OSS racing in 09
 

Hello, my name is Randy Schleuss and I am a new board member for OSS. I have been racing for 10 years in all the organizations and have seen it all. At present I race in Super Vee lite in the Typhoon boat.
My question to all of you is what can OSS do to make the future of racing more enjoyable to go and watch or just be a fan of? I feel there needs to be more of a connection between racers,poker run's,average boaters and kids.
What do you all think would make a better
Race site
Pit area
Classes
Fun factor
ect.
I feel it is important that we at OSS listen to what EVERYONE has to say to make this a better sport. And that we ALL work on having more fun together.
Lets start with suggestions and work from there.
MD

nice start, how about a schedule??

Do you guys have the headsets that fans can rent to listen to the drivers, like Nascar? That would be really cool.

I also think a race weekend combined with a poker or fun run, always brings a much bigger crowd for both events. I know it makes me want to be there even more. It's nonstop boating action, and the best of both worlds for the fans to see the top race boats, and run around with the best pleasure boats, all on one trip. You could make it an extended weekend by having the run on Friday at whatever time, and the races on Saturday & Sunday. For a regular weekend: Race Friday afternoon, have the fun run (or breakfast run) Saturday morning, and start the races after lunch finishing Sunday.

Some folks can only plan for 1-2 boating trips a year. This would be a definite must do event essentially killing two birds with one stone. It gives people that don't have, or don't want to mess with their boat a reason to come, and entices people with boats to bring them along to run, show off at the docks, or tie up to watch the races from the water.

I agree...combine with a PR or Fun Run....

That would be an excellent idea. I'm sure that you could pick up a sponsor or two for the Fun Run.

Simple, merge the other competing race orginizations together to form one viable racing series that the average fan can follow. There are so many racing orginizations out there competing for fan interest that it is about impossible to follow who is competing in which series; thus average fans like myself wind up not caring about any of the offshore series.

Being from Indianapolis and seeing what the powers there did to destroy the huge fan base that Indy car enjoyed for generations, I'm amazed to find that Tony George and Roger Penske couldn't hold a candle to offshore racing when it comes to destroying a fan base.

Short of consolidation I'll continue to not give a hoot.

My dream race site would be a combination of a Poker Run,Boat race, Boat show mfg. and parts.,swap meet,Street party,venders and entertainment. Everyone in one location!!! Have fun things for boaters to participate in. Have possibly question and answer sessions in the pits with Tec people. I would think 30-50 race teams and 100-200 PR teams could generate some real noticeable revenue for any town.
MD :ernaehrung004:

How about Galveston? They need it after Ike and there sure was a lot of Mississippi/Alabama/Louisiana race support after Katrina.

I no longer live in Galveston but the races there and Corpus in years past were a blast and there are a lot of poker runners in Texas

Ernie

That is a great start!

I would like to see the Offshore Racing org's try to get, race courses where the fans can see the whole race if possible, a race course where the race boats can race as close as possible to the race fans on the docks or on shoreline, a shorter race course, 4-5 miles in lenght so that spectators can see the boats going by more often then on a long course where they go by occasionally. I'd like to see the org's, racing together as one, as I stated in my previous post. Let's face it, everyone knows what the fans want but no one is willing to give an inch, or it would of been a done deal. All we hear is, in a perfect world Bull**** but in reality if everyone really wanted to sit down and try and resolve the ego thing/control thing and the long standing bickering then maybe things would come together but you all have to be willing. I'm still holding out, hoping for the future will bring change, because I know that there are a lot of very smart people running the show, most of the time and have the ability to change it if they really want to. Lets hear the positive things and not the negative things and get it done. One last thing i'd like to hear the Turbines making more noise or music then they are right now. Fans what to hear the roar of the engines as they race by in any motorsport.

I would like to see some unification amongst the race organizations

Location for one. I live in north texas. Not really feasable for the average boater to fly out to Florida for every race. I know its not offshore, but these races aren't exactly openwater offshore racing anymore either. I remember last year there was a race on Quichita Lake in Arkansas, but not this year. It would be nice to have consistent annual schedule's. If they did that race every year on Quichita Lake I'd go. Texoma would be a good place too hint, hint...:party-smiley-004:

Unification and less race classes.
ed

1) I would like to see OFFSHORE racing, NOT LAKE RACING.
2) I would also like to see all classes run at the same time.
3) Saturday racing-so I can travel home on Sunday without taking extra time off from work.

Hey, that sounds like the Desert Storm Poker Run in Havasu!

I think there should be more emphasis on boat manufacturers in the races (think Ford Vs Chevy Vs Dodge in NASCAR). Now it's just the "Geico boat" or the "Rio Roses boat" or what ever (what the heck is a Rio Roses anyway?!?) and they all look the same. I can identify an MTI from it's shape but that's about it. All the V hulls (other than the beak boats) look the same.

I think boat owners would form an attachment to a team running the same boats as they own and would be more inclined to follow the races. Even if they didn't own the same make they would still be able to relate. I doubt there will be any Baja's out there racing but I would root for a Cig. :D

Combine 850/750 class into UIM Class 1 rules. Allow any engine/drive combo and bill it as the premier class run as the last race with them and only them on the course at that time. Run all the other classes earlier. This would clarify things for the fans who have no idea who is racing who. Heat races/qualifying for pole position the day or 2 before. The whole weekend should be an event. Boat show, car show, poker run, festival. TV's showing up close action where the fans cant see, and PA system showing and annoucing the race with blow by blow commentary. I cant stand being at a race and having no idea what is going on. Unless you had a radio, or were next to the radio booth in KW no one had any idea what was happeneing.
A g-force meter, speedometer, tach, overlayed onto a live onboard feed shown online and on the displays int he pits/viewing area.
At least 1 Offshore endurance race, possibly as part of a 3 race championship series
IF you build it, they will come. (they being fans, racers and sponsors)

I took the family to Orange Beach this last summer to vacation and attend the OSS race there. This was my first offshore race, and I thought it was great - the whole family had a really nice time and a positive experience. We will probably do it again in 2009.

While I have a fairly limited knowledge of offshore racing, I tend to agree with some of the previous comments - it would be nice to see the racing organizations unify if it would mean more boats in the classes. I imagine it would increase the competitiveness and be an overall better show for the spectators with more boats.

As for race sites, I would really like to see OSS make a stop at Lake Cumberland in 2009. My understanding is that an OSS event was planned at some point in 2008, but did not ultimately receive Corps approval, so it did not happen – I was pretty bummed, as were many other Lake Cumberland boaters. Based on the turnout for the LC Poker Run every year, I’d say there would be overwhelming support for an OSS race at Cumberland and you would reach a fanbase who rarely gets an opportunity to see offshore race boats in action.

Unification would be great and has been tried for years. AMF has pushed for United we race for 4-5 years. I feel OSS and OPA have a shot at some form of unification at some level for the 09 season. It is clear in my opinion that SBI wants nothing to do with it at this time. I may be wrong. Now that we have that behind us lets keep moving forward on these great ideas.
As far as race sites there are plenty of great places to go. Its all about the money and which towns can afford to have us. Sometimes it is where sponsors want to spend there money. There also has to be a race producer that is willing to put a race on in that town. We all know that racing in general is not a money maker. Some people do better than others. To change this we need a better show with more boats per class. Racing needs more money to soften the expense and encouraged more people to race. Thats where we all can help each other and have a blast doing it. More people pulling together from different forms of boating. Who is in???
MD

Having enormous TV monitors running in the pit area, spectator area's poker run village, and whatever local Bar & Grill that's sponsoring would be a HUGE improvement too. As a side effect, it would also allow for some longer "Offshore" races since the fans would be able to follow the action 100% of the time, instead of one or two turns.

This is how they pack in the fans at golf & Tennis tournaments, F1 races, the Olympics, and other sports events that require a lot of "space". There are TONS of companies that will bring their stuff for free just to have their name advertized on the equipment that's being stared at for 3 days.

I met with a few people at a NASCAR race about doing some sor of scanner. Over the next couple of weeks I am going to talk to them more and start talking to the teams to see what can happen.

Besides I dont want to listen to randy on the radio.

Randy i thought about it ?????????!!!!!!!!!:rolleyes:
Now that i read this again (bashing SBI) i stay where im at and race SBI in 09.:eek:
Wish you luck buddy !:ernaehrung004:

Daredevel, I wish you luck as well. Im not bashing anyone. Just stating unification and who might be in and who at this time has no interest. Please by all means have John C. at SBI call Ron P. at OSS to talk about unity. Ron has made several attempts to talk but no takers at SBI. Now please lets not go down that road.
MD

Blee, you are a smart man! I agree that we need to understand who is racing who. OSS is discussing that each class put a color on the front beak of the boat per class. That would be a start. I also like the idea of TV screens around the stands but not sure what the cost would be. Maybe a board with who is in what position like in car racing and more speakers for the announcers to be heard. If you had all that extra stuff would you be willing to pay $20.00-$30.00 per head at the gate.
What do you think it would cost to have a blimp show up? Do they charge or do they do it for the advertisement?
How else can a race site raise money to put on a race?
MD

Randy,

I dont know if we have ever met, but I have been on a few crews(Kean, AMF, and AMF/TNT, plus I have worked with Gary and Shane and Laveycraft) and driven a race or 2 also, here is my take on it............

Everyone has some great points above, but what about racing for the average Joe??

Open cockpits, maybe even a P-6 single outboard class, in this economy if ya wanna get the boat counts up, ya gotta make it affordable, a lot of what races in the other org(s) are open cockpits if ya can get that going, ya just might get unification. Otherwise we will all stick with our local guys (SBI, and OPA). If ya got a few boats for single outboard, I might even invest in a real motor, and trash the 225, until then I will stick to pleasure boating, and volunteering on other peoples crews.

Rick

Daredevil! I didn't read any bashing in Randy's post, he was just saying it like it is and this is what my post #10, speaks to. The bickering between org's is exactly what is hurting the sport as a whole from a fans prospective. All I know and it isn't a lot, is that I have seen the olive branch offered by Ron from OSS to JC at SBI/APBA and others to try an get this sport back on track and especially when everybody needs each other to put on a great show in this economic meltdown. The number of Race Teams that attended Key West Offshore Worlds Championship was reportedly down quite a bit from last year and that is traditionally, one of the biggest race's in Offshore Powerboating Racing, each year. Why don't you try talking to JC and try to make, Unification happen. No matter what org. you race with the main theme is the same, to race against the competition, friends and have a great time together.

Rick I am with you on affordability. I struggled with my F1 boat and now my SVL. This is why we need bracket racing as well. Most teams bail on racing due to the expense with very little return. OPA has done A great gob at proving with no entry fee the boats will come. Now add bracket racing with spec racing at the same site and you have 60 boats at every race and growing. Sound familiar (APBA) in the day. Add a poker run into it and WOW we are in some fun. It all takes money and I would guess somewhere in the area of $150-$200K to put on such an event. Thats at least 5-10 $10K main sponsors and a bunch of $5K associate sponsors.
The beautiful thing is OSS is a not for profit organization which will put the money back in the racers hands. The more the Organization grows the better the sport will be and hopefully it will pay to race!
MD

Was done at a couple races and was a success. unfortunately costs money with no one to pick up the tab. There are so many things that can be done to make it more spectator and fan friendly. ie: on board web cams, telemetry, real time tracking on the racecourse with top speeds, lap speeds, laps completed, standings.....etc. unfortunately, again, costs money with no one to pick up the tab. oh well, we can dream

single OB class has been offered on numerous occassions and failed every time. we dont need more classes, we need less. I may seem biased, but SVL class would be the best Nascar style class to promote. Safe, relatively inexpensive, exciting deck to deck racing. I can only imagine how cool 25 svls on the course would be. But larger class teams would never step down because they feel it a step in the wrong direction. But I'll tell you this. Almost any SVL team, currently running today, will kick any larger class team's azz in a SVL. IROC series, anyone?

As a fan.The only thing i would like to see or hear. Is a P/A system for the fan's on the shore.
I was at the Patchogue. race, for the last 2 years. and it would be great if we could hear the play by play action going on.

I agree bruce, but it hasnt been offered in FL. single outboard guys like myself cant take the time off, and spend the $$ to travel to joisy to race. I am not asking it to be a main event, just to add to the boat count, kinda like Arca and trucks are to Nascar, y'all really should consider an opener, it works for Nascar, and has been working for Rock bands as long as anyone can remember:ernaehrung004:

OPA offered it and many guys expressed interest. In the end, only one or two boats showed. SBI will not add a class without a commitment of boats. I doubt very much they would add a SOB class anyway. Can't add a class for one guy. Once again, we dont need anymore classes. We need less with more boats in each class. Lets not get off the topic of this thread. How can we make it better for the fans and for sport as a whole?

Take The GPS Racing And Flush It Down The Toilet And Bring Back The A<B<C<D Classes From Years Ago ,,With The Rules We Had Years Ago,,Now That Was Racing

I dont remember much about APBA(lived in the frozen tundra back then) I got in as APBA was on the way out, and SBI was all we had, not knocking OSS or OPA(attended Sunny Isles as a spectator this year, and was registered to race(throttle) OPA with Trent, but things didnt work out), but all I have in my backyard is SBI, and we all know that has issues.

Sorry, but I have a job during the week, and a house and Family to support, if ya cant make it local and affordable(I am not even asking for profitable), I'll sit aside(and help those who can use my assistance), and a lot of people feel that way. I have been told by a few race teams that I bring them back into perspective, we all know how many teams have ruined their finances by racing, and was even called the team psycho(logist) by one. I wish we could get it together sometime soon, all racers jab each other, but in the long run we are all friends, its not in the cards(or bank) for me or a lot of other guys right now. We need to get it back to the weekend warriors like myself(and a few superstar classes to bring the people in), and take it from there. excuse me if this doesnt make sense, but I have had a few:drink:,s tonight:p

This is what the topic is...OSS is spec racing. No GPS.

There is a need for GPS/ bracket racing. otherwise, there would be a whole bunch of obsolete race boats.

But we really need to build up the spec classes. Thats where the level playing field is.

Bruce,
I'm un-biased, the largest class in history was the old "A" class. There were over 35 boats in Key West for the Worlds. Imagine if "A" class were resurected, all boats in F1, P5, P6, and SVL would qualify. "A" class use to run at least 75 miles, not the sprint races of today. This gave some incentive for a slower reliable boat.
Now, someone with money can have their own class. Imagine if I wanted to run in the Super Duper Supreme Turbine Unlimited Jet Catamaran Class, I could race no one be a World Champ! (In reality, I'd be happy to get my class 6 boat running consistantly!) Build a boat for a class, not a class for A boat!

Hey Bob...Im right there with ya. I dont think "A" class has any chance of a come back , much like F-1. We need to build on a existing class that is working now. Thats Why my vote lies with SVL. Remeber what killed A class? Canopies. thats like runnin a SVL against a F-1 aint gonna happen and as you have seen, open cockpits are gettin dangerous.

1. Less classes with more boats per class.

2. One class per race, more laps.

3. Less down time between races.

4. All of the above for ways to follow the race; radio, PA, monitors, digital standings board, programs, etc.

5. Poker run to go with event.

mike
call me i have a contact for this type of radio. got one at the airshow this year for 10 and want to look into this also
mike

ADD MORE BOATS!!!!!!!

C'mon Bruce, I know ya can read:drink:

I dont care how ya break it down you are not going to get anymore people to invest the big $$$ into racing what YOU want to run, in fact you seem to be losing more each year.