Spec Mono "M" Course?

[Steve Reesor]

I hear that we are going to run this on the M course this year...what size course? Certainly not the Enduro M course!?!?

Fill me in gentlemen.

Steve Reesor

[RvE]

It was not 100% agreed by all to run M course. My understanding of the outcome of the discussion was to "try it and see how we liked it". There was some talk to putting another buoy outside of the oval and using that.
My impression was that most folks are keen to try the M instead of oval, but that is just my opinion.
I am assuming we will finalize this at the April 14 meeting at the pond. I think Konrad was planning on having the buoys set up on that day - bring your chest waders if you are keen to set up the course.

[Doug Forrester]

Steve

What the discussion was: do we retain the Spec Mono (12 cell) as a sprint race on the oval (5 laps I seem to remember)

OR

Do we redefine the class as Spec Motor Offshore (the Offshore definition would allow cats and stepped hulls) and run for a longer time (4 minutes?) on some kind of "M" course. You will notice my use of "some kind". Once again this would bring our classes more in line with what is being run currently on the rest of the continent. Implicit in this redefinition would be the inclusion of the Sp 700 bb Neo 9.6v. as a legal motor.

I don't recall any specific decision being made.

[Steve Reesor]

Hi Ralph, I plan on being there for the April 14th set-up day. I even plan on having my new mono there, no not the El Lobo II (well maybe) but the newest mono I put together from the "junkyard".

Anyway, to the purpose of this post. Didn't anyone propose to adopt the NAMBA Offshore rules for these P mono's? I would have supported a 4 minute enduro with these hulls running a larger Offshore course, than running inside a FE oval with a 12 cell hull, even if its powered by a 700BB.

I would think that our experience to date would indicate that a larger course, not a smaller course, would allow for a more interesting race.
The Enduro M course is fine for 6 cell stockers with ECO style hulls, but not 30" mono's on twelve cells...

[RvE]

Steve/Doug
You guys know about this probably better than anyone else in the club - what does the typical NAMBA M course for P offshore look like compared to our oval? Will this M course fit in the Humber Bay pond?
I suspect that most folks running 12 cell spec mono can be pesuaded to run NAMBA M course if this the standard set up. Not sure how folks feel about 4 min vs 5 laps.

My opinion is that I think it would be more fun to run a big M course. I don't care one way or the other whether we do 4 min or 5 laps. My objective in attending races is to have fun. If we can get our club rules more in line with North American standards great .... but lets not get bogged down in big debates and rules. Then it loses the fun.... after all it is a hobby :o)

Perhaps we can finalize these things at the April 14 meeting. Look forward to meeting you guys there.

[Doug Forrester]

Steve
I guess I wasn't clear enough in my previous post. That was precisely what I was I was proposing (12 cell Offshore Spec Enduro). At no time was anyone seriously considering running these boats on the 6 cell Enduro "M" course. Once again I was trying to align our classes with all other clubs in N.A. There was no great opposition to doing this but no firm official decision.

Ralph
There doesn't seem to be any official definition in Namba of what constitutes the "M" course for Offshore or even Eco use for that matter. It seems to vary from club to club and from meet to meet. I could be wrong on this, I'd love to hear anything to the contrary.

[Steve Reesor]

Doug/Ralph

I agree that getting bogged down in rules can take the fun out of things...sometimes. In this case, I support the concept of spec offshore. 700bb motors, any hull, 4 minutes.

I have heard though that some do not want cats, ie keep it mono's. We do let stepped hulls in and I personally would like to see cats in there, "cats are kool" (typo for you Doug). Chris Harris' cat at Michigan last year was great looking, and fast!
Its scale appearance justs adds to the class.

So, April 14th should be interesting...

Steve

PS I will be running my Forrester P Mono in this class this year...and in Michigan in P Offshore as is.

[LOU]

I'll run what ever's set up. I'm gonna be there April 14 but it looks like I can't make the May 5th date:(

If stepped monos are OK, I think Cats shoud be to.

LOU

[Doug Forrester]

Steve
All I can comment on is the reception that my proposal received at the March meeting. There didn't seem to be any opposition to the Offshore concept or the inclusion of cats that, that would entail.
I'll have to admit to a certain degree of self interest here as I'm busy building cats (as well as hydros) this Spring.

[RvE]

Good comments from all.
I guess it is ultimately Conrad's call on these issues with input from memebers. I suspect that folks won't mind if cats are run; nobody minds the stepped hulls. I think most members agree that if someone has a boat ready to run and it closely meets the rules...then let it run.

Maybe we can all come up with an M course that we like on April 14. Sounds like there is a lot of discretion at the club level as to what the course can look like so we should be able to set up something that everyone likes.
My only worry is that some existing boats may not be set up to turn left and it would be unfair for these folks not to be able to run in the spec class because we change the course. That is why I hope we have a godd turn out on April 14 and we can try the M course that we come up with. I have been testing my EV and it seems to turn well in both directions (better to the right of course). I did have to lower the rudder about 1/4" to prevent spin outs on the left, but I think it is close.

I will bring some chest waders (I am told the pond is only chest deep) and am prepared to get dirty to ehlp set up the course! Hopefully others will also be so inclined.

Cheers RvE