Looks like BP is segregating endurance racers that use triple pipes into the "Factory Open Pro/Am class"...

http://www.bpmotorsports.net/2003-offshoreENTRY-web.pdf

It is my understanding that there were a couple people that complained that the triple pipe boats were being raced by people with "deep pockets" and it wasn't fair to the other racers. Not every triple piped boat is owned and operated by people with big wallets. I'd bet most are ridden by people who are competitive and like power and speed. Now if anyone with triples decide to race, they will be racing against everyone from beginners to pro's. Gee, how encouraging for new people. Maybe if BP wouldn't have classified the pwc's as either stock or open, then there wouldn't be someone with triples racing against someone without. I thought that was the point of having different classifications for the watercraft, ie stock, limited and modified? Then they don't post any news of what Lou (BP Motorsports) is doing or planning on doing since they never update their website in a timely manner. Heck, they never even send in any results for the IJSBA to post on their website, or reply to any questions that you send on email. Great promoting BP! Great way to listen to your racers, not just a select few of the "good ol' boys". Thank GOD that BulletRacing is going to start doing some 40 minute longcourse style races in conjuction with the closed course races. At least they aren't going to make their racers travel to Mexico! I guess everyone has to be a winner these days. Equally interesting is that BP Motorsports does not have schedule posted on the IJSBA website. So are the rumors true that BP is now operating under the APBA? I sure hope people in other regions don't have the headaches associated with their promotors that we in region 1 do.

In all reality triple equipped boats have a handicap, they consume lots more fuel, therefore probably at least one more fuel stop than non triple equipped boats, I think that levels the field a bit.

IGNORANCE IS BLISS...
PWC Racer, you don't seem to have the facts:

1. The decision about the triple-pipe PWCs was made by our Advisory Committee which we have used for the past ten years. It was not a decision made quickly but one that was well thought out by the Committee, which by the way, is made out of racers. We are probably the only promoter who uses its racers and their input to make major changes. And by the way, the triple-pipe decision only applies to our off-shore/endurance series and not the closed-course qualifiers.

2. Apparently you don't keep up with our website. It changes weekly and updated often during the racing season. Over the Holidays it's slow but news about the Advisory Committe and about the changes and decisions was posted, and open for comments.
By the way Bullett's website has been down for a couple of months and when I last looked at it (about 30-seconds ago) it was still gone. (You've got to check things out first, I think.)

3. Every single result that we have had in 2002 has not only been posted on our website, but also provided to the IJSBA (and other forums), including race coverage (story/report) and photos. I believe only two events during the 2002 season did not have a story written up for it and one did not have photos. But all others did.
We even went one step further. We suggested to the IJSBA that if they don't have time to post our results or the space, just post a heading that would link up to our site onto a "pdf" file so racers visiting their site, could see and download all our results. It would be just a matter of them typing the "link" and that's it. No extra work, no extra people to handle it, no additional headaches, no re-typing or re-formatting, etc.
However, we can't force them to do anything they don't want to.
By the way, other promoters have complained to the IJSBA and to Jet Sport about us getting so much copy and coverage of our events. Well, if they only did what we do after every race, they, too, would probably get equal coverage.

4. We respond to every e-mail we receive. If you sent one and did not get a response, I've got to believe we did not see it or it got away from us. BP MotorSports is the most responsive organization of all--even when we get negative e-mails, we, nonetheless, still respond to them giving our side.

5. To show you that you perhaps don't have all the details, your comments about Bullett putting on 40-minute Sprints, shows that neither you nor they have given it much thought.
The reason for us putting on 50-minute Sprints (instead of the 40-minute ones) is because we studied this for a long time and with the help of a lot of the racers, we finally came to our decision. The 50-minute bench mark seems to equalize 90% of the PWCs in competition. The super-fast, super-hot, very expensive boats can only do about 42 to 47 minutes. That extra 10 minutes we offer means that those people have to de-tune their PWCs or make some changes to make the 50-minutes. This makes it an even more level playing field. Most racers who race with us and racers who sit on our Advisory Committee Board, liked that and that's why we do 50-minute Sprints and not 40-minutes. But of course certain people just like to immitate but not learn the process. It's easier, I suppose.

6. Another instance of your lack of knowledge about our racers, our company and our schedule: For years off-shore/endurance racers have been wanting "surf" events. Many of the top off-shore/endurance racers have been complaining that racing a 2, 3, 4, 6-hour endurance race in a lake
is no different than closed-course, except longer events. Off-Shore/Endurance belongs in the "surf."
Accordingly, we decided to go back to Mexico because of that. Although we could do some events out of Long Beach (the only location in Southern California where we're allowed to refuel on the beach), there are some security problems there since our 9/11 ordeal. Therefore, we are backing off in 2003 for about a year. We do not want to jeopardize the Long Beach-2-Catalina & Back race, and we want to wait until we can once again go from inside the harbor to the other side of the breakwall and come through Queensgate.

We chose Baja California because many of our racers love it down there. It's a whole weekend thing. Not only the race but the pre- and post-race activities just means fun for the racers and their families and friends.
True, there are some who do not like Mexico and we've learned a long time ago that we cannot please everyone. So we go with the great majority. Again, it's all motivated by the majority of racers who feed us their input and by the Advisory Committee who ultimately decides many of our programs and changes. What's wrong with that?
Moreover, it looks like Baja California and Mexico may be the last bastion for PWC competition in these parts. If you have not been aware of the many closures or restrictions here in Southern California, Nevada and Arizona, then you are truly mis-informed. We need to nurture Mexico, because one day, we may all wake up and find out that we no longer have the precious few lakes where we can currently race. Wouldm't that be terrible.
Of curse by then, the IJSBA, BUllett and others will find out that Mexico isn't so bad.

7. Ironically, we were the first of all IJSBA promoters to submit our 2003 schedule, which was also posted on our website. We did this in November 2002. Why haven't they posted our dates on their website is a puzzlement, but again, can't force them to do so. We just submit and ask. Perhaps it's because we have some issues between us, but we have not received an explaination from them.

Mr. PWC Racer, it seems to me that you are just shooting from the hip and not taking the time to learn about things and the reasons behind some of the things we do. That you have a certain fervor and like Bullett very much is comendable and we're glad you throw your support to someone. As I've said it before, we can't please everyone. So your support for Bullett and your lack of support for BP is duly noted. Next time, however, get the facts before you make such suspect comments.

Good luck to you.

Lou Peralta

Lou,
when printing out the entry form, this is where I saw the triple pipe class, but do not see it listed anywhere else on the page.

What will the rules be for this class versus the other classes.


[ 01-07-2003: Message edited by: Mark C ]

Mark, you can also find them in our Rule Book. Go to the 2003 Off-Shore package, scorll down, and then click on Rule Book.
The Factory Open (1200cc max) basically is the class that any PWC with triple-pipes can compete. No other class. Most of the people with Triples are either Pros or Experts, a few Novices. They will all compete with each other. This class can also earn the #1 Plate at the end of the year and will compete for the Overall at all off-shore/endurance events, as do the other classes.

Many in the Advisory Committee felt that giving all triple-boats their own class would encourage other riders to the class and it would also keep the non-triple classes more competitive. It was a decision made by the Committee and we went along with. We think it's good.
Thanks.

LP

Lou,
I'm game. Got a triple pipe boat, and feeling the need to win.



[ 01-07-2003: Message edited by: Mark C ]

When you have the opportunity, call us.

BPMS

Lou, what makes you think Bullet's site is down, are you talking about a specific section of the site or the site itself? Looks fine to me and it hasn't been down for me at all within the last two months.

Hey Lou, good seeing you replying with force! he he Go get em'! Some people will never be happy, maybe that is one of them.

Very interesting change with he triple pipe class. Is there any way to get you to possibly write more information on the change and post it on the website? I know there are other racers who would want more information since they fall in that category. Maybe this will alleviate several people asking for the same information. I would think that everyone who has triples already is very competitive anyhow, and judge themselves against the expert and pros. It is sad that the IJSBA isn't supporting us by not posting the racing results. We need all the support and coverage we can.

Mark, looking forward to racing with you this season. It should be a good time again. I'm not making very good progress at getting my boat back together though. Still waiting on the crank and having problems with getting my cdi reprogrammed and working afterwards. You hit 75 yet?

Rod Clemens

Rod,
Sounds like you are having some last minute blues. Your crank isn't back yet??? WTF? Let's get him busy, already. Did he give you a timeline? Did you tell him the race is in a month?

About the 75...Let's just say that I'm very close, and are still at 2.5 turns out, and burning rich...and still have a couple more tricks up my sleeves. However, I'm far from ready as well. My refuel system is waiting to be installed, and I'm still waiting for my mech trim tabs to arrive. My gas valves are needing attention, and I would like to do the 1/2" cooling before this race, but am waiting on parts for it too. I just sent my seat out for a new cover, and my old one just cracked in half.

...and you know all the stuff going on at "Intrails". Feb is our drop dead date, and also their public announcement of intentions with the other building or a new one.

WHEW!
It's a Madhouse Around here.

Sorry, when I go to my "favorites" and hit www.bullettracing.com we get an error, but when we go through the site you linked in your e-mail to us, it works. Go figure. Glad they are back on.

Regarding the "Triple Pipe" Class which is called FACTORY OPEN on our entry form for the off-shore/endurance events, we will post more details. They can also be found on our webpage under "2003 package" and then "Rule Book" Off-shore/Endurance.

But as simply as we can put it:
The Advisory Committee did not want to eliminate the useage of "triple pipes" but they were concerned that racers moving up through the ranks would be faced with costly upgrades.
Instead, all of us opted to establish a new class where "Triple-Pipe" PWCs could race against all comers (other triples or none). This is basically the top-of-the line PWC at least for this year.

Racers competing in the FACTORY OPEN CLASS will have the same opportunities to win the individual class championship and also go for the Overall at any event and of course for the Overall and #1 plate at the end of the ALL-AROUND OFF-SHORE/ENDURANCE SERIES.
However, the only difference between an Open PWC and a Factory Open are the "triple-pipes" and the modifications that go along with it. Everything else is still an "Open" PWC with the same modifications allowed, 1200cc limit and hull restrictions.

I hope this clears up the matter better.

Lou Peralta

Thanks Lou. I'll say that I don't want it to happen, but I understand what you're trying to do and can accept it. And if that's what the consensus was with everyone, then so be it. That was the reason I switched over to a GPR with triples was to be more competitive, not just with those in my class, but the experts and pros too. I think any true racer would do the same. Besides, would you have let Matt and I race in Novice again anyhow?

Mark, ya, I'm really disappointed about the crank. I've called and been told that people with loose cash get more attention. I keep getting a timeline, but then I call and it keeps getting pushed out. It's only been 2 months though. So it doesn't look like my boat is going to make it for the first race, which is too bad, I was going to get 2 newbies to race it. Well, new to racing anyhow. I'm also trying to get another friend to try racing (Triple GPR also), so we should have some good racing in Feb. Talk to you later,

Rod

Rod call me
713-875-1812.

Rod,
That bites. Do you have a partner? If you are still interested in the race, let me know. I don't have one yet either.

Lou might trouble getting our names mixed up!!

Fercho, I sent you back an email.

Mark, LOL. ya I'll be teaming with Matt. We'll be riding the same boat from the 300. Maybe she's still got some more "win" left in her! he he

Rod

That boat was pretty ****** that day. I'd say there is a lot of folks that do NOT want to see that boat out there!