It's about time!!!!!!!!!!!

[T2x]

APBA and Offshore groups meet

As part of efforts to strengthen the sport of power boat racing, the American Power Boat Association (APBA) invited representatives from the Offshore Performance Association (OPA), Offshore Super Series (OSS), Pacific Offshore Powerboat Racing Association (POPRA), and P1 USA Offshore Racing to discuss the future of Offshore racing.
A day-long meeting took place on December 5, 2009 at APBA Headquarters in Eastpointe, MI. Representatives from OSS, POPRA, and P1 USA participated; no one from OPA was able to attend. APBA was represented by President Mark Weber, Vice President Mark Wheeler, Secretary Jean MacKay-Schwartz, Treasurer Laurie Allen and Executive Director Gloria Urbin.
President Weber emphasized that APBA is no longer leasing the Offshore category, and will not lease Offshore in the future. Weber made it clear that APBA stands ready to work with groups to sanction Offshore races. Anyone with questions concerning APBA and Offshore racing should contact APBA Headquarters in Eastpointe at 586-773-9700 or apbahq@apba-racing.com.
It was not the goal of the December 5 meeting to make formal agreements among those in attendance. No agreements were proposed, or reached. All participants concur that continued discussions will take place, with the goal of enhancing Offshore racing within the United States.

 

[Tom A.]

I hope this works!:lurk5:

 

[Matt Trulio]

Cautiously optimistic. There's no place to go but up, right Rich?

 

[C_Spray]

...but can it really be done without bringing in SBI as well?

 

[ILMORdude]

If everyone combines to make 1 super series and SBI holds out, who wins and who loses?

 

[Tank]

Jesus....Maybe if all involved can leave their egos home and try to work at obtaining a goal of improving the sport FOR EVERYONE, it'll work.

Why was SBI left out of the invite? If they (APBA) really want to unite, then all the past drama and grudges need to be left behind. Time to look forward, not dwell on the past.

 

[Ratickle]

If they (APBA) really want to unite, then all the past drama and grudges need to be left behind. Time to look forward, not dwell on the past.

Yep, need to invite all, and all should participate to see if there is a common ground for proceeding.

 

[boatme]

lets hope 2010 is the beginning

 

[BRD]

jesus....maybe if all involved can leave their egos home and try to work at obtaining a goal of improving the sport for everyone, it'll work.

Why was sbi left out of the invite? If they (apba) really want to unite, then all the past drama and grudges need to be left behind. Time to look forward, not dwell on the past.

amen !

 

[LaughingCat]

President Weber emphasized that APBA is no longer leasing the Offshore category, and will not lease Offshore in the future.

Ignorant question warning: What does this mean?

Is this meeting the likely beginning of a combined effort to reach the next level, or is it about several smaller circuits combining to compete with SBI?

 

[Chris]

I means that there would be no one organizer with an exclusive to APBA sanctioned events.

But at the same time, I don't ever recall thinking "I'm not going to this one- it's not APBA sanctioned".

 

[Wahoo 214]

I'm curious of what value that APBA has. It seems all the Orgs manage without it. What does the APBA fee get them. Serious question no disrespect.

 

[F1-00 Racing]

Ignorant question warning: What does this mean?

Is this meeting the likely beginning of a combined effort to reach the next level, or is it about several smaller circuits combining to compete with SBI?

No offense LaughingCat but OSS averaged 20-25 boats a race, OPA averaged 30-40 boats a race, SBI with the exception of Sarasota and KW averaged 13-17 boats a race, do the "smaller circuits" really need to band together to compete with SBI? Dont get me wrong, I dream that all of us racers will get on the same page, but you make it sound like SBI is the big boy on the block. I'm not knocking SBI either, they are just another association that gives us options of sites to race at.

 

[F1-00 Racing]

Seriously Dean, it raised the rider and entry fees and for that you get a monthly magazine "Propeller" and the opportunity to be one of 3 teams to receive a $50 windbreaker at the end of the year"Hall of Champions" oh and the decal on the side of the boat

 

[Matt Trulio]

For a little more amplification, check out the top blog at http://speedonthewater.com.

Still cautiously optimistic.

This we know for sure: Without discussion, nothing changes.

 

[T2x]

For a little more amplification, check out the top blog at http://speedonthewater.com.

Still cautiously optimistic.

This we know for sure: Without discussion, nothing changes.

Amen to that...and also remember that "Nothing is ever accomplished by reasonable men".

T2x

 

[Matt Trulio]

More food for thought, http://speedonthewater.com

Maybe thinking smaller is the way to get bigger.

 

[T2x]

A little common sense.........

The APBA brings a lot to the table if you think globally, it brings less if you are only interested in the cheapest way to race.

If you want to get behind a 100 year old organization with ties to the World's recognized sanctioning body, the UIM, the APBA is the vehicle. If you want to leverage other racing divisions for marketing, training, insurance procurement, recognized records and regional clubs, the APBA is the vehicle. If you want elected officials, the "honor squadron", truly unified National championships, and a centralised scoring and administrative resource, the APBA is the vehicle. Is it perfect? Hell no, but it is considerably more stable and experienced than the alternatives.

It is not surprizing that the APBA started these talks without SBI at the table, having only recently terminated an ill conceived contractual relationship with that group. The only group that has proven year in and year out that it will not get off the uncooperative stance of "My way or the highway" is SBI, which has leveraged its apparent stranglehold on one race site, Key West, into a decades long, vacation based, extortion ploy that forces racers to the self proclaimed "mecca" of boat racing. It amazes me that the Inboard, Outboard, OPC, Unlimited, and Champ Boat circuits are somehow able to survive without Key West.... Isn't there someplace else to get drunk every November for the year or two required to make the town fathers down there realize that it is the racers and not JC who bring the money into that town each year....or will the Key West "addiction" prove to be the undoing of any efforts at creating a single sanctioning body? Given that Key West is the single most dangerous race course in the sport (as measured in fatal accidents, injuries and boat damage), you would think that the town would be wooing the racers and not vice versa.

The remaining groups have made efforts at various times towards unification, but, in truth, they also look at their own self preservation (as an on going racing enterprise...not necessarily for the good of the racers....or the sport). The APBA offers regional club membership which will afford the existing "fiefdoms" the ability to continue with their local leadership still in place. (not that anybody is defining his or her place in life by some overblown, unelected title like "President", "Chief Referee" or "Competition Chairman" )

If ever there was a time to "get over yourselves" and come down to earth....or back "home" .......to where the sport started and where it flourished until the idiotic "split" 20+ years ago sent it down into the abyss it wallows in today....now is that moment.

nuff said....

T2x

 

[Matt Trulio]

Obviously, Rich, Mark Weber got me thinking. So much of what is discussed these days involves things like "the television package" (are you kidding?) and "taking the sport to "the next level" (I still have no idea what that means). And yet the discussion rarely turns to the micro level, which, in turn, feeds the macro.

I would love to see the various associations merge. But based on history I am not overly optimistic. To my way of thinking, strong regional clubs "pushing upward" hold the best hope for the future, and anything that can be done to help them grow is essential. I get the sense that you agree.

 

[DaveP]

I think the most important KEY ELEMENT for any kind of success is to have at least 5-6 boats per class and keep it simple. That promotes some great racing no matter if they are running at 60 or 160mph. I saw some great "deck to deck battles" for multiple laps during the Point Pleasant race with the P1-P6 boats.

The excitement of watching 20 boats race in 18 different classes and 18 racers jumping up and down on the deck of their boats waving checkered flags (and they were the only boat in their class) is pretty rediculous.