Key West Races
 

Anyone watching the races on speedvision right now?
Just wondering how they were?

The sport will go no where with coverage like that. BORING! Just my .02

The Factory Racers virtually received no exposure in two televised shows. These are the biggest classes when it comes to racer turnout, along with Supercat.
This sport needs a serious revamping in order for the casual spectator to have any idea as to what class is what and who's running against who.
17 Classes does NOT make for growth.

The Jersey Boyz have the right idea with running a "P Class Format" and if Captain Carbonell embraces that style of racing, he and the Jersey Boyz will walk past APBA based purely on simplicity.
Does anyone realize that if there are 5 or 6 classes of racing that you could run a two day format on any given weekend. The racer would have twice as many chances to take the overall. Just like the Worlds format but at every race. Plus the racer has more seat time and better value for his money as he /she has probably traveled a couple hundred miles just to race and to only get ONE shot at the win.
I was disappointed as to what APBA Television thought was the interesting topics. It is a sad day for televised Offshore Racing.
Jersey Boyz, YOU are on the right track.

it would also cost twice as much helicopters insurance etc. where does that money come from/???????????????:panda: :panda:

I agree with less classes being better; but the bracket racing P-Class system should be for amateur divisional racing only.Remember, NHRA has alot of classes, but only Top Fuel,Funny Car and Pro Stock get TV time.As far as APBA, they are on to something with spec classes; the actual level of competition is better than its ever been in the sport.The TV coverage is another story.

All of you guys knocking the APBA coverage should try to remember what the coverage was like before this year. I believe that APBA has made tremendous advances this year by giving the fan an education into the sport, covering all classes, interviews with the racers and the actual coverage of the races is better. The last couple of years people kept complaining that the P classes didn't get enough TV time and the factory classes weren't covered enough, well with most races getting two hours of TV time I think that most of the problems have been addressed. Is there room for improvement? Sure, but that will come with time.

My congratulations to APBA and all the racers for a great year.

There needs to be more RACING coverage, not just showing a boat and telling who is in it and that it has mercury motors ..

AGREED 100%

Come on Tulsa, Typhoon wins the World Championship and nothing is mentioned. High Energy gets tossed from their boat and no footage.
Yeah, the coverage is better, if your a sponsor.
Let's get some colorful team interviews. Do you remember Lance Henrichsen getting interviewed in previous years?
Yeah, I want to watch two PX boats battle it out.
And let me correct myself, there was 18 classes in Key west, not 17. Eight of those classes had 4 or less teams participating and this was a World Championship event.
Less classes=more teams per class=more exposure per class. Now we're talking coverage.

RLW:

To each his own, I have enjoyed the coverage this year. I will agree there are too many classes and would hope that APBA is working on a solution for this problem. It dosen't bother me to have five or six P classes because it allows more people to be able to race, the problem I see is in the factory classes. Since canopies have been allowed the classes have increased to where there are not enough racers in some classes. I would like to see the Super Light classes race with the factory classes but I do not have all the answers to make it work.

What is the name of the production company that is responsible of the cameras , footage and editing??

That is exactly why the OPA/Jersey Boyz is running a "P Class" format. Regardless of what you have you will be placed in a class according to your speed bracket. The "P Class" is what works for Offshore Racing. I am not saying that "P" is the only answer as there should be SuperCat and Factory classes.
I too have enjoyed the coverage this year, until the Worlds. It was a let down because I am a Factory class fan (and a P class fan). It is the closest type of racing that the average performance boater can relate to.
Super Vee and Super Vee Light Twin is so close that they could race against each other. These are two classes that could be combined, no problem.
Outlaw A, gone. Run them in "P-3".
This is only a start but it is the bantering between guys like you and me that hopefully gets recognized.

It's a tough sport!
 

Put A boats in P-3? That will not work , we lap those guys pretty quick. Overall the APBA format is working - sure it needs some tuning but our sport has come a long way . The Factory Classes have been getting alot of TV this year and the P - guys very little. I like Martin Sanborn's question today " Where is Mr. Hollis going" well Martin a little wide to slam the door on the Sutphen in the next turn - haha - Silly Season Rock On! BH

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think round 3 will be on next Saturday. Which was Sundays race. factory boats and Super cats.
That was when typhoon won and high energy had their mishap.

Also the race when Hidden Adjenda rolled. Should make for some interesting footage.

Hollis, I did like that move on Sutphen and it was good to see some older boats running in P3.
Did I see that single engine 30' Superboat in front of you guys before they smoked their engine? Hmmm? Just goes to show that unlike boats can run in the same class. Same thing with Dr. Santiago running a Bat Boat in P4 against some conventional V-Bottoms.
Did he even run that Reindl in "One Design"?
I'd like to see one of them Joker boats running next year in Factory. Are they up to the task of the Long Island builders?
Sorry Brian, I couldn't resist.

Bruce, I hope there is a 3rd round. The sport deserves it.

Adios from a serious fan

love the silly season!
 

RLW:

The Dirty Cash guy's ran hard for sure , great guys. We beat those guy's 3 times this year. PowerBoatTours.com 3 Dirty Cash 0. Nice throttling from the couch - haha Had to throw my jab in there. Look for a new 2003- 28 Joker next year to run APBA and some NE Races. BH

doc santiago's boat has the 377 scorpian engine/ bravo set up thats why he runs p-4 vice one design which has the volvo set up. i wasnt able to see the show or the race live, but from past shows it is hard with only one or two cameras dedicated to filming, that and unless a few boats are running very close it doesnt make for good tv.

Thanks for the feedback on Zero Cavity.
In regards to the video footage, Gerardi does a good job.
Unfortunately, due to time constraints, it is hard to show everything that is going on in a race and behind the scenes. The production is good, just need more air time on TV.

"throttling from the couch" That makes a good point.
with regards to P classes...its nice to see a P-3 Single engine boat 8 feet smaller can still compete with the bigger guys in milder seas. what were the conditions like when you beat them the other times?
I dont think that I'de jump to P-3 with a 28 Pantera even though I could find the power, but its comforting to think that I may be able to keep up with a 38 Scarab in P-4 in moderate seas.

Brian...sorry we never got in touch. December was mad around here.

Who will be runnin the Joker? did you sell that boat?
I will be staying with the Pantera this year ans possibly next year.

I have to wait for the economy in NYC to turn around and catch up with the receivables.

Who knows, maybe the next step will be SVL single?????

We will see

RLW,hopefully this year the "P" classes will get a little MORE coverage on TV,afterall we do put on some good,close action when we can keep the equiptment togeather.

yo Bruce.....
 

Hey what's happening? I'll never take anything away from the Dirty Cash guy's - class act! It was pretty rough in Texas and Savannah when we raced them. Have you ever seen that big ass motor in the Super Boat? That is one fast ass boat and those guys are seasoned veterans. We passed them once in KW and were right on their ass the entire race. They could definitely out turn us - no way I was going to turn the Cigarette hard and tight. As the race progressed I was trimming up and taking all tab out - it would of been very close if they would have not broken. As far as the Joker I still can't say what's up and I'll be able to tell you guys by Wednesday. It's looking like a P-4 boat though. Keep in touch - Brian

PS - who is the RLW guy? I saw his post about fishing - nice!

So true BJ. hopefully #3 will be better. The Factory classes are the most fun to watch, I just got my 2002 season from Freeze Frame, but they do get the "short end" of the camera lense when it comes to coverage so far. We'll see what happens next week!!!

Brian, glad to hear you may be running with us in the NE. Looks like a big turn out next year. Hey Bruce, how bout dose Giants!!!!!

Smitty...

those Giants really pulled one out of their butts...

But they aint gonna make it if they keep droppin the ball..

regards

Zero Cavity is the P4 World and National Champions. We hope to have his boat converted and running in the One Design Next year. I think the prize money we gave out at the end of the year interested him to say the least - for if he would have done what he did in my class, he would have walked away with over $18,000.
Chris Reindl

The coverage was better earlyer in the year when they showed more racing.I know we all want to be seen but its not possable to show 40 differant boats in a 1 hour show and try to make it exciting.SBI coverage is the same way and very boring to watch evan as a racer.SHOW A RACE.Why dont they get it.
APBA needs to establish which classes are the most competitive with the most boats and tell everyone up front they are the only classes that will be telivised.No more than 4 classes
Randy
Sorry if I have pissed some of you off with this idea but its the way it has to be.
:eek:

I agree with you Candy. The begining of the year was much better than the last few shows. Coverage should be F1 and F2 and supercat and what ever other class that happens to have a good race that weekend. Showing a bunch of boats will make those teams happy that they got T.V. coverage but that does nothing towards attracting a television crowd.
Watching Bacardi silver or outerlimits run is Boring. Those boats are awesome but you lose interest real fast when there is no one to race against. Especially in flat water!
Just my .02. I'm sure not everyone agrees.

The flat water coverage looks like slow boats running on an unlimited course. There needs to be coverage of the boats on the rougher legs of the course, then it would look like the crew actually had skills.

G

BJ,

I agree with you. Half way through the show I went to Home Depot to get stuff for the house. Not to say others who wern't there did not enjoy the show or those who were there and not in the boats didn't dig it. The photography could have been ramped up several notches. There was action on the course. The excitment is boats flying out of the water, deck to deck finishes and some good trash talking in the pits. "Team Typhonn rules the Seas" Now thats some some serious trash. :D

The next show may be better. Some of the footage was in the preview show. I would imagine the year end wrap up should be very good.

Jim

Did anyone notice that in the
race with the Bat-Boat that the
Christie Photo Boat had lost the
Stbd. Side BOTTOM of their boat.
I think BOB was running to stay
aflote.
Mike J.

BJ you know Im talking about.They are missing some real good footage of great racing because someone is to cheep to put more cameras on boats and more camera men on the course in the ruff or turns.WHAT ARE THEY THINKING.First we have to pay Freeze Frame $600 to put 1 onboard camera on our boat.That still blows my mind.
First they should pay to put 4 cameras on each boat that is a contender.Next put a camera man on as many turn boats as possable in tuna towers.Let Jamie keep interviewing the teams (she does a great job).Take 15min to interview each team verbaly to get there story and edit the tape.All we have now is either a helocopter or someone on land.I guaranty if they put a camera forward, backward,both sides and one in the cockpit of my boat they would have people sitting on the edge of there seats.Now multiply that by 10 and you have a show!Now thats not so hard is it.ENOUGH of the slide show of 50 boats
Randy

These are just ideas to improve the show.They have come along way this year and I have gotten more coverage than most.I just thoght it was more fun to watch when we raced in Marathon,Daytona and Bahamas where it was more racing
Randy

Damage???
 

where??

The boat looks good there.

yep...............
 

I saw the delam going on on Bob Christies boat. A few more laps and that puppy would of been going down! BH

Watch the rerun on Thurs.
Watch when the Boat rolls to
the side.
Wish I could send photos to
the board,I got some in the
pits after the race.
I know a lot about that boat.
Mike J.

randy, the only thing bad about camera's on a boat's tuna tower would be rough water, great for racing bad for filming. but agree more camera's are needed. including more in the helo's. the start of every race should be shown due to the amount of boats that line up. a blimp would be nice as well able to cover the whole course, maybe vortec or mercury can spend the bucks. hope all have a safe and happy new year.

I still say there has to be away to get more footage with out the racers having to pay for the cameras.
Randy

Just got home and reran the tape
of the Bob Christie Boat and it
really shows the delam at the
finish right under the driver.
Bob said he made a hard right
turn and went stright to the
Ramp.
Mike J.

Upon further review
 

Slight delam