

 

[Tim Kish]

Eight 20 mono's sounds like a blast , eight twins not so much. :lol:

Tim

 

[dwilfong]

It comes down to how many boats can you run in the time given. Some clubs will pack the heats to get good numbers for income and bragging rights.

This is at the expense of the drivers in the race.

The gas classes run high heat counts to accommodate all the racers. some races there are 6 or 7 rounds per heat.

The gas monos have no problem running theses number.

The problem is the nitro classes are most of the time much smaller. not much left in time after the gas classes are all accommodated for.

Run 350 boats in 3 days and tell me what the class sizes should be.

6 fast hydros in the water is a hand full . lose 2 or 3 during the race and it is a test of skill to run around the dead boats at 80+ MPH.

No fun tip toeing around dead boats or being run over if you are the dead boat.

Run 3 and 4 before you run 7 that is my feelings on it.

If you don't have the time don't take the entry to fill the bank!!!!!!!!!!!

Leave it up to the club running the race. If you don't like the boat count per heat don't go.

This will change the tune of the hosting club.

David

 

[Tom Foley]

Scale class has a six boat limit..........Why??? Is the price of the equipment any different...??? over the years even a 8 boat tunnel heat is not a good thing.

One of the added down sides to large numbers in a heat is time lose in retrieval. What you hope to gain in cutting down the number of heats you lose in time on race day.

So true . You can run two four boat heats faster than one 8 boat heat from what I have seen and been a part of . Good post .

 

[Elias Vazquez]

"One of the added down sides to large numbers in a heat is time lose in retrieval. What you hope to gain in cutting down the number of heats you lose in time on race day."

BINGO!!!!!

This is 100% SPOT ON THE MARK!!!! Chuck absolutely nailed it here as there is nothing that kills the tempo of an event more than excessive boat retrieval. I've spent enough time both racing and in the CD chair over the years to know this all too well, higher boat counts in the heats don't save time, they cost you time. :wacko:

Not only is it a "bingo" but a "man alive bingo" in that it becomes a "survival" and "dodge the dead wood heat" instead of a real "race".

 

[BigChuck]

"One of the added down sides to large numbers in a heat is time lose in retrieval. What you hope to gain in cutting down the number of heats you lose in time on race day."

BINGO!!!!!

This is 100% SPOT ON THE MARK!!!! Chuck absolutely nailed it here as there is nothing that kills the tempo of an event more than excessive boat retrieval. I've spent enough time both racing and in the CD chair over the years to know this all too well, higher boat counts in the heats don't save time, they cost you time. :wacko:

Not only is it a "bingo" but a "man alive bingo" in that it becomes a "survival" and "dodge the dead wood heat" instead of a real "race".

NOW...Add to the ponit of this thread. The Safety factor goes up. What was normal running room,based on the size of the lake.................Just got very small.

As for Boat count.................350 boats in three days...yes it is do able. Weather permitting.

180 heats called in two days......again weather permitting.

8 boats in 40 hydro class...............Mike you are right for that.

 

[Ron Jefferson]

It becomes a tough decision all the way around. Like Tim says, 8 20 mono's is a blast but 8 twins would definately be scarry. It's for sure up to the host club and depends on a bunch of factors, safety being the biggest. What I don't like is splitting up smaller classes into 4/3 boat heats. 3 of anything gets boring and lacks competition no matter what pond you're at. I often wonder why bigger ponds have the course set so close to the bank.

 

[RonShaw]

Scale class has a six boat limit..........Why??? Is the price of the equipment any different...??? over the years even a 8 boat tunnel heat is not a good thing.

One of the added down sides to large numbers in a heat is time lose in retrieval. What you hope to gain in cutting down the number of heats you lose in time on race day.

Chuck,

There is nothing like an 8 boat tunnel race. 20, 40, open. Done every year in Charleston and I have never heard a complaint, period. Of course, tunnel drivers are a cut above.....

Lets stick with Twin, F Hydro, and maybe scale. Lets leave the other classes up to the limits of the race site and the clubs.