fox river pwc
01-17-2009, 04:47 PM
Here it is, it's official:
http://www.apbaracing.com/2009/news/090116_news_apba_class.pdf
The APBA is excited to introduce three new racing classes for 2009. These classes are all about fun and offer a very inexpensive and affordable way to get involved with PWC racing or a great second class to race for those already tearing it up on the race course. These classes provide a place for older watercraft models that are not competitive in the current class structure
to compete, but still a blast to ride and race.
Vintage Ski
Vintage Ski is a class that is currently being run in several regions with much success. Finding a way for these older stand-up models to compete has helped greatly with bringing new racers into the sport. A watercraft can be purchased on websites like www.Craigslist.com and internet forums for $500 and less for the 550 Modified class. For a little more they can find a boat for the 750 Modified class. Many members have one or two of these boats sitting in their garage. Some may have friends that quit racing because there boat was no longer competitive. Call your friends, dust off those old boats, and get ready for some FUN. [u]The following two classes have been officially added – 1) Vintage Ski 550cc Modified and 2) Vintage Ski 750cc Modified.</u> The Vintage Ski classes will be open all Novice and Expert class riders. Juniors that are 14 years old or older may participate in the Vintage Ski 550 Modified class. These will be official points earning classes and provided the demand and interest is there the Vintage classes will be offered at the Watercross Nationals where racers can compete for a U.S. National Championship.
Sport Spec – the Racers Class Another new class for 2009 is the Sport Spec class. This is the first racing class that was truly created for and by the racers. Thanks to the power of the internet and a large group of keyboard cowboys, this class has received lots of momentum and we believe it will be a hit. The APBA has received many e-mails about offering this class which we think will help revive Sport class racing outside of regions 7 & 8. This is a great affordable class for new and old racers to have fun enjoying racing PWC’s. Rules for the Sport Spec class are in the APBA Annual Meeting Summary and will also be in 2009 APBA Competition Rulebook in just a few days. The rules are the exact rules develop by the racers. The Sport Spec class is an official points earning class and provided the demand and interest is the class it will be offered at the Watercross Nationals where racers can compete for a U.S. National Championship. The APBA will be sending out an e-mail to its promoters to promote and support these new classes and suggest promoters offer a reduced entry fee for these classes. We are hopeful that these classes will help attract new racers to the sport and once we get them hooked they will advance to regular stand-up and Runabout classes. Please help us promote these new classes.
So, Vintage Ski 550cc Mod, Vintage Ski 750cc Mod, and Sport Spec are all now official points earning classes. Hooray? Right? I dunno, maybe? However, this now begs the question for Region 4, how does Open Vintage Ski and Stock Vintage Ski fit into the equation, or does it simply not fit into the equation??? Does GLW just dance to the beat of a different drummer, or does it get in step with the APBA? I guess we'll see what happens soon enough. I haven't seen a clear definition yet of what year skis are actually eligible for the new "official" 750cc vintage class (550cc eligibility is fairly obvious), but I'm guessing the APBA will spell that out at sometime here.
Sport Spec rules are still a bit in flux, but the creators have been preaching from day one that it will be a work in progress for the first season. If the interest on the forums is any indication, Sport Spec could be a huge class at nationals. That would be neat, IMHO.
From the GLW 2009 updates:
The Open Vintage Ski class will remain the same (anything goes). A second class will be offered for Vintage Ski stock boats. The only changes to the boats in this class (stock) will be ride plates, intake grates, props and flame arresters. All Stand Up watercraft 2002 and older, are eligible to race in these classes.
Any thoughts, ideas???
http://www.apbaracing.com/2009/news/090116_news_apba_class.pdf
The APBA is excited to introduce three new racing classes for 2009. These classes are all about fun and offer a very inexpensive and affordable way to get involved with PWC racing or a great second class to race for those already tearing it up on the race course. These classes provide a place for older watercraft models that are not competitive in the current class structure
to compete, but still a blast to ride and race.
Vintage Ski
Vintage Ski is a class that is currently being run in several regions with much success. Finding a way for these older stand-up models to compete has helped greatly with bringing new racers into the sport. A watercraft can be purchased on websites like www.Craigslist.com and internet forums for $500 and less for the 550 Modified class. For a little more they can find a boat for the 750 Modified class. Many members have one or two of these boats sitting in their garage. Some may have friends that quit racing because there boat was no longer competitive. Call your friends, dust off those old boats, and get ready for some FUN. [u]The following two classes have been officially added – 1) Vintage Ski 550cc Modified and 2) Vintage Ski 750cc Modified.</u> The Vintage Ski classes will be open all Novice and Expert class riders. Juniors that are 14 years old or older may participate in the Vintage Ski 550 Modified class. These will be official points earning classes and provided the demand and interest is there the Vintage classes will be offered at the Watercross Nationals where racers can compete for a U.S. National Championship.
Sport Spec – the Racers Class Another new class for 2009 is the Sport Spec class. This is the first racing class that was truly created for and by the racers. Thanks to the power of the internet and a large group of keyboard cowboys, this class has received lots of momentum and we believe it will be a hit. The APBA has received many e-mails about offering this class which we think will help revive Sport class racing outside of regions 7 & 8. This is a great affordable class for new and old racers to have fun enjoying racing PWC’s. Rules for the Sport Spec class are in the APBA Annual Meeting Summary and will also be in 2009 APBA Competition Rulebook in just a few days. The rules are the exact rules develop by the racers. The Sport Spec class is an official points earning class and provided the demand and interest is the class it will be offered at the Watercross Nationals where racers can compete for a U.S. National Championship. The APBA will be sending out an e-mail to its promoters to promote and support these new classes and suggest promoters offer a reduced entry fee for these classes. We are hopeful that these classes will help attract new racers to the sport and once we get them hooked they will advance to regular stand-up and Runabout classes. Please help us promote these new classes.
So, Vintage Ski 550cc Mod, Vintage Ski 750cc Mod, and Sport Spec are all now official points earning classes. Hooray? Right? I dunno, maybe? However, this now begs the question for Region 4, how does Open Vintage Ski and Stock Vintage Ski fit into the equation, or does it simply not fit into the equation??? Does GLW just dance to the beat of a different drummer, or does it get in step with the APBA? I guess we'll see what happens soon enough. I haven't seen a clear definition yet of what year skis are actually eligible for the new "official" 750cc vintage class (550cc eligibility is fairly obvious), but I'm guessing the APBA will spell that out at sometime here.
Sport Spec rules are still a bit in flux, but the creators have been preaching from day one that it will be a work in progress for the first season. If the interest on the forums is any indication, Sport Spec could be a huge class at nationals. That would be neat, IMHO.
From the GLW 2009 updates:
The Open Vintage Ski class will remain the same (anything goes). A second class will be offered for Vintage Ski stock boats. The only changes to the boats in this class (stock) will be ride plates, intake grates, props and flame arresters. All Stand Up watercraft 2002 and older, are eligible to race in these classes.
Any thoughts, ideas???