World Championship?

[Ben Mazur]

What actually comprises a world championship?

Here in the US we have two (OSS and SBI) which in reality are national championships. The P1 championship is more accurately a European championship and Class I should be considered a Middle Eastern and European title. All however declare 'world champions'.

Any opinions? Should a world championship be contested around the world with the competitor who amasses the most points be declared the victor or should it be decided at a single venue with two or three races being the deciding factor?

[Adam Younger]

Totally agree with where you are coming from - absolutely crazy how many World Champions we have.

It has always been the case with powerboating and far too many 'easy' titles. In the end it just de-values the whole thing in my opinion.

I think for different titles there should be a minimum of so many relevant countries represented and a certain number of competitors. Needless to say I think these both need to be higher than they are currently.

Not just a US thing either - we're not too bad at it over here. Probably won a few myself!

So woudl love to see some stronger international classes and more travelling involved - although for the smaller budget classes a week long World Championships is still a good answer as that way you can get strong fleets and many countries represented.

[Ben Mazur]

Here's how SBI and OSS see it.

OSS World Championships

1. To qualify for the OSS World Championship, the boat must have participated in a minimum of two offshore events sanctioned by any nationally or world recognized sanctioning body between January 1 and November 1 of the current racing year. The same driver and/or throttleman must have competed in the same hull (or a hull that qualifies under Rule 27, Section C of these rules) in the same or equivalent class in which they are entered at the world championship event.
2. Only classes currently defined in the OSS rules shall be eligible to compete for OSS World Championship titles.


SBI World Championships
All teams are welcome to race in the 2007 Key West World
Championship. A team qualifies by having raced in the 2006 Key West
World Championship or by racing in any two (2) races with other
powerboat organizations during the 2007 season


So far as I can tell OSS recognizes no-one except OSS compliant boats and SBI lets just about everyone in. Two very divergent methods but neither one seems exactly right to me.

(the bold highlighting is mine)

[Dr Speed]

SBI has P classes which anyboat can fit into. OSS doesnt, but POPRA does, which is held in conjunction with OSS. THere are a lot of OPA boats down here right not also. Honeyparty and king of shaves are runnign P class. Lucas OL is running super v becasue it fits in that class.

[Ben Mazur]

SBI has P classes which anyboat can fit into. OSS doesnt, but POPRA does, which is held in conjunction with OSS. THere are a lot of OPA boats down here right not also.

Seems like a very sensible way of getting around the otherwise restrictive OSS eligibility requirements.

Honeyparty and king of shaves are runnign P class. Lucas OL is running super v becasue it fits in that class.

Did Honeyparty and King of Shaves run in the same P class? How did they do?

[shifter]

Uim Class 1 was a European Iota championship with 3 races at the end of the year and then it moved into what it is now, A year long championship not under UIM. I think it changed over in 1992. The class 1 bunch opted to save the antiquated Lambo motor and made sure they would not have to race anything but pleasure boat v8 motors.

In 1992 I know there were some teams (Dubai victory team) that came over in full force and kicked some major butt at Sarasota and were forced to run exhibition so the locals would not get offended. I do not know if they went to the Worlds that year but they were put into that position because they had not run 2 events over here.

Later on this side of the pond, someone got tired of loosing to good engine builders and invented spec racing.

P-class is kind of what the racing used to be besides the breakout.

I think that they have tried to make too many people happy that made unfortunate, expensive mistakes. To get a return on the initial investment they have to be a US1 or a World Champion. So there are lots of them now.

Guidelines and fewer classes might be a good start.

Someone should post a list of the 07 World Champions.

pat W