What happened to "United We Race"
 

What happened to John Hagins dream "united we race"! In reading some of the post here I see allot of peeling apart the rules to the ninth degress. I thought the goal was to get more race boats, not make it harder to join the sport! In my 'off the record' interviews with performance boat owners the biggest complaint I hear is "there are too many rules to join a class forcing the racer to spend more money. What happened to "run what you brung?" I know it's P class, but if a play on words can bring in new players, whats the harm?
The second complaint is "Its not fun anymore!" Picking the sport apart doesn't seem like much fun, so I say 'Bring back the fun & they will come!'
Anyways, thats my goal, but what do I know? I'm just a racers wife trying to support my husbands habit :kiss:

I say ring back the A, B, C, D, Modified, and Open classes. Unless a class can bring 10 boats to a race.

So bringing back the A, B, C, D, Modified, and Open classes will Guarantee 10 boats plus per glass per race?

The first time i every had about the jeszy boys OPA was when I brought my boat to jason sarris at performance marine and he showed me his race boats and gave me a tour of his shop. Jason and crew is a great person. My boat is only 21ft with a single vortec smallblock i would love to race the circuit but its to small. Maybe if someday thier would be a class for small boats you would get more people.Bigger crowds.Didnt they race smaller boats back in the day

That didn't quite seem to work out. Again.

u·nit·ed
–adjective
1. made into or caused to act as a single entity
–verb
2. to join, combine, or incorporate so as to form a single whole or unit.

Nope.
:(

u·nit·ed
adj.
1. Combined into a single entity.
2. Concerned with, produced by, or resulting from mutual action.
3. Being in harmony; agreed.

we
pron.
1. Used by the speaker or writer to indicate the speaker or writer along with another or others as the subject: We made it to the lecture hall on time. We are planning a trip to Arizona this winter.
2. Used to refer to people in general, including the speaker or writer: "How can we enter the professions and yet remain civilized human beings?" (Virginia Woolf).
3. Used instead of I, especially by a writer wishing to reduce or avoid a subjective tone.


race
n.
1. Sports
a. A competition of speed, as in running or riding.
b. races A series of such competitions held at a specified time on a regular course: a fan of the dog races.
2. An extended competition in which participants struggle like runners to be the winner: the presidential race.


So if your going to break down the meaning of united we race it's best we look into the meaning of all three words.

UNITED: Come race with us, everyone is welcome in our group.
WE : "We", our group, thus come race with our group, everyone is welcome.
RACE: Come "race" with us. Everyone is welcome to come come and compete at any of our OPA events.

Seems that's been a long standing invitation the OPA has left out for any and all teams.

OPA's definitely on the top of my list. They've got their sht together for sure. It'd be nice if they ended up being the only game in town.

In theory that would be great, but I don't think Smitty and the Boyz could handle that. Remember the OPA is a volunteer group of friends. What I believe would be best is if their were three groups that follow the OPA model, almost Francizes. North, South and West. Meet for a National Championship. Same rules, same fees, same managing partners.

We're on the same page. :)
Logistically, you're spot on and at the end of the day they would all fall under one, whole, singular governance. One set of rules, one set of fees, one set of points, one champion. We can dream, right?

When Haggin came up with the idea of United we Race was when I was first starting to get involved with the GEICO team. The thing that most people do not know is that it was not just Haggin involved with trying to promote what they were trying to do. It was a group of racers that had come together to do this. The racers who Haggin had gotten involved were all people who had a true passion for the sport and really wanted to see things go somewhere. This group really did start getting behind OPA and if anyone can remember back to Ocean City MD. in I want to say around 2006 that was a huge race. National Television, Big Boat Count and a group that all had a common goal.

During the 2005 Season is when OPA did the Dash for Cash in Camden NJ. Some of us may remember it as the "rainy race" It rained so hard that weekend but it was a great time. I am pretty sure everyone that went to this race from OSO ended up and still have the yellow AMF Jacket. Well at this race Smitty and Haggin along with some others came up with the idea of no entry fee racing. This is what started the kick off to OPA. During the winter between 05 and 06 Haggin rallied the troops and got everyone behind OPA.

It was a great season for OPA and all the teams that became involved. Many of those teams still call OPA home today. Now of course there were factors that came into the Success of United we Race, mainly the two other race groups SBI and OSS. Both of the groups had people that of course would stay loyal to that group and that is great. Haggin was one of the few people who went all over the country racing with every group at almost every race site. I remember when I started with the team one of the guys was telling that the year before that had something like 30+ Races. He said it was great but a very long year. Haggin conitued to do this until 2010 where AMF and Miss GEICO joined forces really trying to put OPA on the map with a televised race schedule consisting of 6 races broadcast on Sunday Afternoon at 4pm. The races would be run six weeks back to back and it was a great boost for the sport. In Orange Beach AL. Haggin retired saying that it was time to focus on other interests.

Now to answer your question. United We Race still exsists and ther are some people that live by those words. Haggin and that group of racers spent a lot of time and money trying to go to many different race sites during the season working on trying to get the leaders of all of these groups to play nice and work together. Well over the years things have changed a lot and for personal reasons those people retired from racing. Haggin countied to fight for this solution and did so until he retired living us with a great legacy.

The problem is very simple: As long as there are mulptiply organizations who have different ideals about the racing world then it will next to immposible to get everyone to race as one. I understand why people race where they do and that is fine but those loyalties hurt United We Race.

Racing will always be a hobby to everyone but maybe the elite few and so it gets treated as a hobby. Second P Class racing is here to stay because with out P Class in any group the boat count would be terrible leaving a race site with no more then 15 to 20 race boats. As a Race promoter boat count is huge because the bigger the show the better it looks. Trust me I get asked on a daily basis is GEICO coming back to Solomons Island. Yes they are and they put on a great show but the more boats out there and racing the better the show. One thing the racing organizations need to do is figure out a way to better explain the classes to the fans. P class is here to stay so its best to think of ways to make it work for the bennifit of the group.

:ernaehrung004::ernaehrung004::ernaehrung004:

How you doing, Mikey? Hope all's well!

Mikey, we have YOU, we have our FANS, we have THE JERSEY BOYZ and ALL OUR RACING TEAMS...WE ARE OPA! Doesn't get much better than that!

Dont forget augie you have the michigan mafia to and it dosent get much better than that.
Also united we race is alive and well.

Nick I am doing well thank you. Looks like you guys have been enjoying yourselves doing some souther Florida Poker Runs!!! Hope all is well and give Erin my best!!!

All hail the God Father!!! Thanks Augie glad to be a part of it!!!

Would NEVER leave you guy's out Gary. Our Racers and Volunteers are The Heart and Soul of OPA/THE JERSEY BOYZ. Everything is GOOD!

+1

All's well, for sure. I'll pass it along. Just livin' the dream, man. The weather's been nothing short of perfect this winter. Hope to see you soon. Take care.

The problem is very simple: As long as there are mulptiply organizations who have different ideals about the racing world then it will next to immposible to get everyone to race as one. I understand why people race where they do and that is fine but those loyalties hurt United We Race. Quote from Karaoke Mike

I couldn't agree more. John & his gang came to race at all the clubs venues, encluding ours & we couldn't have been more proud to have the AMF crew.
As far as unification of the current clubs around the US, we are trying. I will be able to explain more at a later date, but for now we are trying. Keep a sharp eye boys it may come sooner than you think. :food-smiley-007:

Lets not just blame the Org. some of the racers have done as much damage if not more to the sport. With today economy you will see it harder to get good race site, and it will affect a lot of the teams this yr. The hardest hit will be the heart and soul for Offshore the P class. Like it or not it is a reality united we race is a great concept but in reality it doesnt work. Teams will race where it is best for them finacally and economically and thats a fact. Opa has a good Model FREE doesnt get better then that. The southern team will run local Fla races and stay close to home with SBI. Pretty simple guys this isnt rocket science it a bunch of guys boat racing as a hobby. The drama is for the guy that really dont want to race it gives them somethign to do.

No blame on anyone here, except maybe the economy. No one knows better than I the hardship of producing a race & the time envolved respectively. Currently we are in the thick of just that task. However, I would like to think that the East Coast teams would support all clubs, specially without a race of their own until summer. I found that is not the case. We had offered tow money & reduced fees (one time racing fee of approx $300 if paid in advance). The response was a big foot on my a---s as the door slamed shut. But we won't let that detour our efforts, as I stated earlier I will provide more info in the coming days.
We never had so much fun & warmth from the EC teams when we did the full tour in 09'. Now that our boat is up & running strong again you can bet we are working hard to attend 1 or 2 races out there! Why? Because we want to support the clubs that support the sport. Besides we miss seeing everyone.......

Tow money and some fee's is great but the other big issue your missing in todays ecomony is the time from work if you have a job. It is kind of tough to ask for time off every other weekend to go racing when ppl r losing their jobs everyday. So for a teams from the east coast to take 4-6 days off just isnt going to happen. Teams r going to race close to home, they really dont have a choice, and tow money isnt going to help that. Even east coast teams traveling north and south will be less this yr for sure. Gas prices the way they r and no end in site this could be the final straw.

Have to agree that time off from work is one of the key factor for many racers not attending a lot of races, I also beleive the economy is a big factor as to why a lot of racers do not attend a lot of races or any at all. Org loyalty I beleive is the smallest factor out of the three key factors.

There's that foot again! With that kind of attitude, I can see your glass is half empty. However, with Pacific Offshore the glass is half full & that's how we have been able to bring out racers that have not been seen for a few years. Also we have beginning racers joining in because we are focusing on the fun factor. So with that said I wish everyone a fun, safe 2011 racing season & we'll see you at the Worlds.
Good Luck!!!

Sorry you feel that way, it has nothing to do with the glass being half hull or half empty it about reality. The facts are what they are and sorry you dont see it, but i know the rest of us do. You will see fewer teams this yr when u have seen in the past. That doesnt mean that everyone of us arent trying as hard as we can to make as many races as we can. There are so many factors that are in play right now that many of us havent had to deal with before, and our prioritys have changed. Its not a matter of making choices any more its a matter of survival, for our families.
I guess the west coast must not be feeling the crunch that the rest of us are. Not only the racers, but the cities are not spending as much money if any for racing events for the same reason. Speak to the powers to be and they will tell you the same thing, race site are getting harder and harder to work with. Look back over the last few yrs of some of the great site that are gone.
It is what it is and all we can do is the bests we can. Wish everyone a safe and successful 2011 and i'm i will see you all during the course of the yr. Be safe and lets have some fun.....

There needs to be unification period.How about a common set of tech rules to start.I say offer a few spec classes maybe the 525 classes;and the six bracket classes.No need for unlimited classes..way too expensive to ever draw enough boats for a race.Regional series in the North,South and West...and one true NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP with all of the teams at the end of the season.That would be a great start in bringing the sport back to what it used to be.

So you think we should do away with the Unlimited class, Super Cat, Turbines, Super Vee Unlimited, Super Vee, and Stock ??? They dont draw enough boats??? well i think u need to re think that. There isnt a city that would pay if these boats werent there or a chance of them being there. Ask the promoter of Cocoa Beach what he thinks of your idea, and what he has promised the city.

Just want to make sure I got this right ???
You want to do away with :

1 CMS
2 Mixed Emotions
3 Cintron
4 Super Heat
5 Instigator
6 Outerlimits
7 Fountain Talladega
8 BTM Marine SV
BTM Marine SC
9 Two Cocks Fight Apparel
10 Boat Show Direct
11 CRC
12 Page Racing
13 War Paint
14 WHm
15 Talking Trash
16 JD Byrider
17 Aqua Mania
18 Geico
19 JBS
20 Rebel Racing
21 Mapei
22 Steve Quick Jewelers
23 Talbot
24 Fluid Sealing
25 Rolling Vengeance

I dont know about the rest of the Org. but I can tell you that John C wouldnt want no part of this brain storm if thats the best you can come up with. With out these boats u have no show like it or not .

I understand your point...but right now there are far too many big boat classes with too few boats...many of the classes have only 1 or 2 boats in them.Cant we get back to a few featured big boat classes with more boats in them.Do you want a show or a race?

Comment:

Great post and I agree with the majority of your post but for the conclusion. I think Waterboy is right in one area and that is unification for a World Championship in November.

Look you can have all the the narcissistic behavior you want with offshore racing but the fact remains unification will determine who is the National World Champion. [Definition: The narcissist is described as being excessively preoccupied with issues of personal adequacy, power, prestige and vanity.]

The draw must be television once you gain ratings the rest of the equation will fall into place. This being true... once television gets involved the form of organization will be deminimis especially if you have a World Championship that puts up some serious money. Racers in every class will not be able to resist despite any loyalties or BS narcissistic personal issues.

This means putting up some purse money for each class in the World Championship bracket and that includes all classes. The class must be composed of at least three boats which must participate even if they DNF in the final race [it will go to points if that happens from heats 1 &2]. If you don't have three boats minimum then your just and exhibition racer.... pretty clear if you ask me. This clarifys anyones claims as to single boat entries winning without having to really compete.

When a team wins a World Championship it is not a pat on the back... plaque and an atta boy. I find words that escape me but "F" that.... it's about taking home some real money along with the television coverage for your sponsors and the rest of your crew.

If anyone disagrees all I can say is the standard bull feces will still go on. If Mr. Haggin had put up purse money instead of racing in every event he would have put the strangle hold on all the organizations...even if only for one World Championship.

Sincerely,

Outsider Looking In!

P.S. There is no racing on the West Coast period if you find it please let Waldo know!

As a huge offshore race fan i would rather watch a p class boat race than turbines .

Unfortunately the sport has more showman than real racers. The Big guys usually don't like to race anyone, hence the reason classes are created for them.

There needs to be one organization with regions. There needs to be one man or small group at the top that have the want and the desire to make the sport bigger and more than it is now. The TV CANNOT be controlled by anyone other than the organization. The rules need to be simplified and the classes lessened. When Frank talks about all these different (basically SBI) boats, many of them have the ability and cash to build a boat to fit a class, whatever class they are most comfortable with. As the Qatar team showed, turbines and massive gas powered engines are not necessary to have fast, reliable racing, even in a 50 foot boat. I know this sounds very close to the APBA LLC model but it was the one that worked better than anything since. As long as more than one organization exists, the sport will not be a viable mass market sport and ESPN will feature Women's Trick Shot Pool on Saturday afternoons.

I agree 100% Ted!

It really doesnt matter what we think.... with out the big boats there is no show, no fans, and no race sites willing to pay the big money. Most cities want quality and not really concerned about quantity.

We all have great idea but the bottom line is someone has to pay the bills. Nothing has changed and nothing will it is what it is, Offshore Racing is a sport and its not cheap for the Org. or the racers so all we can do is make the best of it. If you can afford it and it is your passion then go for it and have a great time, if you cant then maybe you shouldnt be racing nothing in life is free.

If I wanted to look at a "show" I go watch a Poker Run, If I want to watch great racing-I'd go to an OPA race!

I would rather watch 100 so so boats then a few great boats.
I raced in b class in the late 80s and had a blast, and there where a lot of boats. If anybody thinks there going to make money racing boats its just not going to happen. JMO

Interesting, POPRA has been working towards the goals that you state that you believe in, yet you choose to attemp to slap us in the face.
I will give you a challange; I see that you are running a Hallet with big horsepower, you show up in Havasu, April 8th thru the 10th and win your class. POPRA will refund your entry fees and pay tow money out.
You make strong statements, let's see if you can back them up.
Brad Johnson
(530) 550-1638 :bsflag:

Offshore should model itself after NHRA drag racing. If you go to a National event there are 4 pro classes that are the National touring series. They are the show. The rest of the racers at a National event are sportsman. The Pros get the TV & the media, the sporstman fill the down time between pro rounds.
Offshore needs no more than 4 pro classes for the show and
bracket racing for everyone else as a support race before the main event. I won't go into what 4, as no one except Waterboy will agree with me .(I really think no more than 2)
The idea of one santioning body is great, but unrealistic unless someone steps up with a boatload of cash to do it.
Right now the sport is a regional one for the most part. If the organizations and racers could come together and come up with a consistant set of rules, they each would maintain their autonomy, but any racer could enter any event in their current class without a problem.
Honestly, I'm not holding my breath. The organizations out there seem to be doing OK,there is no motivation for them
to make big changes. So we will all keep doing what we have been doing, while wasting our time dreaming about the day some miracle unification will bring back the good days.

Just my opinion, mind you,
Rich
Joker Powerboats 611
OPA Class 6

every year its the same talk !!!!!!!

ALL YOU RACERS ON HERE.....JUST GO FKN RACING and all others JUST STOP THINKING ABOUT THINGS YOU DON'T KNOW !!!!!!!

WTF !!!!!!!:lolhit:


ALL this BS is what takes the fun out of our sport and people read it and also don't have fun to even watch.
Do you see any nascar guys debating things on a forum ?????? :lolhit:

Well said Fast Shafts

If you were paying the bills i'm with you, if not the show must go on.