Powerboat racing is not unique that when a team wins there is a swirl of excuses and accusations as to why a boat won or lost. It happens in every motorsport.

The fact of the matter is that 90 percent of the teams competing do not test smart. The great race teams of our era understand one of the fundamental rules of winning—test smart. Sadly, most teams have no idea how one setup compares to another, aside from a pitch stamped on a propeller or a GPS number flashing on a screen.

They show up to an event and furiously begin testing the day before the race. I’m looked at with wide eyes as I explain that little can be accomplished the day before to truly learn the capabilities of one’s race boat.

I believe that testing the day before the race should be used for nothing more than ensuring the drivers are comfortable with the course, bringing their eyes up to speed on the water and as a final systems check that the boat is prepared to perform up to its potential. A team should sleep confidently the night before knowing exactly how the boat will perform.

It’s not a difficult concept—learn your boat’s capabilities and improve on them one area at a time, well before the boat needs to compete. After each run/test, analyze the performance with your teammates and, most importantly, document the results so you can return to it when the need arises.

Eat the elephant one bite at a time. A half-second improvement in acceleration out of a turn in a four-turn, 10-lap race translates to a 20-second improvement in position. Many people ask why the teams like Oh Boy! Oberto, Miss Elam and Miss GEICO seem to run effortlessly on the course. These teams are prepared and, in all honesty, won their race a month prior with many hours of testing and improving to maximize potential.

I say “teams” because assigning crew members a task and discussing responsibilities and practicing those responsibilities is all part of the equation of creating a winning team. The start of the 2010 season is three months out—do yourself a favor and schedule several serious test days for your team.

Plan the test day out before you arrive. Have your propellers, movable ballast, boat weight dry and CG all organized before you begin. Test seriously and smart. Come race day, you will be happy you did and you will understand clearly why racing greats John Tomlinson, Jerry Gilbreath, Randy Scism, Art Lilly, Al Copeland, Bernie Little, Reggie Fountain, Bob Teague and Bill Seebold own the championships they do.