HTV Boats
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2006
- Messages
- 2,512
On another thread in the outboard forum one subject that come up was "mill time". At a recent race in Florida it was pretty apparent we don't mill as the clock ran down and pit people held our boats till the 45 second mark and launched before 30 to qualify as under power and make the one mill lap.
One of our prominent racers who I have the utmost respect will not race FE anymore because the 2 1/2 mill is not a real function.
I agree that in IC racing that 2/1/2 minute time is very important and I feel 50% of the race. My statement has always been the race doesn't start at zero, it starts at 30 seconds. When clubs want to drop to 30 to save time I always say NO! So I understand someone who has excelled at starts and the full mill may not like the 30 second FE dash to see who can be the biggest A-hole and muscle into lane one. FE acceleration eliminates that full speed sweep from the outside lane at the start that feels so good when you time it right.
I like the power and what I feel is biggest potential growth in model boat racing is FE so I just deal with the "readers digest" version of staring. Even IC racers have heated discussion about the Clock and lane manipulation in the starting chute where your suppose to hold your entry lane. Not a perfect world.
So are there any alternatives? I raced full size OPC in the 70's - 90's and clock starts gave way to beach starts as less logistics and arguments over judgment (I wasn't over) and a better show sell to spectators and sponsors. Boats lined up not running and a gun start is easy to understand over explaining a mill and countdown clock to new fans.
Gas and Nitro are pretty much locked into running starts. FE not so much. We ran beach starts for FE tunnels and actually Mod-VP at our Herb Stuart races in Brandon. Pit person drew random cards for starting position on the bank. and countdown went on with the CD sounding a horn anywhere between 5 and one second, so no advantage. Now your prop acceleration and pit toss in became part of race success. Surprisingly we had few boats colliding until 30-50 feet out and that side contact didn't flip anyone. Race to the designated turn pin and lap count starts at the normal start finish line. It was grins on every ones face and no one wanted to go back to the clock.
Getting long here so any other opinions or critique welcome. Any way we can improve starts and fun welcome.
Mic
One of our prominent racers who I have the utmost respect will not race FE anymore because the 2 1/2 mill is not a real function.
I agree that in IC racing that 2/1/2 minute time is very important and I feel 50% of the race. My statement has always been the race doesn't start at zero, it starts at 30 seconds. When clubs want to drop to 30 to save time I always say NO! So I understand someone who has excelled at starts and the full mill may not like the 30 second FE dash to see who can be the biggest A-hole and muscle into lane one. FE acceleration eliminates that full speed sweep from the outside lane at the start that feels so good when you time it right.
I like the power and what I feel is biggest potential growth in model boat racing is FE so I just deal with the "readers digest" version of staring. Even IC racers have heated discussion about the Clock and lane manipulation in the starting chute where your suppose to hold your entry lane. Not a perfect world.
So are there any alternatives? I raced full size OPC in the 70's - 90's and clock starts gave way to beach starts as less logistics and arguments over judgment (I wasn't over) and a better show sell to spectators and sponsors. Boats lined up not running and a gun start is easy to understand over explaining a mill and countdown clock to new fans.
Gas and Nitro are pretty much locked into running starts. FE not so much. We ran beach starts for FE tunnels and actually Mod-VP at our Herb Stuart races in Brandon. Pit person drew random cards for starting position on the bank. and countdown went on with the CD sounding a horn anywhere between 5 and one second, so no advantage. Now your prop acceleration and pit toss in became part of race success. Surprisingly we had few boats colliding until 30-50 feet out and that side contact didn't flip anyone. Race to the designated turn pin and lap count starts at the normal start finish line. It was grins on every ones face and no one wanted to go back to the clock.
Getting long here so any other opinions or critique welcome. Any way we can improve starts and fun welcome.
Mic