Destin Report card
 

With Merrick Cup worlds in the history books, how about some insight for the everyone who attended, Racer's and Fan's.

What did you like ?

What didnt you like??


What can be done to make next years worlds better??

When voting please give a brief explaination why you gave the grade you did.

Please keep the politics out. Many people come on this board,
a positive or negative remark is the point. Let the event sponsors know what you the racers, or fans expect from a race site>

thanks

Re: Destin Report card
 

I had a great time !! There was a good turn out of boats. I would say the spectators were on the light side though,its the off season there. Ive never seen a live TV broadcast that was cool!! Ill be back .

Rob :drink:

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The only thing I would change would be for the pits to be closer to the condos and the cranes/ramps to be closer to the pits. Other than that ....great job!! :cool:

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Destin is a beautiful place. The beaches were awesome.
I agree with RG. It was way too spread out.
I spoke with a lot of local vendors and they said they had no idea there was going to be a race there till the Thursday before. I did not feel the racers and fans were as welcome as we nornally are like in Key West and a couple of years ago in Orange Beach. Heck, in OB even the churches had Welcome Racers and Race Fans signs out. I was really disappointed about the parade being canceled just an hour before it was to be held. I know racers that rushed to wash and wax their boats to be ready for it and it was not going to happen. I had a wonderful time, don't get me wrong I just feel Destin was not ready for us.

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While I agree with the cowgirl in general ,, I disagree that Destin was not ready for us ,,, I think Destin was fine,,, signs were out ,, people were nice, the live coverage was the best ever and it made the Races fun to watch,, however I did not like the way everything was spread out,,, the dry pits should have been in one parking lot,,, the fans should have been able to find race central , dry pits ,,, and vendors ,,, and walk from one to the other ,,, it was no fun driving 3-4 miles to find the action ,, only to find out the action was at the other end of the strip!!!! ,,,, all in all , I am glad I went to Destin over that other place that I love sooooo much ,,, 14 straight yrs at Key West,,,,, :mad: :mad:

RHC

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I thought it was great, it had everything you needed; the best boats, the best racing and warm weather.... i also wish that the pits/crane/race course were closer together, but if you looked around, there just wasn't such a place, 70+ race teams and the hardware that comes with that isn't easy to cram in just any old spot...

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I agree with RG as well and to bad there wasnt a general spectator area available for everyone to go and watch together instead of from there individual condo balconys...but still gave it 2 thumbs up

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Actually .... I scoped out two different places that would have worked. Now whether those places would have agreed to it, I dont know. However, I think the draw to put that many people in front of a store would be a pretty good sales pitch... unless they would be afraid of having that many people in front of their store :D

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they might not of wanted our kind of "crowd" hangin out in front of their places at all hours... :drink:

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Keep the comments coming, knowing the likes and dislikes of a event can help the promoter for future events. AS Fans you obviously have a passion for offshore racing, thanks again for posting your comments!

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I forgot the best part, being able to watch off your balcony and then turn around and watch LIVE tv coverage at the same time... not waiting 6-9 months later for an edited commercial.. but unedited, LIVE tv coverage... i also saw it was on the radio, but never listened to that, so you could sit on the beach an listend to the race if so desired as well.... or watch on the jumbotron's on the beach... several different options thanks to AMF and the other sponsors (Bud Select and Reliable come to mind first)....

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I was unable to attend this year, but will post for my brother who's not a member here
but called numerous times throughout the event.

The viewing was much better from his balcony than the seawall in KW,
and the ability to turn around and see what he was missing live on the TV was a big bonus.

His only minor complaint was the location and time required to get to the dry pits.
He'll definitely be back next year. And since he drove, I suggested bringing a
splitter, coax's and a small TV for the deck. He liked that idea.

I myself think that the video production could have had better sound, if possible.
The sound of the boats over his cell phone gave me "Goosebumps" :eek:
Especially during that "Kilofest" on Sunday.

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i thought Destin did a great job of hosting the event. while it was spread out a bit getting around was very easy as everything was off 98 (a big bonus for those of us that closed AJ's several nights, nice straight shot back to condo :drink: :drink: ) watching the race was great! we had a great view from our balcony of the entire course. heck at one point me Kelly and another friend swam out to one of the sandbars to watch the supercats run :D

Sean- were you in Destin?

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um, of course... :drink: were you? :drink: :evilb: :D

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Hehe ... Good point!

Yup Dave ... Sean was at the OSO party .... how'd ya miss him?:p :drink:

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damn dude . . i thought you were going to that other place :D . . . i couldnt stay out late the night of the OSO party, had ta race ya know :cool:

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The fact there was only 1 cook and 1- 70 year old waitress at the Waffle House @ 3 in the morning.... :( :(

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it was probably awesome but the world finals are supposed to be in KEYWEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Hell , I thought it was a great place.(i was ready to settle for another 2nd place on Sunday)..But the best of it was I had a better seat to watch the race in front of the JUMBOTRON..now if I can just get the boat to grow 3 inches for next year...hmm
any suggestions other than make it drink a 55 gallon drum of resin?...Happy holidays... tony

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I gave it an outstanding grade.

The locals loved it - even if the publicity was low.
NASCAR fans came from hundreds of miles away to watch the boats race.
The Chopper LZ was right behind the pits.
The inlet was close to AJs and the race course.
AJs served as the perfect party house.
The awards were the best ever. Boomer's speach set the stage and the actual awards for the winners were incredible.
Having Al Copeland give out the trophies made it a World Class event.
The pits were not cramped at all, plenty of room for everyone.

If I could change one thing for next year, I'd mix the OPA/POPRA boats amoungst the OSS boats rather than have them seperated.

For a first year event, they did a great job.

2 point question - What does Merrick World Cup refer to?

Re: Destin Report card
 

Yes Tony,

Maybe the Racer's during the off season can vote to lower the minimum length to 37' 9" or 37' 6" to not only allow your boat but any other's that may be kept from racing in that class as well...??? (Just a thought.)

Re: Destin Report card
 

Ron,

I spoke with an official who intitially told me the awards were to be at the Convention Center. I was glad to hear that knowing there would be plenty of room and it could be more formal.

Only later to find out it was to be at AJ's.

Don't get me wrong I love the place and what made the awards best was the company and guests.

But for once I thought maybe the awards would have been a little more organized and formal.
The over crowded stage area was so bad that I was ready to pack it in and not risk damaging my equipment. But I stuck it out because we had the legends in the sport among us! Al's trophy is now back in his possession, and it was a sight to be seen. It was more history in the making and I wanted to capture it.
But if it helps with the planning for next year, the Awards needs to be in a much bigger place...
Huge thanks for AJ's for putting up with us all week... :drink:

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I gave it an outstanding grade, could use a bit more promotion prior to the event, and I agree with Tim the bar was to crowded the convention center would have been more
classy.

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Racing was great
Viewing from the Condos was the BEST!
But, there is only one Key West

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Agree 100%! Unless we all have a personal helicopter it was awsome to watch the race then turn your head and watch it up on the TV Screen with live anouncers. They had better footage of the race than ESPN and Speedvision ever had! Job well done! :cool:

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Run OPA .... maybe that can be the new OPA slogan ... "its not the size of your boat that counts, just the size of your ****" :eek: :drink:


or ... maybe you should think about keepin the boat in south florida waters cuz we all know about cold water and shrinkage .... :D

(j/k .... hope that made ya smile :bunny: )

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No doubt the convention center would have offered more room but there would have been no booze and very very few fans.

If that's all we can gripe about, it was a damn good week. :D

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You guys that keep saying Key West would have been better need to go talk to JC,,, He is the one who does not want anyone playing in his sandbox!! :mad: :mad:

I think the OSS guys have made the best out of a bad situation and they should get lots of atta-boys and support from the fan's.

RHC

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Isn't that the truth! :drink: :drink: :drink:

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Amen brother :D

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Maybe the boat can grow a beak , works on V-hulls.

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Mark ,, never said I had the answer ,, I have been to Key West for the last 14ys ,,, every time there is a problem about the sites,, the pits ,,, the city ,,, I here JC's name brought into the conversation,,,, My statement was ,, He does not want anyone playing in his Sandbox,,,, I know this ,, because when we drug a support boat 1000 miles to HELP put on the show ,,, JC charged us for space ,,,, Just leave it at that ,, OK ,, its his sandbox :rolleyes:

RHC

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Please Do NOT make this a politics thread!

Thank you

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That is a entiirely different subject, this is about the race expierence that Destin offered to the fans and teams that spent a week there. Whether Positive or Negative, input from the racer's and the fans, will give a community a better insight of what people want!

I hate using Nascar, because Offshore isnt at the level, YET :D

but it is about the whole expierence that leads up to the race.

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I thought it was great!!!! We got to spend a week with our friends,race boats and enjoy a beautiful town that I never thought would be so nice. A bigger parking lot would be nice but that might not be possible. I liked the convention center as home base for EVERYTHING. The course was challenging and the water was great for racing. The locals seemed glad we were there and all said they cant wait to tell there friends for next year. TV was out of this world. AMF had there camp open all week as usual. The volunteers were great. The local Coast Guard,police and patrol personnel were great. The racing classes were divided good so it made sense to the fans. OPA and OSS got along great and will most likely do more joint races as a result.And the craze thing is that this was just the first time this town has ever put on a Offshore race!!!!!!
MD

Re: Destin Report card
 

positives: Boat count
tv coverage
4 days of racing
closer proximity to mainland so we could bring our boat (from
VA)
Awesome Beaches

negatives: spread out pits
proximity of pits to AJs
No Duval Street

We had a great time and would definitely go back......but KeyWest with the Jumbotron would be hard to beat

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I was asked to be more specific so I am adding this:
I thought Destin was awesome. I think it is more of a retirement community and the older folks did not welcome loud partying folks with loud boats and we were not as welcome as they would be in a party town. My husband and I ran into several people who had no clue the race was going on and some even said they hated racing. One local vendor at the Rock the Docks party actually said to us, we had no clue this was going to take place till the Thursday before. They were very upset that they had no time to prepare for us to be there. One even gave me her card to call us if the races were going to be there next year so she would have more time. I only saw signs at the pits and Aj's welcoming racers and fans. Oh and I saw AMF signs too. None of the locals had anything out on their signs welcoming the racers. I know we, meaning the racers and fans poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into that town but I did not see the happiness that we saw in Orange Beach a few years ago when the worlds was there. Heck, during the parade, people ran out to the boats and thanked us for being there. I never got that from one local. We asked in every place we went if they were going to watch the races and over 50% said no and at lease 20% had no clue what we were talking about. This was my first OSS race ever. I always go to the Worlds. I just feel maybe the town was not well informed we were coming and if they were they did not have time to prepare. These are what my husband and I saw while we were there. We spend our one vacation every year going to the Worlds and plan to continue to do so. We love racing. I wish the powers that be could agree to be united. I am just being honest to what I saw and experienced. I really enjoyed Destin and think it is a wonderful place to visit.

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Had a great time. Overall was excellent. I'll get on the band wagon about everything being spread out. One thought about Destin vs Key West. Although I never attened Key West it's a great place. I think Destin is very nice, no Key West, but the location may allow a lot more fans to attend versus the trip to Key West.

Overall score 10++++ Had a great time.

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Twin-Kyle,
would you care to give a reason for the grade??

Re: Destin Report card
 

Sharkey..... :eek: :drink: Being a blue hair myself...How bout a photo of the 170 year old waitress??