New Class

[Andree]

Anyone had heard about the Mercury V Class ? Your opinion?
http://www.batliv.com/photoalbum/view2/P3NpemU9b3JnJnR5cGU9MSZpZD0xNDQ5MDM

[Ben Mazur]

Sounds very interesting, perhaps even promising but you have to wonder where the competitors will come from. The majority of boats that fit the new class are racing with P1 at the moment.

Obviously, Class 1 is looking for something to add to their program but perhaps they should have looked at bringing back Pro Vee. There are a number of those boats currently in existence that have nowhere to race. Mercury of course would only be able to sell each team one engine per boat vs two for the proposed class but I'm of the opinion that it might be better for them to sell 10 engine/drive packages to 10 teams rather than what I suspect will be less to the proposed class.

It would be helpful if Class 1/IOTA/WPPA would list the current entrants for the class.

[Andree]

I think there are no entries. I think actually there was the plan to get P1 under the WPPA Umbrella and make race weekend together. This would lower the costs for each and there were lot more advantages. With the NO from P1 to WPPA this plan failed, so now Class 1 trying it at their own.
I do not think this will work. My Opinion.

[RumRunner]

Why is it always the "New" idea in offshore racing is to add the next best class that is going to save the sport?

Doesn't matter what side of the pond it's on, until we figure out how to keep guys racing, and get all of the boats that are sitting out on the water nothing is going to help our sport.

[Ben Mazur]

Agreed.