fastedy

It seems to me that the OSS is not looking for big personal profits and that Mr. Bull is not looking for big personal profits. It also seems that Pop and Mr. Bull were not really looking to run an Offshore organization but are only doing so out of necessity and the guys from OSS do, so why not let the guys of OSS run the Offshore Division of the APBA and get everyone back together.

just a thought,

Eddie Simmons

Mag27

Mr.Simmons,I take it your not a racer or if you are you dont race in the factory or P classes.According to mr.Bulls letter they wont the whole weekend and dont want us small classes around,it also looks like Mr.Bull is willing to do just that by putting the small boats on fri.and giving the the sat.and sun.to them. In my book he is telling us to race fri.when mostfans are working and then take a hike so were out of the way.I just invested 40,000 to put a new rig together for this year,and havent even test run it yet.Now i know if we have to race fridays were finished and jst wasted a lot of money.
Mel Team Vixen P Boat Owner

ScottB

Mel,How are you? Eddie is owner and driver of World Player Casino in F1. I haven't seen the letter you are referring too. cpuld you PM me the letter

Flashwave

Mel,

As soon as I read this "idea" about changing the days we race, I sent a note off to Pops. I don't think it's going anywhere. As they say, the idea is probably DOA. Look at many of the positive ideas Bob has. Lower sanction fees. Mercury ask to bring the truck back at no cost. Running the business at 5% profit used to support growth. A high points fund. Class reps who will address class issues. And many other ideas. I see a lot more positive ideas for the racers and owners coming from Bob and Pops. They would like to bring unity back to the Offshore racers. I hope they do.

Jim

Wazzup Racing

The OSS doesnt want the lower classes, yet they call to come and run with our event? I guess we are OK when we have something to offer. As far as Bob Bulls statement that offshore is on the decline, my answere is look around. The OPA is growing like mad....I wonder why. We never loose focus of the people that make racing what it is. Jersey Boyz Rule!

ScottB

I never thought of myself as a low class racer, but I guess I am.

BRUCE SEROFF

Mel.. dont sweat it.... theres always SBI

Scott..low class racer?? you ??? NO WAY

Wazzup Racing

Hey man, don't mind them. They know not what they say..........

Mag27

First,sorry about not putting Fast Eddie with Simmons.Second, I have always been for APBA no matter who is running it or what they call themselves,by the way what do they c all it now?I m all for Mr Bull and his ideas except for fri.racing.That would mean leaving on wed.,testing on thur and racing on fri.My team all work and cant get that kind of time off thats 3 work days and most imployers wont put up with it for long.Scott I cant PM you,but im sure Offshore Addiction has it.Bruce you might right on SBI,better then parking the boat I guess. Mel Team Vixen

Joe Todesca

I think this is the letter. Jo


I have been an active racer since the early 90’s and a fan for sometime prior to that. This sport has allowed me the opportunity to meet some very special people and develop some life long friendships along the way. I have seen the sport go through some difficult times as well as successes. The difficult times led me to leave the sport to go car racing after the 1998 season while the successes led me to return last year as a Super V team owner and racer, but nothing prepared me for the experience of the past few weeks.

As you know I acquired the License Agreement with APBA Detroit and formed the APBA Offshore Racing Association, Inc. in an effort to continue the great improvements made to the sport since 1997 by Gene Whipp and the previous owners of the LLC. I did not do this to make money. I have several successful businesses that support my family and hundreds of others as well. Boat racing is my hobby and I did not want to see it go backwards or worse, destroyed. It was no more complicated than that.

I would like to address a real issue Pop and I have been hearing through the rumor mill. Everyone still believes Michele is involved in the background. If you are one of those people that maintain that Pop and I are fronting for the old owners of the LLC please go to this web site ( http://www.sunbiz.org/corpweb/inquiry/corinam.html ) and search under APBA Offshore Racing Association, Inc. You can also look up the LLC as well as other corporations and see the details. You will find that the Ownership is 100% myself with Corporate Officers of my wife & Jim Poplin. This should answer myth number 1 short of beheading them this is the best we can do.

I also want to bring everyone up to speed before the meeting on the 31st of all the discussions and transactions that have transpired to this point that I have been involved in first hand.

When my involvement began. I first tried to structure a deal with the OSS to buy the APBA License from Michael and his partners as I thought this is what OSS wanted. The answer I received back from OSS was not just a “NO” but they wanted to see Michael go bankrupt along with his organization. Then I realized that this might be strictly a personal issue between certain members of OSS and Michael.

After that plan did not work I know Michael tried the path of Unification and entered into discussions but that failed although no one is to blame for that, it just did not work out. So I assumed that if maybe I acquired the License for the APBA Offshore Category I could put everyone back together again and the sport would continue under new ownership.

My first calls were to some of the board members of the new OSS. A few of them said that this was good news and that they were very interested in patching things up and moving forward together. A few others claimed that they felt Michael remained involved and so they wanted nothing to do with any kind of a deal with APBA.

Others in the group said they wanted to do a deal but only if we agreed to exclude the “lower class boats” like Factory 1, Factory 2, P-class, etc. Obviously, since that is where I came from I said I could not do that.

I also offered to show everyone at OSS documents that proved that Michael was completely out of the sport and had no interest in having anything to do with it ever again. I even made another attempt to negotiate with the OSS group and sent them an offer letter stating basically that we could do anything they wanted to as long as it was good for the sport and we took care of all of the members in the organization. My offer letter Inserted Below.

APBA Offshore Racing Association

Gentlemen;

At the direction of Tom Abrams I am proposing an offer to the Racing community. This offer is open to all Offshore racing members and equipment owners as well.

I have acquired APBA. This allows “us” the opportunity to truly have total control and direction of our sport. We can review the details of the following at a later date if you feel you really want to move forward with the improvement of the sport for the benefit of everyone involved. I can sit here and preach the benefits but I do not believe that is needed. We all agree APBA has been number one for many years and is the best thing going.

What I would like to do is mention a few ideas I have on the direction of the organization for your consideration.

1. All none essential costs have been removed from the organization. This allows APBA to offer lower sanction fees to promoters, lower cost to racers, and a Point Fund to be grown to fund higher prize moneys and benefits to the Equipment Owners for the sport as well as racers.
2. CRE is no longer. I have agreed to allow Innovation to continue the current program for 2004. However all monies from Innovation that used to be paid to CRE will now be paid into the high points fund for the racers. 15% of all gross sales for CRE services.
3. Homologation fees and all other fees that used to be paid to CRE 50% will be used in the high points fund and 50% will be used to cover operational cost.
4. The GMC Contract has been re-written to the new organization. As well all of the HP3 Requirements have been removed. They want the organization to sell trucks.
5. If we continue with the Pro Grade racer idea as presented in the current 2004 rules. 50% of the funds will be added to the high point fund. The balance will be used to cover operational cost and provide additional benefits to the pro grade racers. Hero Card Program, Fan giveaway items for proposed fan building activities.
6. 15% of all Series Sponsorship monies collected by the APBA will be adder to the high point fund. Including current Series sponsorship monies.
7. Mercury Racing has been requested to return at no charge. I am only requesting they be at the sites with the truck to support the racers.
8. The current business plan is structured to produce a 5% income before taxes projection to assist in financing operations and growth. All other proceeds over 50% Income will be added at 50% to the high point fund. The balance will be used for growth.
9. The Organization’s financials will be given to all owners quarterly in detail for review. We will also provide financial reports to all owners after every event to ensure everyone knows how the event came off for our organization.
10. I will be proposing during the 2004 season the following ideas:
a. Election of Class representation to address all class issues concerning rules and request of the organization. They will also be responsible for reviewing all appeals filed as the old LLC or Commission structure did in the past. The representation of the class that the appeal is from will be allowed to voice his or opinion but not vote. The President of APBA will provide his vote in that class reps place. If a tie vote is reached the appeal will be disallowed.
b. An Owners Committee to administer Owners, Sponsorship issues, and develop a code of conduct that will be required of the organization of Pro Grade racers. This committee will also be used for special assignment projects that may arise i.e. New Series Sponsor Requests, Selection of race site venues, technical issues in regards to inspection process and interpretations, etc.
c. I will be conducting business planning meetings annually and will be soliciting Equipment Owners, Series Sponsors, Marine Manufacturing Companies and Promoters for participation of these meetings to develop the future plans & direction of the organization. These will be annual commitments from volunteers or elected members.
d. Fan enhanced race formats, 2 days of Racing in Pro-Classes Saturday Qualifying, Sunday Race, Other classes will race on Friday and become classified similar to the bush series. Everyone wins. Fans are allowed time to build team connection and learn about the sport.
e. Re-build Divisional Racing to include points and titles.
f. Put back the rule of “earn the rights to Hold Kilo records” to encourage Manufacture and racer support.
g. Schedule Public fan programs at each site to sign autographs and hand out hero cards.
h. Consolidate all team purchasing power of memorabilia for sale. With site staffing and 50/50 split on profits to the teams and APBA.
i. Create better TV shows based on Racer personalities for more viewer ship and fan base.

I can go on and on about the ideas I have some are mine and some are others I have spoken to over the years. This is your opportunity to do something great for the sport and your fellow racers. I encourage everyone to get involved and make this the only organization we need.

I have had the pleasure of racing with you over the years in this sport and I look forward to many more to come. My position at this time in the organization is not unlike that 1st turn on the racecourse. I am committed. I hope we all come out safely and continue the race to the finish line together. When we arrive I want to get out and let the Team take care of the race program until I am needed again.

What do you have to loose? Give Pop and I the opportunity and step up with us to move this sport forward. Pop has secured the entire staff’s support and that are committed to working for the racers for the years to come.

Bob Bull
#3 Boat Racer


Finally after 2-3 weeks Paul Whittier and Tom Abrams called and informed me they were really excited about their new group and were going to pursue their own interests at this time. I asked both Paul and Tom if any boats from the OSS group would be racing with APBA in 2004 and they answered NO! Their follow-up letter states they may in the future be willing to work something out with APBA but they intend to do what they feel is best for their members. (I can fax anyone the follow-up documentation that was faxed to me regarding their direction if needed)

I wish I had better news but I am really at a loss to explain their attitudes and actions. I have concluded, however, that OSS has no real business plan or agenda other than to destroy APBA Offshore boat racing as we have come to know it over the past 7 years. Harsh words, yes, but I believe it is the undeniable truth.


So, here we are – the OSS boycott has destroyed the credibility of our sport, which now must support three organizations plus various other smaller groups, all with different rules and different agendas. The conflicts, boycotts, divisions and uncertainties have worked against us. The demand for the sport is dwindling not increasing, and with it goes the willingness for anyone to pay real value for our events.

Pop and I have been working diligently to put a solid schedule together for the 2004 season. We still have the best rules, staff, and sponsorship in place. Since our answer from the OSS organization is what it is, we have contacted all of our proposed sites and shared this information with them. Some are still supportive and some are really concerned if they will be able to offer a legitimate show for their local cities and supporters. Pop will continue to work diligently for the racers as we committed to do in the beginning.

We all know that APBA Offshore racing has been the best boat racing organization with the best competition and best racers anywhere in the world. Nothing will change in 2004 as far as that goes because I have a hard time believing that the non-board OSS members as listed by OSS in their last announcement have truthfully been informed of all of the attempts APBA has made in an effort to put things back together and the details of these discussions. If that is so and their refusal to deal with APBA anymore is true then so be it. Pop and I will move forward to support the “Real Offshore Racers” Our Members, even if that means we must build our racer base back from scratch. We have a 100 year old tradition behind us.

I encourage you to contact everyone including Pop and tell them that you want APBA Offshore to continue and start pulling together as professionals to make this a reality.

We can not put the entire responsibility of our sport on the shoulders of one man “Pop” and expect him to be successful we must all pitch in and help him guide our sport and the direction we want to go in the future, after all this is what we said we wanted in the fist place. If that’s true then let’s do it. We can start by attending the Orlando meeting on January 31st. Again, we have our rules, staff, sponsorship, and classes in place. We are the national authority for UIM and the only organization with the recognized World Championships and Speed Records. We still have the most members and race boats of them all. Pop and the staff are working for the racers as he promised. It’s time we the racers start helping the staff make our future a reality.


Bob Bull
#3 Boat Racer