Dave

I get it. Thanks for your clarification.

See you in St. Clair.

Agreed Steve! Any relief now a days is great and it will keep teams coming back for more. Whatever is voted on needs to be in concrete and shouldn't be changed later at race site to race site to suit who's winning and losing. Of course peoples views change.....ours did when we were winning...running up front and placing.....but if we broke or broke out...that hurt. Something could be done to help EVERYONE! Smitty always says that the class 6 is what people talk about and can relate to the most. Race sites need boats to show up in order to put on a show...EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT A FRONT RUNNER. Look....not every team has the experience as some others, but they show up and race.....do you just call that the luck of the draw?....Thats racing?....Do they deserve some help to get there and help put on a show as well? How about the sites give food coupons or hotel coupons....any help to help our teams come to their site and put on a show for their town would help. Some sites do this and boy does it help....The saga continues.....

I wasn't directing anything at anybody, Steve this has been an issue since before you started with us. The tow money vs prize money has been a problem, I'm offering solutions and opinions I'm not here to dictate my job is to here both sides and offer my opinion. Ill say it I was avoiding it but Ben wouldn't care regardless the akula team purposely runs in the back to collect the check and ends up placing at times due to breakouts and breakdowns so my point is, by giving prize checks anybody is in the running and even though at the time you look to be in third like tawas I knew the two boats ahead of me broke out, bumping EVERYONE up two spots. So by doing prize money even a third place at 750 makes up for 3 races worth of tow. It's just in my opinion that by eliminating the guarantee it may force racers to stay below the number and NOT go steal the flag, and hopefully force a more competitive race. Wasn't taking shots guys.

Boomer

Steve,
Sorry about the prop wash but that's our strategy.
Once a boat gets close to us we raise our drive and start throwing things at you.
Flares, fire extinguishers, compass, whistle. I even reached into the cup holder and through my Cintron energy drink at you!!
Except Maxed Out. I throw mason jars of them!!
See you in Michigan,
Jeff
Country Service

Boomer

Thanks for the clarification, I really appreciate your response. I wasn't trying to cause any animosity between any of the class 6 teams nor did I want to give the impression that I was egregious. Better yet I'll just pick up the phone a call you if I have questions. A good understanding goes a long way.

At this point all my concrens are addresses and looking forward to the meeting in St. Clair.

BTW Dave sorry for hijacking your post for a minute.

Steve

Maybe it should be more about Pride and Sportsmanship. The lack of entry fee's is a bonus already.
Anybody for donating the purse to a charity?

Jeff

That's what I thought but it worked out it washed all the bugs off my bow form testing the day before. I'll make sure to watch out for the mason jars but it will take a few years for that. Next time instead of Cintron throw a few Coors Light our way.

Looking forward to a great time in St. Clair!

The question here for us to answer is how to distribute the purse. None of us do this professionally and while we talk about sponsors, for the most part, any prize or tow money helps teams continue to race. Three races in Michigan is tough for the east coast guys. The remainder of the races are tough for the Michigan guys. We have a large class. We can't just pay the top three leaving the rest of the field with nothing. I can speak for our team in saying that tow money is definitely and incentive to make Michigan races. The east coast races, not so much, prize is ok. How do we make a compromise?

As far as the flag stealing, teams that purposely blow away the breakout speed to grab a checkered flag and get a victory need to be dealt with by the officials.

Here's another idea that incorporates the good intentions of all and offers incentive for teams driving their respective long distances. It's pretty simple: Award prize money appropriately (top 3 ). As far as tow money: Have a graduated scale... 1hour, 2 hour, 3 hour, etc....each hour of one-way travel/distance earns you x-dollar reimbursement. It's not rocket science; it only requires some basic accounting of "mapquest" distances and bingo....you've got a legitimate reimbursable amount that is earned for THAT race being attended. It would have nothing to do with attendance at the prior race. Consequently, everyone is "rewarded" for their race attendance on a graduated scale. Winners would earn a little extra payola to pay for oil changes, errant electrical gremlins. glass repairs, etc......you get the picture. I like Grinch's idea of charity donations; however, that could be approached in another vein that would make sense, also. ....My nickel's worth. NEMO

I agree with everything your saying, but at the same time a 3rd place finish paid your tow money for 3 races. I dont mind if it ends up being tow money but i would love to race for something again, at this point im so backwards with the 300-400 dollar checks that i dont have anything to freshen any of my equipment up, a first place used to cover a top end or a drive.