Pete...again I agree with you...but my point is that the C.R. brings back John C....wether he has pull or not...they bring him back....its just business....has OSS tried to have there worlds the week before or after SBI/APBA'S in Key West...if they won't let them....then they apperantly don't want anyone else.....thats not SBI/APBA's fault....

As you said...APBA and SBI use to have there worlds in Key West....the question should be why can't OSS get there worlds move to there..

I agree also...watching the worlds in Europe with the Stock boats is great....25 boats in a class is crazy....and I had the opertuniyt to race in F1 with 20 + boats...there is nothing better.....but things are not going to change....its been 5 years since the big brake up....and the dust is finally settleing...racers are finally racing were it benifits ther team...we all knew the only way for this sport to make it was fro teams to cross race....and thats happening....Last years Worlds was the closest to having boats from all orgs in a long time....it would be great for at least 1 race a year we all come together....but things happen....everyone can take blame for that thought...ther is more then enough fault to go around....but I think the racers have accepted the OSS, OPA, SBI/APBA and Super Cat Series Orgs....adn they are doing there thing....and its been a good year....even in this tough times....but you have to admitt...last years worlds had every Org come together and race in Key West....was it every team...no...was every Org represented..Yes....Even Ron P was goingo to schedule OSS's worlds weeks before SBI/APBA's so they could get there boats ready for Key West....

Is it perfect....no ...is it like we all want...no...but it was not perfect 10 year ago either...
and I don't feel its over either...I think things will still get better....Smitty and Augie have a great relationship with John C. they were joking in Key West....as long as the Orgs are talking with each other...things can and will happen....will it be everything that we want....no...but will it be a race here and there that will be better...yes....


and thanks for all the pics you take and post to keep us updated when we don't make the races....

I did speak to John at SBI a few weeks back and offered a solution for everyone to race in Key West. It would have brought more boats to the race, put more heads in beds, and increased revenue to SBI. My offer was turned down.

If anyone has ideas, please give me a call at 732 552 0669. We'd like to work with other organizations for the betterment of the sport.

St Pete is on or web site - Nov 17 - 23.

Ron....I quess thats the problem....and its only my opion...but a few years back this was tried with 10 demands that John had to meet...and if John did not meet these demand you guys would not show....and it was his race....I never could figure that out....today he still has the same qualifications as always, we in OPA know them and if we want to race follow them along with almost half of your race teams did at last years worlds

But since you aksed about some ideas....

1. Why not take some of your regs fee's and equipment fee's and run the SBI/APBA Worlds....or cut out some of the prize money during the next years events.....
2.Why not hold some found raiser during the year and raise the money to pay for the fee's...

Remember....OSS has how many boats...around 22 right...
of them how many will run the SBI/APBA worlds....around half ran the worlds last year...so those teams are going to show and pay anyways....so what around 10 + boats more are only left out....you guys can rasie 25k or so during a hole year to get the rest of the teams the Key West.....and like I said in a post above...I see and understand your concerns about inspections....but your teams are now racing in SBI/APBA and have no problems with them...so that problem is taken out of the pics....

Ron if you guys really want to race in Key West it can be done and fairly simple....but we have all heard on here in the past some of the posts that were the reasons they would not come to K.W.

Hell just the headache alone of scheduling and putting a world championship race should be worth 20k for not doing all that work and just show up and race...

Did I miss something...I thought the worlds were in Destin or is the National Championships in St Pete...I had a ball there in 2003....

but if it is your Worlds...I think its great that they are on a differant weekend then Key West....that helps the racers to do both that can...and want to....

I wouldnt count on 11 OSS boats showing in KW this year. But thats just my guess. Its all about give and take if you truly want a "all in" Worlds somewhere. Thats not going to happen in KW. Its his site and he can run it any way he wants. Lots of boats or a Title for every participant.
MD

Probably not....from looking at the OSS roster...I would say only about maybe 7 or so....but some of the SCL guys have moved to the Super Cat Series so I would think they will return again this year...but your right.....its his show....and he will run it the way he feels fit....I've learned this is a business to some and all I can do is respect it...and if we choise to run it we do...and if we don't we don't.....thats all we can do.....

But lets be fair about the "Title for every particapant"....
OSS had 25 boats in 11 or 12 class's including the POPRA Org
OSS had a great showing in SVL
I'm not knocking OSS....but you need to admitt the avg boat count per class was low....boats had to run in P Class one day and the Pro Series the next...
SBI/APBA had a good Super Stock boat count
Class 5 and 4 had a very good boat count
Vee Unlimited had a good count
P1 had a good boat count
P2 had a good boat count...
In P3 we had a low boat count and we had 5 boats in our class....

But we all have to do what we think is right and none of us should blame anyone....its been a safe and good year so far in Offshore...and I'm sure it will be a great 2nd half of our year...and both Key West and St. Pete will be good sites and racing.....

Was there ever a large boat count from Europe or other countries? If so when did they quit coming?

I've only been around since 2000....since the 2001 Worlds I have only seen around 3 or 4 boats come over...last year I thing there were 2 ,,Fountain World Wide and Honey Party.com

In the 80's it was a true World Competition. I first went in "85 here are some pics from 85 and 87

More from Europe 87 and Argentina

The good old days