Purse Question for 2009 (New Thread turning Right)
 

Maybe if we take the purse from 25k and lower it to 20k paying the top 8 boats in each class than take 5K from each round than divide it up and pay to the top 3 teams in each class as a year end award?

** If there are only 5 teams in a class the extra 300 gets rolled into the year end awards $$

1st (1000) 2nd (800) 3rd (600) 4th (400) 5th (200) 6th (100) 7th (100) 8th (100)
Class 6
Class 5
Class 4
Class 3
Class 2
Class 1

Year end Award to top 3 in each class: **
1st (3400.00) 2nd (2200.00) 3rd (1000.00)

no purse for scl, sc, extreme or turbine?

You would think I would know that... But I dont. I thought the Pro Series Guys brought there own $$$ and I dont know about Extreme and Turbine.

But the $$ could be adjusted if needed.

i just remember jimmy whining about tom splitting his money with him or something.... :drink:

no big deal to me, was just curious when you listed just the bracket classes.

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmhhhhh,,,,,,,am i missing something here ?

,,,,year end award $$$ add up to 39600 !
20 K each race leave 5K 8 races will give you 40 K
Where does the rest of the $ go ?

:grinser010:

It will vary... after all people From New Jersey are involved. :evilb:

You are right Rick!!! That would reward the teams that raced more races. Sounds good.
MD

It could work. Another thing, would be to try to get some contingency $ for the Top 3 at end of the year. Even small stuff, AMSOIL certificate, Mercury, Host Hotel Rooms just some ideas. I feel OPA is under appreciated by the powerboat industry, we are the largest organization, period! We don't get any support from anyone in the industry. No Merc Truck, no Hering Truck, No Lucas Oil, No AMSOIL, No Teague, No CP Performance, No Speedwear and the list goes on. Many poker runs have less boats than an OPA event and these companies are lining up for them.

Thank god for Geico and the other better funded teams that help keep us going.

Sounds good .:rolleyes:

Dean you are Kidding right. OPA teams use very little product from those sponsors you mentioned. Mercury bring a truck? Maybe the 750 teams could call and ask Merc. :party-smiley-004:
MD

Dean....I agree we need sum type of sponsor support....but I may have something coming.....I think it is time that we get some kind of backing on some of our equipment....I think my engine package will be a big test for 09....and can open the door on a lot of things for the racers....

OPA is big enough that a program like this would work.....compitition is great in every type of bussiness.....it won't be overnight....but if people are discussing options and are showing interested in this economy.....that is a very good sign....

No Randy not kidding at all. I would be willing to bet that the 85 OPA teams run more Mercury parts than any other organization. If they are parked in KW with 45 boats and the majority are P Class racers, why wouldn't they want to come to St Clair where there were more boats? Heck Harrison Twp had 43 boats in our first year. Merc is only one example, OPA has the show and perhaps if they did become sponsors they would benefit not only from the racers $ but gain wallet share from the spectators. Remember they sell alot more than just 850s, they sell props, drives, oil, 525s, etc. These companies aren't there to support you, they are there to promote their companies. Supporting you is the cost for them to be there. So it is about exposure.

As an organization, OPA has leverage. We spend a lot of money as a group and "perform" on a relatively large stage. We should promote that. I would bet that most of our events have greater fan exposurer than the vast majority of poker runs.

And Randy what benefits the OPA will also benefit you and all of offshore.

Also besides what we buy for our race boats and what potential impact on the fans sponsors like Mercury may have, alot of us also have Mercury equipment in our pleasure boats as well. Also there are some people in OPA that are in the performace marine business that sell and service companies like Mercury marine. Just one example

Has anybody from the OPA called Mercury?

Sean , I don't know for sure. Merc was only one example of who we should be working with. There are penalty of allainces we should work. From an OPA branded cash back credit card to Holiday Inn. We have seen how many little stickers are on NASCARs, we should make a killing, my boat is at least twice as big as one of the cars. :drink:

750 teams don't have time to call, they are out boating. it seems it's the belt throwing, oil leaking, gaurdians that need attention. just my opinion, but before bashing of my opinion starts, fire up another thread so we can keep this one on rail.

I actually think that they would only come to an OPA race if they would benefit from the teams,,,,,,,,,Mercury does not need any advertisment at a race because they have enuff worl wide.
So if they dont atleast make 3 K a day for there efort to show up,,,,they will not be there.:eek:

I would make that on my list of who to call if I was promoting a race site. Hint, hint Dean. :drink:

Merc is a great asset at a race. Securing their support may bring more teams in that may otherwise not show. For a 850/525 team its like having an extra crew member or two whenever you need them.

i saw more 750 boats not finish laps in KW than 850... but thats not really what this thread is about now huh? :drink:

And you drive it much slower too, so the fans have plenty of time to read the sides as you cruise by.

and when he spins it around, he does advertise both sides better... :drink: (sorry dean)

Randy, why is the sponsor question so far fetched? At the OSS Worlds 2 years ago Haggin bought me a brand new XR Drive and I bought one right out of the Merc Trailer along with another 1800.00 in parts for my boat alone. I know of 7 other teams that spent over 1500.00 each that week. Maybe we could get you guy's more winning $$$ or at least vigs for products if thses companys came aboard. Just a thought.

Damn, you guys are harsh. :drink:

I could be wrong...but when I talked to Smitty around May or so...I think he has talk to them...I still think it comes down to politics....just because we are bracket racing...why would Merc not sell the OPA racers there equipment on the same program as OSS....and give us contingancy money to teams that are using there equipment...along with SBI/APBA..and support all the race sites...If were buying there equipment and parts and if Merc is nutral to all the politics...why would they not support all racers using there equipment...

This has come up before...but it was pretty simple...it was only OSS that would get any assistance from Merc...

But again...this may not be a bad thing....one company having a monopoly on all equipment is not always a good thing...

Randy how many mercury drives are being used in OPA..from a bravo to a bravo XR to #6's
and beween drives and engines that mercury builds...what needs the most maintance...

And there is nothing wrong with it if thats what Merc wants to do....but then there comes a time that you need to get other companys in the game....Like ILMOR, IMCO and Wiseman have done.....

Mercury has been good to me from day one....and I'm not trashing them at all...there equipment is great and proven...but OPA racers money and yours are all the same...and in the end we are all racers...using ther equipment and promoting Merc...but at the same time...I'm a small team that has only been doing this for 9 years...I hate to add up and see how much money I have spend on Mercury equipment and parts and service over those 9 years...I feel I have given Mercury good money over those years...and they have given me good products...but to say why should they support teams like me and the rest of the OPA racers using there equipment makes no sence at all..

Guys I didn't want my post to be about Mercury, they were only one example of who we should try to form relationships with. We have a great show and spend alot of $ on things as a group. Hotels, Parts, Gas, Appreal, Printing, Beer, Energy Drinks, Trucks, Trailers, etc...

At this point, Mercury is already one of Offshores biggest supporters. I just want a piece of the pie.

Sean....I think Tyle and Dean just wanted to see who was behind them and at the time this seemed to be the easies way to do it....
Someone told me that Dean is getting a rear camera and monitor for X-MAS...

To get back on subject....Dean...I think companys like Lucas Oil and others use todo alot with APBA...like if you used there product and put a sticker on you boat they would give you product on were you finished at every race....but not money...

For racers to get any money back ,it would have to come from a high dollor product that we are purchasing and promoting of theres...

As far as the Organization to get money...thats a lot differant...because they are selling our Organization and billboards on the sides of our boats.....But we as racers can also help...

I think in todays economy we should consintrate on getting our Organization and getting them as much money as we can...if our Org is taking in good money on sponsors then it will be passed down to the racers...

But we are very lucky....in our sport which most consider it a hobby...to have $25k prise purses at each race is very, very good....and not have to put up entre fee's to pay out the prise money....we are very fortunate to have some great race sites putting up the money along with GEICO....and as we grow...OPA's staff is going to need to grow...
We are very lucky to have staff members that do alot for us that get nothing for it....

This is just a suggestion and I know Smitty is always calling us and asking us for our opions...everytime I talk to Smitty...I ask him if he needs anything....he always says...no were good....maybe we really need to tie him and Augie down and really see waht we can do for them to help our Org.....

Just some idea's...again they may be stupid but be gental...

1.maybe do a donation trailer or auction at every race site...
We have some great venders like Freeze Frame, Throttle Up, ect. to donate some products or any local company at our race site to give us some free product and promote them in return...even free dinners at local resturants at our race sites...and put out the word to have a acution for these items on a Sat or Friday or even race day and auction these items off for donations and use it for extra assistance for the teams and help out to take care of our staff.....
2. Or even have a big car wash in front of a big store like a wallmart or home depot in our race towns for donations...and have some boats on display...it will promote the site and the place of bussniess...

There are many options we can look at....but the more we can cut the cost down for racers the esaier it will be to retain race teams and promote our Org

Just a thought again..

Gino you are absolutely correct. The sponsors should be for the OPA. A strong organization is what will benefit us all the most. The OPA can then use the $ to maintain race sites and support its members. Discounts and Contingency money is really very cheap, or even profitable, for most suppliers so it is something we need to pursue.

I think one of the things we loose site of is, what can I get today or this year...vice thinking long term...
Can you amagine if we held a yearly Auction at the same place of business year after year...it will grow...and get bigger and bigger just like our race sites do....we need to start tieing ourselves into big companys and do all we can to promote there company and be abe to show them a benifit to there buissness....if we do that they will invest more and more each year....

Even 2K to 4k today can be 10 to 15k in a few years...

Augie I may be wrong but I think the Merc. truck at the worlds has a better chance of selling drives and parts based on multiple days of racing and the need to replace parts immediately to be able to race the next race.
Jim Gorlitz or Rick Macky at Merc 920-921-5330 please call them and ask. I would also love to see there truck at OPA races as well.
MD

Randy, if they weren't there that day I would have been finished! I think it's a great thing to have Merc at a site.

If the OPA wants me to talk to them I will. Just have Smitty give me the green light. Lets not forget I am a OPA racer.
MD

Green light. I am sure Mercury is feeling the crunch, so dont get your hopes too high. That truck costs a fair amount of $ to move around. Most of the racers probably aren't even aware, that Mercury has a program where you can all register in, and buy direct.

Great threads buy the way guys. Great to see such positive stuff. Smitty

Do what it takes to get the truck there.These guys will go way out of there way to get you back in the water

When I called to invite them to participate in the Harrison Offshore Event, I was told that Mercury Racing "appreciates the invitation, but has zero marketing budget at least until April, call back then"

No posters, tee shirts or money. Very sad. Remember our event is not just a race with 40+ boats but an owners rally with 300 boats and a Poker Run for Special Olympics. I hope it is just a sign of the economy.

Well, We'll just have to make them an offer they can't refuse!