The Great Unification

[TYPHOON]

And only 3 months later look where we are. Is it safe to say the great unification is officialy dead. Save those united we race stickers they will be collectors items soon. The new sticker will be "If you cant race with them,beat them up till they are out of business!":ack2:
I only hope and pray there is a long term financial comittment to see this threw. If it back fires and OPA does not get the 50-60 boat fleets at the distant race sites it may do more damage long term. As a business man I aploud you on your risk vs reward ambitions. To take a perfecty good working model with a strong fleet of N. East teams that can leave work on Friday night and be home Sun. night and ask them to travel the USA is ballsy at best. Correct me if im wrong but I thought what made OPA good was
1) Its close to home
2) Its fun
3) No entry fee
4) class 1-6 bring what ever you got
5) most of all its as cheap as possable to run, beacause of the above.

Time will tell. Now you all can beat me up.

This my opinion only and no others.

 

[Wahoo 214]

Randy, to most of us it looks like the OPA is stepping up and filling the holes where others have failed. Who would not like, low fees, great racing, National TV, Global Sponsorship and a growing Org? Where are you going to race?

 

[TYPHOON]

Dean, I will race where my fellow SVL class racers want to race and where I am welcome. I also agree who wouldn't want what OPA is offering. The question is who can afford to take advantage of it. The kiss theory (keep it simple stupid) went out the window in my opinion only. Where others have failed is a big statement and even bigger shoe's to fill. There most likely were reasons for what you call failures. I hope you have recognized the pit falls on them and can do a better job. I will be waiting and watching the new and improved version where we all failed at.
MD

 

[2TR]

And only 3 months later look where we are. Is it safe to say the great unification is officialy dead. Save those united we race stickers they will be collectors items soon. The new sticker will be "If you cant race with them,beat them up till they are out of business!":ack2:
I only hope and pray there is a long term financial comittment to see this threw. If it back fires and OPA does not get the 50-60 boat fleets at the distant race sites it may do more damage long term. As a business man I aploud you on your risk vs reward ambitions. To take a perfecty good working model with a strong fleet of N. East teams that can leave work on Friday night and be home Sun. night and ask them to travel the USA is ballsy at best. Correct me if im wrong but I thought what made OPA good was
1) Its close to home
2) Its fun
3) No entry fee
4) class 1-6 bring what ever you got
5) most of all its as cheap as possable to run, beacause of the above.

Time will tell. Now you all can beat me up.

This my opinion only and no others.

Please help me with this.

Should the OPA help finance the other race organizations so they can survive long enough to have joint races?

 

[SVL66]

Maddog....Lets not blame OSS's failure to survive on anyone but OSS. People have seen this coming for 2 years. OSS could not maintain a steady boat count, and subsequently lost the support of their venues. And....The very people that started and supported OSS, jumped ship and left you to hold the bag. No one's fault but your own. Its Time to move on to new ventures.

 

[TYPHOON]

We lost our support when our president told our venues we were merging and creating one big ship. That never happened. Im sorry im just very loyal to the people that have taken care of me over the years.
MD

 

[SHARKEY-IMAGES]

And only 3 months later look where we are. Is it safe to say the great unification is officialy dead. Save those united we race stickers they will be collectors items soon.

Randy, are you saying there is no hope for the Powerboat P1 USA / APBA Business Plan ????

You know, where everyone is welcome to run under 1 Unified body of APBA...

Hopefully these next few years things will get better for all.

 

[heater63]

Randy you have alot of friends in the offshore world.You are an Icon to many kids,families and fellow racers.You eat sleep and breath offshore more than most.Dont let a bad egg or two change that.Maybe its time to hand over the reigns and let somebody else take them (and the blame).Go back to racing and having a blast.And as far as beating you up,I'll wait for the race coarse for that.I hope your prepared for a good beating.The west coast rockit will be here after I go to Havasu and throw some beatings out there.It looks like theres a hand full of kryptonites and superboats that I will have to contend with,but yours is first. (1/2man)

 

[TYPHOON]

P1 USA will be here in 2011 with a big plan to take spec style wide open throttle racing back to a level not seen for some time. It wont be for everyone and you will have to have balls of steel and love compatition on the course. The down side is owners will have to decide if they can afford to buy a boat that fits in a class. It will NOT be bring a boat and we will make a new class for you to fit in.
So yes Sharky there is hope and more than hope for P-1 USA and APBA There is a heavely funded long term plan for the people that want that level of racing. For Org like OPA that dont want it at there sites then we just wont be there. I believe POPRA,OSS and SBI think it adds value to there sites. Again its just my opinion. Bring it Martin!!!!!
The greatest oppertunity is in our face and we will see if we are smart enough to see it. Some will and some wont but I think the line has been drawn in the sand. If we cant do it as one than its time for a show down to see who is the last man standing. We all need one clear winner that will take this sport to the next level.The gloves are off.
MD

 

[SHARKEY-IMAGES]

For Org like OPA that dont want it at there sites then we just wont be there. I believe POPRA,OSS and SBI think it adds value to there sites. Again its just my opinion. Bring it Martin!!!!!
The greatest oppertunity is in our face and we will see if we are smart enough to see it.
MD

Was there an official announcement somewhere that I missed that OPA said they wanted no part of it ??? I understand the meeting in December that Smitty was given very short notice and was unable to attend.
I am not aware of any other attempts for talks on the subject, but then again, I am not in the circle to know most of that anyway... I only know of a few sites of OPA that would be able to accommodate the needs of a Powerboat P1 Race anyway. So if they were to be involved, it would not be but a few sites...

I do know the offer is out there for the SVL's to run with OPA. I just hope that does not turn out to be a 1 season filler until the Powerboat P1 USA gets up and running and the class will find the time to participate in both.

As an SVL Class, and the schedule I last saw was to make no commitment to a full season for any one organization. I guess that may work for the Class, but I can't see how it will be explained to the TV Audience in an 8 Series back to back coverage how 1 week SVL's are not there, then another week they are.

I guess the editors will figure it out....:cheers2:

 

[Scotty B]

It was nice seeing Martin at the OPA meeting in NJ this past weekend. Lots to talk about

 

[TYPHOON]

Thanks Scotty, I heard the oppisite. Maybe Im out of the loop. Is P1-USA invited to the OPA races to race with you all?
MD

 

[RACESDAD]

will trade 368 skater for 4 svl's...any takers? lol. you guys are what racing used to be, we all get along on and off the race course. i hope and pray we get it right soon > i miss racing and joking with friends
it used to be all of us having fun off the course and when we went racing, if one of us broke, we cheered for the others. bring the family feeling and fun back. WE ALL MISS IT
OH YEAH, KEEP IT INEXPENSIVE TO CLASSES TO ENTER, BUY AND RACE BOATS

 

[Sean Stinson]

Dammit man.....

 

[Ron P]

We lost our support when our president told our venues we were merging and creating one big ship. That never happened. MD

Randy, I guess that's a swipe at me...so I'll reply. Otherwise I'd never bring this subject up, especially in public.

When OSS race sites started dropping off due to being disappointed by a low boat count (Pickwick, Orange Beach, Destin) it became clear to me that the OSS show was no longer sellable. For OSS to survive, it needed to merge....now that you've realized that too, you basically have merged with SBI so congradulations.

As you've learned, finding race sites that have the money and resources to put on a race are far and few between. When you find one, they deserve more than 20 boats showing up considering all of the time, money and energy they put forth to produce the races. Especially if you want to be invited back next year. 30 boats seems to be the minimum of what's considered "A good turnout".

When Woody confided in my that he was very disappointed with the boat count as were the promoters in Lake Cumberland, they both wanted to know how OSS could bring more boats the following year. I only knew one way that could happen.

If OSS had followed my lead and merged with OPA, you would be enjoying a nice 8 or nine race season, sponsorship from Geico and a TV show. And the race sites would have been thrilled. All they want is a good show.

As for P1, let Smitty answer that. I think he's waiting to hear how working with P1 will benifit OPA and it's teams in 2010 and for the long term. I'd like to hear the answer to that too.

Randy, I gotta say, I'm with Heater. I miss our talks and listening to your passion for the sport. I know it's a headache for you now, but once you realize that you are a racer and don't belong on the OSS board, then it might become fun for you again. Leave the headaches to the guys that run the organization. Go back to doing what you do best. Losing races and having a great time doing it. :kiss:

 

[DAREDEVIL]

Randy, I guess that's a swipe at me...so I'll reply. Otherwise I'd never bring this subject up, especially in public.

When OSS race sites started dropping off due to being disappointed by a low boat count (Pickwick, Orange Beach, Destin) it became clear to me that the OSS show was no longer sellable. For OSS to survive, it needed to merge....now that you've realized that too, you basically have merged with SBI so congradulations.

As you've learned, finding race sites that have the money and resources to put on a race are far and few between. When you find one, they deserve more than 20 boats showing up considering all of the time, money and energy they put forth to produce the races. Especially if you want to be invited back next year. 30 boats seems to be the minimum of what's considered "A good turnout".

When Woody confided in my that he was very disappointed with the boat count as were the promoters in Lake Cumberland, they both wanted to know how OSS could bring more boats the following year. I only knew one way that could happen.

If OSS had followed my lead and merged with OPA, you would be enjoying a nice 8 or nine race season, sponsorship from Geico and a TV show. And the race sites would have been thrilled. All they want is a good show.

As for P1, let Smitty answer that. I think he's waiting to hear how working with P1 will benifit OPA and it's teams in 2010 and for the long term. I'd like to hear the answer to that too.

Randy, I gotta say, I'm with Heater. I miss our talks and listening to your passion for the sport. I know it's a headache for you now, but once you realize that you are a racer and don't belong on the OSS board, then it might become fun for you again. Leave the headaches to the guys that run the organization. Go back to doing what you do best. Losing races and having a great time doing it. :kiss:

If a CEO from a car company fails,,,does he blame the customers ???
Nice try thogh.

 

[TYPHOON]

Thanks for the reality check Ron and Doug. I get cought up in all the BS. Sometimes I think Hellen Keller had it figured out. Racing is what I love and what I am best at. :USA:
MD

 

[imco offshore]

Was there an official announcement somewhere that I missed that OPA said they wanted no part of it ??? I understand the meeting in December that Smitty was given very short notice and was unable to attend.
I am not aware of any other attempts for talks on the subject, but then again, I am not in the circle to know most of that anyway... I only know of a few sites of OPA that would be able to accommodate the needs of a Powerboat P1 Race anyway. So if they were to be involved, it would not be but a few sites...

I do know the offer is out there for the SVL's to run with OPA. I just hope that does not turn out to be a 1 season filler until the Powerboat P1 USA gets up and running and the class will find the time to participate in both.

As an SVL Class, and the schedule I last saw was to make no commitment to a full season for any one organization. I guess that may work for the Class, but I can't see how it will be explained to the TV Audience in an 8 Series back to back coverage how 1 week SVL's are not there, then another week they are.

I guess the editors will figure it out....:cheers2:

Tim with all respect,,NONE OF WHAT SVL DOES IS ANY OF YOUR BUSINESS,,My agreement with the ones who it does concern ,,is and will be met..your inuendoes and slanderious comments are unfounded.and one sided,,I don,t care what you write,,but when you start with my class,,It will only start something we both don,t need,, there are no rules in a war..so i ask you nicely PLEASE LET IT GO,,,,,GEORGE JR.

 

[Ron P]

If a CEO from a car company fails,,,does blame the customers ???
Nice try thogh.

Poor analogy. We aren't selling a tangable product here. We are selling a show. When not enough actors show up to fill out the cast....how would you feel buying a ticket to that show?

 

[heater63]

I really hate to read this stuff but did you ever notice that after a good brawl with the old lady the make up sex is the best