Is the OB class doomed?

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To quote Yoda "there is another"
Brandon put two FE Tunnel classes on the roster and 5 Tunnels entered. 2 in Q/L and 3 in P/L. FE is another possible area to grow tunnel numbers.
I applaud Carl and Gabe for all their efforts plus the Atwells for keeping the faith and all the racers who support the World Tunnel Champs. I am sure there are other pockets of tunnels across the country. It just is a matter of numbers in any one area. Nitro is on the decline across the board. I would try and combine .21 and .45 nitro's with P/L and Q/L tunnels. Nothing to lose here when neither can support a 5 boat class at certain races. I would rather run my P/L is the 21 mod class than let it sit on the shelf and I think .21 nitro guys might agree.
Open tunnel is good option for Gas,Nitro and FE to run together.
We can do nothing and watch things fade away or think around the box.
Mic
 
Mark Poole ModVP said:
The outboards are doomed if innovative ideas keep getting rejected by the very people who run outboards. Down here in the southeast we had some really cool things going on with outboards that lasted for a few seasons. At the tunnel champs and some other races we were running endurance races with pit stops, a Mod-VP class (some races with beach starts), kneeler hydro, super sport class ( any 40 engines with no tuned pipe) and run whatcha brung. It all died with in fighting and politics. I have always said and will still say that the outboard class needs to be more than just tunnel hulls. But all you will hear is "no new classes" from the same people who are letting the OB's die. The Charleston club was the epicenter of all of these cool ideas until the club was invaded and 'transformed'.
Click to expand...

In the end I think the intent of the comment regarding "new classes" is "more classes". Most I know are always willing to have fun with "new" classes.. but adding them to the IMPBA as "more classes".. IS THE ISSUE! Dump the old and add the new.. SURE..

Its we have TOO MANY classes.. not, we don't want "new" classes.

Grim
 
Grimracer said:
In the end I think the intent of the comment regarding "new classes" is "more classes". Most I know are always willing to have fun with "new" classes.. but adding them to the IMPBA as "more classes".. IS THE ISSUE! Dump the old and add the new.. SURE..

Its we have TOO MANY classes.. not, we don't want "new" classes.

Grim
Click to expand...
Agreed. But I was told in 2005 that there was no room for anymore classes. So let’s count how many gas classes have been added since that time. It’s politics. If we could all just build boats and have fun without that it would be great. Find a good pond, start a club try to have fun. It will have to be a dictatorship to keep the politics out.
 
RC Helicopters are suffering the same fate.. Its gone back to more of a niche.

Align is all but gone
Thundertiger is all but gone

The two largest providers just 10 or 15 years ago

We are not alone!

Then, like us, contesting helicopters is "just about dead"

We have MUCH, MUCH LARGER events then contest helicopters!

Horizon is all but destroying the market and a little birdy told me there push is to "eliminate" glow all together. They have the largest marketing penetration and just think.. no glow.......... One could say.. well thats a small part of our hobby BUT.. they have the power to introduce MANY people into the hobby..

Grim
 
Honestly, I don't have a problem with getting into electrics. Let's face it, once the initial build is done the operating is easy. Plus no noise on the ponds means you are more likely to keep your ponds. But there are many of us who are true 'hobbyists' and we like tinkering with nitro boats.

Keeping ponds will be vitally important. Eventually I really think the only place gas boats will be able to run is on private ponds like sowega. Development is closing in everywhere. It is full on here all around Savannah. A lot of potential sites are now behind fences for storm runoff.
 
I have never thought FE guys were not true hobbyists. Nope.. dont ring a bell...

The hobby has a few twists and turns.. I have a "preference" AND other aspects of the model hobby that I like too.

To each his own.

To "Save" outboard boating (for me Nitro)... from my standpoint nothing is for sale! (truth is I am buying! LOL)

Lets race!

Grim
 
Raced a B tunnel for the first time in more than twenty years this year and had so many racers say they wanted to get theirs back out after watching.
It's a fun class but not an easy class.

Prices of O.S outboards are a direct reflection of the low production numbers and the cost of doing business these days.
 
I have a Old dumas drag-fly now painted waiting for a New OS to arrive to go on it. Mostly for fun!
Have FE KB lower 3.5 Dumas hot shot almost ready. Set up to change over to the KB 3.5 With a fuel cell.
Have a Acuacraft? ebay buy, with 3.5 Kb lower FE. Going to build a ML tunnel hull for a KB 7.5 Soon.
Have brand NEW over 20 years old K.B 3.5 for a build and another KB 3.5 needs a few parts.
Will build a 20 fe hydro to run with the only group near, they can only run FE. boats on the Ski lake , since no one runs the outboard tunnels Will take the FE tunnels and play there. A another 50 miles away they run Gas and Nitro boats. Don"t know which ones yet.
Trying to do my part , where i live its 3 hours in 3 ways go run boats with groups.
 

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