In the end , this arguement, along with any others involving
certain parties will never change. When you look at the median age, the sport doesnt have a image, and their arent any young guns coming into the sport. Some will race themselves into the poor farm for spite, everyone involved in the sport has a passion for it. but they all have a agenda as well. The economy as well, as other factors. will put some teams out the door. The race in KW is a fraction of what it once was, it is centered around the Poker runners, who have there big fancy boats, and matching crew shirts, and spend thier money living thier dream as a race team, JC like a old dog will not change, and for the sport to move forward it must change, or will die a slow death.

So the racer's can either figure it out or stay divided!

Guys you got to stop shooting yourselves in the foot. All that's achieved is that we keep powerboat racing a marginal sport. All that's needed is the willingness of all the orgs and the race teams to have a truly combined World's and then a way will be found.

Hi Ron, I raced Gene Whipp's A-44 Velocity with Steve Stepp 93' thru Ft Myers in 95'. Ran my own 41' Velocity - "Deland Honda" B-87 from Worlds in 95 till building a Factory II boat several years later...

Ran the B-87 boat with Steve Kildahl on throttles and Kevin Brown was our Navigator. I saw Will at Kevin's Memorial Service.

When we saw you guys in the harbor that year we were blown away having witnessed and assisted with the tragic wreck of Pepe's B-78 Mr K - Powerplay. Most people don't know that Kevin was the first and only guy in the water for quite some time at that accident and most likely saved one if not two lives that day. It was really hard for us to go out and run that second race...

Anyway it was Buzzi's boat that got me motivated to get involved and become an APBA Commissioner - Rep for A, B, C and Stock Classes. After we outed Don Jones, I had the pleasure of nominating Gene Whipp to succeed him - Gene was approved with a unanimous vote... Gene was a good friend and mentor - he loved Offshore Racing...

Anyway, made some great friends and really enjoyed the competitive racing back then. Also enjoyed the work with APBA - including several heated meetings with Fabio Buzzi.

Pepper Ernest

Just my 2cents, I agree one organization would be nice, but thats great for the guys that have the money to travel around the country and race at the different venues. Then again you have to think somewhat about the smaller boats in the production classes, i mean OPA has had a great boat count this year. The small guys cant travel across the country on race weekends. What I believe would be great for the sport is an organization like that of OPA down south so the racers down here can race with no entry fees and a nice prize purse not ridiculously far away from home. (Now I don't know if there are enough racers around the southeast to make this work.) I just believe that for the production class racers it has got be regional or there's never going to have high boat count. For example, OPA is mostly in the Northeast and most the racers are fairly close therefore an increase in the boat count. Then once a year meet at a neutral location for the world championship. And all the big guys can travel between these regional events and participate with all the organizations. I understand this isn't likely at all but again its just my 2cents. We all have wishful thinking sometimes...

Mike, exactly. Everyone has their own National championships. Why cant there just be one worlds? Does it matter who's name is on it? SBI, OSS, OPA Popra? KW is the worlds plain and simple. You want a unified worlds? Just Go.

Mike, for a racer you are pretty smart. And for the record there are more race boats in the Florida area then in the NJ area. I believe Florida could be bigger than OPA if it were run the same way as OPA. P class racing is regional and needs to be as affordable as possible for the teams if you want it to grow.
APBA had it working with regions and one big Worlds and it was Great!!!!!
Could you imagine if you took the best race sites in each region and put the National teams with them and then one big Worlds. All the P class teams have the same rules in the North,South,West and Great lakes. Each region could have several Huge events every year.
1) Ocean City
2) Point Pleasant
3) St. Clair
4) Sarasota
5) Ozarks
6) Orange Beach
7) Sunny Isle
8) Rum Run CA
9) Worlds in KW
Hows that for a national schedule and sharing the love!
MD

When you have over 100 race teams racing and only 30 -50 of them are willing to participate dont you think there is a problem? The Worlds should be the biggest event of the year hands down. The system is BROKE plain and simple. A promoter of such an event should be doing everything in there power to get the 100 boats in one place for this special event. When I here teams speak of the cost is the biggest problem then the promoter should be looking at how can I lesson the cost to the teams and raise more money from sponsors not the race teams. The bigger the show of boats the easyer it should be to raise money. If that Promoter doesnt care about boat count and he knows there are teams that would kill to have the opportunity to race against ALL the teams at such a race as the worlds. Then we have a real problem calling this race the Worlds. Every promoter should make a ton of money for all there hard work to put on an event but NOT at the racers expense. Like we have said in the past the circus doesnt charge the elephants to preform, they charge the the people they are entertaining
Many of you may not like the way I sound and think I should just shut up and keep everything the way it is forever. I believe in making this sport better for the racers first and then it will grow.
MD

Md why dont the racers do just that then..Supercat guys already do...they pick the best events at the beginning of the year and make it there schedule..A divisional for others a national for some...

Im with Smitty...make it a REAL worlds just go race everyone...example: it looks like the majority of Catlites will be in Kw then they should get together and crown the world champ there...In your case if all svlites get together and all are wherever...then thats what it is...Its sad but what do u do...

2fstwarlk your on the right path...basically the SUPERCAT guys have decided to do that last year and it worked out great...Raced with all orginizations and had fun...

For the World's to be the World's it has to be recognized and sanctioned by all the racing organizations, it is not good enough to just go to KW and race. OSS SBI OPA etc need to sit down at the table and figure out the deal, who gets what money etc and then announce a Real World championships. IF the race teams support this then it has to happen.

Would that not cost $10,000 in just registration fees?