A True Offshore Race
 

I was wondering if anybody else would be intrested in an offshore race old school style with new school boats. The race is straight old school. F.Laudredale to Bimini & back just like the Apache challenge video. The rules run what you bring. What ever you think can take the seas. The boats should be equiped with alll the neccesary safity equipment. As for classes keep it simple. You can have supercharged class & a N/A class & everyone races together. So you'l have a class winner & a overall winner. It's like the Nascar All-star race & the 24 hours of LeMans combined. Have it televised & tape it. I know I'd buy a copy of that dvd. I think it would be great to have all the big boat biulders to really compete against one another & the open ocean. My money is on Outerlimits. Just a crazy idea for what I think would be a very cool race.

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

Some idea like this comes up about every two years. None have ever come to fruition.

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

Open ocean racing is the way it should be. It was much more interesting back in the day when they ran out in the open. Navagation, boat strength, human stamina and drive package reliability were the key factors.

Running around bouys is just lame.

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

It took many years for the offshore community to realize that without spectators , sponsored events cant survive.. Noone can watch a race offshore. Thats all there is to it

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Cuda is right. I think it's cost prohibited now a days because of the cost of having enough safety/ medical support. The old days you just had a life raft and hoped someone would come looking for you if you did not show up at a check point. I would think the speeds of the new boats we have now a days and the players involved wouldn't accept any less. But I sure would buy a DVD of it.

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

I'm not saying it would be easy just thinking it would great to watch. I know from my involvment in Nascar it's all about the show. In saying that the tv contracts are worth way more than the attendents in the stands. That is what got Nascar to the piont it's at today. An offshore race would work if someone used the fomula that Nascar used to sell there series instead of trying to copy the Nascar series. Gentlemen it's all about the tv contract trust me I've worked in Nascar for 15 years & have seen Nascar grow to what it is today. Offshore could do the same if the powers to be focus on offshore racing instead of a water version of Nascar.

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

Printed in the new Powerboat Mag .....Long Beach, Ca. is setup to start a true offshore race....first one is this summer.

The city is committed and there is rumor of a 25k purse.

This race will be outside the wall.

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

It would be nice to have at least 1 race per year like this. Paris - Dakkar seems to go off every year & so does the Baja 1000 & both of those races have to be pretty much filmed from the air.

The presentation has a lot to do with it too. When I watch Nascar, which is not very much, the booth full of goobers calling the race is a real turn off. If they could get someone with command of the english language to narrate and a little production value to the video (pre-race pits, on-board cameras, mic the drivers, etc), I think it could be an attractive event.

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

Now it's about sponsors, tv time, and lawsuits.

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

Old time racing memories now available on the new website....
http://www.historicraceboats.com

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

Cuda your still missing the big picture. The sponsors will come when the sancationing body gets to work on a tv contract. By the way it has to be better than a cable network that isn't availble to most of the public (I really like the water channel now that Direct tv finally has it). Once you have a tv contract now you have something to sell to the sponsors. Case in piont before the Nascar tv package sponsorship for a top 5 team was 10-12 million now it's 18-20. As for lawsiuts offshore racing isn't all that differant from stock car racing. In that case look at what Nascar has done use an approval process don't let someone start in super cat or super vee. Use the slower classes for 2 reasons. One for those that don't have the budget & two for a training ground. If Big Bill (France) can have a release form drawn in such a manner that it protects the series & those around it I'm sure someone else can figue it out.

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

I say screw the TV and Sponsors ...everyone just pony up and show up...everyone pay their own way. except that there be one pool of money to pay for a Heli and video so later on you can sell the DVD and everyone who participated can get a piece back. the Prize is Bragging and maybe an old real messed up prop.Only rule is help your fellow boater and take off is at 7:00 a.m. outta Port Everglades. Lunch is at 3:00 p.m. back in Lauderdale.

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

yeee, anyone who wants to run show up at a determined location at a certain time, whoever wants to race pay up. just like any usual run just for fun, except more people and money involved :drink:

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

I bet most of the Offshore teams would be thrilled with a sponsor that paid then 1/100 of that amount. Plus, offshore has been on TV for years. The money never followed, or at least money never flowed to the racers.

If someone can find a sponsor with that kind of green, I'm sure any of the three groups would pay you a 20% finders fee.

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

boys.............. remember that NO insurance policies will be in effect during this race. If you don't care, thats fine, but we have some serious hardware and I know I won't risk $200, 300, 400,000 for a race (even though it would be the greatest race in decades :)).

I got into this conversation with some old school racers last year in Sarasota and the insurance was the problem. Lots of the old school guys have boats that are just too nice to lose even though they would love to do it.

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

what channel is the water channel on direct tv?

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

Exactly what point am I missing? I'd love to see it, but it ain't gonna happen.

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

p.apache will race a 41 apache. we have two right know one 6 man race boat an one 3 man full race boat.

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

The cannonball run of Offshore racing. Nice. Something like this..... :rolleyes:
1) $500K Cash(the more the better)to enter. A min. of 15 participants
7.5m+ purse. It has to be HUGE!! THE LARGEST EVER IN OFFSHORE.
2) One Rule "there are no rules". No medical, no safety, no support, until the winner arrives at the finish. It has to be hairy....real hairy. :cool: Turbine, diesel, etc. etc,....Life or clinging for life.
3) Participants will be notified of the course, date, time, etc. etc. three weeks before the event. Could start at 3:00 a.m. on a Thursday in December. Since the participants previously commited, NO REFUNDS WILL BE GRANTED. It will be harder to back out if they don't like the course.
4) Winner takes all. In the event of a tie the purse will be split.
5)The event will be recorded, produced, and sold with proceeds divided between all participants and the production company responsible. "Offshore -The deadliest race" . Ultra limited quantity, Big $$$. I can hear the commercials in my head (the voices are talking :p ) "15 boats, ???? people, $7.5 million, one winner"
6) In addition to the purse, the winner will be awarded the Masters Green Jacket of Offshore racing, a ____________???
7) After the event each participant may write books, make movies, etc. etc. Just the involvement in the race alone will be legendary let alone winning.....a modern day Don A.
8) It will be mandatory for all boats involved to have a "black box" as well as camera's to record every image, every word etc. etc.
9) Oh yeah, one more thing...NO SPONSORING ORGANIZATION. Just three witnesses, a couple Helo pilots, and a few camera people.

Oh yeah, the UFC of Offshore.:evilb: Gets my blood pumping just thinkin' about it!! After this race aired on Fox,ABC, NBC you would start seeing droves of Fans line the shore at every offshore race. Offshore Racing would be HUGE AGAIN!! :evilb: :D :drink:
O.K. back to reality.....how about these gas prices, geesh! :chimp:

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

Cuda is right...this thought pops up every year or so and it never happens because not enough boats want to get involved and the safety crew expense and the insurance cost are way too much.

You just can not do it like the old days and have boats show up and go for it because the 1st one to get hurt will sue the props off you nowadays.

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Its not a big enough spectator sport .. you can only see what the helicopter sees.. We all would love to see it ..but it wont put 60,000 people in the grandstands. Its become a rich mans hobby and thats probably all it will ever be.

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The piont is cuda. Untill the sancationing body works on a real tv contract you'll never attract a sponsor that'll get off the hip with enough money. Also on my sat. The Water Channel is 216. Also the 60,000 people in the stands are important but the millions in front of the tv's are what you sell sponsors on. The Cannonball is a good idea it's actaully called the Gumball Run. As for the insurance that again has to do with sponsorship & tv packages. Not one Nextel cup team has insurance on the cars they aren't as much as a race boat but there still about 100-125k. I'm not sure anything will ever happen (more than likely won't) but I think if offshore racing keeps trying to be like Nascar with shorter courses & slowing the boats down it'll lose fans that way. I think that is the reason for the poker runs becoming more & more popular. More than half of the poker run boats are faster than the race boats in the same water conditions. I know that my Ferrari will never out run the Cup cars at Charlotte. Maybe someone should just do a poker run to Bimini & get Poker Runs America to work on a tv package. People are doing poker runs all year with no sponsors & more times than not with not without there insurance company knowing. Jack Roush told me a real racer will race anything anytime anywhere. If you never start you'll never finish.

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

bjlesl I like our idea and enthusiam. You make a lot of good points. Stay on it and maybe it can happen. Crazier thing ideas have come into reality.

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

Thanks for the support. Don't get me wrong I for sure don't know everything about everything. But I have made a living in profesional motorsports for 15 years. I just think that offshore racing should be itself. I started getting intrested when my brother bought a Scarab 3 in 84 or 85. I think that offshore racing had a lot of charactor of it's own then & through the 90's. Now I think poker runs have started taking an that charactor.

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

i think the idea is awesome, but dont tihnk you cant start out wit people puttin up 500gs :D ....you could run it like a poker run, except instead of people gettin cards and the ebst hand winning, its the frist person there and back :drink: it would taek a few years, but eventualy if stuck to it, it could get more noticed, maybe televized, etc. you can;t just overnite expect to have some great race with al the fastest boats in the world :evilb: although it would be cool

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

I don't get it, why couldn't you run it like a poker run? Race all the way out, get one card & race back? Every Poker run I have been in the pace boats never make it to the first stop in first place. Isn't the NYC Poker run first leg basically a race, just not called a race?

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

If you really want to do it.....then do it right.

Collect 20K from sponsors or entrants to cover expenses, use the SBI or OPA rule book and run it as a divisional race. Otherwise, the liability is off the chart if something goes wrong and someone gets hurt.

Its a cool idea, all it needs is someone to take the ball and run with it.

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

So how can a Poker Run cover over 120 Miles in one day & have many boats run over 150 MPH & that be OK? Basically the term "Race" causes the issues from what I understand reading here. I have been in several large Poker Runs & had only one or two safety boats to cover the entire course. Someone explain to me how this is different.

I don't think you need a big prize purse, rather you would attract more people due to bragging rights!

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

Like Cuda said ( except it's actually like twice a year ), someone proposes this "fantasy race". . . . I may be guilty myself, except I thought that Miami-Bimini and back would be fine ( only like 120 miles ).

No one has done it - no one WILL do it. . . pipe dream. It's a nice thought, but basically just jerkin off. Won't happen.
I personally would love to see it. Cig vs Fountain vs Skater vs Outerlimits vs MTI vs Nortech, et al, in an open sea race across the Gulf Stream and back. But just think of the consequences, should Team BAJA put together a boat that is fast and durable enough to win in the 'v-hull' class ? ? ? . . . yikes.
With good production values, and enough heli's, it could possibly find an audience. There could be "onshore revenue" ( t-shirts, beer, hot dogs ) at the pits - and maybe at the turn, but good luck finding a producer, sponsor. . .

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

Don't call it a race , call it an "Offshore Challenge"

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

is any body here think in the fact of safety will be impossible in a race like that, well for example in a race Miami to Bimini, OK is only 120 mile but what happen is some one have an accident, well will be helicopters that deploy divers but, what you will do for medical attention? that people will have to be lift out to a helicopter and take them to shore, the only helicopters with that capability's will be the coast guard , and they can commit a ship for that race they have bigger obligations, and i think no mater how big the money will be in the race is not enough to pay for somebody's life,rf

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

There is no question that safty issues will have to be planned out. But, to say it can't be done is very wrong. Every year there are a few little races called Paris to Dakar, Baja 500, & 1000. It's possible to have safty crews. I'm not saying it's easy just that it's possible. There is also a race called The Americas Cup (I personally have no intrest) that race takes place on the open ocean & I'm sure there are safty provisions for it. Also if a company like Baja (not my favorite) was to build a boat & win great that's one more boat company invovled that is not currently racing. Every year there is a Catalina ski race (skiing behind an offshore boat can't be that safe). That seems to happen without major issues. Here's an idea lets do the same only a little longer a little faster & without the skiers.

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

in Dakar if is an accident the helicopter can land, in the Catalina races, the boats are running maybe 70 mile and the Skyler is the one that take the better chance for an accident , in offshore race is an accident happen the victims have to be lift with a winch to a helicopter, i know can be done but the cost will be wow$$$$$$,rf

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

Anybody ever heard of the America's Cup,Australia also has an all ocean race,and also there was a New York to London called the Rolex Classic I think. None of these were televised their boats are as expensive if not more than ours.These races do not have spectators or safety teams while out at sea.What they do have is sponsorship and that will only come to a professionally run sanctioning body.By the way if anybody can make this happen count me in!

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

I'm 100% with you. I guess I've done a poor job of saying the sanctioning body has to look at the process of Nascar & stop trying to copy the actual event. Also the thread before sakoutis3 work on you spelling it's making me look good.

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

Back then their was a big reason to race Miami to Bimini and most of you know why, my cousin Julio De Varona raced the El Boss with Willie Diaz. He also is the current record holder from Miami to New York.b Those were the days it was called the Bacardi Offshore Silver/Gold Cup I cant remember, the wit pits were in the four ambassador, how things have changed.

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

i'm sorry if you need to find some that not spell right to look good, at least i have an excuse i'm Hispanic and my English is not perfect , so what is yours, thank good that when i do my job saving somebody's life they don't complain about how i spell or talk, raul febres

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

Your Wish is GRANTED!!!!

Catilina Island Race is ON !....... JULY 8-9 2006

LONG BEACH to CATALINA ISLAND AND BACK

AMARICAS OLDEST OFFSHORE RACE.

Blood Guts AND Glory.

Kevin Cooper president of PORPA will post details shortly.

It's going to be a wild race

Bring it!

Marc

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

Well, now.... That just settled that!!! :D

Re: A True Offshore Race
 

Will Reggie show up for a Miami to Bimini race? :eek: