Key West Races
 

So maybe I should not have started this thread ,but here it goes any ways,

So I have been going to KW for the races for about 10-12 years now,,I remember the days that watching the helicopters in the air was almost as exciting as the boat races,(almost LOL),a lot more boats racing,excitement seemed higher,,
I have to be honest ,the last couple of years the races seem to have gotten flat/stale at least to me,and speaking with others they feel the same way,I think Friday there was one helicopter following the race boats and Sunday 2 maybe 3,,previously you couldn't take your eyes off the race course afraid you might miss something, now days you stop and look for a second and then carry on your conversion with the guys next to you,and wait for them to come back around again.

I respect the racers and appreciate all that they do ,and I will be there again next year for sure rooting for WHM, (dam jimmy johns/performance boat)LOL.

Not sure if anybody else feels the same,but just my thought(not that anybody asked)

Boat counts are down.

The smaller(by size/speed) classes have had a big drop off over the years. KW is just too expensive for teams on a limited budget.

The better-funded teams still come out but even those classes have seen better days.

Race 1 on Sunday was pretty entertaining

I think that ever since Poker Runs started the race boat counts went down, guys were buying and building Extreme Poker Run Boats that could of easily been race boats. Just take a look at some of these Poker Run boats and I think you would agree.

Stu at FPC claimed there were 185 poker run boats, how many race boats total? If they had 19 race boats then the ratio was 10 to 1 (poker run vs. racer). If they had 37 race boats then it was 5 to 1.

The choppers are probably needed based on how many boats are on the course. National network TV coverage may have required a chopper or two but if they didn't get the coverage then there would be less birds in the air.

Last time I did the KWPR I honestly saw one race.......we left Sunday between races and had a 3 hour boat ride back to the trailer.

What other sport holds two separate sanctioned world championships a week apart ? in the same state ?

This was my first year for the Poker run and watching the Races - I was blown away to say the least. Only thing I may do differently is watch the races from shore vs. on the boat as the view doesn't allow you to see much of the course.

I just wish there was some competition for the Instigator boat, man that thing hauls ass. It was our first time down there as well. Friday we watched from shore and Sunday from boat. Definitely better view from shore.

The races just isn't how they use to be and hasn't been that way for 20 plus yrs. Now days it's all about the poker runs. Some may agree and some may not agree but if you take us out ( poker runs/ people that go to hang for the week) than Key west that week would be almost empty. I cant recall the last time i saw a full race never the less saw the races all three days. I go for the run down from Miami to be and party with all my out of town friends etc. Poker runs is what boat racing use to be. The wow factor boats, the big bling showcase from people like Derick Wachob which brings his full collection of cars, 4 boats including his 110 foot yacht, and many others. That's how boat racing was when Al Copeland, Tom Gentry and others would do the same. Back than the Galleon Marina was the wet slips for all race team which now days is the slips for some of the poker run teams. Also now days after most poker runs us owners take to them to our shops to get them ready for the next poker run, which again this is how it use to be when racing was racing. Some people say that KW gets packed for the races and i and many others totally disagree. With out us poker runs KW would be a lot less packed. Lets see what happen come May when Race World Offshore goes to KW. There's rumors and again i said "rumors" that SBI is done and that Race World Offshore will be having their worlds in January in KW but Stu as of now is still having the Poker run in Nov. A good friend of mine which everyone knows (not mentioning his name) told me that both him and Stu have been wanting to take over KW in Nov for a while, especially since there was rumor two yrs ago that the worlds were being moved to Clearwater but KW ended up putting more money. I'm no fan of Stu but will give it to the guy he does a great show. He is what PRA was back in the mid 2000's.

It is pretty sad that some classes only have 1 to 3 boats . What is even the purpose of racing anymore. SkaterMike you are totally right in your statement. Maybe one day the sport will come back.

First timer here this year. Between touring the pits and talking to some teams on Tuesday, watching the races from the sea wall Wednesday and Friday, and hanging out at the Poker Run village and watching the poker runners come in at Conch Republic on Thursday I had a great time. Also attended the OSO/SOTW party Thursday night and a bit of the street party Friday. I will be back. Just need to find a place to stay more than a block away from the Rum Bar! If you take the entire week into consideration it is still a worthy event. Oh yeah, go PBC/Jimmy John's! Lol! Sorry, we love the whole Coil clan!

There was some of the best racing this yr then I've seen in a long time. The SS Battle was awesome, the SV had 3 days of side by side racing, and super cats were better then ever.

I also am a newbie to Key West, and like the other first-timers, I was completely blown away by the entire weekend. The races were amazing in and of themselves, and although they might be down from years past, they're still pretty awesome. I think we need to keep that in perspective.

I agree, less boat s than in the past .
.but now they are actually racing each other, instead of a spreadout circular moving procession of cool, loud, unevenly matched boats.

How does KWPR compare to say the shootout at LOTO?

I would put key west at the top of boating related events. Nothing else comes close but the shootout at loto is 2nd IMO.

Both are fantastic events but in terms of action on the course, KW hands down. If I had to rank them overall I'd give KW the nod over LOTO. And I love Shootout week/weekend.

LOTO Shootout week is the best BOATING week of the year and the reason I trailer 3000 miles round trip.

KW PR and Race week is the best boating VACATION of the year.

LOTO you will really want to have a boat. KW you may only want a boat for the ride down, if at all.

Hands down KW, is the best boating event , awesome location for racers and fans.

My wife and I will definitely do the trip again. We are not able to stay for the entire week and this year we picked the front end arriving on Monday and flying out Saturday. Next time we plan to arrive on Wednesday and fly out the following Tuesday so that we can attend Sunday's races. What makes it a great boating vacation, as Cash states, is that most everyone you will encounter during your stay is a boater. For the most part you will not meet a "stranger" while you are down there.

I thought the races this year were more competitive then they have been for a long time. It is very expensive and time intensive to race in Key West and I appreciate all who make the journey. Between the races and poker run it is simply the best week for the boating fans.

I ran kw in 2015,2017 and it was an amazing time! hands down my favorite event lots of things to do to interact with other boaters/ racing teams
boyne thunder is great but not the same when It comes to events and shows going on off the water.

for the racing side of it twisted metal/cooper standard and hooters/instigator boat back in 2015 was great racing and its to bad that billy didn't wanna run his boat in sbi anymore witch I don't blame him
I want to put more big poker runs on my list of runs I have done so I will be traveling to do more next summer so any suggestions would be great

TicFaw 200