Union Internationale Motonautique= UIM
is an org based in Monaco and certifies World Champions and world records, and lends some credibility certain titles in the boat racing world, as well as "Offshore"
I dont think a real "World Offshore Championship" were racers from all over the world has been held in this country for a long time. I remember Matt Alcone, and Gilberth going over to Europe a few years ago to race when he got tired of racing no one else but Barber in the Drambuie boat, but I dont think it was a World championship. He did win 1 out of 2 of the races he entered if I reacall.
I think its lost alot of its prestige and meaning here tho, since there is really no qualifing to race other then racing 2 races a year and showing up.
It may or may not mean anything to some folks, but I would imagine it means something to LLC to be fighting so hard to be affiliated with the APBA, since UIM only recognizes the APBA as the boat racing sanctioning body for the US.

Dan
F1-83 Screamin Eagle

Bertel,

No I am not falling victim to the General Discussion Board. I am just not ready to give LLC an "Amen" off of a drawn out long letter full of promises. We as racers have been promised that the schedule would have no changes for the rest of 2003 and we saw where that got us. It is just getting frustrating to see the circuit lose great racers such as BJ, Frank, and now Gino and Mark are fed up. When will it end? I am not a bandwagon kind of guy and I have stated b4 and I will again, I am an LLC, SBI, OPA racer. I just want to race, but also being in Fla dealing with several boat manufactuers, Lake X being 20 mins away from my residence, not all of the racers are informed. If someone else found out this info, I would really like them to post it and keep me up to date. Thats why SBI had sanctioned kilo runs this year and LLC had speed trials. People didnt wake up then and I am sure they still wont. I really wish the best for LLC and I hope they can turn this season into just being a bad memory, but based on history, it will keep on happening. For our sake I hope not,but...

Trent:


I know we are all fed up and rightly so. Here we are talking about how to make racing more popular. And then no stone is left unturned to frustrate the bejeezus out of most racers. And to scare away most sponsors. I'm totally with you on that.

We just should be careful about complicating the issue more than it already is. That sanctioning nonsense was spread by people who did nothing but **** on our sport.

I had one of them on the phone the other day. They dream about organizing the downtrodden offshore racers, Teamster-style. Why? The guy on the phone was surprisingly candid: "They are the largest class and they pay the highest fees."

Trent,

Sounds like you may be on to something here.Atleast it give all of us something to think about and go into next year with our eyes wide open******rmation is a wonderful thing and what we do with it is up to each and everone of us.

Well this moron you had on the phone wonders what conversation you were listening to because never were the words " they are the largest class and they pay the highest fees" ever said. What was said is Offshore is one of the largest classes in number of voting members of APBA, and if they really wanted to make a change in the way things are run they could if they took the time and came to the APBA Membership's annual meeting and regional meetings to voice their concerns. To that a response was heard that the "Offshore racers could give a **** about what goes on in Detroit or wherever".
To which the moron said well then the racers will have to live with the rules that are made in their absence.

Because I haven't participated in the Offshore Category of APBA doesn't mean I don't have the racers best interests in mind and the suggestion that all other members of APBA or anyone else on this board are morons is a blatant slap in the face. The biggest complaint I have heard on this board is that everything has been done in private, and now you are suggesting it all should stay private. Your answer to anyone that has made a mistake or crosses you or your friends is to cut off their heads, well then we are going to have a lot of headless people shortly and it may not be who you think.

As always I welcome any and all responses to my posts or any other communications, I have learned allot about different forms of racing and the people that are involved in them. When I voice an opinion its' mine, if you disagree that fine your entitled to your also.

Matthew Barrett

Guys

I started this thread in order to make the racers aware of what is going on. I am by profession a boat rat(jack of all trades, master of none). I am not a lawyer who can articulate a hour long paper with about five minutes of valuable information. I am from a southern upbringing and was raised that what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong.

What is happening right now with offshore racing as a whole is wrong. I am not trying to unionize this sport, but half of the racers on here remind me of the buzzard from the bugs bunny cartoon. No one here is a moron for we all do idiotic things in our lives. Some of the racers are just gullible. They listen and do everything that "Bugs" tells them to and of course "Bugs" tells them that everything is just peachy keen. It obviously is not and we as OSO members need to quit bickering with each other and obtain a better knowledge of what is happening around us and quit being so gullible.

I was gullible at one time 3 years ago thinking that offshore racing was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I almost want to move back to Nascar country and turn wrenches on the Nascar guys boats like I used to. Hell I had a lot more fun and life was a lot simpler than dealing with this political nightmare that surrounds us today.

We as racers need to step up and be leaders and quit being led around on a leash. We invest to much time and more importantly money into something that we love. Not everyone has the opportunities that we are fortunate to have, and it is time to stop racing around a toilet bowl that has just been flushed.

Guys please stop the arguing,name calling, bickering, etc because to get corny for a moment"United we stand, divided we fall"

FYI,Alcone motorsports raced many seasons dominating the unlimited supercat series,at that time I beleive he was challenged by champions in other countries to some real competition world wide,at which time he accepted,he wanted the real thing at which time he went and conquerd and returned and retired as a true champion,my hats off to him,and by the way,he never,ever complained about anything or anybody,any sanctioning bodies or when he lost the worlds in st. pete the last year due to losing a blade on his prop,he never *****ed,once again,my hats off.....him and jerry were fast,kinda be cool if he came back,but as I recall he went to go play golf and hasnt raced since!

Very good point, Al.

There are whiners. And there are doers.

Thats why SBI had sanctioned kilo runs this year and LLC had speed trials.

From my understanding a uim sactioned kilo is run in both directions within a certain time frame.
As for APBA not holding kilo's in savannah, i believe it to be that with the curvature of the river, it was impossible to set a record, so why try.

I have been to races from both sactioning bodies, and yes there are issues with both, but pointing fingers, he said this, i heard that, is so old.

If you want a santioning body that is perfect start your own, I am positive people will quickly rip apart your well laid out plan.

umm Pete they went in both directions and it was ended after exactly 5 hours. Yes Bacardi ran 202 on one pass but their avg ended up being 198 due to it being both directions.

I have only stated facts on here to keep the racers aware as to what is going on around them, when I have stated an opinion I have included that word as such.

No I dont want to start another sanctioning body, but if I did with as gullible as some of the racers have acted this year, I wouldnt have to bust my ass to make a living, I could just whistle dixie up their ass and make a chitload of money. Heck its worked for over 2 years now, why wouldnt it work for me?