Offshoreonly.com - Key West “Worlds” Broadcast Announced

Check this out before you'all get too excited..I received this this afternoon..Let's hope all works out!!!
==================>From APBA
To Our Membership:

In order to stage an event such as our World Championship Offshore Race, a permit must be issued by the United States Coast Guard and also from the municipality in which it is to occur. Often in addition, as is the case in Key West, FL support is solicited from the regions Tourism Development Group.

Prior to late December 2003, the following was true for a race to be held in 2004; the only USCG permit for racing in November of 2004 applied for but not yet granted was the one that Lee Mills a local Key West promoter had sought and no permit requests had been filed with the City of Key West.

There also had been conversation between the SBI group and Bob Bull of the APBA regarding the possibility of racing together in Key West during November of 2004. The results of these discussions was a contract proposal sent to the APBA by the SBI’s representative that required us to surrender television rights, tell our series sponsor that they were not welcome at the event, race under SBI technical rules, safety services and race course design. This proposal was deemed by the APBA to be not in the best interests of our racing membership, sponsors, or the citizens of Key West.

On December 29th of 2003, Jim Poplin on behalf of the APBA, filed a USCG permit application for the same dates in the week before Thanksgiving, on which the APBA had historically raced in Key West. We also have recently applied for the required City event permits. It should be noted that many of the local officials and leaders of commerce have been telling us since our canncelled 2003 race, that the City really wanted the APBA back in 2004.

Most of you will remember our announcement at the January 25th meeting in Orlando, FL that we initiated and were seeking, through a non-biased facilitator, a meeting with the executives of SBI (Super Boat International) and the OSS (Offshore Super Series) for the purposes of continuing discussion on a unified type of “World Championship” event in conjunction with race dates scheduled for November of 2004. The good news at the time being, as stated by the facilitator, was that all parties had agreed to meet.

At that time it was also announced that the APBA had secured the transfer of the Coast Guard Permit application previously made by Lee Mills for the dates of November 17, 19, 20 and 21, 2004, which were applied for on January 3, 2004. Mr. Mills was present at the meeting and acknowledged publicly that he had signed over to the APBA, all rights and actions that he had taken towards producing the race in Key West for 2004.

The SBI group’s 2004 race calendar at the time on their website showed them racing in Key West the week before and specifically on November 10, 13 and 14, 2004. Jim Poplin, our President, through his working with the local Coast Guard Commander noted that as recently as February 25th there still was no permit application officially made by the SBI or it’s promoter for permits matching the posted event dates.

Our unification meeting facilitator struggled during early February to find mutually agreeable dates to meet, your APBA representatives had indicated that they were available any days in February, with the exception of the 16th and 17th where previous commitments had been made. Finally on the 14th a mutually agreeable date of February the 25th was conveyed to all parties concerned, by the facilitator, and travel plans were put in motion.

On or about February 18th, a Press Release was issued by the OSS on their website and was soon followed up on the SBI website, that a Letter of Intent had been signed by both groups to race together on the scheduled SBI dates still posted at that time as November 10, 13 and 14 of 2004.

On the 25th of February your APBA representatives, Bob Bull (APBA CEO), Jim Poplin (APBA President) and Mark Skrzypek (Director, Television and Sponsor Relations) met in Davie, FL for the planned meeting. Representatives from the SBI and OSS were unable to attend. Even though it was impossible, given the lack of participation to have any mutual race event discussions, the APBA Team outlined their prepared business plan update and outline for achieving a win/win/win formula for a unified race event. Discussion at that time produced further refinements and improvements to the unified event proposal that unfortunately had no place to go.

On or about February 27th, a permit application was filed with the Coast Guard Office in Key West, for the exact same race dates previously applied for in January by the APBA (and transferred to APBA by Lee Mills), presumably to support the joint SBI/OSS groups’ race by the announced promoter of the event (CROPBA). This untimely and late conflicting application has caused the Key West Coast Guard Commander to request a position/recommendation statement from the City of Key West officials regarding the situation.

The APBA management team was initially taken aback and frustrated with the entire situation and the continued self imposed image disfunctionality, the sport of Offshore Racing presents as a public face. Back in December of 2003 a gentlemen’s agreement was reached between the APBA and SBI to not schedule any events on top of one another (the exception being noted as the July 4th events) in the spirit of good faith and the racers interest who wanted to run in both circuits. The APBA stuck to this commitment during the development of its’ 2004 schedule, believing in the ethos that sportsmanlike conduct is the heart and sole of any competitive motor sport event.

So in an effort to get the facts, present the APBA’s intentions, plans and avoid further misunderstanding and miscommunication Mr. Bull dispatched Jim Polin, our President, this past Sunday (3/7/04) to Key West, FL in an attempt to meet face to face with City Officials and other interested parties or citizens of the community carrying our message. Initial feedback from the individuals he has met with, indicate that the City Commissioners will be discussing this issue in public session, possibly as soon as next Tuesday the 16th. He has also contacted the SBI and the CROPBA directly seeking a positive solution, but as of yet none is forthcoming.

Your APBA has maintained since the organizational meeting in Orlando, that we were all about rebuilding the public credibility in the APBA and the sport itself. Our CEO, Bob Bull, has continued to maintain a position that “ALL RACERS” regardless of affiliation were welcome to come and race at Key West with the APBA. Together we have defined a plan that allows racing as a group together, without negative financial impact to any organized association. Mr. Bull has recently stated that he was willing to forego the sought after City of Key West tourism event grant monies and donate them to charity or some other worthy event, if that would really help bring all Race Teams and race fans to Key West for a true world class event. He still remains steadfast in this position despite the frustration and apparent lack of any progress to that end.

A successful event requires significant planning and schedule stability for everyone attached to it. The community, the sponsors, the racers, and the fans need for these issues to be resolved. We will advise you very soon on the further results of Jim Poplin’s trip and the next actions of the City public sessions on the matter.