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Special Events

Catering to Every Racers Needs

APBA Special Events are unique from every other established category of racing. These events can consist of special record-setting runs, new classes or other forms of racing that don’t fit into the primary categories. The categories and classes of tomorrow are founded and grown through Special Events.  Running in SE allows these new categories to formulate their rules, promote their style of racing and ultimately grow their membership. In the past, special event categories have varied from Electric Boats to Offshore marathon races.

Category News

Blake and Brock Gratton to race with Peters & May team
The Peters & May P1 SuperStock team welcomes Blake and Brock Gratton- please see attached.
Link to source >
2012 Scorers Test is ready
Scorers, it's here! The 2012 Scorers test is attached. The new Scorers Handbook will be available soon.
Link to source >
UIM news
H1 Unlimited driver Scott Liddycoat experienced the "lifestyles of the rich and famous” with all the pomp and circumstance that comes with winning a UIM World Championship. A trip to Monte Carlo, Monaco, red carpet entry to the UIM Award Giving Gala and adulation from the world’s top boat racers was just part of being a champion. “It’s definitely said Liddycoat with a laugh. 
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Lovin’ Up Our Classic Big Block
These are some of our people who made the 565 happen. Color optioned Super Silver valve cover caps Racing's exclusive aluminum 2-valve cylinder head. New for the 2012 Miami International Boat Show — and enthusiastic performance boaters! Mercury Racing has updated its core, big block sterndrive! Now, the venerable 525EFI has a digital sibling — 565! We’ve stroked the block to 8.7 liters (or 533...
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APBA Approved Referees and Assistant Risk Managers
Attached please find approved 2012 Referee list.
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Classes

Current APBA Special Events include Vintage & Historic, Unlimited Lights, Jet River Racer, Sprint Boats and Outboard River Racer. 

Unlimited Lights
Outboard River Racer
Jet Boats

Unlimited Lights

Unlimited Lights are big block automotive-powered hydroplanes that add thrilling action to any show. They look like Unlimiteds, are as loud as Grand Prix, and are pound for pound as fast as any boat on the water.

The Unlimited Hydroplane Racing Association stages a series of events each year, some combined with Unlimited and/or Inboard events. The boats are designed much like the Unlimiteds but on a smaller scale, with stabilizer bar, skid fin, wings and 3-point contact with the water as the boat skims along.

Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing
Requirements
Minimum Age: 
18 years old
Minimum Length: 
20'
Engine: 
Various US Manufactured, Automotive or Marine, Four Cycle, Internal Combustion Types
Minimum Weight: 
2000 - 2700 Lbs. Depending On hull & Engine Configuration
Fuel: 
Racing Gasoline or Methanol Depending on Engine
Propulsion: 
Single Underwater Propeller, Maximum of 3 Blades
Statistics
Competition Record: 
119.443 MPH
Straightaway Record: 
152.332 MOH

Outboard River Racer

Outboard River Racer Hydros also navigate wild rivers at amazing speed! Designed similar to other outboard classes, the River Racer Hydros have a distinctive heavy rounded bow to keep them stable on rough water. The Cal-Ore River Racers typically run a series of West Coast marathon events each year on the Trinity, Rogue, Klamath and Willamette rivers.

These propeller-driven boats are powered by 44-cubic-inch, four-cylinder, 65-horsepower outboard Mercury motors with magneto ignitions. The propellers are vulnerable to rocks and debris in the water, so the drivers must know the course very well.

Minimum length: 13' 6"

Minimum weight: 575 lbs. (including driver)

Jet Boats

This isn't your typical boat race. Popular in Australia and New Zeland, and making its way through the US, these though aluminum-hulled boats race on the world's wildest rivers! It may not be the APBA's best spectator class, but the drivers could probably care less....

Jet boat races place navigators at the drivers side, guiding them around turns and through channels at blistering speeds to make it home first in a grueling marathon race. Racing through rivers, Jet Boat teams should expect the unexpected, fast water and hidden rocks have been known to put Jet River Racers on shore, on the rocks and even in the occasional tree!

Jet Boat classes include CX (100mph), FX (90mph), FXV (80mph), Unlimited (135+), A (120mph) & B (110mph) Class, and all classes race at the same time, with the winner decided based on total time.

Engines:

Unlimited - Any Motor, any displacement

A-Class - Displacement 367 to 470 cu. in., naturally aspiriated

B-Class - Displacement 310 to 366 cu. in., natually aspiriated 

CX - Chevy LS3 CT525 crate motor 525 hp, Dodge & Ford Equivalents

FX & FXV - 350 Chevy ZZ4 crate motor, Dodge & Ford Equivalents

Hull Lengths:

Unlimited, A, B & CX Classes - Any Hull, Min. Length, 16'

FX - Any Hull, Min Length, 14'

FXV - V & Step-tech hulls, Min Length, 14'

Jet Boat River Racing