News
back to current newsJune 29, 2008
The latest word is the Rock River in Beloit, WI, is still over its banks and showing little or no sign of receding. By the end of this week we should hear if the races will have to be cancelled. Although I won't miss the long ride to the Illinois border (about 500 miles each way), I hate to see two races go away. What can you do?
June 27, 2008
Since I started this site two years ago, I've had a "Books" page, in conjunction with Amazon.com. Performance has been underwhelming.
So, I put some more work into the concept. Again with help from Amazon, I now have replaced the book page with the Dillon Racing Store. So far I have categories for boatbuilding books, tools, racing/performance, and some fun stuff (well, it's all for fun). And I'll keep working on it.
Some of you will notice a few other changes to Dillon-Racing.com, particularly to the home page. The internet version of repainting the front door.
June 25, 2008
The original Dillon Mini has another new owner. Gary Johnson, who bought the boat last August, had to bow out of racing for health reasons. We wish Gary all the best, and look forward to seeing him at the races soon.
Last weekend he sold the boat to Don Yuronich. Don, you may recall, bought the original Mini Vee this spring and has raced it three times already -- with a first place in his last outing! I believe he is going to get his teenage involved. Now they just have to fight over who drives which boat.
Our next races are on the Rock River in Beloit, WI, about two-and-a-half weeks from now. Word is they've experienced some flooding, a common occurance in the Midwest this year. Hopefully the water will get a chance to subside, and not too much flotsam will be out there looking to damage a raceboat.
June 23, 2008
I recently had the chance to try a small-hub cleaver on the Pro Vee. It measured 9.875" diameter and is 16" pitch.
Because it isn't a thru-hub, the prop filled with exhaust when off plane and was very mushy. At 3000 rpm I was barely going too fast to troll for walleye. But the Pro Vee climbed onto plane without much fuss.
My speed was about what I'd been getting this summer: 42 to 43 mph. But my rpm quickly shot up to 7000, so I backed off. I dropped the jackplate down about 5/8", right to the bottom, and went for another run. I lost about 1 mph, but the motor still eventually reached 7000 rpm. Clearly not enough propeller. Also, I felt an occasional jerking motion, telegraphed through the steering wheel.
I'm still trying to figure out what conclusions to draw from this test. I believe either a bit more pitch or diameter would improve speed and tame the rpm. But the mushy off-plane performance doesn't bode well for hole shot. Also, the boat still porpoised, as it has been, so maybe what I really need is the increased bow lift of a chopper.
June 18, 2008
The Race Report for Champlin is now online.
June 17, 2008
We raced in Champlin, MN, on the the Mississippi River on Sunday. A beautiful day, fabulous weather.
The Pro Vee had a great second heat, but finished off the podium due to an error by my chief mechanic. It's always the mechanic's fault, isn't it? Of course, I am my chief mechanic. Anyone who would trust me to fix his motor is asking for trouble.
Full race report coming soon.
June 12, 2008
The Race Reports for Detroit Lakes are now online.
With help from Dave Halver, got the Sport C hull hung from the scale the other day. Comes to 310 lbs. On paper, at least, that will add up to a full racing weight of 690 lbs., while the minimum is 675. So, I'm a bit heavy. I've got to look for any ways I can shave off weight, and hope the eventual result doesn't hurt me.
Repairs made to the Pro Vee: swapped out carbs with my other motor (see race reports); and pulled the powerhead to extract a broken bolt. It's all back together now, and today should be a good day to test, make sure everything's ready for Champlin this Sunday.
June 9, 2008
GT Pro had seven boats for Detroit Lakes, not as many as I'd hoped but still a pretty good group. Tyler Welch's Dillon Mini had a tough outing on Saturday, but I lent him a prop and he was right up there with the pack on Sunday. Don Yuronich, in the original Mini Vee actually passed me on Saturday, but I returned the favor a half lap later. I'll write up the full reports soon and start the 2008 Race Reports page.
June 6, 2008
Bad news came in my email this morning. Gary Johnson of Moose Lake, MN, informed me that due to a recently diagnosed heart problem, he will have to give up his desire to race. Gary bought the original Dillon Mini tunnel boat last August and was gearing up for a summer of GT Pro racing this year. We wish all the best to Gary, and look forward to seeing him at the races soon, if only cheering from the sidelines.
Again, Detroit Lakes this weekend. Come see us race. It's raining hard here right now, but the forecast for Saturday and Sunday looks great.
June 4, 2008
My boat plans are now available via email. Although I don't have an automated set-up, in which your plans appear in your inbox seconds after purchase, you still should have them within a few hours in most cases. I check my email several times a day, so only if I am away at the races or on vacation will there be a delay. In any case, you will get them quicker and save a few dollars postage. And they print up just fine on regular 8.5" x 11" paper.
Just a reminder that we'll be racing in Detroit Lakes, MN, this weekend. We'll have seven classes racing: GT Pro, VP75, Sport C, Formula V, SST 60, SST 120 and Formula 150.
Those last two classes, tunnel boats powered by V6 Mercury racing motors, go well in excess of 100 mph and have to be seen to be believed.
SST 60 is a somewhat smaller version of these tunnels, with speeds in the 90 mph neighborhood.
VP75 is another TCPBA local class, about to start its second full season. These are generally older v-bottoms -- Hydrostreams, Vampires, Checkmates, Critchfields and more -- with plain-Jane three cylinder OMC motors. A raucus time is had by all.
And GT Pro, although lacking in blazing speed, should have at least nine boats running which means a crowded racecourse and lots of side-by-side racing.
All the classes have their unique qualities and attractions. Come see us if you can, and stop by the pits to say hello.