Racedad.....I'm just answering racing questions...and commenting on Spec Class racing....compared to P-Class racing and comparing spec class orgs to P-class orgs

Vin...again..you have not talked to the so called slow SV teams....we all know who will be the front runners...
Hell, we have a team thats runnning a open cockpit boat and is only running 97 or so mph and they are thrilled about the class....you have taken this so far out of content to now you think if we don't win we won't race....we are talking about taking boats that are 10 to 15 mph slower and racing them against boats that run 100 or less...I raced the last 2 years and was racing against boats that were 10+ mph faster then us and still raced...

I don't get it....you guys did it your way...made the rules inforced them and did what you thought was right...and were are you....so if anybody else does anything different...they are hurting the sport....

telling people what won't work but not coming up with a sulution makes no scense....this is a prime example of there will always be whining.....

Vinn....I can't beleive you are preaching less class's....you doulble you class's in 2 years....and now becasue another Orgs is working on adding one its all bad.....your kidding right...

We have teams commetted....manufactures that like the idea...we would bring in more boats then now...there is no SV class now other then 2 boats....and people are complaining about it....
Vinn... I'm not trying to be a jerk but Smitty was right on when he told you....you should be working on your own class before telling other people what they should do...

Again...you raced in both P and spec Class's.....whats the answer....we have racers that are willing to listen to what will work....but we are not going to just sit back and let things fall apart....or spend stupid money every year chasing newer boats....
OPA is working well on Class racing....you will see some of the biggest boat turn out this year and it will be in OPA....bracket racing...why is that...

We need to look at whats working and build on that....
I don't know..but the way things are going...its not to stupid to have a spec org and a bracket org and let the racers run....
But like I said....70% or so of Offshore racers are racing in bracket racing this year....so why try to get the majority to go to spec. when they have what they want in Class racing...

The tread was started to ask WHY are racers not moving to spec class....well..I'm not against spec racing but the numbers are moving into Class racing...and untill a bunch of racers start moving to spec...bracket racing will have big numbers showing...

Gregg is right....forgot about who you race with for a minute....more boats for the sport....and it would be one of the biggest class's in Offshore for this year.. how is that bad...only peopel with agenda's would not want this to work...

I said this a while back if we approach OSS and said we have 8+ teams commeted and all meet your safety guide lines can we race with you... thats 8 equip fees, membership fee's, enrty fee's and one of the biggest class's....you guys would have jump on it and said yes...becasue you have no one racing on SV right now....we...the slow ones would be a big part of your show along with other class's....

Lets look at the big picture of Offshore racing as a whole

Mantee, if you get a bunch to stick with it good luck I just think without money and more rewards then five dollar trophies the burn rate is to quick in our sport. I am trying to build our class, have helped get teams to races, but there has to be more than just getting 5-8 boats out there once or twice and then your back to 2-3 for the rest of the year. Without changes in the overall rewards in boat racing it may be short lived. We have good prize money and people still sit on the bench. Another class just dilutes the prize money wherever you race, if there is any

Shane, we will have tv airing shortly and the money is the best in offshore, do you have a point. Mine is unless you get more boats in less classes what is there to watch? Unless you get more sponsors involved to provide funding for more teams how long will they race? You got out and maybe you'll get back in but without some rewards it will only last so long. Are going to fly bacvk and forth from Ca to race a more costly boat to run with no prize money or tv?I am not cheerleading just stating facts of why? which is universal to the sport to many orgs to many classes not enough thurst in one direction, hell now we have three boats that think it constitutes a series.

Vinn....I agree with some of your points...but like you are trying to do with your class we are trying to do the same...you and I can not fix offshore but we can make are class's as compeditive and get as many boats out for us to race against....

I think the prise money only dose so much....because you guys are a prime examplele....you guys have the biggest pay out...and still they numbers are not drawing....SCL and SC may always be there....we all know you have to have big pockets or big sponsors to run that class....but like you said STOCK and SVL can be effected by the cost and time factor...which if you look at Offshore as a whole...thats most of us...
speaking of prize money its also good if you win...but what if you don't win or place in most of your races...it becomes tough for the small teams....like you said its help a lot for your team winning the prize money.....

You and I both know the fix to Offshore racing....but unless the racers just race...we will continue to be were we are today....

I keep bringing this up becasue it was the down fall of Offshore racing in the last 7 years since I have been in it...
The racers wanted in 03 for the furture of offshore to have the following:

A set schedule put out in Jan.
The racers having a say in the rules
Prize money being passed out at the end of the races
And the continuing big tv coverage....

here we are 4 years later.....
everyone can share the blame....
The end result is we still do not have the 80+ boat count at races we use to have....hell not even close....

Some people don't like to admitt to it and take any blame...but thats why we are still talking about this today...

Good luck in the rest of your season....

Vinny offhand it does appear you are pushing your own agenda. We see what OSS has, we see what OPA has. hell we see what the professional series has to offer. We choose the organizations that fits us best. If you're in it for strictly money then yes, pursue the one with the biggest purse. Personally, I'll take the fun being had in the lowly "class" racing!

Gino,

Johnny won't be running a Baja.

He will be racing in a 1995 Hydra Powerboat.
It was the last boat I built back then when I did some work for the company.

Hey Sharkey....from the small pics it looked like a 24 outlaw...

Maybe because it floats so high in the transom ?

That gives you an idea of how light she is....

I raced for Team Baja for a while. I enjoyed my Baja tremendously. They are solid hulls and easy to drive, but they are heavy and slow when compared to similar boats with same power. Most everything was screwed in, not thru-bolted and their Aero Drop Bolsters where flimsy and weak. Their hulls our great in rough water and track well. I think they are great performance boats. However, our Hydra Powerboats Race Boat is far above it, even though it is an older boat. It is fast, light, easy to drive, safe, predictable, and ROCK SOLID! Special thanks to Tim Sharkey for all his efforts in building the boat and his workmanship!!!

Pete,

Nothing personal, but you are speaking with no real knowledge of the subject.

- Buy a raceboat, with no idea of what it will be worth next month, much less next year........

- Head to the milling area in a race boat as the "owner" knowing that that it isn't insured for the next 60 minutes........

I was a fan for years, and then I bought a raceboat - my perspective changed quickly!

Trust me, you can't "compare notes" with Greg or the other boat owners that have put their money where their mouths are - it's all about risk and reward. Don't preach about it when you haven't taken the risks.

In all fairness, it would be like me bashing those of you that have risked their lives in the military - I can pretend to know the risks involved, but actually I will never know. Personally, I choose to respect your efforts and not pretend to know what it is like to be in your shoes. I certainly would never tell soldiers what they could be doing to "make things better".

If someone hasn't been there, or isn't willing to go there, then they should just shut up...........

Phantom....

Its tough to tell if its really Pete writing or someone else hiding behind his name...