NATIONAL BOAT RACING ASSOCIATION

I've been intrigued with marathon style boat races for quite a while, and was really disappointed when I finally figured out Top O Michigan is 12 whole miles.

Any interest out there for a marathon (open to hydros also) in our NBRA racing? I'd like to see a race of several hours with a given number of mandatory pit/fuel stops.

Your thoughts?

Dan

O-66

Dan I think a marathon would be a interesting race.  I think about 150 to 200 miles would be a marathon spread out over two days. One way down a river 75 to 100 miles then back the next day. If your boat would average 45 miles per hour it would take 1.6 hours to go 75 miles not out of the question. I bet it would take a lot of man power to run one. We could talk about one at the national meeting.

Larry Mac 

Larry McAfee at October 25, 2010 at 10:34 PM

Dan I think a marathon would be a interesting race.  I think about 150 to 200 miles would be a marathon spread out over two days. One way down a river 75 to 100 miles then back the next day. If your boat would average 45 miles per hour it would take 1.6 hours to go 75 miles not out of the question. I bet it would take a lot of man power to run one. We could talk about one at the national meeting.

 

Larry Mac 

Thanks Larry. That sounds like what I would envision...and a big party on both ends!!!

Dan

Dan, actually the Top O Marathon is about 87 miles run over two days with the start being in the city park in Indian River both days. The 12 mile run you mentioned was implemented a couple of years ago to get the older motors in an introductory experience. I believe they are calling it the Classic Division. The regular Top O is for a national championship so a single event membership can not be purchased. With the Classic entries , no national points are awarded , a single event membership can be bought and those that want to give marathon racing a try can do so without having to buy all the stuff that is necessary for the longer race in the open water of Burt and Mullet lakes.

I do know that it takes a lot of folks to pull it off. Rescue, enroute scorers, et al.

Jack Stotts at October 26, 2010 at 1:06 PM

Dan, actually the Top O Marathon is about 87 miles run over two days with the start being in the city park in Indian River both days. The 12 mile run you mentioned was implemented a couple of years ago to get the older motors in an introductory experience. I believe they are calling it the Classic Division. The regular Top O is for a national championship so a single event membership can not be purchased. With the Classic entries , no national points are awarded , a single event membership can be bought and those that want to give marathon racing a try can do so without having to buy all the stuff that is necessary for the longer race in the open water of Burt and Mullet lakes.

 

I do know that it takes a lot of folks to pull it off. Rescue, enroute scorers, et al.

Thanks Jack.... I know you drove in this a couple years back and enjoyed it. I wrongly inferred the length of the race from what I was reading...always wanted to do something like that, but the "12 mile" thing really floored me.

Like Larry, I think it's something we should discuss at the national meeting. Such an event might be easier to sell to sponsors than what we do on weekends.

Thanks for the clarification.

Danl

O-66

Hey Dan how about Tulsa to Ft smith and Back via the arkansas river?? thats like 125mi

jeff ruth at October 26, 2010 at 9:40 PM

Hey Dan how about Tulsa to Ft smith and Back via the arkansas river?? thats like 125mi

Jeff, that would be fun. I think there are two locks to negotiate in that stretch... ??? (And there's lots of trash floating in Robert S. Kerr Reservoir even in the navigation channel.) Still it would be something good to figure out.

What about a closed-course marathon...on a large circle somewhere???

Dan

O-66

How about a 20 laper ?  Lemans  Start  and the ole Calcutta on the side . $100.00 entry fee and Helmet Cameras that can transmit live to the internet during the race . Are we on to something here ????   At the Daytona Nascar race in Feb - we could do it on the infield lake .  Maybe  Lucas oil would want in on that event as part of our series.   Dream BIG !!!

Dan Crummett at October 26, 2010 at 10:36 PM

jeff ruth at October 26, 2010 at 9:40 PM

Hey Dan how about Tulsa to Ft smith and Back via the arkansas river?? thats like 125mi

Jeff, that would be fun. I think there are two locks to negotiate in that stretch... ??? (And there's lots of trash floating in Robert S. Kerr Reservoir even in the navigation channel.) Still it would be something good to figure out.

What about a closed-course marathon...on a large circle somewhere???

Dan

O-66

A closed course would take a lot less people to run the race. It needs to be big enough to make only a few laps so there wouldn't be the problem of counting laps. Keeping track of 50 to 75 boats running around a course 30 times would be a problem.

Larry Mac

Larry McAfee at October 27, 2010 at 9:34 AM

Dan Crummett at October 26, 2010 at 10:36 PM

jeff ruth at October 26, 2010 at 9:40 PM

Hey Dan how about Tulsa to Ft smith and Back via the arkansas river?? thats like 125mi

Jeff, that would be fun. I think there are two locks to negotiate in that stretch... ??? (And there's lots of trash floating in Robert S. Kerr Reservoir even in the navigation channel.) Still it would be something good to figure out.

What about a closed-course marathon...on a large circle somewhere???

Dan

O-66

A closed course would take a lot less people to run the race. It needs to be big enough to make only a few laps so there wouldn't be the problem of counting laps. Keeping track of 50 to 75 boats running around a course 30 times would be a problem.

 

Larry Mac

Larry, don't ever tell Patsy or Cindy or Mardell I said this,  but: "Not if you're driving!"

Dan

O-66

BURNINVERNON "PREDATOR RACING" at October 26, 2010 at 11:20 PM

How about a 20 laper ?  Lemans  Start  and the ole Calcutta on the side . $100.00 entry fee and Helmet Cameras that can transmit live to the internet during the race . Are we on to something here ????   At the Daytona Nascar race in Feb - we could do it on the infield lake .  Maybe  Lucas oil would want in on that event as part of our series.   Dream BIG !!!

Vernon, I think it has merit...and it already has an audience.

You loan me $100???

Dan

O-66

We run short course marathons in Michigan, 20 minutes long, with at least 1 right hand turn.  NBRA should run a marathon or two, especially a river/lake 40/50 mile race. I think I could get  10 or 12 racers from Mich to participate.  Team Casual could put 2 ASR's and 5  CSR's on the water. Good Luck with this

Steve Jones

For the sake of learning more about marathon racing, Some of you guys should venture up to race the Top O' marathon. You'll love it! 44 miles each day, and you'll be glad it's not 45 miles per day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbikIGJE_WA

Larry McAfee at October 27, 2010 at 9:34 AM

Dan Crummett at October 26, 2010 at 10:36 PM

jeff ruth at October 26, 2010 at 9:40 PM

Hey Dan how about Tulsa to Ft smith and Back via the arkansas river?? thats like 125mi

Jeff, that would be fun. I think there are two locks to negotiate in that stretch... ??? (And there's lots of trash floating in Robert S. Kerr Reservoir even in the navigation channel.) Still it would be something good to figure out.

What about a closed-course marathon...on a large circle somewhere???

Dan

O-66

A closed course would take a lot less people to run the race. It needs to be big enough to make only a few laps so there wouldn't be the problem of counting laps. Keeping track of 50 to 75 boats running around a course 30 times would be a problem.

 

Larry Mac

Somerville, TX could handle any size marathon course—we could make a pretty good show running around both sides of the point, with a nice right-hander. Now where do we get these 75 boats .... : )

-Mike Hauenstein