We've worked too hard over the years to promote "driver" safety at high speeds. The capsule being an integral part of this battle. NJBA should not allow this boat to run the quarter mile without being in compliance with the "RULES". Yeah I know the rules are sometimes a pain in the neck, but they are there for a reason. All coments and "bashing" are appreciated. If you agree with my madness call njba and voice your concerns.......I know everyone is tired of my chant, but....."IF YOU WANT TO GO FAST.........GET IN A CAPSULE"

Are you referring to Mary (Rife) McCauley's "Proud Mary" EXHIBITION passess??

If so, I've heard that all she intends to do are "burn-outs" NOT full-track passes...

In my personal opinion, as long as the following are in place:

1. She has a CURRENT medical

2.  The boat passes tech

3.  It is made perfectly clear that the boat is to be kept to (at most) half-track passes

 

Then why the heck not???

 

Remember, the 206 MPH pass(es) were made under the OLD starting length/procedures.  Under the current (125 foot) system, I don't see that boat being capable of  much more (speed or e.t. wise) than some of the other "open" Alcohol Hydros running with N.J.B.A. in the last couple of years.

jetcrewchief can you bring us up to speed what you are referring to please.

 

I agree with Mike if that is what you are referring to, as long as the boat and driver meets the requirements of the association they can run under the same guidelines as others.

 

As for an open boat running exceeding the rulebook standards without a capsule, NOT!!!

---

 

The NJBA website has advertised PROUD MARY will be in attendance in the pits for photos and making passes down the track. It does not clarify 1/2 track, just passes. In my book a "PASS" is light to light. The website says nothing about this. Even if you are making exhibition passes you still must conform to the rulebook. To PE 316, a medical certificate is great but if you go down the quarter mile anywhere close to 200 mph...........gotta be in a capsule........sorry cant bend even for the old time nostalga racers.

NDBA Rule Book

Capsules - Breakaway capsules meeting SFI specifications 36.1 (shell material), 36.2 (canopy material), and 36.3 (roll cage material) are required in all Professional classes. Non-SFI capsules are permitted in any Sportsman or Bracket class. All capsules, regardless of manufacturer or type, must be fully enclosed, and be designed using state-of-the-art technology in an effort to minimize serious injuries to the driver in the event of an accident. It shall be the responsibility of the boat owner to select the designer and/or manufacturer that best meets his standards for a high quality, crash worthy capsule. The following standards are the minimum acceptable for each capsule:

Professional Classes

TFH TOP FUEL HYDRO

BAH BLOWN ALCOHOL HYDRO

Unblown Fuel Hydro

BFJ BLOWN FLAT and JET

Blown Alcohol Flat

Unblown Fuel Flat

Blown Fuel Jet

PM PRO MODIFIED (7:00 Breakout

These are our rules and I belive identical to IHBA!!!

Crashes happen at half track and the Starting line as well. Ask Micheal Updegraph.

Good one Buzz!

Nostalga (things from the past), exhibition (for show). As long as Mary has her safety gear on, boat passes specs., crack that throttle if you want to Mary, you know what your limits are. Further more if it had a capsule, it would'nt be "Nostalga"

Unfortunately we do NOT offer a Nostalga Class. and in my opion if you want to play you must meet the guidlines that are currently in place.

Preserving the past is crucial, reminding everyone is imperative to promote the future of our sport.

 

While doing the above I am sure all parties involved will abide by current principle rules and do an exhibition with the prospect of our sport in mind.

---

 

well she is not going to get anywhere near 200 even if she does do a full track pass jetcrewchief, if you where around back then at all, you would know that the boat only went that fast becuase of the longer starting and she had a 426 style KB motor in it...  if you have read up on her rebuild they are only putting a 392 style hemi in it.  with a small blower like they ran years ago.  so dont get you panties in a pinch over it.   she knows what she is getting in to, remeber it is her and her boat  she is ok

Padgett,

THANK YOU,

This is being done at an NJBA EVENT so QUIT crying all the IHBA NDBA or what other orginazation rules everybody knows what they are. ARE YOU THE ONE getting in the seat? NO !

 

 

Does anyone know if  Mary (Rife) McCauley and the "Proud Mary" boat will be at the world finals in november it sure would be great to see a nostalgia fueler even if it's just for display

This is being staged as a Nostalgia Tour and it would be really cool if there were others involved!

Nice to see some feedback on this topic....However, I do find it amuzing to see how quickly the "open" boat guys get fired up when we "capsule" guys start talking about capsules. Never met a guy who said "capsules who needs them" after he met water at over 100 miles per hour. Guy that drove our boat didn't really want to get in a swimming pool without a lid on his floatie after his open boat crash.........lol.........As for the half track debate.........Question of the day: "How many "DRIVERS" truly make just a half track pass when told to do so by tech or the race diector?" Always got to stretch it just a little past the mark, it's the nature of the driver........I know our driver did it on his shakedown pass with the new boat after his crash. Of course when questioned by tech and the director about running a little farther...."WE" being the team and driver swore he clicked it off at half track.......Probably why some directors are almost bald ...........

Doesn't the 7.70 rule still apply? As long as she goes slower than that and her boat passes tech she should be allowed.

NJBA doesn't have a 7.70 rule.I think the new capsule rule for hydro's is over 160.00 MPH. 

LOL from rescues prospective nobody makes a half track pass if it feels good!

---

 

Jetcrewwhaterever,

LOL ADMIN and GOD BLESS OUR RESCUE as for guarantees........you get a guarantee with a washer........we all know that from the tragedy of John Hipwell.........My Grandad always said..."There's no such thing as perfect........If everything were perfect there would be no room for improvement.".........All we can do is try to make it better. I started this thread to increase everybody's awareness.........watch out for your fellow racer.....dont let them do something stupid.........worst thing I ever heard is "THAT'S THE WAY WE ALWAYS DONE IT" Oh yeah just for you 316...................................SIGNED CHRIS .....Idont do all that fancy stuff/resume at the end of my post, but the people who Know....KNOW.................

A couple of years ago NJBA came out with the rule of 6.99 or faster had to have a capsule. Don't remember what the MPH was.....(slept since then).......The ruling was made 6.99 because all of the board members (excuse me) "MOST" of the board members all ran boats in the low sevens and they didn't want to have to go out and buy capsules.....Sorry if that offends some, but sometimes the truth hurts. At the time this rule was made for NJBA, IHBA was 7.99 or faster... Pretty sure that's right even after a nap........lol..........Hey 316, read your PM....I'm not a bad guy....Question for you? You ever CRASHED a boat? If not don't think your good, your just lucky.......You run down the quarter mile enough times it's not "IF", but "WHEN"........stats dont lie...........Chris

BOB RABER(TAF) ONCE TOLD ME "THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF BOAT RACERS,
THE ONES WHO HAVE GOT WET AND THE ONES WHO WILL GET WET"

RIGHT ON rickster!!!!!!!! Like I said if you didn't get wet, it's

and there's two kinds of motorcycle rides those that been down and those that are going down. you can run that clesha' about anything.

Chris yes I did, and for some who knows why reason, It came to mind today and I actually started laughing.

As far as I am aware( I could be wrong but) up till 2004 we ran TAF and there was no 6.99 et execption. I will admit I dont know the all NJBA rules just some of the rediculous ones.

Told you I'd make you laugh 316........this IS an important issue about safety because if it is allowed to happen "once in a while" the control factor will disappear and we'll be back to scoopin bodies out of the lake..........NOBODY wants that to happen.....I am impressed with the feedback this topic has brought out...everyone has an opinion and no one is right unless we all go home tired on sunday....By the way 316...where we meetin for that beer on saturday?...I'm buying the burgers..got to have a REX burger or you haven't been to ming...........Chris

I am still waiting to find out if I have to be in Vagas(NHRA race) if not I will be @ Ming with the TAF

---

Sean Barnes
Physi-COLE ATTRACTION
BLOWN ALCOHOL FLAT
TAF/316
Canyon Boats
TAF 535

Jetcrewchief, I agree with you that in competition pro boats of certain speed and et capabilities should not be taken off the trailer without a certified capsule and driver installed passing all tech requirements etc.

However, With "Proud Mary" there to do "Exhibition" Burn-outs and "Half-Track" passes in an open boat do you think Mary, NJBA Tech, and Team Rescue would not take serious the possibilities of potential outcome of each intended pass? It would be better to have her there to run her boat with all of the safety elements in place just in case than to have her take the boat out somewhere else.

Besides, I was hoping she had Mario's passenger seat set up so I could have a chance to go for a ride. Mary could tell me afterwards who screamed louder Me or Mario...

This is my opinion and we all have them. Since I'm not a driver I'll admit it's worth a little less than others but I'm not afraid to offer it just the same.

Now about the "REX" burger....Amen...

See you there this weekend

---

TopWop/Bruce Pedretti
Chowchilla Chicken Chokers

Memory lane is only a 1/4 mile long

Hey TOPWOP.......I was wondering if you would get in on this...I agree about the burnouts etc., and I understand nobody is going to leave their couch if the ad were to say burnout and half track passes...I know I go out there to see them go light to light as do most spectators...All said, there have to be measures put in place so she doesn't "RUN IT" if it feels good. Know what I mean...Like I said it's our nature to push the limits a little if we think we can get away with it. Gonna have to charge Rex for all this advertising...LOL, but those burgers are it, even when your on the trailer broke. See you saturday.....you gonna be down by the in ramp?

Oh yeah almost forgot, we went to firebird a couple of years ago to run "exhibition" and we went through the same rigorous tech as everyone else..almost didn't get to run because of a problem with the lid not locking properly...got it fixed, passed tech, ran the boat, came home tired and safe.......

Jet...I've been working jetski for the outramp for the last year and a half. (I do miss working the in-ramp but I know that the boats and drivers are in good hands with Larry getting everyone from the trailer to the rope or to the jetski.

Ya gotta give credit where credit is due and as a flattracker I know that when racing if it feels good "Go For It"...I made that mistake one time that left it's mark on me. I wanted to get one more practice round in so I figured a 250 could go out and practice with "Open" class bikes. Never thought that all of the open class riders wore heavy duty "Armor"... I got my ass "Roosted" by a guy named "Rick Zimmerman". This guy raced a Harley 1200 (Ask the Orangegasm He knows the bike and rider) and when you got hit by his "Roost" there was no mistake. After the incident and my lecture by the district referee and 3 or 4 different 2nd mothers a person inherrits in this type of sport. I learned that if we deviate from the plan we need to know all possible results.

And Yes....Rex is getting some great press from us.....Nitro Burgers and Lake Ming.....See you there

---

TopWop/Bruce Pedretti
Chowchilla Chicken Chokers

Memory lane is only a 1/4 mile long

RIGHT ON !!! see you at the ramp.....Rex may have to borrow gas money to get to firebird.....I mean we're easy, but we're not CHEAP!.....See you saturday

My point for my earlier post is we all take chances here and there. I believe Mary will use her head to show her boat... Fans will have to use their immagination to picture how it used to be unless they were there in the 70's and 80's or earlier and saw them up close and personal along with Blown Fuel Flats. Now on that.... how long will it be until we see a capsuled Top Fuel Flat or an Unblown Fuel Flat????

---

TopWop/Bruce Pedretti
Chowchilla Chicken Chokers

Memory lane is only a 1/4 mile long

All I'm saying is there have to be measures in place to insure that this happens.....Mary's "head/knowledge" will say she is going to do this right and let people's imaginations work,....BUT, what is Mary the "DRIVER" going to DO when she gets in the seat and it FEELS GOOD?......Chris

Chris, I guess all any of us can do is prepare to get all of our ducks in line and go from there....

If Mary is reading this I want her to know I wasn't kidding about taking a ride with her (if they have the passenger seat set up and Mario doesn't show up that is)

JT you're right "PROUD MARY" is back and I for one am glad to see it.

Now it's Ray Capaldi's turn to get busy restoring the "Shot in The Dark"
How many other Legends are out there gathering dust in a shop or garage.

Bill & Sean Barnes what's the story on that Sanger I saw in Merced 2 years ago? That was a classic flat.

Oh well I better get on the road so I can get my "Nitro Burger" fix.
See everyone this weekend...

---

TopWop/Bruce Pedretti
Chowchilla Chicken Chokers

Memory lane is only a 1/4 mile long

Well boys, I can say that you dont have much to worry about. The Njba was not going to have that boat make a (pass). I teched the boat and spoke with Mary about what her intentions were with that boat. It was truly a treat to see it launch and put around. There are far worst capsule boats that I have teched, then that open fuel boat. Thats right, real junk go's down the track all the time, and will pass tech. For that matter, there is a fuel boat that runs alot of races, that is no where close to being legal, and most people know what boat I'am talking about, but, it still gets wet, and he still collects his show up money. Some day ,we may see the politics fade, but not any time soon.

Joe you're so right about the condition of "Proud Mary" and that capsule boat from hell. If I'm correct in my thinking it was on fire more times at Chowchilla this year than "Loose Cannon".

It was great to talk with Mary and to see how much care was taken in the restoration of this classic hydro. She told me that yesterday (Sunday) was one year to the day since they found the boat and started the work.

I did meet up with jetcrewchief (Chris) and we had some good stories to tell
I hope the plan he is working on comes through. It will be interesting.

We had our fix of a "Nitro Burger" (Thanks Rex)

I did help Mary load up both Saturday and Sunday and I apologize to the fans on hydro island for towing her to the lagoon ramp instead of the regular out ramp. To see Mary in that boat with all of their history together brought a lump to many throats.

Thank You Mary for all of the years of driving in competition and for sharing "Proud Mary" with fans who remember watching you race as well as new fans who can now put a face with the name. "Long May You Run"

Wardance I wish you were there.....

---

TopWop/Bruce Pedretti
Chowchilla Chicken Chokers

Memory lane is only a 1/4 mile long

HEY TOPWOP!!!!!!!!Really cool getting to meet you this weekend..I like spectatin once in a while, but now I've got the BUG again..Looks like we got some work to do over the winter months.........Sure glad I got my NITRO burger fix.....lol.....As for J Shelfo.......I was at the track, heard the plan, it sounded good, "BUT" you never know what the driver is going to do until it's on the trailer or ?.....and I think we all know what the "?" means.....As for putting the tech sticker on a boat that doesn't meet the rules "because of politics" SHAME ON YOU! but hey you're the one that's got to sleep at night. Must be something different going on because our boat was always legal before it went to the in ramp..

Well i think she did a fine job down the strip in that open boat. You got to admit it Jetcrewchief, lol.

Jet Crew Cheif, you are worried about things that YOU DONT HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER. As for me, or the rest of the NJBA tech, we had the best safety record the NJBA has seen in years. There is not a boat that hits the water, with my signature on it, that is not safe, period.You should learn to read, before you make judgment calls on tech about allowing illegal boats, as I was referring to another orginization. My point being, Be a crew cheif, not a worry wart, because in the end, the NJBA,IHBA, and all other clubs are going to do what they want. I think that your concern is appreciated, for the safety of the sport, but you are wasting your own time. This is a dangerous sport, and people are going to get hurt,or die. We try our hardest to prevent this, but it is, and always has happened. How about directing our efforts towards better safety equipment?

J Shelfo, I can read and you said you've seen boats (or A boat) teched that was not legal. So again, SHAME ON YOU for not speaking up. As for being a worry wart YES I AM, but my driver is DRY at the end of every pass... When he crashed I was out of town not "WORRYING" about anything....Easy brother, not tryin to get you fired up, just getting everyone to think a little....Had a great time visiting with Robert aka orangegasm sat night after the race and that's how it should be, dry and laughing, mad because it's not running fast enough yet...........lol

I talked to Mary a week or two before Bakersfield, and she said that she did plan on going to Phx. I am glad to see her back, and hope she does make it to the finals.

Im still laughing and do you have any spare parts ?  lol

Hey Orange....glad you made it to the race. Now that you've got the bug we'll be looking for you next year. Come on up to the 10:00 second bracket and join us......we'll make juice out of ya'!

If anyone has not seen Mary's restored boat check out these pics from Mark McLaughlin.

Hey ADMIN.....Where's the rooster tail pic........LOL...Real nice getting to meet you and Joe on Saturday...........Chris....BTW did his camera break? Haven't seen any new photos up yet...........

Chris ditto ditto!!!

You guys can try to make juice out of me but wait till i pour the vodka in lol

Hey Orange! Now you're talkin...let's put the alcohol to it...lol..If I could get a hundred bucks for everytime I've been called ignorant, told I can't read, don't understand, or jetcrewwhatever, because of starting this topic, just think of the upgrades we could do to your boat?. Of course we still got to wait on your trees to grow up! Maybe some NITRO will help...LMAO

Hum, never though of putting nitro on the trees to make them groww faster, lol.