Taking our sport to the "Next Level"
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Mike,
In no way am I trying to slander or discredit Mike A with this post, but we need to look at what went wrong. If LLC was such a success then why isnt he still have it going? Why was there a boycott in the first place? He had a lot of great ideas to bring this sport to the next level, but it didnt and unfortunatly he had to succumb to the vicious cycle we love to call offshore racing.
Once again, he came up with a brilliant idea in this thread about the association owning and controling the boats. I agree with him totally on that and as he said it wont happen anytime soon. This is a hobby at this point of the game and with the egoes involved, there will never be one group. If the racers(including myself) would wake up and realize that you dont really have to get along to do business with one another, you just need to coexisist, then that would be a step in the right direction. Billy M seems to spend a lot of time in Key West, why wont he call JC and not give in, but sit down and meet and see what can be done to better the sport and bring everyone back together. Smitty was quoted in the latest "Extreme Boats" magazine that he was going to sit down and meet with "the other group from Key West" and see if a couple of races could be tied in between OPA and SBI/APBA. Its a fancy word called compromise.
A guy I used to work for had some simple demands of his employees. "No is not and option","Make it a win-win situation", and "Always exceed the customers expectations" If JC, Billy M, and Smitty all sat down and followed these, this sport will move on to the next level. I only see 2 out of 3 willing to do that at this time, it will take all 3.
Trent
In no way am I trying to slander or discredit Mike A with this post, but we need to look at what went wrong. If LLC was such a success then why isnt he still have it going? Why was there a boycott in the first place? He had a lot of great ideas to bring this sport to the next level, but it didnt and unfortunatly he had to succumb to the vicious cycle we love to call offshore racing.
Once again, he came up with a brilliant idea in this thread about the association owning and controling the boats. I agree with him totally on that and as he said it wont happen anytime soon. This is a hobby at this point of the game and with the egoes involved, there will never be one group. If the racers(including myself) would wake up and realize that you dont really have to get along to do business with one another, you just need to coexisist, then that would be a step in the right direction. Billy M seems to spend a lot of time in Key West, why wont he call JC and not give in, but sit down and meet and see what can be done to better the sport and bring everyone back together. Smitty was quoted in the latest "Extreme Boats" magazine that he was going to sit down and meet with "the other group from Key West" and see if a couple of races could be tied in between OPA and SBI/APBA. Its a fancy word called compromise.
A guy I used to work for had some simple demands of his employees. "No is not and option","Make it a win-win situation", and "Always exceed the customers expectations" If JC, Billy M, and Smitty all sat down and followed these, this sport will move on to the next level. I only see 2 out of 3 willing to do that at this time, it will take all 3.
Trent
Pat your are right things like Daytona and other large events we need to team up with anyway we can. I am working on something now, hope it happens.
Trent,
Billy cannot be trusted to do any deal. PERIOD. He actually signed a commitment letter along with several others, including Gary Montano, to not boycott and to race with everyone in Orange Beach. He flat broke his written word. Gary and the others who signed the letter went to Orange Beach. Billy helped lead the boycott while the ink on his signature was still drying. He knows it.
John, rightfully so, is careful about who he trusts and he knows Billy, so as long as Billy is the head of OSS, you can forget it.
No one is going to wrest KW away from John. I spent years getting to know the people and business relationships down there and John and is and will be the man as long as one boat shows up. Deservedly so given his staying power.
Fact is, before the boycott, Steve and I met with Reggie and JC for dinner in St. Pete to open a dialogue about possibly getting the two series together. We recognized the value of what John had and were very interested in pursuing a deal with him - a fair one for him too based on all that he had invested, time and money, the sites and sponsorships he developed, etc.
John is where the value lies. The real money people at OSS have realized how hard it is to make any real business out of boat racing and thus have essentially left Billy holding the bag. He may not have figured it out yet but... He does not possibly offer any hope for a long term solution. At some point soon, OSS likely will either fizzle out completely, or limp along like USO did until it crashed. THAT is reality.
There is no question the sport is a hobby and likely will be for years to come. Make it fun. The focus ought to be on how to make it easier and rewarding for the volunteers, like Smitty etc.to keep doing what they are doing for the benefit of everyone else, local fans, and racers. Treat them well. Show your gratitude and keep them happy. That is the only way your hobby can continue.
Billy cannot be trusted to do any deal. PERIOD. He actually signed a commitment letter along with several others, including Gary Montano, to not boycott and to race with everyone in Orange Beach. He flat broke his written word. Gary and the others who signed the letter went to Orange Beach. Billy helped lead the boycott while the ink on his signature was still drying. He knows it.
John, rightfully so, is careful about who he trusts and he knows Billy, so as long as Billy is the head of OSS, you can forget it.
No one is going to wrest KW away from John. I spent years getting to know the people and business relationships down there and John and is and will be the man as long as one boat shows up. Deservedly so given his staying power.
Fact is, before the boycott, Steve and I met with Reggie and JC for dinner in St. Pete to open a dialogue about possibly getting the two series together. We recognized the value of what John had and were very interested in pursuing a deal with him - a fair one for him too based on all that he had invested, time and money, the sites and sponsorships he developed, etc.
John is where the value lies. The real money people at OSS have realized how hard it is to make any real business out of boat racing and thus have essentially left Billy holding the bag. He may not have figured it out yet but... He does not possibly offer any hope for a long term solution. At some point soon, OSS likely will either fizzle out completely, or limp along like USO did until it crashed. THAT is reality.
There is no question the sport is a hobby and likely will be for years to come. Make it fun. The focus ought to be on how to make it easier and rewarding for the volunteers, like Smitty etc.to keep doing what they are doing for the benefit of everyone else, local fans, and racers. Treat them well. Show your gratitude and keep them happy. That is the only way your hobby can continue.
Thanks for your quick and honest response Mike! You and only a few select people are the only ones that can answer the above questions.
It seems to me that when you always ask racers what is wrong they are quick to point fingers and place blame. Its always been John's(the dictator as he has been refered),Mike A, Miklos, Frank, etc... fault, but no one seems to look at themselves in the mirror. Sad part is the racers arent idiots, just successful businessmen with a passion. You would think that we would use the same intelligence that we run our day to day operations and apply it to our passion.
Thanks again Mike for the dialogue, its been enlightening and educational.
Trent
It seems to me that when you always ask racers what is wrong they are quick to point fingers and place blame. Its always been John's(the dictator as he has been refered),Mike A, Miklos, Frank, etc... fault, but no one seems to look at themselves in the mirror. Sad part is the racers arent idiots, just successful businessmen with a passion. You would think that we would use the same intelligence that we run our day to day operations and apply it to our passion.
Thanks again Mike for the dialogue, its been enlightening and educational.
Trent
There is a way for one Race Org. to exist. We have the perfect example of free market system here. Once one org. figures out how to offer the product that the racers wan't the other teams will show up.
I don't want to do any bashing to anyone here especially Mike A who did a great job with the sport and hopefuly will be able to help in the future.
My question for Mike is you say in your last post. "I spent years getting to know the people and business relationships down there and John and is and will be the man as long as one boat shows up."
If this statement is true why were you not able to work out the diffrences with Mills or who ever was in charge and host the worlds in KW. That Orange Beach event pissed off more than just the Teams I had rented a Home in the Truman Annex that year and was going to loose alot of money if I cancled. I can assure you that I was not the only fan who was pissed.
Nascar does not decide 2 months before the Indy 500 to host the Indy 500 in Taladega.
I don't want to do any bashing to anyone here especially Mike A who did a great job with the sport and hopefuly will be able to help in the future.
My question for Mike is you say in your last post. "I spent years getting to know the people and business relationships down there and John and is and will be the man as long as one boat shows up."
If this statement is true why were you not able to work out the diffrences with Mills or who ever was in charge and host the worlds in KW. That Orange Beach event pissed off more than just the Teams I had rented a Home in the Truman Annex that year and was going to loose alot of money if I cancled. I can assure you that I was not the only fan who was pissed.
Nascar does not decide 2 months before the Indy 500 to host the Indy 500 in Taladega.
Quote:
My question for Mike is you say in your last post. "I spent years getting to know the people and business relationships down there and John and is and will be the man as long as one boat shows up."
If this statement is true why were you not able to work out the diffrences with Mills or who ever was in charge and host the worlds in KW.
Hahahaha. Because I was an idiot!!! Although things have worked out better for me an my family.Originally Posted by oldschoolfan
My question for Mike is you say in your last post. "I spent years getting to know the people and business relationships down there and John and is and will be the man as long as one boat shows up."
If this statement is true why were you not able to work out the diffrences with Mills or who ever was in charge and host the worlds in KW.
Lee and I actually mended fences and had become good friends again by the time he passed away. Just two headstrong guys under a lot of pressure who said pretty bad things to each other. I misread Lee's intentions and let emotion get the best of me and made what was obvious in retrospect, a very bad decision. No one to blame but me. That was one of only two regrets I had about the experience. The other was getting sideways with Reggie. But he and I repaired that relationship too.
As far as helping the sport, enough time has passed for me to feel comfortable sharing my experiences and perspectives BUT THAT IS ALL.
Again, I really think the racers should concentrate on having fun with what is a really cool extreme hobby. John C. is running a small successful business that caters to racers, venues and certain sponsors. Take advantage of it.
OPA is run by great people who are giving their time and money so a bunch of other people can have fun. Be grateful. Show your appreciation and make sure that their efforts are rewarded so they will keep doing it.
I do think everyone should stop attacking each other and their preferred organizations though.
Thanks Mike,
Your perspectives should be truly valued, along with a few mistakes, which are real easy to make in this high energy, testosterone driven sport or hobbie we all love, not many can say they accomplished the good you brought to the sport also. I race with the OPA and have made a lot of new and great friends from guys who have paid there dues and are legends of racing to guys who are just starting and will be the future legends. In my business, I have been betrayed by people I have helped, helped someone from bancruptcy only to have them pull the rug out from under me almost wiping out my business and believe me I could go on. I got bitter and didn't trust anyone, I was going backwards. I got through it and I am better for it. In Offshore racingthe words trust, negotiate, compromise until recently have been non-existant, I optimistically think that's about to change. Maybe then we can have a unified series, even if it is only a few events and the worlds, it will be a step in the right direction.
Thanks,
Louie
Your perspectives should be truly valued, along with a few mistakes, which are real easy to make in this high energy, testosterone driven sport or hobbie we all love, not many can say they accomplished the good you brought to the sport also. I race with the OPA and have made a lot of new and great friends from guys who have paid there dues and are legends of racing to guys who are just starting and will be the future legends. In my business, I have been betrayed by people I have helped, helped someone from bancruptcy only to have them pull the rug out from under me almost wiping out my business and believe me I could go on. I got bitter and didn't trust anyone, I was going backwards. I got through it and I am better for it. In Offshore racingthe words trust, negotiate, compromise until recently have been non-existant, I optimistically think that's about to change. Maybe then we can have a unified series, even if it is only a few events and the worlds, it will be a step in the right direction.
Thanks,
Louie
Mike I like you you are honest. I am also impresed youwere able to hold APBA together as long as you did. In all other major sports the players have no where to go they can't quit and start a new org. They would have no Stadium no Track. With Boat racing all they need is a body of water. Those protesting teams should have used there strength to help APBA by coming to you and using there strength as leverage. Matbe they did that or perhaps they Just started OSS without trying to better APBA. Perhaps the guy with the yellow boats big trailers and blue lambo wanted to add race org to his empire.
Mike I hope you don't think I was attacking you just wanted to hear your side.
Mike I hope you don't think I was attacking you just wanted to hear your side.
Mike A had it ALL going on great TV, LOTS and Lots of boats great race sites. Mike Ill be down in a few weeks lets get somthing to eat while were down there
