TV can capture semi exciting video of all the boats, unfortunately losing a lot of the speed they operate at in the process (telephoto lense compression and helicopter POV's at the matching speeds). TV can interview all the racers (hoping to capture something that people other than the racers and their immediate friends and relatives think is interesting, humorous or both). TV can drive up the volume and emphasis with announcers using colorful phrases and "rah, rah" bombasts.

Sadly.... Even TV can't perform miracles.

I agree that the turbine class is a bad idea and that the sport is not helped by any team that avoids competition by entering unique, unaffordable, and extraordinarily exclusive equipment.

T2x

I'm not going to argue with your thought, because plenty of people believe that true. However, the Extreme class represents the tipping point to bring a whole new class of spectators into the fold.

NASCAR has a huge following, but consider some of these differences:
paved, angled track
crowd within feet of the action
every car on the track is relatively mechanically identical (you know what I mean)
A core of competitive racers is at every race for their fans to see.

Considering the offshore racers don't run on professionally paved roads and fly with boats of different classes on the track, the sport needs something to emerge that draws people everywhere. Whining turbines and insane speeds do the job.

Question is, does offshore racing change to where everyone runs 50' turbine hulls or do they end up with the final race of the weekend being turbine extreme. . . "The race you've all been waiting for?"

Just my 2 cents.

BUt if I recall correctly, didn't GEICO remove the super turbines from their Mystic and install the same as everyone else to increase competition?

If the sanctioning body would standardize the Turbine Etreme class, we would hear less about the lack of competition and more about the capabilities of the team, crew and operators, like NASCAR.

If I may make one more comment on the Turbine Extreme class: It is like Rap music, you may not like it but it is here to stay and the popularity is growing. So people can turn the radio off, or turn it up and enjoy. Because the car next to you is blaring it with the windows down.

So maybe we can embrace it and see what it can do for the popularity (and profitability) of our sport.

Nascar and offshore powerboat racing have nothing in common. The sport will never grow until it finds a home. It needs to be gated , ticketed and be an annual event. The money that is blown to tweak egos could of already purchased this land and developed it. Grand Isle , La?

People want to see the Extreme Class Boat or Boats, infact they would probably prefer to see them only. In NASCAR, all the cars are in the same class and they run for about 4 hrs together. Red Bull Air Races, all the planes are in the same class that are flying to bet the others time. Formula 1, the cars are in the same class and so on. In Offshore Powerboat Racing there are many classes and with no disrespect to any of the classes, spectators are not excited to see the smaller classes. They want to see Super Vee, Super Cat Light, Super Cat and Extreme Cat racing around the course. There is no denying that these are the Classes that the spectators come to see and want to see. They want to see speed and hear the roar of the engines, the louder teh better. Unfortunately I doubt that this will ever happen but it should, I can't wait to see JBS Racing and Miss Geico going heads up at St. Clair, it reminds me of the excitement in 2007 when Miss Geico and the Bud Select put on one of the all time best races in Offshore Powerboat Racing at the St. Clair River Classic. Besides the boats, their rig's are also something to see for the spectators.

That is exactly what was said about the old 3 and 4 engine Superboat class.............

Those who do not learn from history ( or are even aware of it) are doomed to repeat it.

Yes....that is true...but if the biggest class were SCL they would not know the difference, see better racing with much more competition and leave the event happier and impressed.....until some guy wanted to race something bigger, better, more costly and different to satisfy his ego and upset the entire equilibrium.....again.

what you or me believe to be true is irrelavant.

fact: the turbine class has been around for the last 3 plus years and to date geico is the only consistant boat in the class due too having deep pockets

apparently the viability of the class and the other extreme boats is unsustanable. therefore something needs to change if we want see actual racing. as for "everyone" coming to see the turbine boat, well thats the hype you call racing. and this is why after several years offshore has gotten nowhere.

next if two extreme boats racing is the best that you have ever seen, thats sucks for you. i've had the chance to see some of the supercat races back several years ago and the current "show" is a sad sight compared to having 10 plus boats in a class. enough boats that that class could go out and put on a race by itself. therefor the spectators understood that all those boats are in the same class and racing each other.

"todays" fan actually think geico and the other extreme boats are racing agianst all the other boats out there. and normally after a short conversation with a newbie the realize how lame that is

SD,

I wont disagree at all. But considering most people who attend the races do not get the proper education about the sport, they are left staring at the race wondering why all those little boats are getting in the way. It is what it is.

I am no racing expert. In fact, I could easily be grouped into the category of a newbie that doesnt have a fun understanding of the history of the sport or the nature of pure competition. But if we simply identify the role of Turbine Extreme as a nuisance that is dilluting the sport, we are missing a bigger picture.

Economies of scale and uniform code will allow more competitors to enter T.E. Right now, GEICO, JBS and AquaMarine pretty much have to form the division themselves and pave the way. It makes the competing teams the defacto sanctioning body of the class. We need to have a set engine package and a deal from manufacturer (or resellers) on pricing for certified race teams. There needs to be money from those people to inspire others to buy them for their own boats. But it takes volume to make it work. And right now, nothing is gelling together. Although, I wouldn't be surprised if GEICO isnt working on some of these criticial needs behind the scenes.