Of Hydroplanes and Giant Clocks

I think I remember seeing giant clocks like this at swimming pools back in the day. 

https://www.recreonics.com/product/31-inch-competitor-white-face-pace-clock-battery/

How about this? Not 6', but you could either just use the mechanism or extend the hand and make a new larger face.

(I've always wanted people to recognize my familiarity with giant clocks .)

ultraclyde (Forum Supporter) said:

Seems like a system of sequential lights would be a great way to start a vehicular speed competition. Wonder why no one's tried it before.

No concrete block to slide a tree into... obviously won't work.

In reply to 1SlowVW :

Those engines are always in gear as well, correct?  That is, if it's running your moving.  So somewhat similar to sailboat races where you time your crossing of the start line?

In reply to 11GTCS :

Yes, motors are direct drive. They also have no water pump so they only received cooling while your moving! 
I'm not familiar with sailing , but it sound like the same set up. You want to cross at 0 seconds, get there before and your disqualified, get there to late and everyone is already ahead of you and has clean water.

I will add two more points I found really difficult to adapt to.

Firstly unlike a road course or even an autocross there are no land marks close by. We were practicing on a mile course with only one buoy on each end, so you need to look to shore for your corner exit point of reference.

Secondly because these things turn by dragging a fin on the inside sponson if you try and make any steering inputs more that 2-3* to the right the boat could spin or flip and throw you out ! 

In reply to 1SlowVW :

That's exactly how we'd start sail races, cross the line and time it back to cross / start the race just as the clock hit zero.   Early and you'd have to go around the mark and be late.

I wasn't aware how squirrelly they were at speed, that sounds "exciting"  and that's with clean water.   I imagine you can't see too well with all the roostertails if you're not the lead dog.

Please make no spelling errors when googling "giant clocks".

In reply to Streetwiseguy :

Safe search should always be on.

One last pic then I'll update when we make progress on the timer. The props are so nicely made. Also they are reverse rotation of normal boat propellers. 

When I raced a sailboat, I used a sailing timer wrist watch for the start.  They had a 10 minute horn, a 5 minute and a one.  I set the timer and put it on my life jacket so I could hear it.  It beeped at 10, and 5 minutes and one.  At one minute it beeped every 10 seconds and the last 10 it counted down.  Start it at the 10 minute and compare it to their time at the five to see in you're ahead or behind.

YMMV due to engine noise, but there are desk types out there also, mount it to the foredeck?

1SlowVW said:

In reply to Streetwiseguy :

Safe search should always be on.

Oh come on, live a little!

In reply to 914Driver :

I wonder if some drivers use this. On a fixed one mile course you could then work out what time you need to hit the entrance to the 3rd corner instead of trying to time it to the line. 
I have only been to two hydroplane regattas in my life but I'll ask my buddy about this next time we're messing around. 

In reply to 1SlowVW :

Yes, absolutely. Our club regularly practices with the clock. For every boat I ran I knew exactly where I needed to be on course to hit the start line at zero with the throttle wide open. The boats I ran ranged from 35-40 mph mono-hulls to a 3 point hydro that would run a touch over 70 mph flat out. We ran a 6 buoy course and I knew which one I needed to be passing at the 5 and 10 second mark for every hull.

This is a typical IMPBA start.