Orange Beach is going to be incredible, and the racers will not be hit with huge hotel expenses for the week either. We spent over $8000 on hotels in Key West last year and then had to pay to get into the Awards Ceremony another $1200. It was a great event, but way expensive. Hopefully things will get worked out and we will be there again, but I have heard so many good things about Orange Beach that it seems like a good move, even if it is last minute.

Here's my take on all of this. Rick Young and myself decided to "dis" poker runs and start racing this year. We figured for the money we were spending on poker runs we could be racing and have more fun.

So here we are, the new guys in the racing arena. Only to have 40% of the races cancelled by POPRA, we have no idea if we are really APBA members as we have never received any confirmation, but they sure had no problems cashing our membership checks, have no idea if our race number is approved as we have never received any confirmation, but they sure had no problem cashing our boat registration fee, let's see what else...I just got all of my time off needed from work to race in Key West, which is not easy to do for that part of the year, which by the way is only 3 thousand 4 hundred miles from my house only to hear about all of this. I'd say for a couple of new guys we definately are making our part and contributions to this but are only getting slapped in the face.

What a great organization I've joined. No wonder so many people are banging on the door to sign up.

Rick, his wife, myself and my girlfriend are not going to Alabama. I hardly think it compares to Key West, especially from all of the events I've seen in the past regarding the APBA World Championships. Because of those events are reasons we decided to start racing.

Now I get to go and look like a complete idiot to my boss after explaining to him how much this all ment to me and tell him I don't need the time off.

The more I compare the two now, poker runs and this completely unorganized racing stuff, perhaps the people running this organization should go back to square one and just do small poker runs and let somebody with better organizational skills run the APBA. If this is how the APBA is run, no wonder new guys such as Rick and myself reconsider when it comes to writing out that annual registration fee. What a joke. I know that the West Cost folks don't get much attention, but we pay our dues just like everybody else.

Don't get me wrong, I'll still race and pay my dues, but I'm sure looking forward to the day new racers are welcomed and thanked for being members.

As of 4:10 PM Eastern today no sanction for UIM Offshore World Championships have been applied for thru APBA Detroit,
which is the only UIM recognized sanctioning body in USA. For contact info to APBA HQ.
http://www.apba-racing.com/Contacts.html


__________________

RACING MMMMMMMMMM,lets just go RACING!

Also posted on the General Discussion Thread

WOW...I have been sidelined from racing for most of the season and have not really been on the board in so long, but it is sad to see that some things do not change...The same old same old from the same sanctioning body, there is so much internal conflict there, that you cant just blame Lee Mills, it takes at least 2 to have a conflict and at least 2 people knew this was going to be a problem, one being Lee Mills and the other being APBA Mike Allweiss...
It is just a sad state of affairs and the people that suffer are the fans and the race teams...Kudos to Chick's Beach for stepping up to the plate and offering a venue that seemed to work very well for SBI, they obviously want to salvage the season for the race teams that have worked so hard all season...but I really wonder if they have the big picture...Is Orange Beach just a quick fix and an easy out for Mike A for 1 year only or as one article states that Mike A hopes to clear all of this up so he can return to Key West next year...Why not force his hand into solving the existing problems now so this does not happen...

Jon as always you hit the nail on the head, a lot of teams and local business have a one time sponsorship deal to make this happen, I dont see a local KW business giving a team money to race in Orange Beach...

And as Kitten said it is now too late for APBA to try and salvage Key West...The racers and fans are the ones getting screwed over 2 egos and a major pissing contest...Hopefully things will work out for the best...but its hard to see how...Pass the popcorn for another episode of "As the Prop Turns"

Yo Boat Girl
 

Yo boat girl!!!! see you in Deerfield Beach. We'll have a cocktail or two;) ;) ;)

Will anyone really win the championship now that racers are split. Go to whichever site you want, or are forced to, but no matter what, not everyone will be there now !!!

IN YOUR HEARTS will you really be happy with your win???

I know my sponsors are not..... few as they may be, they are important to me, and one is not coming back now after all this mess. Mabey Mike and Lee will pick up that portion of $$$ that I just lost

Accomadations for Orange Beach
 

Still working on the host hotel - But you can call The Perdido Beach Resort We will most likely hold physicals, etc here in their meeting rooms. You may call 1-800-634-8001, identify yourself as one of the racing teams and you will receive a special rate. This is right on the beach and the race course. Very nice location. Should you need condo instead you may call Marie Curren at 1-800-221-0258 or Kaiser at 1-800-225-4853 and they will help with the list of condo's on the race course. You are always welcome to call the powerboat office for advice on locations, tent rentals, etc. Glad to help in any way. If you are flying in I suggest the Pensacola NAS airport. Call me or email for directions from airport. Also if you need car rentals I am presently working with the car rental places at airport for a racer special. Will post this info as soon as it is worked out.

POWERBOAT PRINCESS

Right everyone is bashing everyone. I would just
like to say thank you to ORANGE BEACH. You people
stepped up and in to the fire. For this thank you!!