Why Classes Exist
Classes group boats by performance and spec so competition stays fair and exciting. It’s not just “fast vs. slow”; rules shape how teams build and tune.
The Pro Headliners (Heads-Up Racing)
- Top Fuel Hydro (TFH): Nitro-fueled, supercharged V8s in enclosed hydros. Staggering acceleration and spectacle.
- Top Alcohol Hydro (TAH): Similar hulls but methanol fuel; still brutally fast.
- Blown Alcohol Flat (BAF): Flat-bottom hulls, blown alcohol engines; big noise, big roostertails.
- Pro Modified / Pro Outlaw: Rules vary by series, but expect serious hardware, forced induction, and strict safety.
(Class names/specs vary by association; always check your sanctioning body.)
Sportsman, Index & Bracket Racing
- Index Classes: You race to a target ET (e.g., 8.0 seconds). Go faster than the index and you “break out.”
- Bracket Racing: You choose your own dial-in (predicted ET). Run quicker than your dial-in and you break out; closest to dial-in without breaking wins—if the start is clean.
- Why It’s Great: Evens the field between budgets. Reaction time, consistency, and strategy beat pure horsepower.
Key Starting & Finish Rules
- Red Light: Leaving before green is an automatic loss.
- Breakout: Faster than index/dial-in = usually a loss (unless both break out; then the lesser offender can advance).
- Double-Red / Double-Breakout: Tie-breakers follow the rulebook hierarchy.
Licensing & Tech
- Licensing: Demonstrate competency at set performance levels before entering certain classes.
- Safety Minimums: PFDs, restraint systems, helmets, and capsule requirements escalate with speed.
- Fuel & Engine Rules: Specific fuels and blower overdrives control performance.
- Hull & Hardware: Materials, capsule spec, and chute requirements are class-specific.
How Winners Are Decided
- Heads-Up: First to finish legally.
- Index/Bracket: The clock, the tree, and your dial-in decide it—clean start, no breakout, and closest to the number takes the win.
Picking Your Path
- New racers often start in river racer, lake racer, or entry index brackets.
- As experience and budget grow, move into faster brackets or class-legal builds.
- Talk to tech inspectors early; building to spec saves money later.