K&B 21 Open Class

[BobBonahoom]

The Twin Cites club has decided to run a new fun class. The idea is to have a class for 21 K&B engines only independent of hull type. It is the "K&B 21 Open" class. If boaters show up with any hull (mono, hydro, tunnel, etc.) with a 21 K&B engine (inboard or outboard), we will run the class and all boats will compete with each other. The engine just needs to be 100% K&B internal parts. You can modify the engine as much as you like, but you need to use K&B internal parts. We are hoping people will dust off those old K&Bs and get them running again!

I just built mostly from scratch version of a JAE 21 GT with a new K&B 3.5 engine that I picked up on IW for $50.

 

[LarryConrad]

My K&B is only an 11. Can I run it with the 21’s?

 

[BobBonahoom]

View attachment 271448 My K&B is only an 11. Can I run it with the 21’s?

Larry, assume you are kidding...its a K&B 21 only class.

I forgot to give credit to Rod Geraghty, as it is from his nostalgic mind that this idea came.

 

[LarryConrad]

Of course I’m kidding. The only 21 K&B I have is a SS .21 outboard. I’m pretty sure it won’t be competitive against a piped up inboard Jae...unless you lean out or throw a rod...

 

[osracer]

Of course I’m kidding. The only 21 K&B I have is a SS .21 outboard. I’m pretty sure it won’t be competitive against a piped up inboard Jae...unless you lean out or throw a rod...

I'm with Larry, don't think to many people are going to dust off their old tunnels to run against a state of the art rigger.
I also think we already have to many classes and should work on boat count for the classes we have instead of making another class.
Bill

 

[LarryConrad]

I think I have a Prather deep vee that’s rigged for an outboard stuffed up in the rafters of the shed, and an Irwin stamper pipe...not sure about a header though.

 

[RaceMechaniX]

Great idea.

 

[BobBonahoom]

Of course I’m kidding. The only 21 K&B I have is a SS .21 outboard. I’m pretty sure it won’t be competitive against a piped up inboard Jae...unless you lean out or throw a rod...

So maybe we should handicap the riggers somehow? Extra lap for them perhaps?

 

[LarryConrad]

No turn fin.

 

[Mark Poole ModVP]

I don't think the intention was to add another class. I think he was just sharing an idea that his club was doing. Besides, if you don't want anymore classes then tell that to the gassers.

 

[Geraghty]

So maybe we should handicap the riggers somehow? Extra lap for them perhaps?

Bob Bonahoom [TCMBC} and Mike Z. are in the process of breathing life back into the small pond in Eau Claire ,Wi.At one time there were several K&B based ready to run boats in this area that are sitting in basements and or on Ebay gathering dust....For dam sure there are about a zillion K&B .21 outboards laying in junk drawers all over North America....
This K&B .21 only suggestion was for a couple of small local clubs to enjoy RC Boat racing and not for the promotion of some 300 boat national marquee event on a small pond....
I fully expected that there would be some resistance to this idea of a K&B 21 only class..... What precipitated this suggestion was the current price for a new 3.5 O.S. outboard is $550.00.....$550.00 motors do not encourage new people to enjoy our sport....
Anybody wanting to enter our sport and be so called "competitive" will need at least around $1000.00+ of extra income to do so....
Unless you are living under a rock....All "existing classes" are expensive as hell to be "competitive"....
A new boater could build a JAE .21 outboard rigger with a K&B 21 outboard and be on the water ,radio and all for less money that a new 3.5 O.S. outboard.
There are several things that could be done to level the playing field.... I.E. Seven laps for 3.5 hydros or all riggers have to run a X437 prop or 10% fuel or who knows whatever would encourage parity in the racing....A little experimenting at the pond would encourage rules that level the playing field very quickly....
A reason to not try this because there are to many classes already doesn't hold water in my opinion....That is just legislating people right out of the sport of RC Boat racing.....If you don't think this will work , don't build one....
Another consideration was Mike Z. belongs to a local organization that is primarily aircraft oriented and it was my hope that if there was a reasonably priced RC boat class that the plane/helicopter flyers would be tempted to join us....
Speed doesn't guarantee success in RC boat racing....In order to finish first , first you must finish....IT is a lot easier to accomplish that at 45 MPH than it is at 70+ on a small pond...
Rod Geraghty

 

[osracer]

I don't disagree with the idea and if the club had a better boat count in their current classes I would be all for it. The problem is their are about eight to ten active members and they run about twelve classes. The largest class gets four to five boats with many classes only two or three boats. If Mike gets some of the Eau Clair guys to bring out some boats bless him. I really hope it works.

 

[LarryConrad]

This could end up being one of the funnest classes we race locally this season. I picked up this hull from a tc member for less than the cost of a breakfast sandwich at MacDonalds.

 

[LarryConrad]

I don't disagree with the idea and if the club had a better boat count in their current classes I would be all for it. The problem is their are about eight to ten active members and they run about twelve classes. The largest class gets four to five boats with many classes only two or three boats. If Mike gets some of the Eau Clair guys to bring out some boats bless him. I really hope it works.

Bill,
The poor turnout at Nicols isn’t because of too many classes. People stopped showing up, and club membership is down to a handful of members because of the weeds. There are several classes that nearly everyone in the club has boats to race in, but then there is nobody left to call the race and pit for the drivers.

 

[Zach Davis]

Just an FYI, but I think K&B may have the .21 inboards available again soon. They have changed the status to "in process". They have also changed the status on the .45 outboards to "in process". I spoke with them last week and I was told the outboards are going to be available again soon.

 

[Grimracer]

I feel we need to look at the larger picture here.. I dont feel to far out in the "cost of" doing this but maybe.. I do get my fare share of "SILVER SINGLES" emails...LOL

Then we need to think about the intent of this.. lots of motors laying around, not much to set one up, low cost.. and or maybe there are a few laying around that just dont get used.. (I know of a few)

Also.. this is not JUST about the class. This is about the CLUB, FRIENDS, COST, FUN...

Bill, this IS NOT JUST ABOUT the club i belong too (you too).. this is about the "OPPORTUNITY" to play TOY boats with your buds.. I for one will be happy to park my sport 40 (or whatever) for a day of club racing for a better "CLUB CLASS".... be it TCMBC, or WWMA... together we are a small group..

if.. IF.. other "CLUBS" reading in, (from where ever USA) adopt this and we NEVER cross paths.. I AM GOOD with this....its about THEM having that same experience.. as a club..

We (racers, IMPBA and the hobby) grow from a seed.. the club has the water..

Grim

 

[Ron Zaker Jr]

Hmmmm sounds like a picnic with a boat race breaking out. Count me in sounds like FUN. Could we race some foamie airplanes around the bouys after? J/K .

 

[PaulHail]

Sounds like fun. In other motorsports their are vintage classes that allow folks to run equipment that is no longer competitive and just get out and have fun. Sure there are some guys that put a lot of money and effort into having the fastest setup with the vintage stuff, but by and large most folks understand it's a way to just bring out the old equipment and have fun with it.

 

[Marty Slater]

i like the idea of the FOAMIE airplanes
what ya say Grim ??????
i could bring an extra for you an big B

 

[LarryConrad]

Hey Marty, you have any inboard K&B 21’s in your stash of American iron?