I guess I will voice my opinion on this being as others are willing to do so....
This isn't to take any creditability from anyone that has put their time and efforts in to help the sport.



When I raced APBA in another Division, they had a mandatory 5 boat minimum for all National and World Championship Races. If a class could not maintain that minimum, the class was illiminated at the end of the season.

With today's circumstances, I wouldn't want to see it to that extreme.

What I would like to see is all organizations make it mandatory for a 3 boat minimum in order to be awarded a National or World Championship Title.

I would like to see a 3 boat minimum for a payout of a purse or reduce the payout if only 1 boat runs to a 3rd place purse to that boat and share the balance to the other classes.
If you can't meet the 3 boat minimum, reduce the payout accordingly. Perhaps this will help with the competition staying in contact between races encouraging them to make the next race.

In the past, I have seen individuals run in a class unopposed and not even make all the laps, then collects the full purse for 1st place.

I have seen a World Championship title awarded to a team that never completed 1 lap and also ran unopposed. (That should never happen again.)

I have seen a field of 4 of the fastest most expensive boats all make the start at a race and later found out they had no purse at all. (Perhaps it was an Invitation Class and not part of the normal line up?)

That's over and done with, what has happened has happened for whatever the reasons... Now let us (AMF) ALL MOVE FORWARD !!!

I do feel it is important to have competition.
Afterall, that is what racing is supposed to be all about whether some fans understand it or not.

I applaude the efforts of those that show up for each race.
You just can't expect the fans to be overly excited if they know there is no competition.

I don't have all the answers, but hopefully the organizations will take another look at the boat minimum, and make winning a title against competition to really mean something again...

Safe racing to all this 2007 season...

Sharkey....it looks like you will see what some of things you say will happen...

Right now and since SBI/APBA came together you only get paid for the amount of boats that enter...so if there is only one boat you get 5th or 3rd place prize money...pending on what class you run...

and from what I understand and hear OSS will be doing the same this year...the more boats in a class the hight prize purse...

as far as a National or World Championship...
its not the race teams fault if no one else enter to race a certain class....
A Class is set base on specs for a boat to meet with thats put out in the begining of the year if the boat shows all year or makes the number of racers to quailfy for a National or World Championship the team should not be penilized becasue no other compitition wishes to race that Class....
They are crown National and or World Champions base on they have met the specs and the terms to qualifie....
Getting rid of a class like F1 or SVL which are classes in the past that have had great boat turn outs would not be good...
It seems to cycle some class's have a low boat count for a year or so and then they seem to pick back up....

We seen this with OSS...when they started it was set that only 4 classes would be available...but in 4 years it has moved to 7 or 8 classes...this was done to raise the boat count...

So its seems the Organizations are trying to work with the teams to have a class for certain types of boats...

Yes it would be great to have a small number of classes with 10 to 15 boats....we all want that...but as we have seen its not working and the Organizations have to make more classes...

I personally think that OPA has got it the closest to having this right now with only 6 classes....
It has the smallest number of classes with the same boat count as the other Organizations.....

Build boats to fit the Rules, Not Rules to fit the Boats.

I have to disagree with you on the Championship Titles.

Win against 2 other boats or at the very least one other boat.

Buying a World Championship or National Championship by running unopposed is meaningless and should not be allowed.

It tarnishes the sport...

Sharkey...I agree with you 100% build boats to fit the class...
I don't know why OSS did not stay with the 4 boat class..

Also I thought that ABPA and SBI always had the P-1 TO P-5 and then the SV Xtereme SC extreme SV, SVL SC, SCL and F1 and F2....

I guess we will just have to do with what we have....

Tim,

I agree with Gino on this one(not neccesarily disagreeing w/ you on all of your points). Speaking as 1 of the 2 current F1 teams and I think I can say this for both F1 and SVL, we are here, and we welcome all racers that fit in our class. All teams have the choice to race were it better suits there team and interests, but as far as taking away titles and so forth, I disagree. We get penalized enough by the total payout for first place being $400 right now and we make that sacrifice, but then again if 3 more showed up first would get $2800. Its not a matter of buying a championship, its a matter of dedication, love, and passion(as Ryan said)

Trent

Sorry fellas,

I dont see how any of you can feel comfortable about accepting a national or world title, or even Hall of Champions, when you raced against no one all season.

Its a load of crap is what it is. How can you even think you are having fun if your not deck to deck with other boats. Might as well be Poker Running. Come to think of it, that might be more fun.

My point is that there really should be, at least 3 boats in any class, to have a class. I always thought the rule said 5 boats. But what do I know? Why would you guys even spend the time or money running by yourself, when you could easily just drop to a P class and have some real competition and maybe even some fun. Im not bashing here, I just disagree with some of you. Thats allowed on this thread isnt it?

Anyway, I spoke my piece.....continue

Steve,
Some day, I hope to get a shot at you. SVL is still a strong class. And I hope it continues to grow, on both sides of the fence. F-1 showed some promise 2 years ago. I'll assume we all know what happened with that.

I personally dont see F-1 making a come back quickly because it seems everyone is cautious about steppin up and making the investment. I hope Brian H. succeeds.

St. Cloud is a great event. I had a blast there in 2004.

Bruce,

All of the inductees into the hall of champions had competition in every race last year and not one of them did a clean sweep in wins. Let me clarify what qualifies you(just in case you arent aware, if you do then I apologize) but only 3 teams can get the honor: the boat in the Super Series that has the most points in a cat ie SC, SCU, SCL, SS. the boat in the Super Series that has the most points in a Vee ie SV, SVL, SVU, F1. And the final is the boat with the most points in the Sportsman Series(P class)ie P1-5.

Even the national champs didnt win every race that they attended. So it sounds to me like they had competition of some shape or form.

Not to sound cliche, but like in the "Field of Dreams" I quote,"If you build it, they will come" With the exception of Turbine, we have had the same amount of classes for at least 5-6 years now, in fact have eliminated 2(A and F2) maybe others, but I am not certain.

You bring up some points and we respect your opinions and would also welcome you to post(in our sandbox) your positive and productive suggestions in ways that we can improve our sport. I personally know that you have some great ideas that would benefit us all.

Trent

Not being rude or anything of the sort, but for those of us in the cheap seats, what happened with F1? 2 years ago we ran with 496's which from personal experience; great pleasure motor, but a horrendous race motor. So the class(Culbertson, Kildahl, Devlin, and Sarro) then voted in the 500's again since there are so many (approx 25) boats sitting around with that set-up.

I also wish the best of success for Brian and the ORL and cant wait for the oportunity to run against them in Key West.

I didn't say take away anyone's titles.

I said make it worth earning and have some meaning behind it.

If a race or two you run by yourself, why should you get the advantage of 1st place purse and 1st place points when all you have to do is idle across a start line?

At the Championship races a minimum of 1 other boat should be there to win it. I prefer at least a 3 boat minimum.

I am suggesting this from here on out, not what has happened in the past.

If someone runs by themselves the majority of the season and collects 1st place points, how would one ever catch up in points if he or she misses a race or 2... ?

If a Championship Title is not won over competition, than it should not be given out period.