By the way, the latest installment of SEATALK, has tagged members of this board "chat room queens." So we're good enough for Mr. Crouse to sell products or politics to, but not good enough to question him? Strange.

APBA is the only sanctioning body that can deliver for us at this time. As a Florida based team we will miss the Ft Meyers race but not Sarasota. Sarasota has become very difficult do to deal with as a racer. The promoters are so money hungry that the pits are grossly over populated with vendors to the excess that we could not even move our boat on race day. When we checked in at the Hyatt we found out the racer room rate was almost twice the regular cost of a room for the general public. The crane and pit personal were just plain rude also. As a racer it appears Sarasota does not want APBA and in my opinion it really is no loss.

R. Welch
Team Sherwin Williams

Too Old,

Good Call!..all those Sarasota folks are lining-up at the paint store as we speak!! :eek: :D

All politics aside, my understanding of the situation is this. A number of race sites have banded together under the FORCE Series banner to promote their races. They will invite both SBI and APBA racers in an attempt to unify the sport. I was also told they are not seeking to sanction races but want to work with BOTH major bodies the APBA and SBI. As such they plan on running divisional races.
How could this hurt anyone. If we give it a chance maybe it will strengthen all of offshore racing. Maybe it will also help "save" race sites that were considering leaving the sport.
There is not one race site that has to have a race. It is through the hard work and dedication to the sport by the locals that we even have race sites. So we need to support every effort to ensure the continuation of all races.
I support Force Series 100% in their efforts. I don't try to read anything into something that isn't there. Go Offshore! :D

I noticed the FORCE-link was removed from the APBA site..

BoatinJoe. I would promote any boat racing association no matter who they are, But what John Crouse did in another post was out right wrong! Then he comes back and says we are starting a new race club after he thrashed someone from a major race club and now wants everyone to join? Not for Me! If Force has good intentions John just made that club get off to a bad start a couple of posts ago! And believe me I am not the only one that sees the hand writing on the wall.
I wish John the best but not with my support or the support of The N/E Donzi Club.
Frank

Well, hate to tell ya but it's is the sanctioning body that gets paid by all the vendors you see. The more vendors, the more buck$.
As far as the hotel prices, I have learned from more than one person on this very board that when you book your reservation, it will be cheaper if you don't mention apb.,, oops, I mean, don't mention anything about racing at all.

It's hard to believe that people could be so critical of something they know nothing about. For example, Bill Park wrote a negative opinion of the SBI safety crew. Well Bill, If you've never raced SBI, how can you be so sure? Did you know SBI crew is not only credible, and professional, but extremely experienced. Did you know that this same crew is at every SBI race. The only outside individuals are the ambulance service. These individuals work together at every race so they know what each other are supposed to do and going to do. Also, I guess you didn't know SBI has two of South Florida's best Trauma surgeons. Oops, I forgot, you don't race in SBI. Did you know every diver is EMT certified. You wouldn't know that either would you. Did you know everybody else are firemen? These individuals have more experience than any other offshore safety crew simply because the same people have worked every race on the SBI circuit. So now what do you mean by the dive team not being consistent? Everybody has an opinion. Just watch your facts before you disrespect someone. Remember, you need to test drive a car before you can call it a lemon.

N'AWLINS And your boat number is?

BH
Since when does the sanctioning body get the money from the local vendors? What boat do you race? Where is your funny little pink hat you used to wear? Hows your boyfriend?
Ron

Sorry Bill Park, didn't mean to rattle your cage, but you haven't answered you own statement of SBI safety crew's lack of consistency.

offshore 1-2000
I know MJH very good ,he love the sport,his not with no club, just a great fan of the sport, he know about everything about the sport,all the sport history,just ask him,he is one of the best driver`s in the sport,his a winner.I`m hoping that one day he can race with me.
mike merola

Critical Lift will be on the APBA tour this year after taking a year off to paint and re-rig the boat.

When i see things like FORCE surface, i like to see and hear more than ideas. A non-paid staff, no information on the structure of the entity, no partners, no hints of financial stability, the list goes on.

We knew the partners of APBA Offshore LLC; budgets were discussed when the feasability of race sites needed to be considered; we knew who were volunteers and who were paid, the paid staff more responsive by necessity to the members. We certainly knew the financial stability of many of the partners, unless you are in the dark with respect to Credit Reports. And with all of that, it is a tough go to organize, promote and produce an offshore race.

I sense because of what has been written, and i may be wrong, that the FORCE group is more of an organization intending to fragment the APBA as opposed to helping the cause of offshore racing. If there was ever "impure motivation" for what is sure to be a struggle, that is it. Market research (the poll) is fine but i get nervous by the necessity to say "without editorial comment." Only a person who has made editorial comments a weapon would need that caveat to get responses. Strange stuff.

I wish anyone good luck who can make offshore racing be the motorsport we all want it to be. With APBA's two hour shows on Fox's new format of Speedvision, the Speed Channel - a huge development for sponsors - why would i go break equipment someplace else? As Tom Cruise said, show me the money!! And most importantly, tell me about the TV deal. Absent that information...

Ted

The Hollis Motorsports gang will be committed to racing in APBA Offshore - 2002. Look for a new boat and new graphics. How many days until Daytona?


BH