UNIFICATION vs FRAGMENTATION
12-24-2003 | 03:11 PM
#1
Thread Starter
KiloKat
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 971
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From: Edwardsville, IL
UNIFICATION vs FRAGMENTATION
It truly amazes me when I read most of the press releases and many of the posts that are being made on different internet forums pertaining to our sport of Offshore Racing.
Surely everyone involved in high performance boating knows that this sport is in one hell of a mess and I’m quite certain that others on the outside must have some interesting thoughts about all of us involved. What is the problem? Why can’t we all come together and unify instead of continuing down the destructive path of fragmentation?
It seems pretty simple to me. We already had too many sanctioning bodies with two - APBA Offshore (APBA) and Super Boat, International (SBI). How can we ever grow as a sport without coming together in one sanctioning body and racing within it’s parameters? Last year, we saw what appeared to be a genuine effort by the racers to unite and work together to improve rules, safety items and venues. Then, the next thing you know, everything blows up. I’m sure there are valid reasons in the minds of the people involved for what was done, but in my opinion, forming yet another sanctioning body isn’t the way to resolve these issues. Can any one of you imagine being President/CEO of a major corporation considering getting involved as a sponsor in Offshore Racing?
What I propose and what I am committed to working for is one sanctioning body that truly represents our sport and not any one team, one class or one group of investors. Can you imagine that? Now, put yourself back into the seat of a President/CEO of a major corporation. There is one sanctioning body with one solid schedule, one set of rules, and some very talented and professional teams working diligently through a democratic process to constantly improve this sport. Doesn’t this scenario make it easier for the same President/CEO to go to his/her Board of Directors and ask for money to raise the awareness level of his/her company’s products by becoming an active sponsor in Offshore Racing? Whether the corporation’s sponsorship money goes to an individual team or towards prize money might be another consideration, but the bottom line is it would help to improve our sport!
Well, I think we are closer than we have been in years to seeing this become a reality. First, we need to have each of the two sanctioning bodies realize they need what the other has. In the case of APBA, I think they could use the solid race venues that SBI has established. In the case of SBI, I think they could use the solid infrastructure that APBA has established. In both cases, the directors of each are going to have to become a little more flexible and sincere with negotiations. They really do need each other to grow, so why not admit it and come together in the best interest of the sport? I have spoken to the parties involved and I’m of the opinion they can work this out if they try. I am going to continue talking with them in an attempt to move them closer to unity.
But, unification will need the support and assistance from everyone involved. Therefore, I encourage each of us to put our personal goals aside long enough to let the officials at both APBA and SBI know that we want this and we will support them uniting as one. Then, we will need to make a genuine commitment to ourselves and to the sport to support them. I would also ask that we direct our comments towards each other and our sport in a positive manner. Remember, even though we may not agree with each other all of the time, we have a common interest and need to work together for the benefit of all. At the same time, all of us can encourage potential sponsors to assist us in this endeavor. I’m sure it would be difficult at first, but if we are relentless in this endeavor and sincerely devote our efforts into this constructive direction, I’m absolutely positive that our sport and everyone involved would benefit in the future.
Surely everyone involved in high performance boating knows that this sport is in one hell of a mess and I’m quite certain that others on the outside must have some interesting thoughts about all of us involved. What is the problem? Why can’t we all come together and unify instead of continuing down the destructive path of fragmentation?
It seems pretty simple to me. We already had too many sanctioning bodies with two - APBA Offshore (APBA) and Super Boat, International (SBI). How can we ever grow as a sport without coming together in one sanctioning body and racing within it’s parameters? Last year, we saw what appeared to be a genuine effort by the racers to unite and work together to improve rules, safety items and venues. Then, the next thing you know, everything blows up. I’m sure there are valid reasons in the minds of the people involved for what was done, but in my opinion, forming yet another sanctioning body isn’t the way to resolve these issues. Can any one of you imagine being President/CEO of a major corporation considering getting involved as a sponsor in Offshore Racing?
What I propose and what I am committed to working for is one sanctioning body that truly represents our sport and not any one team, one class or one group of investors. Can you imagine that? Now, put yourself back into the seat of a President/CEO of a major corporation. There is one sanctioning body with one solid schedule, one set of rules, and some very talented and professional teams working diligently through a democratic process to constantly improve this sport. Doesn’t this scenario make it easier for the same President/CEO to go to his/her Board of Directors and ask for money to raise the awareness level of his/her company’s products by becoming an active sponsor in Offshore Racing? Whether the corporation’s sponsorship money goes to an individual team or towards prize money might be another consideration, but the bottom line is it would help to improve our sport!
Well, I think we are closer than we have been in years to seeing this become a reality. First, we need to have each of the two sanctioning bodies realize they need what the other has. In the case of APBA, I think they could use the solid race venues that SBI has established. In the case of SBI, I think they could use the solid infrastructure that APBA has established. In both cases, the directors of each are going to have to become a little more flexible and sincere with negotiations. They really do need each other to grow, so why not admit it and come together in the best interest of the sport? I have spoken to the parties involved and I’m of the opinion they can work this out if they try. I am going to continue talking with them in an attempt to move them closer to unity.
But, unification will need the support and assistance from everyone involved. Therefore, I encourage each of us to put our personal goals aside long enough to let the officials at both APBA and SBI know that we want this and we will support them uniting as one. Then, we will need to make a genuine commitment to ourselves and to the sport to support them. I would also ask that we direct our comments towards each other and our sport in a positive manner. Remember, even though we may not agree with each other all of the time, we have a common interest and need to work together for the benefit of all. At the same time, all of us can encourage potential sponsors to assist us in this endeavor. I’m sure it would be difficult at first, but if we are relentless in this endeavor and sincerely devote our efforts into this constructive direction, I’m absolutely positive that our sport and everyone involved would benefit in the future.
12-26-2003 | 11:53 AM
#4
Registered
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 163
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From: orange beach,al.
Dave as as I commented in your wet pit post"YOU'RE THE MAN" to help lead the charge and time is of the essence.Myself and our powerboat assoc.will help and work with all parties to unify our sport and from what I've seen most of our O.S.O. friends have our common goal in their hearts also.This should be every ones New Years Resolution and together we can make it happen especially if we bury our egos in 2003 and have new commitments for 2004.A happy New Year to all. Gary
