MMM Limited Scale Hydro Rules?

[RvE]

I missed the meeting where this was discussed so I am trying to get caught up. What was agreed for our local club LSH rules? Are we doing 5 or 10 laps? What is the minimum hull length (I assume this length excludes hardware?). What are the rules for motors - any speed 700? Are neos allowed?

Not sure if I will have something for this summer....but you never know.

Ralph

[AndyKunz]

Ralph,

I don't know what was discussed, but the way the boats will be measured in Michigan (under NAMBA) is the size of the hull, excluding all hardware. Wings and such which extend past the hull are not included. We have a 24" minimum. This assumes, of course, that the national rule proposal passes.

I'm excited to see this class have support across the continent from West to East and South to North! This is going to be a lot of fun!

Andy

[Doug Forrester]

Ralph
It was my intent, when I proposed that our club adopt and run this class this year, that we use the same rules that are in effect elsewhere in North America and are currently being voted on for Namba use. It only seemed sensible that there was a conformity of rules everywhere. Almost everything was agreed to as per the rules Andy mentioned and has published on the internet (see link on the bottom of the RRR home page). The only thing that I got some resistance to was the 10 lap heat length issue.
Our sp 700 Spec motor mono class has run locally at 5 laps for several years and there is some thinking that to run a hydro sp 700 class for 10 laps would be too slow. Personally, I disagree, and I think that conformity on this part of the task is just as important as any other definition of the rules. I'm reasonably sure that when we get racing that the heats will be 10 lappers.

[Steve Reesor]

I concur with Andy and Doug. I am planning on running one this season (I may not be the driver, but I will have one at the pond) and would support 10 laps...with reasonably equal power, racing should be close, and over 10 laps, driving and especially consistant driving will be the key. If it turns out to be anything like the spec mono class has been, it will be a blast.

[LOU]

I agree 100%, 10 laps will be a blast.

LOU

[Doug Forrester]

Our older members will remember that before we adopted the five lap heat length (even before we cut it to four) we used to run twelve cell boats for two minutes. This was the early days of the Astro 25 5t. Eventually the 12 cell sport hydros got up to just over 8 laps in the two minute heat. It was a super heat length and it made for some very exciting racing where one actually had time to make up for an early mistake or poor start. Smooth, consistant driving often would more than make up for erratic speed.
I for one, certainly look forward to it. I always thought that spending all that money and prep time to race a boat for 45 to 60 seconds was nuts!:D

[AndyKunz]

10 laps = 1 mile. It will make the speeds easier to calculate if you are so inclined.

To those who don't want to go 10 laps, all I can say is "give it a try." Everybody who has tried it so far has liked it. You run the same setup whether 5 or 10 laps and get good speed.

Doug is right - 5 laps is too short for FE nowadays!

Andy

[Steve Reesor]

Andy, I couldn't agree more. And Doug, you are right, sub minute runs are definitely not for everyone...Duration races that are suited to North American classes (oval) can be exiting!!! I still enjoy running sub one minute ie 11 second laps it is a pure adrenaline rush to drive something that fast.

However, having said that, running distance (time) is also a great challenge for the reasons that Doug spelled out. Doug and I have had many races within feet of each other...He is a relentless driver, oft times more dangerous from behind than in front...

Steve

[RvE]

Thanks for the info.
Where do I find the NAMBA specs for the different categories? I looked at NAMBA.com and could not find it - maybe it was just me. The RRR link for LSH gives some info but refers the reader to the NAMBA P Hydro spec - which, as mentioned, I had trouble finding.

Again, I am not sure if I will be able to get a LSH boat in the water this summer, but I'll try.

[Doug Forrester]

Ralph

The easiest place to find the Namba rules and class specs is:

http://www.drcwebservices.com/wanats/

Click on Namba Rules at the top.