![\"CFN_4_15-cover\"](\"https:\/\/fish-news.com\/cfn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/CFN_4_15-cover.jpg\")
<\/p>\nROCKPORT, ME \u2013 You\u2019re going to want to pack a lunch if you\u2019re heading out to take in one of the Maine Lobster Boat Racing Association (MLBRA) races this summer.<\/p>\n
Participants at MLBRA\u2019s pre-season spring meeting, held during the Maine Fishermen\u2019s Forum here on Mar. 7, voted to add additional brackets within two classes, resulting in a sanctioned race card of up to 24 individual races for this year\u2019s circuit, not counting free-for-alls and local, non-points races.<\/p>\n
Specifically, MLBRA has moved to break Diesel Class M \u2013 previously for boats 40\u2019 and over up to 750 hp \u2013 into two subclasses:\u00a0 Class M(A), 40\u2019 and over, 0 to 500 hp; and Class M(B), 40\u2019 and over, 501 to 750 hp.<\/p>\n
This was a move prompted by the large number of boats currently participating in the class and is designed to encourage better competition by breaking the class into the two horsepower groupings.<\/p>\n
Additionally, MLBRA has split its traditional Wooden Boat class into two classes: A, for boats any hp up to 35\u201911\u2019; and B, also for any hp, 36\u2019 and over.<\/p>\n
In one other class-related piece of business, MLBRA for this year has eliminated the upper hp limit in Gas Class D, which has previously been for V-8s, 376-540 cid, 24\u2019 and over.\u00a0 The hp range for this class now reads 376 cid and over.\u00a0 This race, by the way, is for non-working racers.<\/p>\n
Long Island\u2019s Steve Johnson \u2013 who has entertained race crowds with everything from PT boat engines to convertibles (seriously) \u2013 asked what class he would be running in if he \u201cshowed up with a gas turbine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell,\u201d said Johansen, \u201cyou wouldn\u2019t qualify for any of the regular classes \u2013 but you could certainly make exhibition runs.\u201d…<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Read the rest of this story and much, much more in the April issue of\u00a0Commercial Fisheries News<\/em>. \u00a0Buy this issue or\u00a0Subscribe<\/a>.\u00a0[add_to_cart=6436]<\/strong><\/p>\n (Read online immediately with access key and download for future reference.)<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n ROCKPORT, ME \u2013 You\u2019re going to want to pack a lunch if you\u2019re heading out to take in one of the Maine Lobster Boat Racing Association (MLBRA) races this summer. Participants at MLBRA\u2019s pre-season spring meeting, held during the Maine Fishermen\u2019s Forum here on Mar. 7, voted to add additional brackets within two classes, resulting … <\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"