K-boat news!

[Riverkid]

Jim's left arm got alittle banged up but he was back out with the boat for the final. Talk about dedication. He has my vote.
Thanks for the info Billy. Jim's a ten. Glad he and the boat came out relatively okay.

[Squirtin Thunder]

Sounds like a Nascar statment. Nascar said the same thing about neck restraints until the Earnhardt incident at Datona. How many K's are back east?. Seeing as most of the APBA BIG EVENTS are back there maybe this will open the door to have more of them here....(NATIONALS). And if you really want to know the truth JeRkInHeIn the K's were pretty much a dead issue until the NKRA and all the talk on these forums came about. Just my .02. Hopefully this all works out for the best.
Billy I agree with you on that statement.
I am hping for the same thing with the Comp Jets.

[Moneypitt]

I see that there is a proposed rule change to allow ROLLER CAMS in SS motors!!!.655 max valve lift, but rollers..........!...................MP

[Moneypitt]

From APBA inboard site
(Note: Duff drives 2 capsuled boats...K and PS)
Safety Equipment (Rule 3)
Author: Duff Daily
Effected Class: KRR
Rule No. 3.17
Page number of rule: 4
Effected Rule:
Effective May 1, 2005, RESTRAINT CAPSULES are mandatory for all boats
competing in the K Racing Runabout class. Restraint capsules are highly
recommended for all boats competing in Pro Stock, Super Stock, and Cracker
Box classes. A bottom hatch is not required for any type restraint capsule
used in these classes.
Proposed Rule:
Restraint capsules are highly recommended for all boats competing in the K
Racing Runabout, Pro Stock, Super Stock, and Cracker Box classes. A bottom
hatch is not required for any type restraint used in these classes.
Reason for Change:
The rule as written hasn’t had the effect of large numbers of capsulized K
boats. K boats still exist, but are racing with other organizations. K boats, at
most races, turn lap times very similar to uncapsulized Pro Stocks and Super
Stocks.
The mandatory capsule requirement cannot be justified if you consider the
that there have been more accidents, including fatalities, in the other flat bottom
classes: PS, SS, SK, and GN classes. KRR’s have a better safety record
than PS, SS, and GN.
Please read below:
MAJOR K RACING RUNABOUT ACCIDENTS
1985 ? Jay Ellington Burley, ID Leg laceration
1990 Duff Daily Meridian, MS Torn quad muscle
1996 Gordon Jennings, Jr. Tri Cities, WA Multiple serious injuries,
mainly due to being a hemophiliac
1996 Victor Roth Both ankles broken
2000 Jim Clauss Ankle injury
MAJOR SS/SK/PS/GN ACCIDENTS INCLUDING FATALITIES
1976 Dick Sutton SK Morgan City, LA Fatality
1977 Terry Bilbrey SK Raleigh, NC Paralysis
1979 Dickie Webb SS Western U.S. Fatality
1981 Steve Jones SK Soap Lake WA, fatality
1995 Tom Connant PS Parker, AZ Fatality
2001 Brian Ohlis SS Raleigh, NC Loss of fingers
2001 Mike Hoban GN Parker, AZ Fatality
2001 Lance Faulkner GN Parker, AZ Fatality
2001 Jessy Stieger SS Fatality
2003 Bryan Bergeron SS Serious leg injury
2003 Paul Brockhauser SS Fatality
2004 Doug Jancura PS Western U.S. Fatality
2004 Gus Shade PS Fatality
Other facts:
1. COMPARABLE SPEEDS OF SS/PS/KRR: most races PS speeds are faster,
and occasionally SS speeds are faster than K’s
2. COMPARE LENGTH TO POWER RATIO OF CRACKER BOX (DOES
NOT REQUIRE CELL): Cracker Box length minimum is 13’6" with 700 HP;
K boat length is 18' with 1,200 HP
3. IHBA at present time has 11 K Racing Runabout boats registered with the
association because capsules are optional. APBA, on the other hand, has only
5 registered KRR boats due to the mandatory restraint capsule.
4. HYDRO CELLS = $2,000 - $3,000
RUNABOUT CELLS = $10,000 and up
5. Making the capsule mandatory on the K boats has caused a membership
of less than 10 boats, which in turn, has put the K class on probation.
6. LIST OF RACE SITES THAT WANT THE KRR’S (at the time of this writing)
BURLEY PARKER MORGAN CITY
HAMPTON LONG BEACH FIREBIRD
CAMBRIDGE TONAWANDA ROCKY FORK
In order to have a better competition, you need more than a few boats.

[stickmann]

MAJOR SS/SK/PS/GN ACCIDENTS INCLUDING FATALITIES
1976 Dick Sutton SK Morgan City, LA Fatality
1977 Terry Bilbrey SK Raleigh, NC Paralysis
1979 Dickie Webb SS Western U.S. Fatality
1995 Tom Connant PS Parker, AZ Fatality
2001 Brian Ohlis SS Raleigh, NC Loss of fingers
2001 Mike Hoban GN Parker, AZ Fatality
2001 Lance Faulkner GN Parker, AZ Fatality
2001 Jessy Stieger SS Fatality
2003 Bryan Bergeron SS Serious leg injury
2003 Paul Brockhauser SS Fatality
2004 Doug Jancura PS Western U.S. Fatality
2004 Gus Shade PS Fatality
You missed one: 1981 Steve Jones SK Soap Lake WA, fatality

[Moneypitt]

Stickmann, no disrespect intended, however, I just copied the info from the APBA inboard site. Not a good list by any stretch of the imagination. Capsules DO save lives, and I hope more racers voluntarily install them. It is very hard to convince some "open air" drivers, and it is, afterall, their choice. Lets hope this rule change goes into reality. Remember that will mean that the KRRA has won! It was their departure from APBA that changed the PS and SS rules to read "recomended" instead of "mandatory" capsules. I am reminded of the true competitor that Duff Daley truly is and I'm sure the oversight on the list was purely accidental...........MP

[stickmann]

It's a good thing to remember those who have passed. I appreciate your research into how capsules can save lives. Seeing the numbers brings it home.

[Moneypitt]

I can not take credit for someone elses research. Duff Daily wrote the proposal to APBA, so either he, or someone working with him compiled the lists. I have had PMs saying the decisions have already been made, but APBA sites show nothing of these decisions. Maybe Boyd has ears at the national meeting? If the meeting has even taken place yet. I am all for the Ks coming back, they were there when I started going to boat races, and APBA races just aren't the same without those blown alcohol flats in the pits and on the water...........MP
PS: National meeting Jan 26th-29th...........not yet!

[CircleJerk]

Jerk,
I think your a little ahead of yourself. What you read was a rule PROPOSAL. It won't be official until presented and voted on at the national meeting in Ft. Lauderdale, which isn't until next week.
Anybody that wishes to see this rule had better be at the meeting, I'm pretty sure it'll be an uphill fight. It will likely be a Hydro vs Runabout deal and the Hydro guy's usually show up in big numbers.
Yes, you are correct, I jumped the gun. You know, cant sleep and must surf boat stuff while half asleep late at night! The APBA rule meeting is next week and what you read here is just a proposal. Sorry.............. Let's keep thinking positive, if that's possible..

[CircleJerk]

Sounds like a Nascar statment. Nascar said the same thing about neck restraints until the Earnhardt incident at Datona. How many K's are back east?. Seeing as most of the APBA BIG EVENTS are back there maybe this will open the door to have more of them here....(NATIONALS). And if you really want to know the truth JeRkInHeIn the K's were pretty much a dead issue until the NKRA and all the talk on these forums came about. Just my .02. Hopefully this all works out for the best.
So true, so true, man, you really looked good at over 140, but, tonight sharing RRII with JD, Robbie, Blonde, and George. Mr. Nordling made an interesting observation: Your runs were very short, say maybe 1/4 mile it appears and if you were on a real race course your speed should have been faster! Unless that was trick photography! Nice passes even with the mixed up cylinders, that thing is a rocket! Thanks again Californian boaters for keeping us eskimos warm in January. Great job Jerry!