Yes.

I could be wrong but I dont think OSS, or APBA have any paid registered Offshore members.

I'm heading to KW on Thursday with a few buddies, I'll be sure to check it out.

As for the races...my family has had a timeshare during race week for the past 30 yrs, so we'll still be in KW that w/e regardless!

No argument. But you're talking about my first point, emotional response. I do not believe any decision regarding venue will be based on that. I believe it will be based on economics, and however the economics work out best for the sanctioning body will be the way decision goes.

I think if SBI did leave Keywest, someone else would take over the venue.

It would be nice if the worlds could be a combination of the 3 sanctioning organizations racing there together. I don't remember the year but it was probably 7 years ago, they teamed up for worlds and it was the best turn out in years! The pits were full of vendors and fans but most importantly, FULL OF RACE BOATS!

So it's canceled????:confused:

Key west is expensive but it keeps the non hardcore people out, I've never talked to somebody in key west who wasn't there for the races and if it moved to Clearwater I'm sure every other person surveyed wouldn't have a clue the races were even going on. As tough as it is to swallow, the price point keeps the non fans out....

We finally agree on something!!

2004. I was still racing and that year it was a huge turnout for Sarasota and Key West when all orgs were together. What a great time.

No. It wouldn't move for a few years, if at all.

That's pretty good! Is that one of those cardboard cutouts you stand behind for the photo?

As some of these posts have shown, even hardcore enthusiasts don't know enough about the racing to know who the players are. If SBI were to leave KW and Stu kept coming down, little would likely change for KW. And if Stu is as smart as I think he is, he knows that and would not move his event to Clearwater. And there is this guy in NJ that seems to find ways to put on races even when less money is available from the city....

Like said real race teams will be there who else can afford to head that far south with out huge team!?Glad it will be a go went a few times nothing like it!!Good luck!!

That hasn't seemed to stop them from putting the race on in Jersey City, NJ . With the record low turnouts at that event, I can't imagine it being profitable, but there must be a reason they keep it going. Rumor always was that KW was SBI's largest profitable race that help pay to run a few sites that ran at a loss? With the extreme fees for just about anything in KW such as tents for the race teams, I would be surprised KW would be coming to close to a loss. I certainly wouldn't know , but if it means better economics to go to Clearwater so be it. I personally don't think it will hurt KW as much as everyone thinks it would as long as FPC continues with the Poker Run and perhaps bring in an additional show with the Poker Run such as a huge Custom Car Show. The races have been shorten so much that if you blink they can be over. In my opinion, that probably bothered me the most. Come all the way down there for 2 days at 30 miles??? each race, and then 60 + on Sunday. It certainly is not as much racing to watch as it used to be back in the day ... Then again, we no longer live back in the day and so much has changed... I wish them the best of luck with Clearwater. For them to have both the Nationals and the World Championship races in Clearwater, people there will sure be lucky. :)

Hands down KW is where every racer wants to race if they can. IMO its the cost to do just one race a year that keeps many of the other orgs racers from attending. I don't think in most cases it has to due with egos, politics or who likes who. Its a rich mans boat racers race. Outside people have no idea of what it cost to bring a boat and team to KW for a one week event. The smallest team will spend a min of $10,000 and a full blown extreme team im sure is in the $100,000 plus. Its a pure cost thing IMO that keeps it from being a 100 boat fleet min.

Pete
You don't have a clue what it cost to put on a 10 day event in KW, you nailed it when you said rumors about profit. KW is not a money maker, break even would be a huge winner.

I don't make the decisions around here, but I doubt FPC would go to Clearwater.
Key West is way too much fun, and I personally don't even watch the races...

I vote FPC goes to KW!
No Matter What~

Wondered when you would chime in!

And that is what I assumed. Without the FPC the Key West races would be close to extinct. The sheer volume of boats, people that need to eat, drink and take accommodations PLUS fuel purchases from the club is the shot in the arm Key West wants.

Nothing like standing on the seawall, cold drink in hand, with boats running triple digits passing 50 to 100' feet in front of you. Watching it from the beach is, well, watching it from the beach. I live by the beach. I don't go to the beach. I don't like the beach.

There are a few of us here in California that ship our boats out to Miami because of the key west poker run and to go to key west
If the races were in Clearwater then we would still be in key west

I could care less about racing.........but Key West is a much better destination than Clearwater race or no race. I do think the date on the calendar (getting cold in most of the country) combined with one of the biggest poker runs in the world are also deciding factors on the success of the KW events.


However I think the biggest detriment to continuing the races is the pending litigation from the 2011 fatalities.......

\

I dont think there were any Fatalities in KW last yr ????

My error.....2011 was the year not last year. But the litigation is still going on.......

In what way would you thing it would be an issue at all for the racers. It wasnt last yr why would it be any different in the future. Maybe u know something the rest of us dont ??

No....not involved in it but I do recall the lawyers were experienced in the field and the litigation had extended out to the sponsors...........spook the sponsors and the city sees that as a bad image thing and it will go away quickly.

If the races go away I suspect "it would be an issue for all the racers!" :D

It is not at all about KW pulling out. The Worlds are the 2nd or 3rd biggest draw the Island has all yr.

Vs. the millions of tourists that get off the cruise ships that stop regularly? I would bet if Jimmy Buffet had one concert a year in KW it would generate more people/spending than all the races/poker run combined!

Fantasy Fest would probably be the biggest draw KW has annually.

Wonder what the boat racers think ?

Actually its not I was suprised also. I guess the reason being ppl are always coming and going and a lot of day or two visitors. They dont book 10 day stays, and also the cities say the bars dont do nearly as much. They seem to bring their our and alot of private parties that the also supply bottles and not retail bar prices. The resturant r the biggest differance the Race/PR ppl spend way more at resturant thoughout the city hands down. Another huge differance is the amount of Scooters and golf carts the Racers/PR"s rent that week.

Ok, I have to say it...the city of Key West sees it as a bad image thing? Key West? We aren't talking Boca Raton here.:party-smiley-004:

Everything in Key West is a bad imagine thing.:evilb:

interceptor since you asked ,I can give you my take as a racer...Its pretty simple..its about MONEY..Key west has grown very expensive over the years to participate. Hotels ,bars and even the TDC really dont care to support SBI or the racers to get there. Over the past year I have spoken to many race site principal people who were questioning on how to help racers get to their venue, some provided tow money some have shown interest
in discount hotel rates etc..Key west does none..very sad. Clearwater obviously sees the benefit to hotels,bars and local economy and would like a piece of it.Our hotel has helped us for years with consistent pricing to help us get there...I dont think that goes on much with others...All for nothing it probably just doesnt matter To KEY WEST till its gone,and Im sure it will be just another sunny week in the city without the roar of boats in and out the harbor. Most other sites will be in Key West this year to view the event and try and do what they can to take it..Again all about Money...

2014 schedule on SBI web site:
Clearwater Sept 26-28 6th Annual Clearwater Super Boat National Championship
Key West Nov 2-9 34th Annual Key West World Championship

same as 2013
Clearwater Sept 27-29 5th Annual Clearwater Bright House Super Boat National Championships
Key West Nov 3-10 33rd Annual Key West World Championships

If you ask any of the cab drivers, restaurants, or the strippers - they will tell you: Poker Run people spend the most all year!

agreed, it is crazy expensive to do the KW race on all levels from participating to being a spectator. The year we did the worlds in Destin we had a blast and our waterfront 2800 qs ft condo on the sixth floor overlooking the start finish line with beach was like a grand . . . . FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK :cool: i think that cost us about a third of what KW does. Still key west is key west and it will be tough to recreate that buzz elsewhere. I have always enjoyed it for what it is and its race history. I will support my friends/racers wherever they go, im there for that more then the actual venue.

I have about 4K invested to go from the 3rd to the 12th. Flights from NY to KW were a hair over a grand, and the resort was $290 a night x ten nights, plus the rent a car for the week so we can get out and about. The only thing that will suck is that I am going to be wishing the whole time that my boat was with me. Can't put a price tag on fun I guess.

Actually there is plenty to do and see here.

Granted it's no Key West but to knock it like that...come on.

That's what I expected.

Not sure where you were but we go every year to Gasparilla every year and thee has yet to be a shortage of flashing. We take a larger 40' cruiser out there and Dock up at jacksons. We have girls all over ou rboat that flash as well as girls in the crowd....no one gets a ticket.

As for beer and get a ticket. Keep in a cup...I know it seems hard to do but if you do that and don'tact like a clown they leave you alone.

As far as drinking on Clearwater beach goes. I am glad you can't. It's one of FL's nicest beaches and it should stay that way....last I checked there is no beach at all in KeyWest to watch it from. But if you have to have a drink and you are on shore (I myself like too). You left out that you can go to Frenchys, Palm Pavlion, SAnd Pearl, the tiki out back of the Hilton, Hyatt 10th floor, or jimmy's crows nest....all have fullbar and all have a great view of the race.

I agree with all. Getting a scooter last year at KW was close to impossible, that can't be every week for KW.

When paying for drinks at Irish Kevin's the bartender looked at me as I handed a $100 bill and said "oh ya, its $100 bill week again, we love when the boaters are in town"

Paid 4 grand for 6 nights and the Hyatt wouldn't let me use my points.

KW want's nothing to do with this leaving town IMO.

Dude cancel that car and reserve some scooters. KW is small, and a car is more of a PITA than it's worth. We used a car for just one day to drive the keys up to the lunch stop to hang with the boys doing the PR, other than that there is no need for a car in KW.

Forget the scooter just cab it everywhere. I lost my scooter every night, couldn't drive it anyway and ended up getting a cab to find it in the morning . . . . no scooters are not cheaper :drink:

yea a car is the worst way to get around down there, no parking anywhere

Actually the way KW is set up they will get your money one way or another. If you have a car they will get you in parking whatever you saved on scooters. If you stay across the island and get a scooter well it costs ya the scooter and related fees that ends up being about the same as just cabbing it. As many times as i have stayed there its best to just spend the long dollar and get close enough to walk. The absolute best we ever did was staying a block from The Tree bar. We brought a ton of booze and not really thinking about it it seemed faster to just walk back to the room for a refill (long bar lines) after about five days i couldnt figure out why i had like an extra grand on me then it hit me lol.

I got the car to run to Key Largo and Islamorada. My liver will need a break at some point.