SBI/APBA, OPA, OSS Can we grow together?
10-04-2008, 06:58 PM
#151
Racer
Racer
Dave........Vanderstel & Colabella do my motor maintenence but the Merc. money mMORE than covered all the basic parts for the year, PLUS the staffed, truck is at EVERY race with EVERYTHING we needed.
10-04-2008, 07:23 PM
#152
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the best guys!!
it just seems that somehow someone always has to make a buck off of the racers back. we all see it but, continue racing cause this is what we love to do and i'm not talking about merc.
i never gave any thought till halfway thru the year but imagine if you or i flipped a boat. you get out okay and noboy's hurt but then have to fight with sea tow to get your boat back. and all this for a trophy and a few bucks. it just seems that more should be given back to those that ae racing and actually putting on the show. and yes i know it cost money to put on these races but you guys are the ones putting it on the line.
i'm stilled puzzled why no tv coverage??
does merc know that you take your business too, two of it's best ex-employess??
i'm stilled puzzled why no tv coverage??
10-04-2008, 07:38 PM
#153
I don't forget a whole lot about what happened believe it or not. AND I for one would welcome other manufactures in any class and as a member of the OSS board would vote for it. In the 3 years I've been on the board no one from Mercury has every said they don't want competition.....even when the 850 class came out Mercury said other builders could build the motors.....it was the owners of the boats that decided against it.
As far as TV , sites, and sponsors the biggest brick wall we run into is a lingering bad taste in peoples mouths about the way they were treated back, in said "hayday" you all speak of so ofter. I was there and at the time it did seem great, Richie Rich, Treadwell, & many others made it very colorful but where are they now. Deals were made, bills were left unpaid, people got screwed.....that was then this is now.....OSS is moving forward the best they can. Trying to make up ground on what was lost in the transistion from then to now. There is a great group of people at OSS many of whom are even from the days of the LLC working to make it the best possible place to race, if anyone doesn't want to be part of it that is the freedom of choice, there is always SBI & OPA.....
I am not surprised they weren't getting a warm and fuzzy feeling, that would be like my suppliers going into business dealing with the public? How could I keep up if they opend there own sign shop as a supplier. GM is a supplier to Mercury and then they were competition!!!! I don't know all the details of how that went down and there were people that made good money off of it......but now there gone......and Mercury is still hear supporting offshore racing as they have been for the last 40 or so years.....so Vortec tried, there was KS&W/Eickert , OMC/second effort was there too....HAWK, United, Baker, Griffin, Troy Dennis, Pfaff many groups have tried ,in offshore racing, and didn't succeed for one reason or another but Mercury has stood strong & we shouldn't bash them for that.
As far as TV , sites, and sponsors the biggest brick wall we run into is a lingering bad taste in peoples mouths about the way they were treated back, in said "hayday" you all speak of so ofter. I was there and at the time it did seem great, Richie Rich, Treadwell, & many others made it very colorful but where are they now. Deals were made, bills were left unpaid, people got screwed.....that was then this is now.....OSS is moving forward the best they can. Trying to make up ground on what was lost in the transistion from then to now. There is a great group of people at OSS many of whom are even from the days of the LLC working to make it the best possible place to race, if anyone doesn't want to be part of it that is the freedom of choice, there is always SBI & OPA.....
I am not surprised they weren't getting a warm and fuzzy feeling, that would be like my suppliers going into business dealing with the public? How could I keep up if they opend there own sign shop as a supplier. GM is a supplier to Mercury and then they were competition!!!! I don't know all the details of how that went down and there were people that made good money off of it......but now there gone......and Mercury is still hear supporting offshore racing as they have been for the last 40 or so years.....so Vortec tried, there was KS&W/Eickert , OMC/second effort was there too....HAWK, United, Baker, Griffin, Troy Dennis, Pfaff many groups have tried ,in offshore racing, and didn't succeed for one reason or another but Mercury has stood strong & we shouldn't bash them for that.
The reality is the racers destroyed powerboat racing commercially and you were a pawn in the game. In the past you were on speedvision just before or after F1 aired on Sunday mornings. Now where are you? why doesnt Mecury have you (TV) where GM did? What has having only one vendor done positive for OSS? Why are race sites not returning for OSS?
Can you imagine NASCAR or F1 if there was only one engine supplier?
Clearly you have learned nothing so keep starving so you can race a boat.
Steve
Last edited by smiklos@sunprint; 10-04-2008 at 07:56 PM.
10-04-2008, 08:14 PM
#154
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Thread Starter
Steve,
I have a few questions for you.
How many races did you race in this season and last?
Do you just show up for the worlds?
How many boats were in your class when you won high points in '06? and how many did a full season?
What is the reason the vortec for allowed to turn more rpm's when the first showed up.
Did you have to pay for your motor or were you representing?
Where are they now?
Do you have ANYTHING positive to share?
I have a few questions for you.
How many races did you race in this season and last?
Do you just show up for the worlds?
How many boats were in your class when you won high points in '06? and how many did a full season?
What is the reason the vortec for allowed to turn more rpm's when the first showed up.
Did you have to pay for your motor or were you representing?
Where are they now?
Do you have ANYTHING positive to share?
10-04-2008, 08:28 PM
#155
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I understand wanting offshore racing to be bigger, less expensive etc... but you have to remember the bottom line, which seems to have been forgotten in some of the replies. PEOPLE RACE BECAUSE THEY ENJOY RACING. sponsors help for 2 reasons, either they enjoy boat racing themselves, or they think it is a viable advertising medium. To gripe about sponsors not doing enough, to dog on merc or whatever is biting the hand that feeds you. TV is in the buisness of of entertainment to make money, they will chose the entertainment that they think will make them the most money. Nascar and F1 are rare exceptions in the racing world, not the norm. Race because you enjoy it, do what you can to make it more fun but sponsors and tv are icing on the cake, it's not part of the contract, it's not something we are entitled to, it's not something we demand it's merely an added bonus that can increase the fun factor. your simply not going to get rich racing boats, your not going to get famous racing boats, your not going to get a 2 million dollar nike endorsment contract racing boats. Race because you enjoy it, if you want to expend more energy work on making it more competitive and fun. Anything beyond that will most likely only succeed in giving you a headache. Gentlemen, race for enjoyment. If racing is causing you stress, and you are not enjoying it, maybe it is time to consider another form of recreation.
to paraphrase a couple ancient proverbs,
the best athlete does not compete for winnings sake, he competes in the spirit of play.
and
if you force something, it will resist.
to paraphrase a couple ancient proverbs,
the best athlete does not compete for winnings sake, he competes in the spirit of play.
and
if you force something, it will resist.
Last edited by phragle; 10-04-2008 at 08:32 PM.
10-04-2008, 08:42 PM
#156
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you ask " why no TV coverage?" Whens the last time any of you watched an offshore race from shore.Come on! after 3 laps I wasnt even watching and I know everyone out there.If you dont have huge waves its friggin boring.Everyone needs to stop blaming the orgs. and find a way to make it more exciting to watch.Instead of trying to place blame on someone lets try to figure out a new way to bring attention to the sport.
10-04-2008, 08:51 PM
#157
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I understand wanting offshore racing to be bigger, less expensive etc... but you have to remember the bottom line, which seems to have been forgotten in some of the replies. PEOPLE RACE BECAUSE THEY ENJOY RACING. sponsors help for 2 reasons, either they enjoy boat racing themselves, or they think it is a viable advertising medium. To gripe about sponsors not doing enough, to dog on merc or whatever is biting the hand that feeds you. TV is in the buisness of of entertainment to make money, they will chose the entertainment that they think will make them the most money. Nascar and F1 are rare exceptions in the racing world, not the norm. Race because you enjoy it, do what you can to make it more fun but sponsors and tv are icing on the cake, it's not part of the contract, it's not something we are entitled to, it's not something we demand it's merely an added bonus that can increase the fun factor. your simply not going to get rich racing boats, your not going to get famous racing boats, your not going to get a 2 million dollar nike endorsment contract racing boats. Race because you enjoy it, if you want to expend more energy work on making it more competitive and fun. Anything beyond that will most likely only succeed in giving you a headache.
to paraphrase a couple ancient proverbs,
the best athlete does not compete for winings sake, he competes an the spirit of play.
and
if you force something, it will resist.
to paraphrase a couple ancient proverbs,
the best athlete does not compete for winings sake, he competes an the spirit of play.
and
if you force something, it will resist.
peace out
10-05-2008, 10:58 AM
#159
Charter Member #94
Charter Member
As funny as it was, it's also true. Just my opinion, but we first have to think "what is best for the sport, NOT what is best for Mercracing"
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Abby-someone
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10-05-2008, 11:46 AM
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this thread is taking on a somewhat strayed direction,
but............
As long as we can fairly tech other motors, I dont really have a problem with it. However, I am extremely pleased with Merc, as is most other teams using them, which is why we voted to use them as the only engine. At this point, no one is forcing us to run Merc, we choose to. So, why is it such a big issue?
but............
As long as we can fairly tech other motors, I dont really have a problem with it. However, I am extremely pleased with Merc, as is most other teams using them, which is why we voted to use them as the only engine. At this point, no one is forcing us to run Merc, we choose to. So, why is it such a big issue?
