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DPT Motorsports and myself met with OPA officials yesterday to hear what they were willing to do for the SOBs.

It's official!!!

They are willing to let the SOBs race within their organization.

Here is what they have come up with:

As far as the rules for SOB, they were in agreement with the SOB Rules Proposal were had offered them.
There were only 4 things that needed to be changed from those rules.
1. Minimum length will be 21 feet with a Max of 24 feet. They will use the round up method if a boat measures 20 foot 6.5 inches, it will be rounded to 21 feet.
2. Mandatory: 2 Crew Onboard. It will be mandatory for 2 people to be in the boat while racing. There will not be an option for only one person.
This was OPA's as well as the insurance carrier's decision. I personally asked two of the medic's opinions, and they too also wanted to see two people in the boat.

3. No Capped Speed or Bracket Racing for this class(3 races only) It has been decided to allow this for the calm water race sites only.
3 of the sites that are ocean races will fall under the P-5 max average speed of 65 mph. Again, the Insurance Liability as well as Safety was a big decision maker here. We all know no one would even come close to 65mph in rough ocean conditions, but this is just making sure of no one trying to. The 3 races with this cap will be enforced with GPS supplied by OPA.

4. Race distance 40 miles The total distance will be 40 miles not 60 or a 1 hour time limit. Also subject to change at the discretion of OPA at each race site depending on sea conditions.

So in a a nut shell, here is what you have.

SOB's are welcome to come race in all 6 races.

The rough water races, the SOB's will not have their own race. They are invited to race under P-5 and have the option to be scored separately as well as be scored in P-5 to race for the purse of that event. ( The reasoning behind this is, if the course is rough and they try to run two races, they are afraid of losing too many volunteers by the time the second race comes out. To sit out in the ocean for an entire day while it's rough can be a burden to most volunteers. If over time they have more volunteers for the water operations where they may have separate shifts for the volunteers, that may change in the future. As of right now, they will only offer the one race at the rough water races.)


The other 3 events which are calm water races, the SOBs will have their own individual class. Although no prize money will be awarded unless the site itself offers a separate purse for the class. Example: Cambridge, MD offers their Local Class a separate purse.

OPA will be picking up the additional costs to run the SOBs in their own class. (Helicopter and Insurance Premiums) The means of paying for it will come from the $500 per race entry fee. It will not interfere with the existing P-1 thru P-5 class's purse or add any additional costs onto the other classes.

If for any reason that the SOB's race were to be cancelled by OPA or the Coast Guard deeming the course to be too rough for 21 footers, the registration money for that race will be forwarded to the next race's registration. You will not loose your registration money if the race is blown out.

OPA's Equipment Requirements Please contact OPA for their rule book. Offshore Performance Association's Link

Additional Prizes Other than actual cash prizes, contingency prizes may be awarded on a per class basis. It will not have to be shared with any of the other classes.
If for example Mercury or a SOB manufacture wanted to step in and offer 1st place of SOB X amount of dollars in "Parts or Merchandise" they can do that. It is advised that they contact OPA for this type of an incentive because they are already setting up different types of contigency prizes for each class. Last year, one person ended up with $1500 in parts from JESEL. Not bad for only running someone's decal on their boat.

Also a Hi-Points Trophy for total points accumulated over the season will be awarded at the end of the season.

Stay Informed!!! Get on the mailing list by using this link:NJ Offshore & OPA Informational Mailing List

I hope this will satisfy most of you, and you will come out and race.
If the response and participation is great this year, you have a great opportunity to grow and make some changes along the way.

Good Luck to all of you!

It is now up to you to make the next move. Start by getting registered for the season.

Annual Equipment fee $450.00

Annual Membership fee $100.00

Annual GPS fee $ To be determined (No more than $150) We asked for a reduced rate being as the SOB's would only need it for 3 races when they race in P-5

Entry fee per race $500.00 Includes Insurance, Helicopters, Race Parties but not a purse unless you race in P5.

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Rules For The SOB Class

Hulls:

Any conventional vee bottom stepped or padded allowed

Minimum length: 21 feet inches

Maximum length: 24 ft 0 inches

“Vee-Hull Designs Only” No Wing Styled Boats, Tunnel-Vees or Catamarans

No Minimum Weight

Hydraulic Jacks Plates allowed

Set-back brackets allowed

Crew onboard: Mandatory 2 people.

No letters, Number only to minimum height set by Sanctioning Body’s Rules Leave room in front of Number if you choose to run in P5 at anytime.

Remote water pickups allowed

No Capped Speed or Bracket racing for this class except at the 3 rough water race sites.

Engines:


Any Single Outboard Engine by any Manufacturer

Any octane pump gasoline only (No alcohol, nitros, etc.)



Races:

Courses to be determined by sanctioning body

Depending on the number of entries, it is 1st choice to run this class by itself.

Distance same as P5 class 40 miles


Safety:

Follow All Safety Rules and Equipment requirements of the sanctioning body.

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Who needs a SOB? 21 Cigarette w/V-8

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If you are not on the mailing list, then you missed this:

This just went out to the njoffshore.com mailing list.
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Hello Race Fans,

Even though the weather is below the freezing mark the Jersey Boyz are already getting things heated up for the 2004 racing season. There are some new race sites for this year and most of your old favorites are back again too. OPA has even expanded it's rule book by adopted rules for a new entry-level class of racing and the OPA winter awards party looks like it will be a not to be missed showstopper.

If you plan on attending the Atlantic City boat show between the 4th and 8th of February make sure you stop by the OPA/Bad Boy Powerboats booth and say hello to some of the boyz. They'll be displaying race boat photos along with raffling off a ride in a one of the boats. Team T Shirts will be available for sale and of course they'll be promoting the race in Atlantic City scheduled for Sunday July 18th as well as all the entire OPA race series.

OPA would like to invite all SOBs to come race with them this summer. SOB Racing is a new class of entry-level boats. SOB stands for Single Outboard Boats. The rules are very simple for this class. Any Vee bottom boat from 21' to 24' that has a single outboard engine can race. This new class was made at the request of a few racers that wanted to bring back a true entry-level class. At the three non-ocean races, the SOBs will run their own 40-mile race prior to the normal OPA race featuring the five P Classes. In the other three ocean races, the SOBs will need to run in one of the P classes if its not too rough for them to race in the ocean. This new class should open up offshore racing to a much broader audience of racers and OPA along with the Jersey Boyz would like to welcome this new class and look forward to racing with them in the 2004 season and beyond. Call OPA at 732-477-7400 to sign up to be an SOB.

OPA 2004 Schedule:

Brick, NJ - June 26,27
Atlantic City, NJ - July 17,18
Pt. Pleasant Beach, NJ - Aug. 12,13
L.I. / Conn. Area - Aug. 28,29
Cambridge, MD - Sept. 25,26
Camden NJ River Area - Oct. 9,10

Mark your calendar for OPA's winter awards party. This year the party will be held on Saturday February 21st at 7pm in the Cabaret Theater, at Trumps Marina, Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. Pricing is still being worked out and you'll be getting additional information about the awards party in a week or two. Seating is limited so take a look at your calendar and see if you can join the fun. Even our friends from the cornfields of Maryland are invited to attend.

See ya at the races,

Ron

DPT MOTORSPORTS

Things are looking very good for the SOB's in 2004 and beyond in some of the talks I have been having lately. Now we need everyone to step to the plate and not make Sharkey's and My own work be for nothing.

DPT

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Breaking News!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OPA has added another race to it's schedule - We are going to Key West!

2004 Schedule:
Brick,NJ - June 26,27
Atlantic City,NJ - July 17,18
Pt. Pleasant Beach, NJ - Aug. 12,13
L.I. / CONN. Area - Aug. 28,29
Cambridge, MD - Sept. 25,26
Delaware River Area - Oct. 9,10
Key West, Florida - Nov. 7 - 14 with SBI for the World Championships[/b]

Here is a quote from RonP, Director of Water Operations for OPA when I asked if the SOB's would be allowed to run in Key West:

Smitty spoke to John about SOBs and he's looking favorably toward them. The key is to fill hotel rooms for the town and to have some great racing.

How many SOBs do you think would go all the way to Key West to race?

I have a feeling if you brought 15 boats, you'd get your own race. 5 boats and you'd end up running in P5.

That's a good start in the right direction.


Smitty "Wazzup Racing" President of OPA response:

John did say he'll look at it. A race in the harbor would not work because of schedule conflicts with the cruise ships. He made mention of another area in the city where you would have a flat water closed coarse. Produce the boats, we'll make it happen Smitty.

OK YOU SOBs!!! Choose you destiny!!! This is big news!!! More than I or Dennis could have ever hoped for!

Make us proud!

If you have never experienced a race week in Key West well...
Then you have just never experienced....

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Is now coming out with a race ready NEW 23 footer and a Merc 300X.

More manufacturers are joining in on this all the time. It should be an awesome class!!!!!

DPT MOTORSPORTS

DPT MOTORSPORTS