Apba Sound Off!
 

It's my turn to sound off here like we need another thread on this topic

I don't own a race boat nor am I connected with anyone at all. I don't care who's fault it is and I don't care who's in charge. I don't even care who is planning to fix this mess. After so called 50 years of APBA racing you need to get your act together This blows and sucks and it's not the first time reservations have been made to see races and then they switch places. And you ask why you can't get better TV coverage/ HA-HA! please. NO I DON"T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE. All I can say is lots of people on this board feel like I do. It's total Bullsh*t. You have average joe working people making plans and taking off work to hang out 4 races to support this so called sport and I feel as if The so - called APBA people need to all get together and make sure this NEVER-EVER happens again. This crap never happens with football, baseball, basketball, or hockey, Because they are a more professional class of people who are more organized and focused. I agree with many who have e-mailed me in the past week This has been one HUGE circle jerk session. With that said I'm not here to argue with anyone. I just wanted to vent for myself and everyone else who made Key West plans and can't change them. :hothead:

hey,but according to the joker you can't say anything about it onless you're a member of apba and have eqipment registered posted in another thread. well said,hope you feel better after venting.

in the few questions thread by cashbrain

Yea I feel better now! I'll feel even better if WARPARTY36 comes through on his boat ride offer in KW

i'm in jersey, if you sea me and i got room i'll give ya ride. jus tucking 42 gtx,staighten the joker out on the other thread.

Philly here

Outer 42:

You were questioning APBA Offshore not being affiliated with APBA in 2004. I was simply saying give them a break. Don't ya think they've been through enough of this internet crap?

PS - See ya in Orange Beach , AL

Brian Hollis
JokerPowerBoats.com
P5-33 Throttles

Brian have they been through enough? I am guessing they can not complain as they brought it on themselves through poor planning bad contracts and a inability to lock up race sites..... Just my opinion

Brian,

Anyone here can ask any question they want. Whether or not APBA, LLC, or anyone else for that matter, chooses to answer is their perogative. Cash was not bashing, blaming, or deamonizing. He was simply ASKING! The internet is here to stay. This is a forum that has become a major conduit of information both for racing and poker runs/fun runs. If APBA, LLC, SBI, OPA or any other organization uses this forum to promote themselves or their events, then they also have to be able to take the heat when things go haywire as they did this summer. Certainly mis-information and exagerations, innuendos and various interpretations will happen. It happens everywhere. See T.V., radio, newspaper etc. The APBA and the LLC are both active members here on OSO. They are big boys and girls that are in business and need to be able to take thier lumps and have the hard questions asked. They have been on here many times on the past threatening law suits, and other actions so why should we not be able to question them? They are in business to make money and they are not running a philanthropic organization. Therefore, they will be scrutenized heavily. If they cannot accept that, especially after all the promises that have gone unfufilled, then they better consider another business.

thanks for providing me with a place to race!
 

Well right or wrong I still support Alweiss , Miklos , Tomlison , Abreau , Kenyon , Kimes and the staff of APBA Offshore - ORL or whatever thay want to call it ! Many Thanks To The Stars Rescue Team too! Brian Hollis

Thejoker:

I would support anyone who could put a good season together and not rob the teams or a city.

Like Larry would, "Just getter done".

From my 12 friends who had plans for KW and can no longer go!

So I guess we'll be seeing you in Cambridge MD to run with OPA this coming weekend?????

This will be OPA's fifth race of the season without cancellation, and with purses paid. This race has a 20K purse that will be split between the five P classes. Nice payout.

No BS, no robbery. Just racing at the Hyatt. And some Golf on Friday afternoon.

http://cbpba.com/offshoreracing/

Hey Cap,

We'll be there proably at Hog's Breath:D , no we will be at Hog's Breath on the 18th.

Ron I may come down we are on the poker run with Jeffj, and our plans were to do the poker run then come down on a crusier and spend the night. But the hurricane hurt our plans.

My boat is dead as of now....Need a power head..

Joker (Brian Hollis)
 

I first met Brian Hollis at our mutual "first race" in 1999. Since that time he has become a F-1 world champion, gone swimming at 70 mph (St Pete), volunteered to help APBA Offshore marketing/PR, become a boat builder (Joker), participated as a non-owner throttleman, and raced in F-1, Super Vee Light and P-Class.

Agree with him or not, he has a pretty good "perspective" of what is going on (or at least better than most).

The Offshore Racing world is not perfect by any means, but I personally respect Brian's opinion. He has seen "current day" offshore racing from most every angle.

Equalizer:

I wish my head was that big , Not World Champion in F1 - SE Champion - and I was pitched at 80 mph - haha. Hey you left out Rookie of The Year - nice to have an ally on this board though. I guess I'm branded as an ass but I support those who support me , don't we all though. BH

Brian I do not think that people not agreeing with you on a certrain issue makes us feel that you are a ass!!! Man I will never forget the great thing you did for me with the seats!!! :D:D Some times people see issues form different angles. The reason that I no longer can even think about racing with APBA is due to all the changes that they make in thier schedualls. I think that this is hurting them more then they are willing to admit. Not only with the teams but also the fans. All they have to do is read all the negative feedback that they are getting on this latest deal to know that it is not possitive :(

Jon

Jon

Dare I step into the quagmire?

The one thought that came to me as I was reading the APBA notice was how sad for the sport that everyone racing has invested $200k-$300k in their boat and the organization can't scrape up $200k to keep their most important race of the year going.

-Greg

Mike I do not think about racing any more. I used to but it is messes like this whole Key West deal that keep me from even considering it again. There is absolutly zero consideration from APBA to the racers as far as I am concerned so I just lost interest. I am not of the financial means to be able to just be able to pick up and drive another 1000 miles hear or 1500 miles there or make commitments to what little sponsership we were able to drum up and then have to apologize to them later because a race is cancelled.

Jon

I raced against Brian in F2, 2000 He is a Great competitor and very knowledgeable about racing. He has also done other aspects of the sport besides F2, I think he was in Angle 1 in Corpus TX. when my driver went swimming. I always am interested on what he has to say. Jo

Jon:

Yes the re-scheduling of the races were a pain in the ass , I agree. But we forget how hard the APBA Officials have worked to make the racing more competitive. Spec classes (F1 - F2 - SC - SCL- SV - SVL) and the P-Classes get a secured onboard GPS installed. It's as fair as it's ever been. In 2004 I guarantee you'll see some great things happen in this sport. By the way how did the seats work out? BH


Uncle Mike:

You be nice now and try and get along w/ everybody - haha - BH

Now there is a stretch of the Truth........ *** 12 FRIENDS ***

You only wish you had 12 friends.

Mike,
When you get to Orange Beach ask them if they saw any "offshore racing" in August. I'm sure Brian is a good guy and obviously a great racer.

But following "right or wrong" does not help any situation. A business should want input from it's customers. Have you noticed the really successful ones actually solicit customer feedback? SQ

Mike I have never BASHED any of the bodies other then hopeing that they realize that these event changes hurt them more then I think that they are willing to admit. I have never said "oh I am sick of the APBA vs. SBI excuse" I actually think that the APBA vs. SBI banter is quite entertaining and if they would pay attention to it they may be able to find ways to make thier organizations better and stronger inbedded in all the back and forth posts. I do think that they all have major issues, and they need to read this stuff and pay attention to the complaints of the fans because this Key West deal has done some serious damage to the image of offshore racing. SBI seems to have taken a step in the correct direction by copying APBA's strict enforcement of the rules so that is good for them, and APBA had set the standard in FAIR racing. Last year we went down to race the Cape Cod race and due to me getting in an accident in my car the day before I let a friend ride in my place. Boat took First place P-4.... The one day registration does make it easier but when we went to register they did not even know about the one day registration or how it worked or what it cost or anything..... You see what I am saying? So it is not like I am not watching what they are doing and saying that I will never race again, but I will not invest a overwelming amount of my time tell they get things more hammered out and solid. There are now no local races that are really what I would consider "near" me, and as far as getting my money back I understand the money for the race will get back to me but there are a lot more costs with racing as you know then just the cost of the race. I may see about getting started with the Jersey crew after I recover from all my wedding, new house, new land in Maine cost from the last couple months but that will likely be two more years away. They seem to be from my limited knowledge of what they have going on down there having a good time and that is all it ever was about for me, if it is going to be frustrating then I am just not interested.

I typed my last reply at the same time as you typed yours. So you can see that I do not overlook all the good things that APBA has done especially in the rules catagory. There are still some mumblings of poeple not giving true top numbers for the P-class racing (for example Boxer in P4 when even he claims that the boat will run 93 mph). But that is a deal for another thread all together. I hope like hell that in 2004 they make it even better but I think that they have to realize that the most important thing it to make the sceduall early and make sure that it WILL NOT CHANGE. If they can do that they I will have a lot more interest.

As far as the seats are concerned they look great and I can not waite to get to the point that I can get them in. Looks like I will have to make some custom brackets and stuff to get them to fit but that should not be any big deal, looks like they had custom brackets in the boat they came out of.... Your boss must be one skinny ladie as I barely fit in these things :D:D Good excuse to go on a diet however :D:D Hope all is well with you.

Jon

We had brand new factory sealed motors installed the day before New York. We had the receipt with us. The SBI inspectors still disassembled our motors when we won first place. It sucked, but we understood why it was necessary. I think that listening to what their customers have to say has helped them (SBI) a lot. SQ

OK so Hi-perf is NOT my friend I had 11 going he is never allowed out anyway His woman has him on a tight rope

Tight rope eh?????

is that why everytime you instant message my screen name thinking it's me she resonds "It's not Mark.....He's out on his boat again". :eek:

This is all why your sitting home beating off to internet porn while i am tearing up the river having fun.

Doesn't seem to tight to me :p

It's really you sitting around in women's underwear cybering with internet porn names

ahhhhh the memories
 

Joe:

That was Angel II I co-piloted and yes when Herbot got ejected we put a diver on him. We watched yall for a few laps and you had that puppy loose! On Sunday I got to chase 10 Super Cats at 120 mph - 100 feet above them into turn 1 (no doors on the helicopter), now that is something I will never forget! My racing in F2 was very brief and I only did it to help a rookie friend get into the sport. St Clair , MI we had (26) YES (26) F2 Boats going into turn 1 and I was scared to death! Ha Ha - BH

BH yes I did have that puppy a little loose and when we reentered the ocean from the shoreline the wind running down the sea wall took the nose of the boat and sent it south Keith did leave the boat but not before slamming me into the windscreen and breaking 3 of my ribs , he a big boy." I LOVE THE STAR's PEOPLE ". St Clair we were there last boat on the outside running down the seawall at the start missed a turn or rescue boat by no more then 2' at 80mph amazingly no one hit on that first turn . Our boat was acting up I think we finished last but I'll never forget the race . Funny thing I was not scared at all. Jo
P.S. I hope someday F2 will have as many entires again.

I went to Key West last year for the Worlds, for the 4th time. I think it is the best racing anywhere and I've been to a lot of venues. Having said that, I am really
glad I didn't buy a plane ticket to go this year because unlike probably most people on this board I cannot afford for the race to be canceled. Oh, I could still go and have a good time but the race is why I go to Key West.

I am very hesitant to purchase plane tickets to go to APBA races because of the possibility of them getting canceled. I just hope for better planning in 2004 and beyond.