Death Of A Class! Feedback needed!!
 

As we all know, things are always changing in racing. Superboat lite/ Superboat limited have drastically changed in the past year. In years past the whole concept of this class was so the average performance boater could take his STOCK, FACTORY, PLEASURE BOAT and pleasure boat on Saturday and race on Sunday. APBA has made many changes as to their boat specifications. For one, any boat 2002 or new must be fully enclosed by a canopy and have an Oxygen system This in itself eliminates each and every pleasure boater from racing in the organization. The only other option is SBI. Now here is the dilemma. Superboat Limited fell apart last year when Bank Beaters was caught cheating at the National Championship in New York. The other racers in the class were rightfully very upset when the head of SBI, John Carbonell, Did all he could to cover up the cheating incident. After all was said and done, Bank Beaters was found to be cheating running 540 CI Motors with extensive work done to them and was DQ'ed. John Carbonell also DQ'ed every other boat in the class except one for fabricated minor infractions that according to SBI's own rule book was only punishable by a $100 fine if found guilty of the infractions. This of course outraged all of the other racers in the class. Not only did they not get there prize money, entry fee money returned, thousands and thousands of dollars wasted to compete in this class, they feel they were shafted by an organization they have supported for years. Not to mention Zipp Express had their Kilo record stripped from the previous year! It was found out and even admitted by Doug kelly of Bank Beaters he was cheating. The only discrepancy was it 3 or 4 races he was cheating. Each race costs these teams anywhere from $3000 to $10000 or more per race depending on logistics and if there are any major repairs needed. This is THOUSANDS of dollars wasted racing a boat with a completely unfair advantage (1350 HP vs 940 HP) that the other racers never ever had a chance in hell to beat. Now several of the racers would consider going back to SBI since APBA is out of the question. Now the question is what's fair? The racers that were wronged have never been apologized to by John Carbonell. 2 of them have been apologized to by Doug kelly. But several of the other wronged racers have never been apologized to by anyone. What would you think is fair? Apologizes by Kelly and Carbonell to the other racers? Restitution from Kelly for some of the wasted money chasing him? Restitution from Carbonell for the cover up? Entry fees and memberships covered by Carbonell? Reinstatement of Zipp Expresses Kilo record? Several of the racers would like to put this to bed but things need to b done to make this right. What do you think is fair?

No opinion on the whole "reparations" thing, but I'm thinking I'll throw some popcorn in the microwave...

Kelly is out of racing and John hasn't even paid the purse from New Orleans yet. Don't count on anything more than a verbal appology. That day that you mention in NYC cast the die for SBI. I can't tell you how much I wanted to see John do the right thing, but he chose the other path and now he's got to live with the results.

Munch, munch.

Kelly has been racing unopposed with the name "Rumor Has It" on the boat. I did here he was going to marathon this weekend. Did you here differant. Kelly has contacted 2 of the other racers and has tried to get them back to race against him. He offered to "Make it right" and Carbonell also said he would do something but neither side can come to a conclusion whats fair.

It is sad. Last year there were over 40 boats in Fort Myers. This year only 19.

Maybe the best solution to all of this is simply eliminate SBI and the LLC and start fresh.:mad: :(

It looks like SBI is doing a good job of eliminating itself. The unfortunate thing is SBI does have really good race sites. Where else is there for the pleasure cats to go race? That's why it was called Factory 3 in the past. APBA made the class a professional class by changing their guidelines.

Why is it a sport with so many quality induviduals (largely represented here ont he board) has to have two filthy, dirty dealers as the head of the two main racing organizations. Where is the decency and moral character that so many of our brethren display........... Anyway what goes around, comes around.......

To date there has always been problems with the rules and presidents of the racing organizations. There will probably always nbe some conflict,regarding rules and the out-come of races!!The biggest problem now is that S.B.I.,John Carbonell,pres. is running a race program where it,s {JOHNS RULES OR THE HIGHWAY!!} JOHNS the president ,the and the jury!! theres no way to dicuss anything if JOHN does not want to!
John went too far with the DOUG KELLY{BANKBEATERS>COM } issue in NEW YORK last sept. the attendance was already LOW,and he let again ONE SINGLE racer CHEAT 5 or 6 other race teams that were racing to have fun,and for a chance to get tropys ,or alittle$$$. Those teams have every right to be PISSED OFF!!S>B>I>,JOHN is supposed to run a fair & safe place to race.He cheated the teams as much or More than DOUG KELLYS {bankCheaters .com}even did! Why would the President of a race organization even get envolved??If he finds a team CHEATING ,D.Q.!!!Simple !!! Then us Fans would be able to watch a race with boats racing , instead of ONE boat running by HIMSELF!!!It,s boring enough with more boats ,let along traveling to a race site to see 1-3 boats in a class.
John {S.B.I.} could have made this a good year of racing.He has great sites BUT NO BOATS!!NOW we know why!DOUG KELLY {bankCheaters.com}helps starts the problem ,takes the GLORY, then Quits when HE & S.B.I.{john}cannot figure out what to do in resolving the PROBLEM that they could have STOPPED!! Not Good for racing FANS & SPONSORS everywhere.TOO BAD!!

XRACER

You are 100% correct. Carbonell makes the rules as he goes. I am sick every weekend there is a race and I'm not there racing. i would have gladly went to APBA but with all of the guys racing with the new 525's I don't have a chance with my 500 efis. I would love to put all of this behind us and go back to racing. To this day, I still can't understand how Carbonell could screw 5 teams to stick up for one guy that was proven wrong! In new York i was the only boat not DQ'ed. Carbonell gave me the win. To this day all I got was excuses instead of prize money (which I promissed to split with the other 5 teams that were wronged). He kept our entry fees, kept our prize money and screwed 5 very loyal, very honest teams and destroyed our class.

Unfortunatly, there is no other place for us to race. For another class we would need differant boats.

APBA did the same thing to a great class.But they are always doing that to racers. Since we can all remember when a class gets good,What a great time mess it UP!They did it in The modified class ,D-Class ETC...

Gino did you get the new boat yet.Thanks for stopping by in daytona. Tom

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Fever Mike
[B]It is true, the 525 guys need to be 500 lbs. heavier. 940 Hp vs 1050 hp is a 11% differance. 500 lbs added to an 8000 lb boat is a 6% differance. Truthfully it's not enough weight to compensate for the additional horse power. Now you have the new Skaters and Scisms with their 60 inch wide tunnels. they pack a lot more air then the Spectre, Motions or older Skaters. Also with the wide tunnels there X dimensions are totally differant then ours. That's why dirty duck is running 120 in the kilo. The only way any of us (Zipp Express, Fastboats.com, peppers, myself, etc) can compete is either A. Shell out $60,000 for new 525's, B. Buy a new boat or C. If APBA would let us 500 EFI guys raise our X dimensions.

Hey Tom, I sent you a private message. Talk to you soon.

Lube Job, Come on up to NJ and run with OPA. We have a race next Sunday 6/22 in Seaside NJ. Run in our P1 class against old Skaters and motions.

Atlantic City is July 19 -20 This should be a big event.

http://offshoreperformanceassociation.com/

How many boats usually show up for this class? It may be an option.

Maybe the best solution to all of this is simply eliminate SBI and the LLC and start fresh.

I like Shane's idea but put a organization together with racers on the board. And have a jury when caught cheating..

The 2 things people hate most are Lawyers and Promoters
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Lube Jobs
 

We have a race in Seaside Heights on the 21. P 1 class my suit you we have quite a few in that class. call me 732 920 3945, lets put something together, I have been trying to reach the InMotion boat as well if you have a # Ed

shane and eman you have my vote !!!!!

The 2 things people hate most are Lawyers and Promoters

Unfortunately, when people are put into power they sometimes abuse this priviledge, also it is very self serving. Ego's play a big part as well, and the pressure is on for them to please everyone, and we all know the no matter how good a job somebody does someone is not 100% satisfied. When intelligent conversation comes up to better racing, quite a few people have good ideas some may work others, not. Both sactioning bodies have their issues, beyond that their schedules are very simular. now the question which sactioning do you perfer? put your equipment together and get there. have fun be safe.