Is the sport of offshore racing dying?
SubscribeYou want to bring it back like the old school races you need to come up with a bundle of cash and run it like a "Cannonball Run". No sanctioning bodies or other BS. Just a point A to point B boat race (like NJ to SC). Run what you brung and first one that gets there gets the cash. Want to run a straight up race boat, hope it holds together and you can find racing fuel in route. Want to run a cabin cruiser with extra fuel tanks so you can go non stop? What ever strategy you want to use. With GPS monitors and wireless connections it would be easy to cover the whole thing on the net.
lucky strike
Registered
close
02-14-2024
- Join DateSep 2003
- LocationPompano Beach, Florida
- Posts:8,962
-
Likes:238
-
Liked:487 Times in 167 Posts
Quote:
***My favorite races of all-time were the Barnegat Bay (NJ) races, that had pleasure boats, race boats, ect.---the race was for true boat enthusiasts who understood what was happening, who was racing, seeing first hand fast pleasure boats racing. I miss the days of Jolly Roger, Rated X, Fever, Heartbeat, Jeckyl and Hyde, MRD, Armed and Dangerous to name a few - ***
I was in the very 1st Barnegat Bay race with my 27 Magnum Sport "Commotion". Hardly a Race Boat !Originally Posted by Smarty
***My favorite races of all-time were the Barnegat Bay (NJ) races, that had pleasure boats, race boats, ect.---the race was for true boat enthusiasts who understood what was happening, who was racing, seeing first hand fast pleasure boats racing. I miss the days of Jolly Roger, Rated X, Fever, Heartbeat, Jeckyl and Hyde, MRD, Armed and Dangerous to name a few - ***
It was the stepping stone for me to the national circuit for years & years of Offshore Racing back in the day.
I ran in quite a few Bay Races for years. THE GOOD OL' DAYS!!
Indy
Member #154
close
Yesterday
- Join DateOct 2000
- LocationSW CT & Long Island Sound
- Posts:8,008
-
Likes:1,076
-
Liked:1,088 Times in 389 Posts
The run around Long Island is about as offshore as it gets and people could care less. They'd rather hang around a river and show off their bling.
Quote:
Take a look at this old video from a UIM class 1 event in Norway and notice the course which they raced on, this is the type offshore racing that i want back. (The race begins about 10 mins into the video) youtube.com/watch?v=-Frd5TIl8wk
Funny you bring up offroad.....they have reinvented their sport into stadium racing....Originally Posted by Joestlaachmkr
I understand what you are saying. But i think it`s wrong comparing offshore or any other form of powerboat racing to NASCAR or F1, since both F1 and NASCAR as a whole are on a completely different level when it comes professionalism. Generally, i think spectators are not drawn to offshore racing anymore because the boats are no longer as spectacular as they were back in the day and those short inshore courses they race on these days does not work well with big boats. I agree that a course like the one used during the 1981 Benihama race would not work in the modern era, but problem is - offshore racing is not offshore racing anymore. We have not seen offroad racing change their sport from offroad racing into oval racing nor have we seen tunnel boat racing changing from inshore to offshore racing. I`m glad that you still enjoy the sport but i think you would agree that offshore racing has changed and not for better.Take a look at this old video from a UIM class 1 event in Norway and notice the course which they raced on, this is the type offshore racing that i want back. (The race begins about 10 mins into the video) youtube.com/watch?v=-Frd5TIl8wk
In the end, you either like it or you don't.
Quote:
Yep, the run around Long Island is like an old school offshore course but it`s a Poker run event and not a proper offshore race. I think it`s a big mistake by a promoter of any sport to turn their back on their own fans in an attempt to gain new fans, the people that turns up for the offshore races are there mostly because they have a geniune interests in offshore and boating in general and those who doesn`t can just **** off.Originally Posted by Indy
The run around Long Island is about as offshore as it gets and people could care less. They'd rather hang around a river and show off their bling.
Quote:
In the end, you either like it or you don't.
I must clarify that i meant rally-raid offroad races like Baja 500 or the Dakar rally when i brought up offroad racing, and i think it would have been ridculous to see the Baja 500 or Dakar being run a racing course. There has been short course offroad racing for as long as i can remember.. and stadium racing became a thing in the early 80`s. I still have a passion for offshore, but when i watches Superboat races these days i mostly get the meh-feeling.Originally Posted by sbracing
Funny you bring up offroad.....they have reinvented their sport into stadium racing....In the end, you either like it or you don't.
Smarty
Registered
close
05-18-2026
- Join DateOct 2000
- Posts:2,797
-
Likes:4,700
-
Liked:399 Times in 191 Posts
Quote:
It was the stepping stone for me to the national circuit for years & years of Offshore Racing back in the day.
I ran in quite a few Bay Races for years. THE GOOD OL' DAYS!!
Mr. Berk,Originally Posted by lucky strike
I was in the very 1st Barnegat Bay race with my 27 Magnum Sport "Commotion". Hardly a Race Boat !It was the stepping stone for me to the national circuit for years & years of Offshore Racing back in the day.
I ran in quite a few Bay Races for years. THE GOOD OL' DAYS!!
I apologize for not including you in that list I made in my post. Yes, you were there and you did that, I think that is awesome.
Thanks,
Stephen "Smarty" Jones
lucky strike
Registered
close
02-14-2024
- Join DateSep 2003
- LocationPompano Beach, Florida
- Posts:8,962
-
Likes:238
-
Liked:487 Times in 167 Posts
Quote:
i apologize for not including you in that list i made in my post. Yes, you were there and you did that, i think that is awesome.
Thanks,
stephen "smarty" jones
lolOriginally Posted by smarty
mr. Berk,i apologize for not including you in that list i made in my post. Yes, you were there and you did that, i think that is awesome.
Thanks,
stephen "smarty" jones
F-2 Speedy
Platinum Member
close
Yesterday
- Join DateMay 2012
- LocationMidwest & T-Rock
- Posts:11,438
-
Likes:547
-
Liked:3,967 Times in 1,808 Posts
Quote:
It was the stepping stone for me to the national circuit for years & years of Offshore Racing back in the day.
I ran in quite a few Bay Races for years. THE GOOD OL' DAYS!!
And hows your back Mr. BOriginally Posted by lucky strike
I was in the very 1st Barnegat Bay race with my 27 Magnum Sport "Commotion". Hardly a Race Boat !It was the stepping stone for me to the national circuit for years & years of Offshore Racing back in the day.
I ran in quite a few Bay Races for years. THE GOOD OL' DAYS!!
lucky strike
Registered
close
02-14-2024
- Join DateSep 2003
- LocationPompano Beach, Florida
- Posts:8,962
-
Likes:238
-
Liked:487 Times in 167 Posts
Quote:
Fine, thanks for asking! & you?Originally Posted by F-2 Speedy
And hows your back Mr. B
