WOT...when...why?

[DL]

It seems to me most of the accidents recently have had one thing in common....speed. I rarely run WOT and maybe my results is evidence to its benefit. But I have done the math and I know getting in 50 more casts during the day is often the difference, but at what cost? I know on our So Cal lakes speed is often not an issue, but where the speed limit is "safe and prudent depending on the conditions," who here will run their boat on the ragged edge and hang on? I for one don't pass judgement on the guys that are running just below the rev limiter. I guess my question is, do you get more casts when it takes you an extra 2 minutes to head down river...or...when you are layed up at home, lucky to be alive.

Before anyone thinks I am using Gabe as the scapegoat, I am not. There have been at least 3 deaths on the colorado river this year, and not one of them was a fisherman...they were what we like to call lake lice and speedboaters....and they all involved speed. I have a good shot of a boat in parker sitting on TOP of the docks just south of Fox's...I'll put them up if anyone would like to see them

So who are the screamers when they get the freedom to run it WOT???

[some guy]

I will be screaming around Havasu... safely. I rarely get to open her up. Ill probably keep her around 80-90 percent and 100 on derby day. But Im young and dumb.

[DL]

I dont run my Nitro WOT because it wont save me enough time to make a difference...

[sTony]

This is just my take but I think these motors are built to run at 5500 rpm and don't like it if they don't get run at that level a good amount of time. The more idling you do the worse it is for these big motors. And, regardless of circumstance I do not tow with my boat. That's really putting a strain on the motor.

I try to make sure all cylinders are good and warmed up before I go WOT and I tend to back off just a bit once I'm running there.

Now that we're coming into the colder weather months you have to make sure you've warmed everything up real good. Mike VanWagner from Cap City Marine gave me what I consider to be solid advice. He told me to warm it before I take off. Start the motor after launching and allow it to run for a good ten to fifteen minutes. Then after you do get up on plane and run for a minute or tow you should back off to 30mph or so and run there for a good 30 seconds. It allows #6 to warm up also. Then you should be good to go WOT for the rest of that initial run.

sTony

[tunaman]

I run fast when I get the chance... I'm a speed junkie. That's probably why we have two Vettes, and stems from my days of youth when I had:

• Bultaco 250 Pursang (used to race motocross, starting at 14)
  1967 Camaro (first car)
  1967 El Camino (327/350HP)
  1970 Chevelle SS
  1966 Chevelle (327/345 HP)
  Kawasaki S2 350 (3 cylinder two-stroke)
  Kawasaki H1 500 (3 cylinder two-stroke)
  Kawasaki Z1R 1000

I don't run WOT when conditions are unsafe, when visibility is limited, and I slow when approaching areas of limited visibility (cornering and such). I watch far ahead of me for rogue waves, and usually pull back considerably when I have a passenger.

Roger

[DL]

Bultaco 250 Pursang

I went to high school with a guy that drove Bultaco I thought it was just a paint job

[tunaman]

Mike VanWagner from Cap City Marine gave me what I consider to be solid advice. He told me to warm it before I take off.

Ditto for me from Art Berry. He told me to be sure to get it up to 125 degrees before taking off, and take it easy for the initial launch. More motors have been damaged by guys just doing the launch and go, and not letting their motors warm up adequately.

Roger

[Mr Gambler]

I was out yesterday third time in the last 2 weeks never went over 4500 r.p.m. till yesterday wanted to open it up for about 1/4 mile, keep carbon out no boats around 5900 r.p.m.s 79.3 m.p.h. went in and put it on the trailer Mike

[some guy]

wanna race Tunaman? I have a cobra and a driver ill run against any of the vettes and eat them for lunch.

[sTony]

If you guys get together and race I want to film for it for sure

sTony

[tunaman]

wanna race Tunaman? I have a cobra and a driver ill run against any of the vettes and eat them for lunch.

Racing days are over... far too dangerous, and far too costly. "With age comes wisdom". I learned long ago I don't like being incarcerated, and fortunately I haven't had to spend time in a hospital and plan to keep it that way. I see something nearly weekly where some young fools wreck their hotrod street racing, and often one or more don't make it into tomorrow.

Thanks for your offer though. A Cobra v.s. a C6 Vette just isn't much challenge, but I'll enjoy those times I'm able to get mine upwards of 150 all the same.

Roger

[Rick G]

I run fast when I get the chance... I'm a speed junkie. That's probably why we have two Vettes, and stems from my days of youth when I had:

• Bultaco 250 Pursang (used to race motocross, starting at 14)
  1967 Camaro (first car)
  1967 El Camino (327/350HP)
  1970 Chevelle SS
  1966 Chevelle (327/345 HP)
  Kawasaki S2 350 (3 cylinder two-stroke)
  Kawasaki H1 500 (3 cylinder two-stroke)
  Kawasaki Z1R 1000

I don't run WOT when conditions are unsafe, when visibility is limited, and I slow when approaching areas of limited visibility (cornering and such). I watch far ahead of me for rogue waves, and usually pull back considerably when I have a passenger.

Roger

Roger, you are the man. Bultaco's were awesome. I was in the late 60's and 70's a Yamaha YZ guy, but remember all the old Bultaco and CZ days. I also had a 68 Chevelle and currently have a 66 Chevelle. 396/375hp. In fact I just sold a Ranger to an old Bultaco factory mechanic who just joined the Castaic Bass Club. As far as WOT, I only go to DVL which means I only go 25 mph. lol Rick G.

[some guy]

my little bro is a professional drag racer.. he races the circuit.. no street racing.. too much money invested. He runs in the 10's and its street legal..

Rick.. I forgot you are a car junky too.. You need to take a ride in the rig.. you will appreciate it. When we first got done with it we took it on a cruise.. had multilple cars... one ahead a few miles and one behind.. everything was blocked off and we hit 192.. still have more work to do

My little bro builds performance mustangs..

[tunaman]

I also had a 68 Chevelle and currently have a 66 Chevelle. 396/375hp.

Rick - the '66 is one of my all-time favorites!!! One of the absolute best muscle cars ever produced, IMHO! I've got to see it some time. Loved the 396 power plant also... lots of ponies in that big block!

Roger

[some guy]

my buddy in high school had a sweet 66'. I remember one day he was in the parking lot at school wrapping it off hard and tried to drop it when he left the parking lot.. well he busted his yoke and we all laughed our butt's off for along time.. I remember watching his drive shaft spinning.. so funny.

[Brian Linehan]

You guys and your speed Y'all don't know speed until you get behind the wheel of my first car in high school.

1987 Ford Fiesta.

That b*tch handled the turns like a maserati and the power, legendary.

[some guy]

my first rig was an 88 pontiac grand am with a DOHC. ill race ya.

[Ray L.]

wot.... I guess I do that on my boats more than most. I have also been in a couple of accidents with boats at wot. It can be very dangerous. I have been known to also launch my boat at wide open throttle a few times over the years. Runnig a boat at wot is a rush if you know what you are doing. I learned from some of the best drivers in my time. Bob Simmons comes first and formost. He is an incredible driver of boats. John Gibbs is another who is a master at driving boats. I have seen and learned first hand from both.
I FEEL THE NEED..... THE NEED FOR SPEED.

[Gambler]

Not trying to brag or anything, but this past weekend at The Delta I hit 80.04 mph on gps in my Gambler 209, w/a 225 Opti. Usually I cruise at 65-70, but I'm slowly learning how to get it up to full speed. Previous owner had it up to 82 mph with me in the boat with him. Living down south I don't get much opportunity to fun over 35.
As a young stud I owned a couple a nice mustangs, a '68 GTO (went 165 on radar, twice), and a '70 GTO Judge. Thems the best muscle cars ever came out of the factories. Paid $600.00 each for the goats.... wish I'd a kept 'em.

[CN]

Well I guess I may be doing more harm than good on my Motor.I probably have not ran WOT more than 4-5 time's and for very short distances.

I do let it warm up but I average about 3500-4000 rpm's and just cruise on a 200HP Ficht.Not that my Ranger Barge will go that fast anyway.In fact it's rated for a 225 but when I ordered it I said just put a 200hp on it that's how much I really dont care about how fast my boat will go but that's just me.

What I dont understand is the Rooster Tail's.Doesnt that mean your overtrimming and not getting the best performance out of your rig

PS:I had a Bultaco and a Hodaka super Rat

[sTony]

My first car was a '69 GTO. I used to get a kick outta how that thing just sucked you into your seat when you stepped on it!!!!

sTony

[John Barron]

If I stall had two of my cars I'd race right there with you guys. 70 Mustang Mach 1 352C 4 speed T10 and my Ramber Hurst Scrambler The mustang was a 12 second car and the Scrambler was a low 11's and I ran them WOT when I ran them!
On big water I run WOT depending on conditions but I never go beyond my abilities ot drive.
jb

[some guy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64q7VoVnEaI&feature=user

here is a 10.95 pass... you guys would all have your lunches handed back to you .. notice who the video is from TCURRY101. My little bro. kid is a beast.

[Kevin]

Ford Fiesta all the way John.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05B1V6W4jcs

[Ron T.]

John Barron , Your cars were more in my line of hot rods . Really makes me wish I had never sold my ride becouse I would have to challange you to a grudge race . Mine was a 64 nova small block , munci 4 speed and a narrowed dana rear axle. high 11 second runs at LACR. I spent 4 1/2 years on that baby only to sell it to build my house 10 years ago . I now regret doing that . Sold it to a guy only to have him put the car it Hot Chevy magazine three months later and take full credit for all the hard work . No throttle baby , on or off, WFO !
Rick Grover , need me to show you how men drive a four speed ? My partner had a 72 SS 454 with a four speed , he was afraid of the thing , I had a ball in it . Great cars .

[Guy Williams]

Well being the only guy to got arrested street racing here, I would have taken all your money!!!! I lived for two years on winnings alone. It never was how fast you can go but rather how fast you thought I could go!!!!!! Basic street racing knowledge for a black top racer that I was. The available rides in the driveway were....
1. 67 Mustang with stroked out 289 (somewhere in the 325 range in CI) with 250 shot of NOS, lots other stuff internally for my eye's only (my personal ride). Best at Pomona was 10.41 at 153mph and promptly got kicked out for no cage.
2. 66 Barracuda with a blue printed 360 and trans that looked stock and was a brother car of a NHRA record holder stock/auto that was good friend with my dad. It was dad's prize car!! Best time was at Palmdale with a non corrected time of 10.90 at 142mph. Never was at Pomona.
3. 70 Challenger with a stroked out 383- some where in the 426 range. My brothers car and he bought the engine from some dude that was making a monster truck but needed the money. Never got this thing to stick and my brother never wanted to tub it out to make it stick!! Best time was 11 something, don't remember if it was a high 11 or low 11. Never ran on slicks either!!!
All cars were street legal and driven to the races from Long Beach to Hemet. Mostly raced out of Ontario via Mission BLVD and near the airport. Some races against other NHRA professional racers and crew members. Most won in a night was 10 grand and most lost was 7 grand. Some my money and some of my friends in the 7 grand lost. The 10 grand was some rich dude with a Vega 283 that hauled a$$ and he had 1 car advantage, I won by a car or so. Fastest car I seen race on the street was a sleeper Grand National with monster boost, easy mid 9's on the street no less. Also a 454 bug was wicked fast too but very unstable!!!
Guy Williams- former Riverside County jail bird for street racing

[j10b]

unless im testing a prop or in a tournament. I dont run WOT. Those other 2 times If I'm under 83mph there is a problem

Bullet 20XD 225X By Mercury Racing.

[Guy Williams]

I run WOT a lot but never had anything like a near miss unless you count the deer I almost hit on DVL this year. Well maybe I was going 25.9 mph but man what a rush!!!!! When I'm at Mead and Havasu I'm WOT all the time, but my boat only goes 65 mph so not so fast!!
Guy Williams

[Rick G]

[strquote="Guy Williams"]Well being the only guy to got arrested eet racing here, I would have taken all your money!!!! I lived for two years on winnings alone. It never was how fast you can go but rather how fast you thought I could go!!!!!! Basic street racing knowledge for a black top racer that I was. The available rides in the driveway were....
1. 67 Mustang with stroked out 289 (somewhere in the 325 range in CI) with 250 shot of NOS, lots other stuff internally for my eye's only (my personal ride). Best at Pomona was 10.41 at 153mph and promptly got kicked out for no cage.
2. 66 Barracuda with a blue printed 360 and trans that looked stock and was a brother car of a NHRA record holder stock/auto that was good friend with my dad. It was dad's prize car!! Best time was at Palmdale with a non corrected time of 10.90 at 142mph. Never was at Pomona.
3. 70 Challenger with a stroked out 383- some where in the 426 range. My brothers car and he bought the engine from some dude that was making a monster truck but needed the money. Never got this thing to stick and my brother never wanted to tub it out to make it stick!! Best time was 11 something, don't remember if it was a high 11 or low 11. Never ran on slicks either!!!
All cars were street legal and driven to the races from Long Beach to Hemet. Mostly raced out of Ontario via Mission BLVD and near the airport. Some races against other NHRA professional racers and crew members. Most won in a night was 10 grand and most lost was 7 grand. Some my money and some of my friends in the 7 grand lost. The 10 grand was some rich dude with a Vega 283 that hauled a$$ and he had 1 car advantage, I won by a car or so. Fastest car I seen race on the street was a sleeper Grand National with monster boost, easy mid 9's on the street no less. Also a 454 bug was wicked fast too but very unstable!!!
Guy Williams- former Riverside County jail bird for street racing[/quote]

Guess we are Jailbird buddies Guy as I was arrested in Van Nuys in 1978 for Street Racing. Jeff T. bailed me out. Jeff'd dad owned a Auto parts store in the Valley and he and Jeff were awesome at building Small Block Chevy's. 70 Z-28 Camaro with a stroker smallblock was Jeffs car and it ran low 11's. We raced anything but motorcycles. Mopars, Fords, Gto's, did not matter. Sidepot races made the most $. Those were the days and nights for sure. I sold the races, talked-em into car lenghts, whatever it took and Jeff drove. Rick G.

[Guy Williams]

Nice Rick!! My dad got me out and was saying "Where's my jailbird son?". My first bass tournament partner was Robert Pritchard and his dad raced fuel alters back in the day and John Force was his driver once. That was John's first fuel ride and took him a picture at his shop back in the day (say 1997 or so), you should have seen him look at me like I found gold! That was cool!!!! Man, all that trouble I got into was crazy in them cars but I never would want it to be different!
Guy Williams

[TEAMDEADMONEY]

You guys are both thugs!! That was probably the two of you that raced down Lasselle past my house last night around 2 in the morning. Dont you guys have something better to do like go watch "the fast and the furious 3" or something? Quit racing down my street!!

I wasnt much of a car guy. I've always been a throttle head.
My first bike was a 1979 YZ 80 and it steam rolled from there..

1979 YZ 80
1980 YZ 80
1982 YZ80 First water cooled 80 sweet except I endoed over ever jump because the radiator was on top of the front fender behind the number plate.
1983 KX 80 Best 80 ever made...leaps and bounds beyond its time.
1985 KX 80
1986 KX 80
1987 RM 125 worst bike ever made
1988 RM 125
1989 KX 125
1990 RM250 awesome bike!!
1992 CR 250
1994 YZ 250 The best 250 ever made!!
1995 "works" Noleen YZ 125
1997 YZ250 Piece of crap blew it up on back to back races so I got rid of it.
1998 YZ 250
2000 RM 125 and 250
2003 RM 125
2006 RM 125 and 250 ..which I still ride. I just dont have the time anymore. But I still bleed premix
Ive never gone the way of the 4 stroke but Im sure I'll get the CRF 450 soon enough....

Ive always been a motocrosser. Hey Charlie Strong is a big time motocrosser...lets hear about the bikes you've been through.?

Good Times!!!

Pete

[hippie]

the other day i raced my stomach to the outhouse at work. stomach won throw away g string make things worse when i wiped i had a break through on tp couldn't get the smell off my hands all day but my bolgna sandwich sure was good

[TEAMDEADMONEY]

That made me laugh out loud! .....Then I puked!!!


Pete

[some guy]

ewww... this is a family site guys.. come on Im out to Havasu as soon as the bassmaster eilte is over... see you knuckleheads out there.

[SoCalBassAssassin]

You guys and your speed Y'all don't know speed until you get behind the wheel of my first car in high school.

1987 Ford Fiesta.

That b*tch handled the turns like a maserati and the power, legendary.

[Team Fugowee]

If your smart, you chose the time and the place.
I need this bumper sticker.

"On this trailer lies two addictions there is no cure for!"

Allison XB2003 w/ what started life as a 200 Johnson. Rigged the boat, built the engine.

"Mr Toad's Wild Ride II"

[Joe Bruce]

the 94 yz 250 was one of the best 250s ever made, did you get the long rod kit.

I had alot of those same bikes. alot more hondas though.

87 transcal 125 int champ
91 gfi winter 125 pro north champ

raced 2 to 4 times a week from 87 to 95

[John Barron]

I've seen Team Fugowee in the old Orange Pumpkin running around the Central Coast lakes..............holy smokes that one was fast and now Allison? C'mon Gary
jb

[Smitty]

DL,
At Columbia River 63 boats locked thru McNary on day one. It is about 40 miles to the lock, and some of us were running almost 40 miles past the lock. The lock closed at 8:30 (about 25 minutes to go down) 35-40 minutes until you reach your area leaving you there around 9:30 or 9:40. The upstream lock time was 1pm. Not only do you need to make the run back, but most of us had to fuel up before heading back thru the lock. 40 minutes back, 15 minutes to fuel and your day in the lower pool consists of 2-2.5 hours of fishing time. So WOT is a must in order to get there get back and have some time to fish. Yes we didnt have to lock thru, yes we didnt have to go so far but alot of guys that cashed checks including the winner locked down (at least the first three days).
The bottom line, big bodies of water are dangerous and running three, four, five and six boats wide at 70mph is dangerous but it is all part of the sport. Where Gabe spun out was at least 25 miles passed the lock. Scott Nielsen also lost a prop blade day three coming back from the lock but no one got hurt. Bottom line, fishing big bodies of water is like combining golf and nascar. You race from hole to hole in order to maximize the number of bites.

PS You should have seen how crazy it was coming out of the 5mph at the lock. 4-5ft wakes from all the boats getting on pad at the same time.

I will take running WOT for 75 miles over dealing with the idiots on Castaic anyday

Take care
Smitty

[DL]

DL,
At Columbia River 63 boats locked thru McNary on day one. It is about 40 miles to the lock, and some of us were running almost 40 miles past the lock. The lock closed at 8:30 (about 25 minutes to go down) 35-40 minutes until you reach your area leaving you there around 9:30 or 9:40. The upstream lock time was 1pm. Not only do you need to make the run back, but most of us had to fuel up before heading back thru the lock. 40 minutes back, 15 minutes to fuel and your day in the lower pool consists of 2-2.5 hours of fishing time. So WOT is a must in order to get there get back and have some time to fish. Yes we didnt have to lock thru, yes we didnt have to go so far but alot of guys that cashed checks including the winner locked down (at least the first three days).
The bottom line, big bodies of water are dangerous and running three, four, five and six boats wide at 70mph is dangerous but it is all part of the sport. Where Gabe spun out was at least 25 miles passed the lock. Scott Nielsen also lost a prop blade day three coming back from the lock but no one got hurt. Bottom line, fishing big bodies of water is like combining golf and nascar. You race from hole to hole in order to maximize the number of bites.

PS You should have seen how crazy it was coming out of the 5mph at the lock. 4-5ft wakes from all the boats getting on pad at the same time.

I will take running WOT for 75 miles over dealing with the idiots on Castaic anyday

Take care
Smitty

Now that, I can understand. If you are working on your time management during practice, I can see running like that to make sure you have it wired, and know when you have to leave to lock in or out... I also know some guys just love the speed...

[Smitty]

During practice I hardly ever run WOT. I drive to a closer launch ramp in the truck first. Modern bass boats are pretty awesome machines but things do break and the extra time saved during practice isnt worth time at the repair trailer not to mention the fuel savings. I have my z-20 dialed at 3800-4200 RPM for best fuel economy.
I wish I had pictures coming out of the lock day 1. It was no wind just a ton of boat wakes.

[CN]

I've seen Team Fugowee in the old Orange Pumpkin running around the Central Coast lakes..............holy smokes that one was fast and now Allison? C'mon Gary
jb

Yea I've seen him on San Antonio a few time's make's my boat look like ROW BOAT. Fun to watch.