The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

Here it is :
2005 DIVISIONAL SCHEDULE



MAY 20, 21, 22 THUNDER ON ST. ANDREWS BAY GRAND PRIX
Panama City, FL Southeast Division


JUNE 3, 4, 5 VENTURA – POPBRA GRAND PRIX
Ventura, CA Western Division


JULY 29, 30, 31 BENCIA – POPBRA GRAND PRIX
Bencia, CA Western Division


AUG 12, 13, 14 HUNTINGTON BEACH –POPBRA GRAND PRIX
Huntington Beach, CA Western Division

SEPT 2, 3, 4 LOUISVILLE GRAND PRIX
Louisville, KY Northeast Division


SEPT 9, 10, 11 PITTSBURG - POPBRA GRAND PRIX
Pittsburg, CA Western Division

SEPT 23, 24, 25 ELIZABETH CITY JAYCEES GRAND PRIX
Elizabeth City, NC Northeast Division


FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT SUPER BOAT INTERNATIONAL 305-296-6166


John Carbonell, President * SBIP/APBA-UIM
1323 20th Terrace * Key West, FL 33040 * (305) 296-6166 * Fax (305) 296-9770
Web Site: www.superboat.com * E-Mail [email protected]

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

What happened to the "Central and Northeast divisions" Louisville and Elizabeth City? Northeast? Wasn't Buffalo originally on the list. Good site and excellent production staff.

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

Louisville?? All I can say is wow

Trent

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

APR 29, 30, MAY 1 1ST Annual FT. LAUDERDALE AIR AND SEA SHOW
SUPER BOAT GRAND PRIX
(Estimated two million spectators)
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
========================
Anyone been to this?? Whats it all about??

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

What happened to Buffalo??? :(

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

Cancell Ventura 6/3 - 6/5. Popra pulled it off the schedule last week...............they are making improvements to the marina and can't accomodate a race.

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

I dunno, but I'll be there too.

Are you gonna be my back up photographer again? Jamie will be there too.

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

This is the first time they are running the race along with the air and sea show.

the air show is fantastic, and the races in lauderdale cant be beat. bahia mar is usually the wet and dry pits, and it is right across the street from the beach.

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

Rchevell71 the dry pits will be in the same place as the Dania race so we can move the boats around without all the traffic.

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

Air & Sea Show, FPC Poker Run, SBI-APBA Race all on the same day. THAT will make for an exciting day!

LS JR.

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

Hey Mike, That's NC not TN. DAve

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

=================
Sorry Ron I do not have the certifications to be your back up. :eek:
I'm just an amatuer with a cheeper camera that just knows when to shoot racing and when to look for/at the eye candy :D :drink:

I have to check finances..I already have reservations for Sarasota and Marathon..

Is there a Marriott or Holiday in near the race course??

Are there VIP seating/viewing??

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

f.y.i.
There is every hotel chain either on the beach or within walking distance of the air and sea show/and race.
Facing the beach for big $$$ is a HoJo, Holiday Inn, Sheraton, etc. etc. ..there is an Embassy Suites on Sunrise, on the intracoastal - very short walk to beach - next to Galleria Mall that we're booked at
but the rooms go fast.
The main intersection is at the end of Sunrise Blvd and A1A, and the estimated 2 million was topped last year by close to or reaching 3 million for the 2 days so early reservations are very necessary.
All air and sea show info can be found on "McDonalds National Salute" or McDonalds Air and Sea Show, or Fleet week" Ft.lauderdale........
you will have to ask the SBI ofc. if there is a separate VIP racing area.

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

Thanks for info Capt.

One more question... Where do 2-3 million people watch the races from?? There must be flesh to flesh on the beach :eek: :drink:

Anyone have photos from last time 2 million showed?? Or even of the venue??

Thanks again..

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

absolutely flesh to flesh.....I remember seeing pictures on the front page of the Sun Sentinal (ft. laud) last year, and when I went two years ago I swore I'd get VIP section next time......
it's hot and you spend all afternoon looking UP.....the best air show in florida.......maybe the country

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

Air and Sea Show is an AMAZING event and definitely draws the crowd. Need to get to the beach early or else NOWHERE to sit, absolutely flesh to flesh!!!! Can't wait for this event.

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

Buffalo was cancelled do to the merger of SBI & APBA's (WPR, Inc.) National Schedule changes.

We hope to be back on the schedule in the future. Those of you who would like to return to Buffalo, let the organization know.

For now, GOOD LUCK this year and hope to see you all soon.

Mimi Alf
Race Producer

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

Hey since the new divisional schedule is out whats up with the Pt. Huron race? Its a shame not to see any races in the Great Lakes, by the way anyone know why that is?

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

Kerbdog,

I have no authority to speak for WPR/APBA/SBI but can speak with intimate knowledge of last years APBA races having served as their referee. Virtually every APBA Offshore race last season aside from Marathon, FL. resulted in significant financial losses to APBA Offshore. I cannot speak for any other sanctioning group, but would imagine if you spoke to the promoter of the St Pete OSS race, he too would tell of a similar fate. While several cities, including Port Huron were gracious and inviting, that was not met with funding to match. Obtaining sponsors, whether local or national is timely and difficult. (note the lack of true sponsorship for almost any team that is not in someway related to the teams ownership.) This season,one of the goals was to race where the sport is wanted, and funding is in place. Without this, the racers were having to share an inordinate burden in putting on races thru ever increasing entry fees. While entry fees are still expensive, they would be out of sight were it not for in place funding.

It is for this reason amongst others, that each sanctioning group, as well as racers, treat each site and sponsor with respect and thanks. There is lots of water, there is not lots of money to stage races on those waters.............

The Port Huron folks were outstanding, from the City and Coast Guard to the local volunteers, they were good and decent people. When all was said and done, the event resulted in a loss of >$30,000 to APBA Offshore. Everyone was paid, no bills left, no arguements. In fact, last year, each major group, from APBA to SBI, OSS to OPA, all left a clean slate with the host cities and for that we are all so much the better.

Hope that helps to answer your question.

Steve

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

Thanks for the insight Steve very helpful.

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

Steve,
Thank's for the honest, candid,and sobering response.

Walt

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

The truth is that there are a few guys out there in each organization that pony up the cash when the shortfalls happen. What more convincing way to show your dedication to the betterment of the sport then to pay for everyone to race out of your own pocket........... thanks Bob!

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

Since APBA blew off Buffalo, is there any chance that GLSCS will take it on?

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

I'm assuming from looking at the schedule that Milwaukee will no longer be a race date. Would that be correct.

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

The GLSCS is working with it current schedule.

Grand Haven, Michigan (In negotiation)
Mentor, Ohio
St. Claire, Michigan
Louisville, Kentucky
Cape Cod, Mass

Buffalo would be a great event as it was in the past. We can look at it for 2006.

Regards,

Andrew Bloom
GLSCS Chairman

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

It would be nice if the Great Lakes series would race on the great lakes :(

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

Scarab Scoundroul / Ron S see post #22 one of the best non sugar coated posts in a long time. If you want a race in your town YOU put up the money, because MOST cities WILL NOT.

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

Ryan to be honest with you if they don't come to milwaukee it is'nt that big of a deal. The show last year really was'nt that impressive. I was just curious if they would come back or not.

When APBA was here two years ago it was a great, last year between the boats that were at the OSS race in St. Clair and what was in milwaukee there was'nt much of race in Milwaukee. Two cats in diffrent classes with a super cat slowing down for a supercat light boat to catch up and make it look like they are racing and then both taking checkered flags is'nt something that is all that exciting.

So Ryan if YOU think that a CITY should put up MONEY to have APBA come to town maybe APBA should make sure its a show worth putting money up for. What we saw last year was'nt.

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

Ryan,
I am not trying to post blame... I didn't say GLSCS wasn't putting up enough money... I didn't say the racers weren't putting up enough money (god knows that's not true)... I am just saying that I don't like the situation. Cities, associations, sponsors... all are not cooperating enough to get racing in the great lakes (or more importantly to me, in Lake Erie).
Again, I am not posting blame, I would just like to see things work out differently.
Ron, you may be on to something here. For some reason, boat racing is not a big sport up here, and the only way to get racing more popular up here is to change somthing. Maybe we need more coverage, maybe we need tighter competition, maybe we need bigger boats (Bacardi Silver, etc) to pull the public to the waters. Maybe, if we did have the cities behind the race association, that wouldn't be such a bad idea. If the race associations could convince the cities that the race would make the city some money, they would be more likely to back the racing association, and promote the race.
I don't know the answers, I only have questions, and a few flimsy ideas.

Just my $.02

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

Michael...do you want to be slapped! :eek:

Julie

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

============================================
I hear he prefers a solid spanking :drink: :evilb:

Also are there still TWO races schedule for Marathon???

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

The cost of putting on quality events have gone up every year. 10 years ago you could put on a nice divisional event for around 20K. That is now double. Another issue is up to three years ago you have 25-30 average attendance. Now that is 18-20. This makes for a bad show. Big sponsors want their names on bog events. Offshore racing is not a good spectator sport in general (sorry). we have be force over the year to make it spectator friendly to get sponsorship taking away from the true meaning of offshore racing. Money talks.....

Now with the split and re-unification of sanctioning bodies racer, sponsors, and race-sites are tried of all the hassle and aggravation. I don't blame them either. As a divisional group we have been putting on races with the GLSCS for 9 years. We've have seen the ups and downs. But pulling things together last year and for 2005 have been almost impossible. We have been tossed around by APBA Offshore, went out on our own and survived by working with OSS and OPA. And now are given an ultimatum to either join back with ABPA/SBi or go it alone as we did last year working with OSS and possibly OPA. The kicker is there is no support from the racers. If we go one way we may gain race boat, if we go the other we may loose racers.

So how do you plan ahead if you still have no commitment from the racers? Myself and the rest of the GLSCS board are racers and have raced limited schedules for three years trying to help bring things together. I'm not sure I'm willing to do that anymore as I can race anywhere there is a race if I choose.

Sorry for venting but this is the stuff we deal with everyday. Not just during racing season.

Regards,

Andrew Bloom
GLSCS Chairman
:( :confused:

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

CIG,

I guess the one thing I can say is back 4 or 5 years ago GLSCS had there divsional races tied in with APBA and a National race tied into one of you divisional races in Cleveland...that got a few of us to see how good racing up in the Great Lakes are and we started doing 2 or 3 GLSCS races. From what I seen in 5 years with the GLSCS having a Central Division Championship part of APBA seemed to work. I don't know all the BS that accured off the race course like all the fees and BS you put up with but if APBA and SBI have joined together and they are the only National Series that are running P Class racing and POPRA is the West Coast Division of SBI/APBA do you not see the GLSCS as the Central Division again. I know all the stars would have to aline perfect but then what if OPA became the Northest Division and one National race would be tied in with each division race site would at least let the divsional citys see how big the races could be, I'm not saying either GLSCS and OPA wants that, but since your talking about sponsors and boat count, that would be the most logical way to all tie in under one banner SBI/APBA....just a thought but when I got into this 5 years ago , All I heard was SBI and APBA would never join up....well.....
Just my view....nothing else

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

They kick you around one year and give you an ultimatum the next. It seems to me that this seems like a very easy decision. Bye-Bye APBA and affiliations.

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

Kirbdog,

Sorry...I missed what team you race for?

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

Not a done deal ,

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

Manitie, I have been looking into starting my own team over the last year. I am just doing all the research into the best way possible about doing this. I have no affiliations with any series or team right now.

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

Kirbdog,

Well if your just getting started and your from the Great Lakes area the GLSCS is a great place to race, and you would see if a national race tied in with a GLSCS race, its unreal. Even if the GLSCS runs only with itself we will still do at least 1 or 2 races, just because the way we are treated and its a great time. But I found that out by a National race in Cleveland, that then may me try Mento and Grand Haven and the rest is history.

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

It has now been a week since there was a reply to this thread. Could there, would there be any new developments as far as any deals with GLSCS/APBA/SBI/OSS/OPA? I've noticed there is not a schedule posted on APBA. SBI's website is not responding this morning. What's the latest?
Thanks, Rob.

Re: The schedule is out !!! APBA / SBI
 

Spoke to SBI yesterday. The APBA site should come down and just forward to the SBI site. The SBI site will be THE place for information.