SHARKEY-IMAGES

I know I really enjoyed this match up:

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/873063/3535297

Catmando

Dam too short. You can hear the piston boat coming and the turbine boat going.

AB From Windsor

Hi Tim!

I remember that race, as one of my all time favorites and by the reaction of the spectators at that race, it was theirs also, judging by all the cheering I was hearing every time they went by us.

BigDadys93x

Im sorry there is nothing "extreme" about 3 equally set up boats racing , it might as well be nascar. Add 3 or 4 different manufactures and add bigger tubines or a run what ya brung type thing then you have extreme! and yes there have been races with just one boat in a class. Just look at the "National Championship" the AM won with the old Bacardi boat a few years ago, except for the worlds they ran the entire season against the clock ! Not one other team to run against them and they still got given the championship thats what the turbine class is turning into. F@#king joke.

Wahoo ATV

The crowd absolutely loved that "race". It was very cool seeing two grade A teams and sponsors running all out at those speeds. Piston vs Turbine. Sure it was flat water but it was without a doubt awesome.

Hope to see Dave Scott back at it soon.

AB From Windsor

I agree Dean, hope Dave Scott comes back soon along with Tom Abrams.

Eaton Photos

I haven't made an A$$ out of myself. This is an opinion based thread, pure & simple, not anything else. Here are some real facts for all the people that follow racing. The Turbine class, cost' somewhere in the neighborhood of 1 to 2 Million, to run per season. The sheer cost' of the boat & turbines is 5X what it would cost to buy a boat & operate a 750/850 class boat for 3 years.

On another note, here is a legitimate question: What do you think the public rather see? 5-10 Piston Powered Supercats racing OR 1 or 2 Turbine powered boats running around in circles? Personally, I myself find it much more entertaining to watch a bigger class running that may not do 200 MPH, than to watch 1 & occasionally 2 boats race each other. How can a team call itself a National or World Champion when they don't race anybody for 50-75% of the season.

The purpose of a champion, is to have a class that has enough boats, to make the class competitive. This is purely my opinion, but it would seem that there are a lot more racers/ teams that can afford a piston powered boat, than those that can afford to spend the money on turbine power.

I am not against Turbines. I enjoy watching them run & spending time chatting with the teams. John, Scotty, Marc, Scott N, Mikey, Carlos, Bobby, & everyone else that makes AMF Racing/ Geico what it is, are a pleasure to be around. The only thing I am saying, is that they are essentially a very limited class, to which only the extremely wealthy can afford. What's the point of having a class that currently has 3 boats in it, which rarely race each other, & to which most of the racers cannot afford to be a part of? For a pleasure boat they are fine, and for speed records, they'll do great. Just because you can afford to spend the money, does not always mean you should spend the money.

Flame Suit on, ready for the the ensuing fire-storm.

I've never seen this video. That is Awesome. And I love the sound of the piston power. You hear it coming & going. Maybe my hearing is bad which I sincerely doubt, but I don't hear the sound of the turbines over the the piston blocks.

Rik

Where do you get the actual cost estimate for 1-2 million for a season?

That includes?

What do yo honestly think it would cost the same team to run the same season with just the power source being different?

I'd say the engines are probably the lowest cost denominator in this equation. Trucks, transportation, storage, crew, flights, meals, hotels, propellers, drives, maintenance, etc. etc.. cost more than the actual racing does especially when there are 10 or so people on a team.

Before there were Turbine powered boats in "Extreme Class" there was no more than 3 boats (regularly) running in it for a season either so I would honestly say not much has changed now, just the power source. Extreme has always been a very limited class that the elite can participate in. Do you think that AM went to the Turbines to reduce cost or to raise it?

DareDevil

On your last question Rik , i think they wne tto turbine power to have one and maybe reduce the coast..but ask them if it worked ??? mmmhhh

I say turbine boats are show boats..Fast , very cool..but still show boats.

I think real racing is in a class with min. 5-7 boats ..which as of know is tuff no matter which boat u have !

OPA THIS WEEK END !!!!!!!!!!! Ocean City will show some nice racing !!!!

And not with the turbine boat, although it will be there and do its cyrcles !!!!!!!!

Joe Todesca

Turbine class is not dead it just getting started. There are other teams other then the ones mention in this thread. People love big very fast boats a fantasize about running them and always will. Put together a Turbine class team and see if Miss Geico, or JBS or any other turbine team will just let you take a checkered flag. I'm sure you will have to RACE them for it. Jo