Realistically, there is only one plausible roof and that is SBI/APBA. All the racers simply go there and presto common ground, everyone is in one place. Who is left out?

Mikee:

Fragmentation is one element, there are many others that need to be addressed in order for any "vision" of a higher plateau of existance to come into focus. That would, however, be a good place to start. From the sound of Pete B's posting, it is not likely to happen any time soon.

Gregg Reichman

Mike A, wasn't it your long term goal that there were to be premier classes and then divisional classes? I recall hearing you say that, what has changed? The reality is there should be several roofs, divisional and national. There must be a hiearchy, as long as we all can race what ever we own the racers rule the sport. The sport has to dictate to the racers that they must move up. If I was racing cars I would start with late model move to open wheel sprints and someday to nascar. Right now the organization takes money from whoever shows up and gives them a class a five dollar trophy and a three dollar flag, pretty good return for the organization. Mike which organization resambles your vision? Why didn't you just merge back then with SBI? Was it because they didn't not share you vision? I agree with the comment that right now to many teams will quit before switching so what is the solution? Why would OSS racers switch they like rules, inspections, sealed motors, organized starts, safety. The reality is that eventually there needs to be no more than 4 classes in a national series to force racers to grow those classes..........hell maybe its two classes so there are a minimium of 20 boats per class or maybe one like SCL. When we get the sport to that level we will all want to be in that class whatever it is............

Guys I have one more point, give me one sport or form of entertainment, where the performers pay to perform. I am quoting someone else here whose insight has our boat count growing like wild fire. Why shouldn't we be able to get the race sites to put up some money when our show comes to town?

Is that really being realistic? When Racers are making money hand over foot for attending said races it may be plausible.

What makes that the ONLY Plausible roof??

What would be the benefits for them to close the door??

IF They cease to exist, dont you think many teams will feel it is time to hang it up all together?

The sport itself is not attracting young blood so to speak!

Pete,
It almost happened. I almost agree with you 100%. OPA is attracting a lot of racers to the sport.

Mike,

It is easy to say everyone should just go to SBI.

The one real issue I think many wouldn't commit to an entire season there is because of the distance needed to travel.

At least when APBA was its own sanctioning body of Offshore,
you could count on races being spread out across the states.

As it stands now, there are only 2 races in North Carolina and 1 in New York and the rest of the season is spent in Florida.

If SBI is left to be the last one standing, I really feel bad for the racers in California, Michigan and the entire North East.

Get back to the basics with Divisional Racing and true National events throughout the country.

It just might help....

louie,
watching OPA for the first time in Destin was great, some really awesome racing. I have wanted to attend, a race up in the Northeast, just havent found the time yet, but it is on my list. I hope the current path they are following leads to much success.

Excellent point - I raced Super V for 2 years with my Team keeping our Equipment in Florida, but I live in Arizona. Reality is 5 dedicated days to each event 14 times a year - 70 days for racing events alone, and that does not include testing, etc, ore like 100 days when it is all said and done.

I think it is unrealistic for the long term to expect that a multitude of people other tham Floridians could race SBI year in and year our as the current schedule exists.

Gregg Reichman

I raced cars, motorcyles and atv's and have always paid to race..just to race an ATV in the baja 1000, the largest offroadrace with big sponsors and tv coverage, I paid almost a grand to race a quad..and that was in 1988 since then the price to race or entry fee has only gone up.