Things NEVER change…

The Village of New Richmond, Ohio, has a Riverdays Festival every year and this will be the 26th annual event. Riverdays attracts 60-70 thousand people over three days. Entertainment includes a 14 ride midway, a cardboard boat regatta, a 5K run, cornhole tournaments, live bands, fireworks, 100 crafters, plenty of food and much more. They invited me (Rob Goodwin, Adrenaline Motorsports) to coordinate/host a powerboat race along with their event. They invited me last year but it was way too late to schedule a race.
Two months ago I began the process of coordinating the sanctioning body for this event and was quickly turned on by OPA (Eddie Smitty). He and I have had several phone conversations about adding our event to OPA’s schedule. The Riverdays Festival has a set date of August 18-20-2006, they have this published in several places including area travel guides. OSS and SBI/APBA already have events scheduled that weekend. Smitty agreed that this should/would not be problem and that Point Pleasant would move their event from August to July so we could fit in our race.
Again I spoke to him one week ago and was told that our race is a go. He wanted to know which airport to fly into so that he may survey the race site.
I just purchased/printed/mailed letters of interest requesting sponsorship/donations/advertising etc. to owners/presidents/marketing director of 648 local business. If anyone has done this they know the cost and time it takes.
It is very difficult to get sponsors, coordinate and the thousands of other things that need to happen to put on an event like this and to have these problems with sanctioning bodies just adds to the reason this sport will never grow. OPA, Smitty, have done several great things for the sport i.e. no entry fees, little to no changes in rules etc. Getting the costs down for the racers is the only way to get more racers at the events in turn gets more sponsors and so forth.
Now on OSO, Smitty has published a list of race sites for OPA 2006 and NO mention of New Richmond. I am very glad to hear Madison, IN is interested in a powerboat race. However, I have now called Smitty’s cel. and work numbers and left several messages and also sent e-mails asking “Wazzup?”

Rob Goodwin
(859)466-6800
[email protected]

Rob, along with my many other titles OPA is quite a handful. Yes Madison has popped up from nowhere. But, I have not put out any schedule to date. I am sitting tight so as not to schedule our races on top of any others. I think everyone can appreciate that. I will get in touch soon, Smitty

Thank you for the response. I and the Village are looking forward to OPA racing in New Richmond this year.

Thanks again, Rob.

Hey Rob, Smitty and I have been discussing your race site for over a month now, trying to figure out how to get Haggin, Scotty B, Ed Smith from St.Clair, Smitty and myself out to see you and the town so we can come to an agreement but with a statement like this and the way it's starting out I have suggested to Smitty that we take a good, hard look at this. The holidays were upon us, work and slight heart attacks, family vacations interfered with our everyday boating duties as the Presidents of OPA/The Jersey Boyz. We are considering all sites, with our racers best interest at hand. We are also trying NOT to put ANOTHER race ontop of other races going on the same day. There are a lot of factors you may not be aware of but we are doing our best, just relax and it may all fall in place.The quote "Things Never Change" is so far from the truth and everybody knows it, but Augie has one that he says to every potential race site..."SHOW ME THE MONEY" and The Racers will come. Smitty and I will be in touch with you by Tuesday 1/10/06.

what the hell is a cornhole tournament?
On second thought, I don't want to know...

WOW ! The first New Richmond race you put on was a GREAT
event ! You couldn't even walk through the town It was so crowded with spectators ! I sure hope you can do it again New Richmond has great fan friendly viewing

Augie,
Thanks again for the post. I'm sorry the slant to this thread was in the negative. I'm sure it is very difficult to put together a schedule and I apologize.
After the long hours and various meetings (village, coast guard, sponsors etc.) and then to read a quick post listing the possible race sties and not seeing New Richmond and with no return calls or e-mails, I believe you could understand my concern.
I am looking forward to your phone call and visit.

Thanks,
Rob

do these pics bring anything to mind

Birdog,
And if you remember it rained the entire weekend. Try to imagine 50K plus on a hot August day. Hope to see you this summer.
Rob.

Careful Pete, the first one looks like you as a child.