Today, Wednesday, June 12,1996, I've been given approval from APBA Legal Counsel, Steve Hearn to proceed and implement the recently ORC approved "AX" Class. (May 23, 1996, 10 yea 0 nay)
Effective immediately, the A 41 RIB boat and the A 50 Rain-X, Volvo Penta boat will be moved to the "AX" class for the remainder of the 1996 Offshore season.
Provisions included in the approved proposal are:
- The formation of a temporary class for the evaluation of new mono hull designs.
- All other "A" class rules will apply.
- This class should be called Factory "A" Experimental, letter designation "AX". (Note: there is some concern by the BAT boat owners that the word "experimental" is not appropriate. Possible change of label might help.)
- RIB/BAT and other mono hull variations will be allowed subject to Technical Committee approval.
- Effective immediately, the RIB boat # A-41 and the BAT boat # A50, will compete in the new "AX" class.
- Racer's in the "AX" class will be eligible for the "AX" National Championship.
- Racer's in the "AX" class will eligible for "AX" APBA World Kilo records.
- Points earned at the Galveston and Ft. Myers races will be carried over from "A" class to the new "AX' class.
- The "AX" class boats will start with the "A" class boats
- Prize money will be the same as A class and distributed in accordance with the APBA rule book. (Note: There needs to be a review of this formula for a two boat class before actual prize money can be allocated).
- The AX class will be run at all APBA National races during 1996.
The ballot was approved May 23, 1996 by fax vote.