I ask this because I am curious if when you got into racing did any of you do it because of the prize money. Have any of you made more money in any season than you spent?

I'm too old to play football and too fat to run up and down a basketball court! But, I get a RUSH outta Offshore Racing. The Rush, The Family and The Friends I've made along the way! MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There ain't enough money in the world to make up for all the GOOD People I now call Family, from Racers to Poker Runners to Family Power boaters to THE FANS. I'd do it all over again. Oh, and they wouldn't let me fly and F-14 and blow $hit up so a race boat was the next best thing. He He He

You really can't explain it, until you've done it........I don't race thinking that I am going to make money doing it, but it is nice know if you do well that it can pay for it's self. If you put in the time between racing, doing well, and sponsorship, IT CAN ALMOST PAY FOR IT'S SELF.

Racing is Awesome!!! period....We all do it for the rush, the comradery . And dont forget the fun.

The little bit of prize money is nice to help offset our costs. But I would have raced with or without it.

I always wanted to race, every since I had hair. Finally, I lost my hair, but got the chance to race my pleasure boat. Instantly, I was hooked. And bought another race boat and one more after that. However, as the years progressed and competition got tougher, I became more competitive and serious about the sport. When that happened, I lost sight of why I wanted to race in the first place. To have fun. To me, racing is not fun anymore. I spend way too much money and travel too many miles not to have fun. When I spend good money and travel great distances, while taking time away from my business, the last thing I want ,is to be stressed out.

So, even though OPA might be lax on strict rule enforcement, everyone is having fun and the fans love what they are seeing.

I see this year as the transition year and in my opinion, the strong will get stronger and the weak, weaker. if the weak dont jump on board somehow, they will miss the boat.

Kostelac made some good points in his other post, but there are way too many teams out there that just dont have the time to travel all over the country (Gods country) to be stressed out.

the day we "the racers" can be paid or make a living racing offshore, is when I will gladly race where Im told to, and deal with the stress that comes my way. Until then, I will spend my hard earned cash having fun. I deal with enough stress all week. and it pays very well.

hope this answers your ???

Racing is in the blood. My dad used to race, my uncles used to race. I race every time Im on a 4 lane highway The funnest part for me back in the day when we did the street racing thing was somebody else settin up the race while I stayed in the car and then gettin out after the race and them realizing they just got beat by a girl Not all of them took it real well

Now, doin the boating thing, its like Augie said ... its the people. They are my closest friends, even tho we live miles apart. Id do anything for them and I know that most, would do anything for me.

The starts to the races are the favorite part for me. All the boats lined up and runnin together .... definitely gets your blood goin goin into the first turn and having to trust that everyone is gonna stay in their own lane and your gonna be able to keep your boat in the right lane cuz you know, there aint no white lines to tell you where your lane is Even if I couldnt get in a boat again, Id have to still go to every race I could. These people are amazing

Aside from people like JT , I don't its possible to make more than you spent if you include equipment and parts. Although like Ryan said if you do well you can win back that weekends expenses. If you have some merchandising program you might do a little better. I raced cause I love the competition and enjoyed playing with the people you meet.
There is nothing like skipping across the top of some big seas or attacking turns within arms reach of other boats.
Jim

As the saying goes, " If you want to make a small fortune racing offshore, start with a large fortune."

Over the long haul I don't think it's possible to make money. Maybe for a season. But if you have to replace engines, outdrives, etc. I don't think it's possible.

Ray

Your budget is about $300K light for a competative SCL and that if if you don't have any spare engines, or much of a propeller choice, or any support equipment.

Gregg Reichman

Ryan - does your statement include front end capital cost of equipment?, AND how many people out of 100 that are involved that you know about (and you know them all) can actually pull off a Team that can almost pay for itself from real arms length 3rd party sponsorship?, maybe 3 out of 100?.

Gregg Reichman

Augie sumed it up...

I had a ball in F1 for 4 years....and thought that moving up to SV would be even better....but its true....the more money, time, headaches and keeping up with the changes makes you loose all the fun out of why you get in to begin with....last year changing over and running in OPA and P-Class was the most fun I had since moving into SV.....and this year is a ball again....I'm meeting teams I have heard of over the years but was to stressed out and working on things to get to know them...

Having fun racing....spending time with freinds on race weekends and getting a adreniline rush all at the same time....and hanging out with good people and always meeting new ones.....

Hell....Bill P from WANTED was not looking real happy after sinking his boat on Sat. but to see all the teams and his crew puting his boat back togeter to get him out in the race on Sunday.....and to top the weekend off ......he WIN'S (BASTERS)....and having all the teams that helped come up with them for the trophy presentation

IF SOMEONE EVER QUESTION WHAT DO YO LIKE THE MOST ABOUT RACING.......TELL THEM THE "TEAM WANTED" STORY IN ST CLAIR....2007........AND SAY NO MORE......