JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

http://www.p1superstock.co.uk/

Anyone who can go should

Next US Race: 13th September - 15th September, Marathon

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

Would love to see these boats, but this race is about 3000 miles away. This year at Seattle's Seafair saw the F1 boats race between heats of the unlimited hydros - I'd seen them on UK broadcasts, but never in the US before. I thought I was a powerboat fan, but have never heard of the superstock. Hope both the F1's and superstocks gain a foothold in this country.
Cheers, Neil

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

They are, later next year and into 2015 I understand they will be holding many more races over the USA, France etc

K2mbs Loc: Southern Tier of, NY

Thanks for sharing this.
I was not aware of this growing series. Boat racing in general has a history of under achieving.
Ever since I was a child I have been into inboard racing, and to a lesser extent outboards (my father raced both).
I know well the struggles to make the racing attractive, affordable, and to even be able to organize and pull off events at all. Especially now. With the terrible economy, and the heightened expense of the sport....America is beside themselves to keep inboard events happening.
The boats have gone from back yard wooden "run what ya' brung" projects now for safety reasons regulated to death fiberglass/kevlar boats with enclosed cockpits, air systems, and radios.
In a perfect economy this would be expensive, but now it's only doable for people with plenty of money.
Each team knows they face losing a bunch of money each race they attend because their is no major sponsorship for an un televised sport with a 'cult' following, that is unable to offer any sizeable prizes, and usually pays some minimal "tow money" just to get boats to show up.
I find this very troubling because I consider inboard hydroplane racing to be by far and away the most exciting form of motor sport racing.
Canada (Valleyfield, Quebec)has decided to become a socialist style governing body to revive inboards in their region creating the ACHA. They have bought Hulls and are rewarding race teams that commit to showing up to the scheduled events the usage throughout the season. The series is very popular, but has a lot of issues with a godfather type organization hanging over the series. Americans don't/can't go their to race, and it has divided the relatively few inboards in existence up to race opposing events across boarders.

This series seems to be very inviting, and well thought out in it's attempts to create welcoming classes for people to enjoy boat racing.
They call it "affordable" but these boats are anything but cheap, however it would be cheaper than attempting to race in the ocean going race boat series we have here in the US for many years.

Where is the september race?...I can't find a schedule.

TedPaul Loc: Madison, MS

The hay days of limited inboard racing seems to have been the '50's through theb70's. Cost have become way out of hand. I ran an N boat, a215 aluminum block Buick engine. We would buy a block at the junk yard. Deck it, line bore it, buy Forged Tru pistons and put an engine together for less than $2,000.00. Last I heard it cost $35,000.00. Bought a boat from Ron Jones for about $8,000.00, a trailer for$2,000.00, tools and went racing. We set the closed course and straight records. 89 mph and 133 plus. Since, they shattered the close course record and reset the kilo by 1 mph. We ran for $25.00 a heat with 2 heats making a race. Classes Y, T, E, F N, H then later J boats. Each having different engine and boat requirements. we travelled from Detroit to Miami, to Valleyfield, N.Y. Across to Indiana and other places between. I busted up in Stuart, Fl at 130 plus and spent a week in the hospital. Did not walk well for a few months. Came back, set the records and hung it up in 1973. Have not heard of the new Class. Wonder how they will defray cost. Love to see them.

UP-2-IT Loc: RED STICK, LA

Good God, will you be there? The fear of that is reason enough to stay away.

TedPaul Loc: Madison, MS

I am sure you mean MArathon, Fl.. They used to run the offshore performance boats there. They run from about 25 ft to over 40'foot boats with outboard or inboard power. Are these the boats you mean? The depicted boats above look smaller with sinle O.B. power. Monday, I'll call the APBA in Detroit and see if they have any info as to the race sched. If you have not raced, it is difficult to imagine the rush a driver gets when the 5 minute gun sounds.Bill Muncey and I talked about it often. I really liked him. He was like a little kid when he talked about racing. I drafted the contracts with the Mexican Gov. for the race in which he was killed, in Acapulco. He was a drivers, driver. Drove the Atlas Van Lines. Just watching a race he would jump up and down at the start.

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

Memories!
I first found the thrill of racing as a spectator with Slo Mo IV and V, and their nemesis, Miss Madison. There no sound like that anymore.

TedPaul Loc: Madison, MS

You are reaching back a bit to the time of the Allison engines. I thought they spoiled it going into the helicopter engines and turbines. I recall when Bernie Little found a stash of Rolls Merlin's and bought them all. I knew along with

TedPaul Loc: Madison, MS

I asn't finished. Bill Muncey, Chuck Thompson, Lee Schoenith, Freddie Alter, dean chenowith as well as Tommy D'eath. Good chauffeurs all.

TedPaul Loc: Madison, MS

In my class as Muncey said put them in. 225 in the 1st turn, you will find the good drivers. I mention, Joey Siracusa in the CountrybBoy, Danny Wahls in Just a Pest, Jonny Woods in Speculation, Bob Best from Seattle in FirstbEdition. Great racing club in Miami. I was out of Detroit, the Propriders. Funny, the guys out west showed good times, but did not do well against the people mentioned.. I miss it. You could run 3rd and4th and run forever. The guys winning had to be real careful.

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

What I heard at the time was 62 engines. They powered the Slo Mo's.

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

Also one reason the Slo Mo's did so well on Lake Washington was the fact they practised the start so to able to start on the other side of the bridge and hit the starting line at top speed JUST as the clock closed.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

If you cant add something worth reading why make yourself look a pratt

TedPaul Loc: Madison, MS

If you are unable to hit the start timely-stay home.