:drink:

Yea because the water was rougher back in the day???:evilb:Your also not racing enough to be a true offshore racer you have to race in the Keys or to the Bahamas!:angry-smiley-038:

I agree totally with you .:evilb:

After racing in those conditions, I would venture to say it was a long night for a few ....:eek:

Thunder On The Gulf
by Freeze Frame Video Inc.

It was a great race this weekend here in Orange Beach. It was definitley rough and bumpy. All the photos from all the events are posted at www.freezeframevideo.net. Soon to be finished are the 2012 20x24 Calendars and all of the National Championship 20x24's. All of these will be posted by the end of the week on my site. We are now taking custom orders for sponsors and teams.

Special Thanks to Dana and Rick from the Pleasure Island Poker Run. We'll be back next year for the 2012 Thunder On The Gulf.

See ya in Key West. All photos will be printed and framed on site. Any questions feel free to contact me @ 239.282.1987 or email at [email protected].

-Jeff



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Too calm, too rough, too sunny, too cloudy difference between a Racer and a computer Bull ****ter is we find reasons to race not reasons not to. Running a boat at speed can break it in calm water.

Frankie, you of all people know us better than that! Come on, Miami 2004 and 2005? Key West turn one to two then The Wall. We always have more than enough people to keep our teams safe and you know that is our first concern.

Frank,
Were you in NY this year ? :confused:

Were there any Safety Helicopters with Divers in the air for that race ?

After all, you have canopy boats where seconds count if they are upside down.

Before I hear, "They aren't allowed to fly", the only flight restrictions that weekend were over Manhattan itself and not over the Hudson River. (Confirmed with my pilot.)

After Hurricane Irene, the Hudson was full of debris and apparently Cintron sustained about $25,000 to $30,000 worth of damage after hitting something in the water.

Did anyone consider that risk ? :confused:

Personally I would rather run in heavy seas knowing a chopper or two were above the course than run through a lumber yard in the Hudson no matter what type of rescue support was available.

Even this weekend was horrible with debris, and that was a week without any rain let a lone a Hurricane before the event.... :eek:

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Let us not forget Atlantic City where OPA canceled the race due to sea conditions.

I was still shocked at how many volunteer boats went out and sat in the ocean that day until it was called off. Die Hards for sure, but once they knew they would not be able to tow a boat or bring someone inside the inlet in an emergency, it's a no brainer but to cancel it and live to race another day....

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And yes, below is a DONZI being swallowed up by a wave when they decided to see what it was like outside after the race was canceled:

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That was some crazy shi##, the hardest part was the inlet as with most races, I raced once before in Point Pleasant where it was this rough. We could run 70 down the beach in our 75mph class not sure of our speeds on the back stretch, was too busy trying to chase Typhoon. I never felt I was in danger except when Mark and I went out on the inlet exactly where they told us not to. It was a great weekend, no one sank witch is what happen in Solomons Island in the 6's we raced in, 6" chop that is.

:lolhit::drink:

LOU,

Not looking for reasons not to race my friend I think I have more races then you can count over the last 20yr just facts, if you read my post I never said anything negative about any Org. or attached anyone. It was just my opion I think it is dangerous no matter what org. or medical group . In those type of sea's it is very difficult for a med boat to get close to you. I have been there and done that.... you might get paid enough to get killed or seriously hurt but I sure dont as a boat racer I have nothing to prove. Most of the info I got was from racers that were there and seen it first hand, sorry you took it so personal , maybe you know something we dont?

Augie,

I dont doubt u had enough ppl I never said u didnt, but all I was saying can they do their job, NO matter what org. dont know why everyone is taking it so personal. Do you all really beleive in your heart that that was safe water to be racing???? Didnt say you should of or not , for sure not my choice to say, but my opion is it was danerous Water period.

Frankie, no different than Ocean City, Md ooint Pleasant, NJ from what Val and Louie The Rigger told me so far. There is no way we're gonna put people in danger other than them CHOOSING to get into a race boat and race. Come on Frankie...you should know us better than that after all these years.

Frank, go to the post Thank You From OBA...Point Pleasant Water!

Orange Beach was a great race!! It was extremely rough, but never did it ever cross my mind to not race!! I feel OPA had it all under control, and in my opinion safety wasnt an issue at all!!! Remember... This is why its called offshore racing!!
The west turn was crazy!! I dont think I have ever been so high in a boat before.... and thats coming from a european that has raced in some unreal seas!!! I thought the crowd got an amazing race, especially watching the Geico Caveman V bottom, hang with all the big cats...... We gave it our all.
Thank you OPA on a great racing season!! Thank you to all the new friends I have made, rivalries we have started and most of all, for making us feel welcome!!!!!
See you in '12

Craig

hh

"People work all year to put these events on and quite often don't even get a thank you, you just get hit with a barrage of things you did wrong "

Ain't that the truth!

My liitle 525 V ran 87 Frank Thats called Extremeracing........Not that you would know.............I have raced SBI Miami in much worse conditions. Grow a set of balls or Key West might scare you.

Thanks Craig. Next year we are stepping up our program. Friends or rivals? I'll buy. Smitty

Lol I want to be just like you when i grow up.

Lol I want to be just like you when i grow up...

Little touch are we ...did you have a rough weekend ?