Is it possible...
 

...that SBI, OSS and OPA could fall under the auspices of "mother APBA," or in this example, "WPR" since they hold the current offshore racing license from APBA?

That is to say, WPR would consist of representation from SBI, OSS, OPA, POPRA and whoever else that would want to be a sanctioned offshore racing organization. WPR could then develop the rules (tech rules, eligibility, fees, etc.) in which all the organizations operate under yet allow each organization to develop it's own schedule, promote it's own races and have it's own national championship. Then, WPR (APBA-UIM) would schedule the World Championship where all organizations could participate for a true "North American World Championship." No demands among organizations required...teams qualify according to the rules set forth by the WPR.

It seems the mechanism is in place to make this a reality...for the betterment of the sport. I can only imagine how big offshore racing could be with the combined leadership of SBI, OSS and OPA.

SBI seems to have the southeast covered, OPA the northeast, POPRA on the west coast and OSS central U.S./international. It seems the different organizations have established themselves in certain areas with success...we should continue to ride that success.

From what I've seen in my short racing career, SBI seems to have the national TV coverage figured out. OSS has worked some great cross-promotional ideas. OPA has figured out how to make racing cheaper for the teams. Each brings something unique to the table that can ultimately better the sport.

I'm not asking why this hasn't happened, instead I'd like to hear some constructive ideas on how to make it happen.

I post this to spark fresh ideas, encourage some out-of-the-box thinking and maybe open some minds to possible new ways of managing our sport. Please keep it constructive or you may face "penalties" from SBI/APBA or OSO...and it's not my intent to get anyone penalized with this post.

Thanks,

Sean

Re: Is it possible...
 

Sean, you completely stole my idea for starting a thread this morning based on that same thinking - - and I'm glad you did!!! I believe that with the collective positive thinking of the individuals involved in racing and who participate in this forum that a solution is possible. As you said, it will take some out of the box thinking. There are quite a few successful business owners on here who know what I mean. I personally instill in the people who work with me the importance and value of being able to solve a problem (there are no problems, just challenges to be overcome, right??!!). It doesn't take much talent to say "yup, we've got a problem here" and then get a resounding chorus of "yup, we sure do's" and then start pointing fingers and establishing blame. If you have a successful company, you know the importance of solving the problem quickly (you're losing money every minute this problem remains unsolved) and efficiently while also taking steps to insure that it doesn't get repeated. The "oh, whoa is me, I've got a problem and it's all someone else's fault" line of thinking is a direct path to failure.
Let's put our heads together here and see if we can come up with a solution (we already know we have a problem!!). We all seem to already have two major things we agree on: 1) we love to race (and it sure isn't because of all the $$ it puts IN our bank accounts!). 2) we want to race against/with as many boats as possible. Sean's thinking is along the same lines as mine: Why can't all the organizations(the ones that want to) be brought under the main banner of APBA/UIM and then be allowed to subdivide into individual groups and allowed to basically do their own thing (within reason) and at the end of the year (or even various times throughout the year) EVERYONE gets together for the big one. I know this is an oversimplified version, but it's just a starting point.

Re: Is it possible...
 

Great Idea, but if it was that easy we would all be racing in key west. Money and fees are the big stumbling blocks, greed and lack of communication has killed key west. I think that the WPR could care less about a big show, he used 2004 to convince the CR he could put on a big show and now is taking the money and running with it , JC could care less about larger boat count it is just a pain in his ass, if there is less than five boats in a class he does not have to pay prize money either. The only way it would get back together is if the cr or some independent promoter could bring it together. I am sure somebody could get threw the legal ease of apba rules, how about it dhaw.JMO

Re: Is it possible...
 

Vinny,
Thats not true every boat that races SBI/APBA no matter how many boats in the class gets paid .
SBI/APBA has has a 5 yr deal with KW, possible after that something can be done. The main problem from what I see is OSS doesnt want to join APBA UIM (understandable) but that is a major issue with SBI/APBA lic agreement.

Re: Is it possible...
 

I don't think we need to get hung up on just the Key West/Conch Republic issue. We need to be looking for a solution that will work for the whole year that will allow all the "sub-groups" to be doing their racing within each group as well as with whatever other "sub-group" they'd like to go to. All (or at least some) of these races could possibly be used to provide points towards a single National Championship title or just let each "sub-group" have their own national title and then everyone be eligible for the World Championships.
As Vinny said" if it were just that simple ...", believe me I know there is nothing simple about trying to fix this - - - but we have to start somewhere.

Alan

Re: Is it possible...
 

I know I don't begin understand at all the politics in all of this (I'm just a fan) but couldn't the OPA put on a race, make it not conflict with another race date, invite everyone, come up with classes that would apply to the most boats (no way to satisfy everyone), and call it whatever they want and not step on a bunch of toes? Maybe thats what they do with every race they put on now. It seems, just by reading previous posts, that the OPA is the only nuetral party that could pull this off. I know I have oversimplified this. Just a thought from a fan.

Re: Is it possible...
 

Maybe they should re think their lic agreement it does not seem to be helping with boat count or venues! Seems like diminishing returns. Good luck with the five yrs at this rate!
Understand I was only interested for a large event to help the sport, we have the bulk of the boats in our class to race............ ...I give up on this subject, got to get ready to kick wil's ass!

Re: Is it possible...
 

It's not that simple. Each orgainzation has points assigned to each race. These points go towards the year end high points championship. Most boats won't race outside of their primary club and risk breaking the boat and miss the next race on their home turf.

All OPA races are open to anyone that wants to join us. Just pay the $500 equipment fee and $100 per racer fee and your good to go. We don't even charge a race entry fee. Just come and have some fun.

We normally only run the 5 p classes but our rulebook does extend through all of the closed canopy classes if needed.

Re: Is it possible...
 

YOU GONNA TAKE THAT WIL? :D :drink:

Re: Is it possible...
 

I WOULD RUN OPA BUT AUGIE IS AFRAID OF ME, AND HE MIGHT GET HIS GOONS ON ME! :evilb: :D :evilb:

Re: Is it possible...
 

Sean,

Your idea has already been proposed (and rejected) to OSS. I have 1st hand information. If anyone would like to know the details, I will be glad to share them with you. Otherwise, the significant efforts that SBI has already taken toward unifying the sport (and not just the issue of KW) will remain unknown to those outside of the OSS Board of Directors

Best Regards,

Ken Doyle


PS: I would be willing to post this information on this board on the condition that it would not be in contradiction to the new OSO rules. Otherwise, if you will send me your email address, I will forward it to you.

Re: Is it possible...
 

You Rat Ba$tard!

Re: Is it possible...
 

Ken, If you don't mind, forward it to me. I am not on the Board.

Thanks, Ben

Email: [email protected]

Re: Is it possible...
 

Okay,

Let me put some more thoughts on paper here:

- SBI/APBA has Key West under a 5 year deal (as I also expect are other race sites with the other organizations)...so Key West becomes SBI/APBA "Championship"
- OSS is going to Destin...OSS "Championship"
- OPA...I think I read one of these posts from Smitty that Cambridge will be their "Championship"

So, maybe what we need is just one more race, let's say in early December. We'd need a rule book that was adopted and voted on by all registered owners in the participating organizations. We'd want national TV coverage, a marketing plan that promotes the race, no entry fees and ideally a nice purse for our efforts.

Now I know this is somewhat simplified...standardizing rules would be difficult at best and the issue of the APBA/UIM license could still be an issue (or maybe not). So that leads me to my next few questions:

1. Who would be interested in being there (i.e. which teams, race fans)?

2. What would we need to pull this off (i.e. where's the ideal location, how about insurance, major sponsors)?

3. Who would be willing to take on such a task (or better yet, why or why not)?

4. What would our budget have to be?

5. What am I missing?

Sean

Re: Is it possible...
 

Okay...I'll be the first to answer my own questions:

1. We'd be there! This is the big one.
2. Location: Somewhere on the Florida coast (warm climate for December), possibly south Texas (Padre Island?) Insurance: I'd have to find out who insures offshore racing events. Sponsors: I expect we have some teams with good contacts for possible sponsors...I know one that has a sports marketing budget of $50M a year...I'd want some professional help to secure them.
3. I've got experience putting on military air shows and would be willing to participate on the planning board.
4. TV Coverage: $500K? Purses: $500K? Insurance: $? Staffing: $250K Not sure what else is involved...need the experience organizers to chime in.
5. I'm lacking personal experience putting on an offshore race...but I have done air shows...I've already seen the similarities.

Sean

Re: Is it possible...
 

Look, if one organization wont even make an effort to come to the table than nothing can be done. I suspect that this lack of even a minimal effort speaks more about the mind set of the directors than any post that could be put here. I am done offering ideas or even wasting my time putting thought into the issue. I have read the documents and I hope that Ben has too. This sucks.

Re: Is it possible...
 

I am on the OSS board and would like to see documents posted here on via e-mail because I must have missed them somehow.
sw

Re: Is it possible...
 

KEN EMAIL ME THEM ALSO IF POSSIBLE
MIKE STANCOMBE
[email protected]

Re: Is it possible...
 

Mark if you want to know the awnsers,call Paul or Gary and ask,they always awnser and return calls.Mike see you and your dad soon. :evilb:

Re: Is it possible...
 

cool

Re: Is it possible...
 

I negotiated Destin personelly . Our terms don't contain anything that would indicate that the direction we take goes anywhere close to KW in the near or distant future. I love Key West it is a strange mistress. Offshore lost 3 of its star players in a short time in KW. (Mike Poppa, Dick Fullam, and Chris Lavin) I saw the accidents happen from the inside of a cockpit on the course. . It gives me mixed emotions every time I go back. But then I think of Lew Cooper a 73 year old warrior who climbed into the Miss Gallo boat in KW for the last time before he passed away at The Pier House doing what he loved best and I think that would be an acceptable end for any true racer doing what he loved best. Moving on and going to Destin is not some complicated agenda filled issue. In order to succeed you must have the ability to change. We are changing our destination for our worlds (which I think should be called OSS North American Championship) to Destin. For better or worse that is where we will be.I have known JC for about 25 years and I think it would take a fool to think you could "take away" KW from him. I wish him and anyone who races KW a safe,successful, and happy race. By the way I am sorry for all of you who are freezing your butts off while I sit at my kichen in Destin, watching the sun come up, nursing my sunburn, and waiting to go back on the beach today (which is exactly 78 steps from my back porch!)
sw

Re: Is it possible...
 

Stan,
I guess the threshold question is whether you were an OSS board member at the close of the 2005 season or incoming for 2006 and whether you were presented with a letter regarding an ivitation to come to Key West and discuss the worlds?? This would have been in December or prior to the release of the schedules for 2006. Did you see such a document and was it even discussed????

Re: Is it possible...
 

I was not on the board until December. I did NOT see the document. That does not mean it could not exist but I never saw it and I was not privy to any conversation about it.
sw

Re: Is it possible...
 

With the permission of Ken D, I am willing top post the documents. I will say this, I do not think that anything contained within the documents, disparages, berates, or says anything negative about any of the parties involved. If I am wrong then I will deal with the consequences... although I pride myself on reading comprehension.

Re: Is it possible...
 

Its only 23 out right now...... But the sun is out.... :D



Mike :D

Re: Is it possible...
 

Well Stan, it's 26 degrees here in Jersey. This sucks but hey...I hope your fuc$in' sun burn ain't that bad. Please watch walking down your friggin' steps to the beach, I only tell you this cause ALL our steps are full of ICE from the SNOW STORM 2 days ago. Have a great weekend, me and Smitty will be thinking about how warm it is by you when I get to the Marina today. Augie

Re: Is it possible...
 

I think on final analysis that the sticking point was the 2 race min.(UIM 104) All partys negotiated in good faith but JC had no choice but to follow APBA/UIM rules and our members were not willing to ante up on 2 race issue. The deal is done. Maybe some ambitous promoter will come up with a late Nov. early Dec. venue that has no restrictive barriers so all organizations can attend. I know it won't be me. This is a lot harder that just going to the races.
sw
Augie, I am leaving today to go home. My condo is empty until next week and I will leave the key at the gaurd gate for you :Dhttp://www.destincam.com/ or http://www.remaxsouthern.com/cam.htm http://www.beachview.com/destin_640.htm

Re: Is it possible...
 

Stan,
there is no doubt in my mind that you did not see the offer that was extended. My concern is that none of the other OSS members did either because this appears to be a tremendous effort on the part of JC via Ken to bring about a Worlds in Key West that allows OSS to maintain autonomy. If you were not even informed of the offer how could you be a fully informed member run organization?? I suspect that quite a few teams will be surprised at the lengths that JC was willing to go to make it happen. If there is filtering or censorship of information at the highest levels then I think that a huge disservice is being done to your members. If the offer was extended, all members fully informed and a vote of the members took place then all is good and we MUST respect the decisions of the member run OSS, if not there is a fatal flaw in the system. From your prior post I am of the opinion that you were not aware of the offer...... that is troubling.

(UIM 104 does not even become an issue here)

Re: Is it possible...
 

I also want to say that none of the above should be construed as negative comments made about a Racing organization; its staff & officials, and fellow racers. I am not intending to cast bad light, negative feelings or problems for any of the above. I have read, edited and re-read my posts to ensure that I am in full compliance with OSO Admins rules. If there are complaints about my posts bring them to my attention first and I will rectify the problem. I dont need Steve PO'd at me.

Re: Is it possible...
 

Thanks Stan. SMITTY, Jersey Boyz Party at Stan's House. There goes the neighborhood!

Re: Is it possible...
 

THANKS ALOT :mad: