I could use a pleasant surprise right about now....thanks

"it is what it is" man, I've been hearing that phrase quite a bit latley.

Bruce does have a point. I'm kinda enjoying 7 + boats in our class. We started with 11 in Key West and most of the year at OPA we had 7 or more in our class. I think the smart thing to do is write the associations a letter if your not happy, like a politician, the more letters they get the deeper into the problem they look the faster it gets resolved. MAYBE!!! Otherwise, we're at their Mercy and it stays the same, either race with us or without us. This year we're going to race where we think we will have the most fun and where there will be the most competition.

Amen Brother. It was great racing against 13 boats in Key West. and 6 0r 7 every OPA event.

Sounds like things are on the upside last year with the boat count for u guys, if we continue in the same fashion as last year it should be even better this year.

Frank
"koolhand"

You may be right. Dont get me wrong. I have fun everytime I'm at a race. However, it would be nice if the boat count was up and the rules were the same. And there were more prize money and contingency awards to attract more racers. Last year, in OPA, we had 30 plus boats at two events, because of the attractive purse. If this was on a regular basis, more racers would come because they had a shot winning a decent purse and covering most, if not all of their expenses. This year, the purse was not there, why? I have no idea. But we didnt know that, coming into the race. I think the GLSCS had the best idea with the High Points Fund. I wish OPA had that as well. Maybe they will discuss that in the Jan meeting.

I thought that's what my check to apba, glscs or oss etc. was for.

Mike Sadlon

ALL RIGHT....for starters I'm out having a drink right now and this is my dog typing this crap...
I thought Fever Mike wrote the rules for P-Class as a run what you brung class to see if you like racing...no prize money...no TV...just and opertunity to race and see if you think its for you....and then make the move to a Pro-Series Class....were there is Prize money an TV. To me (and this is the dog speaking) There are good racers out there but not making the move up which hurts the boat count in the Supper Series Class's...I know money dosn't grow on tree's and you just can't go buy a new boat...But if you look at what some of the P class guys are spending and what your lossing with no return....maybe sit down an budget out a class that is growing with the 7-12 boat count and picking up 3 to 4 boats a year......I have seen a lot of teams go and spend 75k to 250k+ for a p-class boat.
Just a couple of examples I talk to Wil about 7 months ago when the SVL boat was in the mold....That boat plus what Merc. puts up for a engine package program is not that much ...I hear a lot of 125k to 150k for SVL boats... How many of you with all the years of racing have sat down with Formula or Steve Stepp or Will or Donzi or any boat manufactor and said hey here's what were thinkning we can do for your manufacture..this,this and this and in return what can you assist us with....I think...and again I spilled my beer a hour ago and the dog drank it and is typing this....I think a lot of guys are trying to make P class a Supper Series and get all the purks like TV, Prize Money ect. I'm just wagging my tail here and thinking...Bruce if you could sell your boat and not put much money into a SVL and in return could race with 8 or 9 boats in your class with same specs. and pick up sponsors and get TV time and prize money would you do it..not to pick on Bruce put he once took my Prim Rib and threw it and I had to eat it in a corner by myself....anyways would you do it? Or would any of the P Class guys do it?

I must agree with everything that Bruce Seroff has said,, I feel that you MUST UNIFY or DIE,,
I started a thread back a few months ago on this same subject and we are no further along now than then,, so I'll set back and watch those BIG ego's drive the sport right in the ground,, ( one horse can pull a wagon a lot further than ten horses pulling in different directions) I plan to entertain the Silver Cup Series,, that Andy Bloom is heading up for now he seems to have his sh!t in one bucket.
Five racing bodies with ten boats each racing in one event=1 big joke!
One racing body with fifty boats racing at one event = Entertainment,FUN, Excitement,etc.

Hey Mark, Hope all is well.

Mike ,
Your not paying for sponsorship or for the groups to get you sponsors. Your paying for a, Race site,TV, Pit area wet and dry, Cranes, Medical, Medical coppers, Prize money, Trophy's, Scorers,Insurance, and the other 15-20 people it takes to put on a race. If you think they are making any money promoting races you are mistaken you don't have a clue what it cost ask MA how much he made doing it or even better OSS.

Frank
"koolhand"

1HYPER1,
I normally don't respond to posts who I don't know or who don't know me.....but to put all this on the Racing Body's just dosn't fit....I really don't see why its a bad thing for Pacific Offshore to holed races...there's teams that can't make the trip to the east coast...same for the GLSCS...I've race up there 4 or 5 times and its a great place to race..but again alot of the teams don't budget to run a National Series but it gives them a place to race and compete for a championship...As far as OPA...I think its great that these guys from up North are not only running in there area...but are taking on the road to compete 1200-1500 miles away....There are only a small % of racers that are currently racing that even post on OSO....Because packing up and leaving the boats on a trailer is not the fix to this problem....there are alot of teams looking foward to 2005 and every racer has there own agenda for whats best in there minds what they think is right.....At least we all have a place to race...is it what we think is the ideal sisuation....No..at least thats what I think...but we have something to work with.....As racers lets try to race as many races that we can in how many and what ever Organizations we can and let the chips fall where they fall.......I'm not throwing jabs at you.....just some thought.....there's a lot of people that have been busting there ass's to get a schudule out and get ready for 2005 that we have counted on in the years that have past....it wouldn't be right to just turn our backs on them now.....
Have a good one.