Conference vicki::boats

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Note 755.0                      ski racer wanted                      No replies
SNOFS1::BOWMAN                                       12 lines  12-SEP-1990 07:48
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    yet another one from the other reg 
    is there a skier out there whos race proven 
    approximately 12 stone or under who would like a run
    in this years bridge to bridge 
    behind a very competetive class boat o/board
    almost guaranted a place 
    hunting for a win and record in class
    
    the date of this race is 18-nov-1990
    
    thanks reg
     

    MOVED BY MOD...
    
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Note 906.5                      HYDROPLANE RACING                         5 of 5
SNMFS::BOWMAN                                        34 lines  11-NOV-1991 22:45
                               -< racing w/ski >-
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    well the time has come for our bridge to bridge w/ski race
    
    112 kms long from dangar island on the hawkesbury to windsor. 
    
    this year im in it. only in social class 118 ft ropes
    
    and social length skis. im running a mod vp on the back of a 17ft
    
    dancraft. i just hope all the crew can get over their injuries 
    
    by the 24th.
    
    im also hoping to enter the bridge to bridge boat race in handicap
    
    early next year.
    
    the super class boats will be doing 110+ mph with two idiots hanging 
    
    off the back.
    
    hopefully ill be doing about 55-60 mph with my two idiots as long as 
    
    they can recover in time. for social class that wouldnt be too bad 
    
    as the ropes and skis govern your top end.
    
    its a bit off the topic of hydros but i suppose its all racing
    
    the other reg
    
                    
    

    
    > as the ropes and skis govern your top end.
    
    		1 Ski or 2?
    
    		2 hours of skiing, that must be quite a ride, boy would
    my legs be bulging and screaming for mercy after a ride like that!
    
    Rick

    Rick,
       That was an 80 mph wind coming of the propeller, I think we were
    only skiing at around 45 mph.  (But the chase/camera boat was W.O.T. at
    about 50 mph- back when the Malibu was young :) and the amphib was
    passing the boat - on the *outside* of the turns.)  Hmmmm...
    Maybe Don just told us we were only doing 45...
    
    Speed is one thing, duration is another...
    I once skiied the length of Plum Island (about 12 miles?) although it
    was only(?) 35-40 mph in the ocean(!) on a 66" ski, my legs were like
    jello when I finally let go.   I can't even imagine the abuse of a race
    like Catalina (60 miles?) at speeds greater than 60+++ mph!
    
    I'll stick to calm water and slalom courses, thank-you.  :^)
    
    Good Luck the_other_reg, and let us know how you guys do.
    
    Doug

Yeah, and they wear those funny things on their heads!  :-)

Good luck to the_other_Reg, too!  May the wind be at your back!


...Roge...

    thakks for the well wishes 
    
    its a two skier race  using single skis 
    i think max length is 70 but id have to check that
    
    tks 
    the other reg 

    
    
    well we didnt do too well.
    
    one skiers knee gave out and we had to drop speed dramaticaly 
    just to get to the finish line.but at least we finished.
    there were a lot that didnt.
    and we actualy beat a number of other boats.
    
    the outright winner did the course in just under 44 minutes
    
    it looked like the record could be set at 43 mins for a while, 
    split times down the river made it seem as though they were going
    to do it  but something must have slowed them in the last section.
    
    there were the usual dramas eg. boats trying to get over the line
    while petrol ran out etc. 
    
    one skiers rope broke and he lost the handles so he got a branch from
    the bank tied it onto the rope and finished on his home made bar.
    
    one of the fastest boats got disorientated and actualy thought hed
    taken a wrong turn so he did a u turn and started back
    then had to do another when he realised he was correct the first time.
    how you can take a wrong turn on this river id love to know.
    
    thanks for the interest
    
    the other reg
    
     

    Moved by moderator.
    
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Note 1046.0                        Ski Racing                         No replies
DESERT::WOYAK                                        28 lines  15-MAR-1993 11:40
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     I was invited to the 8th annual Parker International Ski Race this
    past weekend..This is in Parker Az. south of the Parker Dam in an area
    known as the "strip"..This is an interesting sport that seems to be
    a west coast type event in the U.S. with overseas activity in Australia 
    and in Europe (UK, France and Italy)..This was an enduro event which
    was run over a 13 mile course for 1 hour plus 1 lap..These guys get
    towed behind 20-21 foot V bottom ski boats, V-Drive, pushing 900-1200
    H.P. and run in the upper 90's and low 100's for over an hour..UNREAL..
    The ski is very large aprox 10-12 " across and long weighing about 25-
    30 pounds..The tow ropes are 180-240 feet long (depending on the wake
    of the boat) and the harness is a wide support webbing which, after
    they get to speed, they put around the lower back for support and a low
    center of gravity. Each "team" is made up of a driver, observer and
    skier..It is really something to see these guys zoom by at such
    speeds..There are mens class, womens class, and Jr. class.
     For you go fast boaters the boats are quite works of art..The open
    class are powered by a single big block (454-600+ C.I. with all the good
    internal goodies ) twin turbo charged, intercooled, T.H. 400 trans,
    with overdrive V-Drive gears..Detailing to the max. I got a ride in a 
    couple and was clocked at 107 mph in one..These run on racing fuel..There 
    were 60 open class boats there capable of 95+ ..These boats are capable
    of running at speed for hours which is quite different than the
    ocassional burst of speed..The folks who invited me also brought along
    their "family" play boats which were capable of just the mid 90's..
     The Parker strip I was told has more 90 + MPH boats in one small
    location than anywhere else..It was the first time I ever saw a marina
    that as normal operating proceedure is set up with av gas and racing
    gas.. Quite an experience..

    I recall reading an article about ski-racers that mentioned the impact
    of their falls is enough to rip the ligaments out of their arms, which
    is unrepairable. The article had a picture of a limp-armed man who is now 
    retired at a rather young age. 
    
    Anything for a thrill I suppose......
    
    ~jeff 

     Ya, This was mentioned to me..Seems they ski with one arm behind them,
    and the other out front..If they loose it at speed and fall backward
    the force of the impact tears the arm behind the back and rotates it
    over the head..It pulls the nerve endings right out of the spine and
    in essence it becomes paralized..There were some guys using a new
    style harness that went around the back but attached to both wrists
    with heavy velcro and was adjustable..This was suppose to give all the
    support and not cause the problems if you fall..The younger guys seemed
    to be using this but the "veterans" were all of the old style..
    
    Jim

    
    
    we generally hear of one or two a year that do themselves in
    with deadarm.however i havent noticed any this year. the harness
    seems to be making a difference.
    
    we did our bridge to bridge again and just missed out on a trophy
    in our class. 
    
    the river circuits ,90 kms races,are winding down for winter here
    the last is run on april 18. then we get the boat race,two months
    off and start again.
    
    we know were nuts.
    
    the other reg
    
    

    hey "the other Reg",
    
     One of the smaller boats at Parker last weekend was called the "Bullet
    Express"..It was an outboard powered by a very special racing fuel only
    merc..It was one fast boat and extremely stable..It was from and made 
    down under..I forget the brand name but it was the class of the
    outboard field..
    
    Jim

    
    If its the bullet express we know its 
    
    light blue with squarish letters and a picture of a bullet
    after the name.
    
    formula 2.4 merc (early model with winged cowl)
    
    the boat is an early 17.50 bullet made at taren point
    sydney. 
    
    the boat lives on our central coast (gosford).
    
    bullets are probably one of the best outboard racing hulls
    unless you own a lab which is another aus made boat but people 
    keep flipping labs.
    
    where does he get the money to go on world trips???????
    why dont i have money??????
    
    the other reg