Racing with OPA
 

I for one know exactly how much time and effort goes into promoting one race nevermind, five. If you think OPA is making a fortune, off you all...keep dreaming. Yes there are a few scoring issues, but look at the big picture, where have you raced...awsome sites. Sites the National series would die for. I am not going to go on and on, but I cant imagine why Kurt goes through all the trouble, only to be slamed shame on you all......Smitty

Re: Racing with OPA
 

No offense Smitty, but I don't think anyone doesn't appreciate the time and effort put in by Kurt. But when race teams pay money, travel, and hard work themselves, a consistant, black and white set of rules, that are abided is not too much to ask for and it is my perception is the only thing lacking is the consistancy. That being said, I would not be deterred from running any OPA races in the future because I had more fun this year with you guys than I,ve had in the past few years

Re: Racing with OPA
 

No offense taken Scotty.

Re: Racing with OPA
 

Same thing Scott said, No offense meant, but obviously we need to address this issue!!

Re: Racing with OPA
 

No offense meant, just constructive ideas for an abviously flawed process!! Smitty, believe me when I tell you our team appreciates all of the organizers of OPA. We probably wouldn't be able to race otherwise!

Re: Racing with OPA
 

Shane that is a huge part of the problem, There is NO rule book. I was teased at the meeting for asking questions about rules. They were answered by the Ostrich himself and were VERY CLEAR to everybody in the room. Now here is where the problem comes in. There is nothing in writing. The poor staff now has to figure out the rules on the fly. What has happened is the rules have now changed in a 12hr period and most teams race to win with in the rules they were told at the drivers meeting. Compound that with Kirk racing in P4 and P2 and at the ramp pulling his boats out. When he shows up at the awards to find a lynch mob that wants to shoot him. He then sticks with his staffs findings that were different than what he said at the meeting and now many teams positions are changed. I'm not writing this to slam on Kirt and be a cry baby. I am hopeing he will listen and react to what his racers want. Fine tunning is a great word for OPA. Lets get the fun back like it was when Eddie and Augie had more to say in the operations of OPA.
MD

Re: Racing with OPA
 

OK ...how bout this?

Kirt, you may be pissed with all the BS being said. But look at it from the other side. We all wanted GPS because we felt it was the only way to police max speeds. We still want GPS. The problem is that the GPS that you provided are flawed and mounted in the wrong place on the boat. Now, I know they were discontinued and I know how much they cost. When we have to pay a 150.00 fee for GPS units and you buy them for 50.00 and they dont work, we have a big problem.

I have a few suggestions that may help us for next year.

appoint 1 person in each class to rep that class in meetings with OPA.

bring one boat from each class out into the bay and run a mock race course with gps on boats and also clock their lap speeds.

Run the boats out in the ocean with GPS on Bow rail and one in box on dash. check the accuracy of the readings.

when we have a meeting in the winter, it should be a meeting, and not a social hour. save the booze and food for after the meeting.

bottom line is very simple. GPS that work and DQ for breaking out ...PERIOD. no time penalties because some will find a way to make that work to their advavntage.

we are not lookin to hang you out to dry, but something needs to be done. And we are willing to help. But, you need to let us help.

So, that being said, talk it over with Smitty and Augie and let them be your ears and voice. They speak to all the racers and they speak to you. So, lets move on to make this another learning curve toward making things better for the upcoming season. Otherwise, there will not be an upcoming season, because you will have no boats.

Thanks

Re: Racing with OPA
 

Well said Bruce
MD

Re: Racing with OPA
 

You are 100% Right.

Re: Racing with OPA
 

To clear something up, I just spoke to Jerry Wood and he told me that he purchased the gps units for 80 a piece not 50. The GPS units are sent out after every few races to be recalabrated as well as maintained throughout the season. It is because of this that everyone payed the 150 fee for the GPS Units. If anyone else has a problem about the price of the units or the fee that was paid, Jerry said feel free to contact him and he will explain it to you.

Re: Racing with OPA
 

Dave, I think everyone is saying buy the better ones. According to Bruce this model is already discontinued. The boat that finished ahead of us showed 67 mph, mine showed 78.7, go figure!

Re: Racing with OPA
 

Without trying to beat a dead horse, These particular units do not work in the conditions they are presented. Obviously, they are not designed for race boats in rough water conditions. These particular units were desiged and sold as affordable units for the avg day boater, hiker, or camper and cannot take the pounding that they do without getting false readings. We need to do more research and try different units. I paid 200 for a handheld unit that is right on the money with my dash mount. I would certainly like to know more about the recalibration and maintainence they do after every race.
Lets not fight among each other, but work toward the common goal of a concrete set of rules and parity in all classes. Without a rule book, we have no idea whats goin on.

So far, we havent heard a single thing from anyone at OPA. I know I would want to respond if I was them, and assure the racers that we will work diligently to correct the flaws in the system.

Re: Racing with OPA
 

Guys,

I was not there for any of this but I have a question for a few of you and a suggestion. I know a few of you all raced the APBA series in 2003. They seemed to have a sealed padded brief case style box that the GPS went into. Those of you that raced P class with them last year can attend to the answers of this. How accurate do you suggest that those systems were that APBA used last year. Another suggestion would be if they were accurate try to find out the details on APBA set up and follow it for 2005.

Again this is only a suggestion and I am not looking to get bashed here. Just trying to help a few friends that don't like what is going on thus far.

Re: Racing with OPA
 

I tend to agree with Bruce, lets help Kurt figure a better way.

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I don't remember what gps they used but I do remember the box it was in.
What if the only way to measure top speed was with a quality gps installed by the sanctioning body on your boat for the race, and all other gps and spedo's on your boat were disabled?

Re: Racing with OPA
 

Just got off the phone with Kurt in a gentleman like conversation. After speaking with him, I cant come to a conclusion.

The numbers dont make sense, and I could not, in good concience, ask him to change any results until further review of the situation.

We know what our GPS read and we also know what our competitors GPS read. I dont think any of them challenged the readings. So therefore, we should use our GPS reading, Right? I dont know.

The avg lap speeds dont make sense at all, but how can we check that. Apparently, the lap distance was inccorect in the first race and adjusted for the second race. There is obviously an error somewhere, but we just dont know where. Kurt is still looking at the results and trying to figure out where everything went wrong. Will it change the results? I doubt it, but maybe it will be fixed for the next time.

Anyway, I just want to say thanks to Kurt for speaking with me. I know its a tough situation to be in. So, lets cut him some slack.

And Randy, if we went back to GPS speeds, you would still not win because the time penalty was 3 minutes not 1 minute. you may have even got fourth. So, be happy with second.

.5 mph - 1.4 mph = 1 minute penalty
1.5 mph - 4.4 mph = 3 minute penalty
4.5 mph and up is 5 minute penalty

Re: Racing with OPA
 

Can anyone tell me what the total penalty assessed on Intimidator was?:confused:

Re: Racing with OPA
 

Bruce, I was only going by what I was told at the drivers meeting just the night before. There was no mention of a 3 min. penalty ever mentioned. Maybe in the past thats how it was but I went by what I was told by the Chief Referee at the drivers meeting. If Im way off base here and others heard him say anything about a 3 min. penalty please speak up.
MD

Re: Racing with OPA
 

Randy, Kurt told me several things that I will share with you.

First...the rule book hasnt changed since last year. so the time penalties are not published. Maybe an addendum should have been printed and distributed at the meeting or at the beginning of the year.

Second..No one was taking notes at the drivers meeting. Were they.?
He was surprised about that.

Third ..I do remember 1 - 3 - 5 minute penalties. I just didnt rememeber the speed breakdown. so, maybe we should have taken notes.

anyway...the system failed, plain and simple and no one knows why. Hopefully, Kurt will let some of us help in the future to help OPA correct these issues and make next season better.

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What's the penalty for hitting a buoy? :confused:

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I'm thinking Intimidator owes me a couple of apparel items or a blank hull :rolleyes:

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I clearly recall the 1-3-5 minute penities being discussed at the drivers meeting. Bruce your speeds are correct for the penilties.

Personally, I believe the course mesurement was wrong. It's the only explaination for the average lap times being higher than the GPS speeds. You know what they say about computers, garbage in, garbage out.

I blame no one. I just want to understand what happened, and why so we can make sure it doesn't happen again. Learn and move foward.

We all had such a wonderfull weekend, it was a shame for it to fall apart during the climax of the weekend. Regardless, I can't wait to go back again next year. I know Randy and I had a ball broadcasting the second race together. I think we found our true calling in life.

Re: Racing with OPA
 

RON P
Do you know were we can listen to the live broadcast if it was taped or do you now if anyone filmed the race