Why do we not have an x cat circuit in the states?
 

I absolutely love watching the x cat, and would love to race them. Why is there not a circuit in the U.S.

I also enjoy xcat but do we really need another racing organization.

I have to agree! What we really need is everyone racing together under one banner, although I know it is a just a dream but they say that dreams can come true.

Even if that occurred you still won't have the fan base of Nascar.......boat racing is dead balls boring from a spectator standpoint (watching from land) and with all the different classes some people would have trouble following who is winning/in the lead. Televise it and it might be more interesting to spectators (commentary, the ability to follow the leader(s), etc).

X-cat will just further dilute the racing sponsor dollars that are already in short supply.

APBA should run all the offshore racing in the USA period !!!!

Like it used to be on a National level and the local organization participated

APBA just made up a class for a boat after a world record run. I was always told you make a boat for a class and not a class for a boat. You want these guys running everything?

I agree 100% that was a bad call on there part. With that being said I do believe that someone other than the 3 remaining orgs should run the whole thing with divisions and EVERYONE has the same rules. Its a dream and a lot of selfish people will not allow this to happen.

I agree and disagree. You are right that it does not have the fan base of Nascar.

I disagree that boat racing is dead balls boring from a spectators standing watching from land. I find it exciting and unlike Nascar and most other racing sports it is FREE to spectators in most cases. Nascar and boat racing are totally different for many reasons the biggest being the sponsors which have the means to advertise and to promote races through the media with T.V. coverage of Nascar which is great and then there is boat racing that really has no major networks to step up and put boat racing on T.V., the best we can do for Offshore Powerboat Racing is a live feed coverage on our computer, it is better than nothing but no comparison to Nascar.

I have never gone to a Nascar Race before and really can't say too much about it but I do watch it on T.V. and enjoy the great coverage of it along with Formula 1 Racing and Grand Prix Racing. It's all about big money sponsorship to promote the race and to have T.V. coverage which is almost none existing in boat racing.

I agree that people do have trouble following all the classes but where can they go with their family and friends for a weekend or day to watch the boyz battling it out on the water, for FREE?

When you talk about boring watching them race from land I don't see it, unless they are too far away from shore on a Lake or Ocean, that the spectators don't really get to see them. I love watching the St. Clair River Classic and the Port Huron/Sarnia International race on the St. Clair River and on a short course so I can see them coming around more often. I found it boring when they races in the Lake and you really couldn't see them untill they came back in, fans want to be close to the race action, just like Nascar.

Where I also disagree with you that boat racing is boring if watching from land. Ever try watching Tennis, boring and not exciting to watch on T.V. but yet it is still on T.V., Golf is boring to me to watch someone hitting a little ball on the grass or in the water for 18 holes, to me it is boring but still on T.V.. I find Sailing Yacht Races very boring and you can't really see them from land but they do have great T.V.coverage and why, the big money sponsors. I have nothing against these sports but to me they are all boring but still on T.V.. I don't have the answers but to me OPA has done a great job bringing boat racing to us fans and for FREE as well as APBA who have been around for a long time. The new Super Cat Class is extremely exciting and is doing well, we just need to see them at more races adn promote it better. As a boat racing fan watching from land I can't wait to go to the boring boat races as they are already marked in my calendar. Happy Memorial Day to all.

AB there is something within what you said that just struck me - those other sports no matter how boring (I agree golf - just shoot me!) are all paid spectator sports, Sailing I know like boat racing is free but the others are pay to attend sports. Getting into or being able to watch something for free brings the entertainment value of it down. Not saying you should or could ever charge but it just hit me.

I've gone to the Miami Marine Stadium with my father to watch boats race years ago, that was a pay to attend event and it was nice to sit in a grandstand environment. There is something about being in a crowd to watch something that you just don't have in "offshore" racing. I hear people say "Look at the crowd on the beach" - but how many are there to go to the beach and a race happens to be running OR a man takes his family to the beach to watch the races but really out of the 4 people in his group only 3 really care about watching boats?

I know you know this but the APBA was the one governing body and it was broken into national and divisional classes (sportsman). The regional organizations all followed the APBA Sportsman rules so like I did, could go anywhere in the country and race a National or Regional race with a Sportsman class boat in the same class against like boats.

In the U S whenever competition is good we change the class. F1 and F2 and 525 racing have died, i think this is because most racers in the U S don't like more than 5 boats in the class. When we used to race stock class or pro stock there were 10+ boats at a race. 1999 Key west there were aprox 6 classes and 15 + boats in each. We are trying to fit old boats into these new made up classes and it doesn't work. X cat racing is the only real offshore boat racing left, they bring the sport to the next level. There are a lot of very talented guys out there racing in X cat my hats off to all of them. We need to set up classes and rules and stick to them don't change because someone with money is crying he lost.

Xcat has very deep pockets to start with, but if you follow the series the same couple boats win everytime, and they happen to be the same ones footing the bill! there is always talk of how to make things better here in the US, however most of those giving the examples of what will work dont have a horse in the race! What happened to the Xcat race in Daytona??? The Cocoa Beach race had 6 Stock boats, Sarasota should have about the same, If a certain builder would follow his word there maybe another boat in Sarasota but time is running out!

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I would like to see an XCat outboard race boat compete in the US circuit to see how the boats perform and how well they compete in big water.

maybe this will give more attention to their boats' capabilities.

Would be exciting to watch I think.

and plus those cats are beautiful boats :)

Photocredit: http://www.xcatracing.com

http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/...13Raf_0363.jpg


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on a side thought - if X Cat came to the USA, it might help to push Merc Racing into mainstream production of the 400XS (that a X Cat team tested last year)

I think you will see the Victory Team and one other in Sarasota. You possibly could see 8 S Stocks there, they always put on a great show and the class is growing.

I think you will see more of the xcats making the trip to KW being there isnt a schedule conflict with the 2014 worlds.

The problem is that they allow too many variables. Everyone should run the same prop, boat and motor. You should not be allowed to touch anything. The amount of cheating that goes on is insane. Make it so you can't touch anything. Period. Then you will see who is the best team. They should take the plan of P1. They make it so you done get beat by the guy with the deepest pockets. You get beat by the driver and throttle man.

Frank,

We will be ready for Sarasota if you will have us back. Lee and I are practicing everyday. Who is the 'one other' for Sarasota?

SQ

The people you are referring to are not racers, they are people who own a race boat.

New DW not sure who is in the boat yet.

Steve be great seeing you guys never the same with out you at the races. I think u owe me a dinner so I'll make sure not to eat a few days before the weekend.

The class is growing now, if it isnt broken u dont have to fix it. I wouldn't be surprised to be 10 boats in KW.

Not sure what u think is so successful with P1 ? How many teams that raced 2/3 yrs ago are still racing in P1? I know of 5/ 6 teams that have distance themselves from it. If the boats were owned by teams instead of P1 u would have 3 - 4 boats racing.

It's the type of racing and the plan they have. You can't cheat. You get beat by a better driver and throttle guy. They have the right idea. They don't change. Period. Don't change the rules for the rich guy. You get beat by a better two guys. Not some tool that buys the rules and pays his way. Most guys can't handle the idea they just aren't that good when it comes down to it. Egos get in the way.

Look what happened to SVL when everyone got away from Merc. Class went down hill. SVL has some great racers. Imagine what it could be if everyone had a real 525. Just my option. Doesn't mean jack.

Just think what it would be if all sv didnt have real 525....

Seems like the new Superboat class is doing better then they ever did with the old supercat MERC 750's you remember those hand grenade motors. Who would build a 750 hp motor at 12.1 comp ....well we all know the answer to that MERC... reason rebuilds and plenty of them. The new motor make more hp at 9.5 : 1 and last most the season.

Steve just a reminder, you are going to need a data logger for Sarasota. ...

Data Logger? I better book another room.