The Great Unification

Mike I sat out '02. I cannot comment. I understood the boat showed up in KW '02 untested. It showed. I also sat out early '03. I did Pittsburg, Orange Beach and KW. My time frame is not off. I don't know the details of what changes were made and don't care at this point. You penalized a new boat design for improving it. Good job. Same old story a boat does well penalize it. Can you accept any fault in the matter of the boycott? Or was it everybody else's fault?

I was one of your supporters until '01.

It has been a long time since the boycott. I hope you can move past it soon. Times have changed, things are different, and it is time to look ahead.

Jim we do not make our living in the Marine business. At this point the Boycott means much more to your livelihood than mike or I.

Concerning the strakes the rules are the rules. If you do not like them you do not compete in that series. Instead some just choose to ignore them so they can get an advantage on the honest guys. You can spin it however you want but it was absolutely cheating. Your memory selector is on convenient
Steve
 
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I am just happy as heck that the real truth of the boycott is out and now EVERYONE can see how it hurt their favorite sport.

2 of some of my very best friends Steve and Mike tried their best and seeing the growth of APBA Offshore go away really stunk. I personally got so sick and tired of peoples attitudes it pushed me away and I found another hobby.

Where are all the people back in 2003-04 that were berating these 2 guys down on the internet and in magazines at now...huh? I hope they all can see how WRONG they all were.
 
Your spin, my spin, his spin, what ever of course they vary. That was many years ago now. I said I didn't get into the boat until after the fact. I ran it '04. Again I don't care what happened prior to me getting in it.

It amazes me you are stuck on this issue. It was a new boat.

The boycotters are to blame, I hear you both. My convenient memory recalls you guys chasing some of them away. Its a given you accomplished many good things, but maybe it wasn't as perfect as your memories recall.

I hope you were not implying I am a cheater.
 
Your spin, my spin, his spin, what ever of course they vary. That was many years ago now. I said I didn't get into the boat until after the fact. I ran it '04. Again I don't care what happened prior to me getting in it.

It amazes me you are stuck on this issue. It was a new boat.

The boycotters are to blame, I hear you both. My convenient memory recalls you guys chasing some of them away. Its a given you accomplished many good things, but maybe it wasn't as perfect as your memories recall.

I hope you were not implying I am a cheater.

I do not know everyone involved with that particular incident. I know Welling was I know Lance H. was man enough to quit a winning team because he realized they were cheating. I also know when caught the team did not man up and instead they revolted. Where is Welling now? He certainly did some damage and he left quite a few bills also.

The main reason some felt chased away was because we enforced rules that is not a popularity contest just a responsibility.
I never believed the old adage of so many boat racers "That your not trying if your not cheating" Ask Art about carb spacer gaskets Sarasota 1991 I forget very little.
Steve
 
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Oss?

Jim,

Your an OSS guy and OPA, a racer... Can you get us some facts about the current concern, of OSS canceling on Sunny Isle Beach?

I haven't seen any indication ever that Steve M. or anyone else said it was perfect once! It's not a perfected thing but it is a spectacle that when it's done as a community based effort, and sincere honest competitors show up...

Let's work on the possibilities at hand, what's going on at OSS?

Coach
 
Mike I sat out '02. I cannot comment. I understood the boat showed up in KW '02 untested. It showed. I also sat out early '03. I did Pittsburg, Orange Beach and KW. My time frame is not off. I don't know the details of what changes were made and don't care at this point. You penalized a new boat design for improving it. Good job. Same old story a boat does well penalize it. Can you accept any fault in the matter of the boycott? Or was it everybody else's fault?

I was one of your supporters until '01.

It has been a long time since the boycott. I hope you can move past it soon. Times have changed, things are different, and it is time to look ahead.

Jim,

First, the Skater was penalized for cheating not because of some improved design.

Second, I cannot take any responsibility for the boycott because I was not part of it. The "he made us do it" excuse is a little dopey.

Third, I think it is pretty safe to say that I have moved past the boycott specifically and offshore boat racing in general.

Fourth, you are correct, times have changed and things are different. The Boycotters' Super Series is a joke compared to the LLC so it seems that regardless of fault, the boycotters made a pretty bad decision. On the other hand, by closing the LLC instead of throwing good money after bad, the LLC members made a good decision, financially and personally. As for looking ahead, ok, I can do that: Looking ahead, I predict OSS will finally die this season. OPA will continue to grow. And SBI will live as long as John does.
 
I still remember the whole Skater thing going down like it was yesterday...

I do think if the 500 would have stayed F1 would still be around...the homolgation rule is what kept the Factory Series compeditive...we now can see what happends like in the SV class today...every 5 months a new hull comes out faster then the last one....

When you have a 4 year old manufactures F1 boat racing against a brand new on and they are the same...it evens the playing field...

I wish F1 and F2 were still around......
 
Mike, I gotta bring it up one more time...Picture it's the End Of The World, nothing left but Cockroaches, Twinkies, John"Bubba" Carbonell and Smitty. Thanks for The Plug about OPA/The Jersey Boyz. Remember The "BIG" Knife to you neck in Chicago many years ago, my first APBA Race. The good old times, when it was FUN. Your a good egg Mike!
 
Mike, I gotta bring it up one more time...Picture it's the End Of The World, nothing left but Cockroaches, Twinkies, John"Bubba" Carbonell and Smitty. Thanks for The Plug about OPA/The Jersey Boyz. Remember The "BIG" Knife to you neck in Chicago many years ago, my first APBA Race. The good old times, when it was FUN. Your a good egg Mike!

Milwaukee
 
WTF???? you are putting knives to peoples throats over boat racing?.....geesh! Don't bring a knife to a gun fight!
 
I dont know about you but if you get the Augie stare it seems like you're looking down the barrel of a gun actually a double barrelled shotgun.....Sorry Augie I couldn't resist pal!!!!!
 
Yeah, your right Bruce. Well, close enough. We did have fun! Fever Mike, the knife is just to get your attention, it's what's under the seat that should worry anyone. Mike A. was a good sport about it and that photo was all over OSO. Thanks for another CRAZY memorie of Offshore Powerboat Racing Mike. Bruce, I think it was Lukies hunting knife if I remember correctly.
 
Yeah, your right Bruce. Well, close enough. We did have fun! Fever Mike, the knife is just to get your attention, it's what's under the seat that should worry anyone. Mike A. was a good sport about it and that photo was all over OSO. Thanks for another CRAZY memorie of Offshore Powerboat Racing Mike. Bruce, I think it was Lukies hunting knife if I remember correctly.

Hey Augie,

I cannot find that pic anywhere. Can you send me a copy?
 
I talked to Mr. Pensa a couple of times yesterday and he sounds 20 yrs. younger.
I don't know what his secret is but I wouldn't put a weapon of any kind near him.:)
Augie.....I'm heading to FLL
You know how to reach me
JM:)
 
Ah Augie.........................

If only boat racing played by the rules of "Omertà"

There would be a lot less discussion, a lot more action, and no dissension whatsoever...... at least among the living.

;)

T2x
 
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