APBA elections
 

When are the elections? I have received some mail but no date for ballots etc. are included??

Also...I'd like to make reservations at the Vinoy.. Does anyone know if a race is scheduled for St Pete in 2004??

thats the guestion of the year about a race in st pete or any apba race!!!!

No 2004 schedule posted on their website yet.......hhhhmmmm

APBA elections
 

Marc,

The ballots will be going out of the Detroit office early next week, and you have until Jan 2, 2004 to return them. It took some extra time as they had to be approved by the Special Master/NY Court.
Apparently once this election is completed, the Special Master is history and all governance returns to Detroit (except the Licensees per their individual agreements)

Hope to see you at more Unlimited races next year. Our sponsorship (O'Berto) has been renewed and the team is working day and night to make the U-6 faster and better for the coming season. Course, so is every other team...... :)

Take care,

Steve

Steve David for President......
Of APBA.
Of SBI.
Of the other world champion guys.
Of the Super other guys. I forget the name but you know, the "super secret racers forums guys".
Of someone else who wants to run races.
Of the united States (as long as catmando approves) &
Of the WORLD.
Yeah, Steve D for president of the WORLD!!!!
What a wonderful place it will be!!!!
I could be the compain manager as long as I can handle the $$$$$$

Calling all APBA members
 

We have a chance at putting some integrity into the APBA...... Please join me in voting for Steve David on the upcoming ballot.......

Steve is honest, loyal, gracious, intelligent, clear eyed and a team builder.... and we need those qualities now more than ever. There are difficult times ahead........

T2x

Who is Steve running against? Who's the incumbent?

List if Nominee's
 

Here is an unofficial list of nominee's for the APBA BOD.
9 Members will be elected, the top 5 will start a 2 yr term, the next 4 with the most votes will start a 1 year term. This will make it so we have staggered members of the Bod every year elected for 2yr terms. Current position held in () if known.

Don Allen, Sr. (President APBA)
Howard V. Anderson, Jr.
Ziegfried "Ziggy" Boettle (BOD APBA)
Kevin Brown
Terry Browning
Dean Clausen
Steven David
Ernie Dawe
Al Grabinski
Jeff W. Grigg
Fred Hauenstien, Jr. (BOD APBA)
Sonny Hawkins
R. Steven Hearns
Ernie Hewett
Larry Lauterbach
Howie Nichols (Region 5 Chairman)
Tom Pakradooni
Charles D. Strang (BOD APBA)
Mark J. Weber
Peggy Wendt
Mark Wheeler (BOD APBA)
Jeff Wooten

You Can vote for up to 9 individuals.

Matt

Again, how do we know if we will get a ballot? Will APBA Offshore members get them?

Good luck Steve and all other OSO members running.

Chris,

I just spoke with Detroit, they have 340 members from Offshore in 2003 that are eligible to vote in the upcoming election. Those members joined either directly through Detroit or at one if the races that were actually sanctioned through Detroit for the 2003 season ( Key West 2002, St. Cloud). Since some of the memberships went through St. Pete those memberships were never forwarded to Detroit for consideration. If anyone has a question as to if Detroit has your membership on record contact them. They have already had to tell some that they have no record of them being members and can't vote in the election. The ballots are at the printer now and will be sent out beginning of next week and must be returned postmarked by no later than Jan 2, 2004. Voting will be by proxy, you will cast your vote, the ballots will be counted by an independent auditing firm, votes will be cast that reflects those counted, by the APBA President at an annual election meeting to be held at the APBA HQ in Detroit on Jan 9, 2004. Any voting member can attend this meeting and cast their vote there or send in the Ballot/Proxy. This is the way the election will be handled from now on.

Matt

DJD, T2x, Chris:

Thanks guys! I only wish I had the qualities you stated. My Dad did, and it's been a goal for me, albeit with detours, for a long time. There's some really fine people running, the most candidates for the Board I can ever remember. No matter who wins, we'll have a better APBA, and maybe, just maybe turn this ship to a proper course. There is alot of good out there, harness it, and we really have something to build upon.

Be well,

Steve

Cat,

The Llc is a licensee of APBA. They essentially lease the Offshore category from APBA so you would not see their names on a ballot for election of officers unless individuals of the Llc wanted to serve on the overall APBA Board. APBA is composed of several categories, Offshore being one of them. Others include Stock outboard, Mod outboard, Pro Outboard, Inboard, Unlimited Hydroplane, Inboard Endurance, OPC, R/C and others. The APBA Board of Directors sets policy and direction, which is then executed by the various categories. Each category generally has it's own governance as to rules, etc. The Category will have a Chairman elected by the category members, and the Chair then appoints commission members to make up their leadership team. There are variations of this in different categories, but that's pretty much how it works.
Within APBA there are over 100 local clubs, who are the folks that put on the more than 240 races per year. These include local Kiwanis to long time stalwarts like the Southern California Speedboat Club, Great Lakes Offshore Powerboat Racing Association, OPBRA, etc.
There are also race series within APBA that race specific category classes. For instance APR Superleague has been around over 10 years and runs SST 120 tunnel hulls (and other classes) at a set number of races and cities each year. The Champ boat series is another that runs what we might know as Mod U tunnels or "Champ" boats. These classes fall under the OPC category. The promoters of these series ( like local clubs) sanction with APBA to conduct their specific events.
The origins of APBA go back to 1903 and the New York Yacht Club. In fact the general secretary of APBA for almost 20 years was Chapman, he of the Chapman guide to boat handling, etc. In times past, and to this day, a local club would hold one big race ( or more) each year and that race times over a 100 clubs produced the totality of APBA racing.
All this to day, hi Cat, how's things on the left. :)

My vote will go to the person(s) that will:

1) Garauntee there will be at least 6 races in Florida with at least 2 at St Pete.

2) Ensure there will be only ONE WORLDS

3) Ensure at leat 100 boats will race at each venue (not just show up)

4) Ensure that a schedule is provided and that it will not change over the course of the season.

****If that person(s) is not in existance, my vote will go to Steve David


:D :D

Hi Steve
I guess I'm one of the LLC members that HQ doesnt know about. I'm voting for you anyway!!!
Good luck, and you have my #, call if I can help.

Dan

Steve,

I believe that in the new By-Laws that anyone that holds a position with a licensee can't hold a BOD seat.
However any APBA member in good standing, in any category can run for office, which means any offshore or unlimited racer, crew or participating member can be elected or appointed to office within APBA.

By the way good luck on the elections.

Matt

Steve,

From what I understand APBA Offshore is reconstituting the Offshore Racing Commission to answer the call of its members for a greater voice. I understand that they will be looking for a volunteer Category Chairman, such as the category used to have in Gene Whipp, to represent the category within APBA and serve as the liaison between the APBA, racers, teams, other organizations, and the Board of APBA Offshore.

As a demonstration of my commitment to unifying the sport and healing the past, I would nominate you for that position and support you in any way I could if you were willing to take that challenge.

Unlike the past you would have some solid business infrastructure behind you and you would not be charged with creating a schedule, developing television, or producing events although you certainly would be included in those decisions. More importantly, the Chairman would be the Ambassador of APBA Offshore Racing and any efforts you made to heal old wounds, repair damaged relationships and help to unify the sport so that it can continue on the road of success, would be supported by everyone.

Anyway, if you are interested let us know and I will get you with the decisionmakers.

Mike A.

Steve,

We got your letter

You have our support

Cherie' & Marc

(President/Vice President)
LMORA / Lake Michigan Offshore Racing Association

Steve, just tell me one thing. You don't like this Dean character...do you??? Please say no.

Due to all the "shananigans" pulled by "the other group" in trying to sabotage the Sarasota Offshore Showdown last August, and in the latest episode, getting Sheriff Bill Balkwell to pull all support from PAL for the SOS because of political pressure, (thankfully PAL's Board of Directors overruled Sheriff Balkwell for which he is having one of the world's greatest hissy fits), I would not vote for Kevin Brown for anything. AND I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.....

Mike,

Thank you for your commitment. Together, moving forward we can build on the best of what you and your troops have put together, and make something we can all be proud of. If I'm elected, I'd be pleased to serve in the position you speak of.

Formula Outlaw and Ron, I respect your voices, and believe it is in the richness and diversity of the human fabric that we find our ultimate strength and progress. I choose not to engage in besmirching anyone. My home has as much glass as the next fellows :)

Steve

Steve,

I figured I would return the favor since you were one who supported me for the Chairmanship in 1998.

Actually, I think you will see a new group of businessmen very soon taking over the day to day operations of the APBA Offshore Category and I know they are committed to continuing with the good things and changing the way I did some things. I am fine with that as I do believe in retrospect there are many things I could have done differently and better.

Anyway, I am enjoying my family, enjoying my law practice and really enjoying the idea of returning to racing. Enough of the politics for me.

But I do have some experience and insight that I will always be willing to share with anywho asks as I really do only want to see the sport of offshore racing achieve greatness, whatever that means. And I think it can.

So, if you are interested I will ask Mark to give you a call and you guys can talk. PM me your contact numbers and I will forward them on to him. Good luck.

Mike

Best of luck Mr. David. Jo

If T2x and MA can agree on someone....

He MUST be good!

Go get 'em Steve.

T2x

Actually Rich,

If you put our past differences aside, we agreed on a alot of things.

I know one thing we agree on is that the sport needs unity for it to finally go to the next level. It certainly does not need another break away group of owners to form another sanctioning body.

So, if the sport needs an operating board of directors who are focused on the business, rather than one general, and a guy like Steve to bring people together, then I for one will not only be willing to give it a try, but I would wipe the slate 100% clean and support such an effort. If you are someone who can help in that effort then I would support you too.

Again, I am through with the politics and I am done being "the guy". Sure I would like to see the time and money I have invested in the sport for the past 5 years to produce something, but I am more concerned about the sport splintering again and going backwards 10 years which could very well happen if some real leaders do not step up and put a stop to it NOW.

The problems - blame them on me - can be fixed, the split can be avoided, and the damage can be repaired but everyone needs to put down the sabres and get to work. Fast!!!! Before it is too late.

Mike

Mike:

I respect your answer........

There's a line in The Godfather that says something like..... "This has to happen every few years...to get out the bad blood."

The sport has gone through these things before.... and, no doubt, will again. I believe that Steve David is a healer and a builder, with a very good head....and heart. He is just what the doctor ordered for this time and place. If nothing else, we can agree that the sport needs re-unification, now more than ever. But I cannot, nor will not, criticise the people who felt the need to break away...... They too, had a point...and it obviously was heard.

Now is the time to put the errors and differences of the past aside...and work for the common good of the sport we love.....not just for offshore racing...but for all of the APBA divisions...who have kept the flame burning for the past 100 years.

Given your extended hand, I will do everything in my limited power to help in this regard........ with the single caveat, that I reserve the right to alert the community, every time my "B.S. Meter" goes off the charts.

May I wish A happy and healthy Holiday season to you and your family.

Rich

Fair enough.

Mike

D I P L O M A T I C
 

Diplomacy in it's finest hour. I apologize to Rich , MA is being diplomatic and willing to work with Steve & Rich. All we need now is to capture Sadam. Holy cow we did that Sat. 2004 is going to be a great year! BH

Steve:

You have my vote.
Happy Holidays !!!!!

Doc... Great to hear from you!
Happy Holidays

I spend a whole lot of time, and a fair amount of money, supporting offshore boat racing, ALL offshore boat racing. I get rather annoyed when people deliberately try to undermine efforts of others, who are making a dedicated honest effort to bring a boat race to a community, and to try to benefit two charities, with no intention whatsoever of trying to "rain on anyone else's parade". Had I not gone through it I probably never would have believed it. However, I did go through it, I witnessed it, and now I know it. It was not just an unfortunate situation, it was downright embarassing. There are a lot of people out there that know EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. I'm trying very hard to be "diplomatically correct" here. Facts are facts. Period.

Steve - I received your letter today in the mail.

You have my vote!