Tips and tricks of getting the most from the least by a renowned APBA racer

The art of going fast in APBA J

By Steve Vincent

(Editor's Note: Steve is an engineer and long-time racer who has won national championships and set a ton of records in his career. He recently has tried his hand as team manager of an unlimited hydro. The following article is based on what he has learned over the last five years while racing with his son in the J class. In that class, son Matt has set numerous records and won the J runabout national championship while finishing second in the J Hydro class.

There are many facets to being competitive in any type of racing. The APBA 'J' class is no exception. In fact, the 'J' class can be even more challenging since there is so little horsepower to work with, and every driver uses the same propeller (at most events). So, what is the secret to winning in the J class? Lets look at some of the things that will make a difference. There are three main areas that are important to winning in the 'J' class are: Engines; boats; and 'tuning'. Lets look at each one in detail.