Matt Trulio

With all due respect ... no one suggested that. Reread what was written. What has been suggested is either all endurance or a hybrid of endurance and near-shore closed course.

There are never "too many minds." There are often too many agendas.

sean stinson

Ok pal get your panties out of a twist....If you had set around like I did as a punk kid in the shadows you could have learned a lot as I did from all these old guys and the funny thing is half of them dont even remember me but I remembered everything that I absorbed.....turbines as you say have a great place in racing and that technology is here to stay is it the big show who knows or do I care to debate it?? ABSOLUTELY NOT because I dont give a damn...how many turbine boats actually race at one time these days?? I am a roughwater guy at heart and have banged enough waves to know that is where it is for me however todays racing is not like days gone by!!! Dont crucify me too bad for my punctuation as it sux and I know it sux!!!!

aex

I was just trying to get a laugh from you guys and inserting some of the opinions I've heard voiced over the years .

scarab63

iTrader: (5)

smokeybandit

OK, let's take a look at car racing. The first issue is that the track does not change (for the most part). Whether it's drag, stock, or open wheel, the basics of the track stay the same. This leaves more room to focus on the vehicle. The only reason the muscle car guy gets blown away by the modern car is because the critical variable of the track did not change. Same asphalt, same turns, no bumps. The cars have been adapted to the tracks.

"Offshore" racing pits men against the elements. The big equalizer has always been the ocean. Not a gps telling you that you have gone 1 mph over some pre-determined speed limit. Some days will be flat and some days will be rough. On the flat days the boats that have a top speed advantage and crews with superior navigation skills will win. On the rough days they won't. That's the fun of the whole thing. It isn't just about beating the hell out of yourself in 6 foot seas (although that is a lot of fun).

For me (and I will get crucified for this), it's a language issue. The moniker "Offshore Racing" should be reserved for offshore racing. Calling the racing that took place last weekend "offshore" racing is an insult to the history of the sport. Was it good racing? Yes. Was it exciting? Yes. Was it offshore racing? Definitely not.

Just my two cents. Now you can crucify me.

smokeybandit

If this is just about being watched, then leave the boat on the trailer and charge admission to a viewing area. Once again, that's not what offshore racing is. It has never been and will never be a major spectator sport.

I never heard a single complaint from spectators of the offshore racing in the 80's. The staggered starts had boats going by the spectator fleet at very regular intervals.

jbraun2828

Back in the day you didn't have to be on a cruise ship because the race was televised. Offshore racing was relevant then. Funny how the new generation doesn't want to listen to the old even though they were the ones successful. Driving 50ft boats on rivers and bays is not offshore racing. Just look at the interest and discussion the long island race has created and tell me offshore racing doesn't need re-think its direction.

Interceptor

So when GEICO shows up with their caravan of trucks and boats what is their business plan ?
Racing or selling car insurance to the spectators ?

smokeybandit

My guess would be that Marc and Scotty and crew go to race and Geico puts there name on it to sell insurance. But what does that have to do with anything?

Interceptor

What I'm saying is I doubt GEICO would be involved as a sponsor if racing returned to the old school offshore type events.