The demise of boat racing,what caused it--and why.

[jackiewilson]

When you consider the fact that powerboat racing was one of the top three most watched sports ever, how come it has gone down the tubes in such a relatively short time ?
Feel free to comment, I'll give you my versions and you give me yours--------DEAL ?

[Triad Boats]

Money

[afr]

the main reason as i see it is insults and big egos before the money anyone new that wants to come in gets bombarded unless they roll in with a half million dollar rig then these guys get attacked by the rumor mill as to how they got there money
and yet if you dont flip a little money around the group you get attack as well with all three ego,s rumors and insults

[styler]

Media options and habits have drastically changed. When there were just 3 (networks) options, you watched what they chose to show you. Now there's a curling channel, a knitting channel, etc. Niche sports that get televised now generally pay for both production and airtime. Different game.

[robert j garner]

When you consider the fact that powerboat racing was one of the top three most watched sports ever, how come it has gone down the tubes in such a relatively short time ?
Feel free to comment, I'll give you my versions and you give me yours--------DEAL ?
Money plus as the sport grew up I think it became more and more difficult for the privateer to win against the works supported drivers having said that it was a awesome spectacle to see.
top three most watched sports that's a bold statement Jackie.
health and safety will probably put the final nail in its coffin.

[jackiewilson]

Money plus as the sport grew up I think it became more and more difficult for the privateer to win against the works supported drivers having said that it was a awesome spectacle to see.
top three most watched sports that's a bold statement Jackie.
health and safety will probably put the final nail in its coffin.

hiya Jim, long time no speak, glad your still up and running, as usual, I disagree .

Enthusiastic promoters usually were dedicated to the sport,the likes of Cyril Benstead,Charlie shepherd, Len Britnell, Derek Thompson Msr Bladinaire and many like them, lived and breathed powerboating, it was their whole life.
As they one by one passed away, there was no one to take their place, no leadership, no one in our corner to fight the cause.
That' s just one of the mitigating circumstances.
Was certainly the case in Europe, and across the pond similar things must have been happening.
We never could afford to do it, but somehow year after year we managed to spend more money and go even faster.

WE WUZ DEDICATED POWERBOATERS.

[Watermark]

Enthusiastic promoters usually were dedicated to the sport,the likes of Cyril Benstead,Charlie shepherd, Len Britnell, Derek Thompson Msr Bladinaire and many like them, lived and breathed powerboating, it was their whole life.
As they one by one passed away, there was no one to take their place, no leadership, no one in our corner to fight the cause.
That' s just one of the mitigating circumstances.


True Jackie .. and while GG and Charlie Strang may have kept their corporate agenda front and centre, boat racing was also their life. Rick Keller, Bob DeGrenier and others tried hard, but didn't have the financial resources to move their dreams forward.

Keeping in mind that boat races were generally held in public places and could not ( or rarely could ) charge admission, promotors couldn't count on a gate to make up for any deficiencies in event sponsorship. When the money doesn't come in and people aren't paid, the life of a promotor is short.

A few other thoughts: Early in the game, Mercury and OMC built and marketed their brands through promoting what then was an extreme sport called powerboat racing. By the 80's, other high-visibility extreme sports had taken root - several that appealed to a younger demographic and happened to catch the media's eye. In the boating world, budgets had shifted to support fishing tournaments and tow sports, Made sense, given the number of fishermen out there. As we know, when Mercury disbanded in '79, Earl Bentz saw the light - and is still seeing it 30 years later.

One has to believe that PWC's didn't help our cause either. Inexpensive, quick and exciting to ride, those who wanted to be on the water now had the opportunity to do so - they didn't need to stand on shore any more. I doubt we lost any fans, but we may have lost future participants given the entry $ needed to participate.

In my eyes, and I'm sure everyone on this forum will agree, powerboat racing (when marketed and televised properly), can be far more exciting to watch than auto racing. Even when attending in person, it's far more enjoyable to be by the water than at a hot, asphalt track. That said, everyone can identify with a car, but not everyone is into boats ... go figure?

[olboatman]

:iagree:Watermark I think you hit the nail on the head! Gary

[99fxst99]

For OPC, the advent of the capsule boats drove costs up and took a lot of the existing boats out of play. Face it, most of OPC, the smaller classes anyhow, were populated with used boats driven by those (like me) that wanted to race but could not afford a new rig.

[afr]

not one of u are going to address my thoughts ?,s and the way i was treated from day 1

[jackiewilson]

not one of u are going to address my thoughts ?,s and the way i was treated from day 1
Yes I am------what were your thoughts ------and how were you treated?

[Mark75H]

For OPC, the advent of the capsule boats drove costs up and took a lot of the existing boats out of play. Face it, most of OPC, the smaller classes anyhow, were populated with used boats driven by those (like me) that wanted to race but could not afford a new rig.
Compared to 10 years before capsules, racing was already dead ... capsules were just the first handful of dirt thrown in the hole after the box was dropped in the hole

[lars strom]

I think it started to slow down when Mercury and OMC stopped giving out free racing engines around the world.

Next was that big races like Havazu, Paris, Bristol, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Berlin, St. Louis, Como etc. slowly lost sponsorship and disappeared..

[Mark Poole ModVP]

One of the biggest contributors has to be the generation we are talking about. Did you ever stop to think who created, supported and participated in races like Havasu, Elsinore, Parker, Salton Sea, Lake Winnebago and the list could go on. It was people who knew what freedom really means. It was the time of great prosperity and industrial strength in this country. Outboards sold like popcorn, outboard clubs were everywhere. Everyone wanted to be a part of something real and exicting, not just on a computer screen. The younger people that I work around can't participate in anything if it means putting their smart phone down for more than 5 minutes.

We went to Chatanooga a couple weeks ago for an event on the river front. I talked to a lot of people and asked folks about the F1 V8 races that used to be held there. One of the replies...."Oh I am glad they don't do that here anymore, those people were crazy". Like I said, a generation problem.

[Mark Poole ModVP]

And.....Mr. Wilson I have a question. The Bristol Grand Prix boat race was written into the the City of Bristol celebration Charter. Who took it out of the Charter?

[Da Bull]

Maybe one of the causes is lack of exposier. Take the Unlimited Hydros for example. Use to i could watch every race on ESPN or read about them in several magazines and could name every boat and driver. Then they went and got sindicated. That ment no more ESPN. Most of the Magazines went belly up or stopped covering everything except the multi rich gold chain poker run folks. After all that happened i lost track and now i can`t even tell you the name of even one boat.
NASCAR, NHRA, Super cross and the likes were not that stupid and stayed on main stream TV. Go figure.

DB

[Bob V]

One of the biggest contributors has to be the generation we are talking about. Did you ever stop to think who created, supported and participated in races like Havasu, Elsinore, Parker, Salton Sea, Lake Winnebago and the list could go on. It was people who knew what freedom really means. It was the time of great prosperity and industrial strength in this country. Outboards sold like popcorn, outboard clubs were everywhere. Everyone wanted to be a part of something real and exicting, not just on a computer screen. The younger people that I work around can't participate in anything if it means putting their smart phone down for more than 5 minutes.

We went to Chatanooga a couple weeks ago for an event on the river front. I talked to a lot of people and asked folks about the F1 V8 races that used to be held there. One of the replies...."Oh I am glad they don't do that here anymore, those people were crazy". Like I said, a generation problem.

As kids growing up in New York in the 50's & 60's, we always would spend countless hours hanging out at the shore of Long Island Sound to see who had the fastest boat and biggest outboards. Two that still come to mind, almost 50 years later, are a Raveau with an I-4 Merc 500. Then there was a bubble deck Power Cat hydro with twin I-6 Merc 800's. By today's standards they were sleds, but thought of driving something that cool back then was all that occupied my mind. Today, all the kids know is who has the fastest smart phone and who has the most apps. Every where you go today all you see is the young generation texting, tweeting or what ever else it is that they do with those phones. Yes, times and interests have changed.

[jackiewilson]

As kids growing up in New York in the 50's & 60's, we always would spend countless hours hanging out at the shore of Long Island Sound to see who had the fastest boat and biggest outboards. Two that still come to mind, almost 50 years later, are a Raveau with an I-4 Merc 500. Then there was a bubble deck Power Cat hydro with twin I-6 Merc 800's. By today's standards they were sleds, but thought of driving something that cool back then was all that occupied my mind. Today, all the kids know is who has the fastest smart phone and who has the most apps. Every where you go today all you see is the young generation texting, tweeting or what ever else it is that they do with those phones. Yes, times and interests have changed.

There was me thinking it was me that spoiled em rotten and was responsible for the caulifone ear that all my grand kids have today.

[Instigator]

My thoughts.......

I started racing kneel downs in the mid '70's and quit in the early '80's. IMO, the hey day of boat racing.

Some of my observations:

Fuel shortage, mandated shortened courses.
This happened at the end of my career and I hated it. The courses became boring ass circle races.
No more straightaways for the HP's to surface and the evidence of speed for the spectator.
As a driver, the straights were what it was all about.

Capsules.
My era was when they started surfacing due to the grizzly, all too common deaths we were seeing in Top Fuel and F-1 V-8. That needed to happen.
But a 45SS tunnel boat?? When I got tired destroying my knees I was seriously looking at that class.
Affordable, fast, rigged on a trailer compared to what I was used to.......
I understand the safety aspect but we also have the choice when we sign up right??

Pro O/B:
Used to be the mad man, full gonzo, no rules division. Want to see a 125 MPH, 125lb hull, powered by a 30 cu.in. motor w/sliding expansion chambers on Methanol that weighs 75 lbs??? Thats where you went.
For me, the shortened courses were strike one and capsules were strike too. The speed is still there today but the spectacle is gone.

Unlimited:
This ones easy IMO. Turbines.
When they went from being powered by monsters that made the ground shake to powered by motors that sounded like Singer sewing machines going around the course...., who cares?

All O/B classes:
Factory manipulation/control and lack of brand rivalry.
IMO, Mod VP, promoted properly would have been the Nascar of boat racing. Not sure how you do it but you have to have total control over the rules w/ZERO issues from the mfg's.

Champ/F-1:
See above.

Commentators:
The best commentators I've ever seen/heard were at local races and were local racers. On the TV circuit most had no clue what they were seeing or talking about.
IMO, it has to be looked at like a spectator seminar at every race. If you know what you are talking about, have excitement in your voice, inform the spectators about what they're seeing...., i.e. driver rivalry, motor rivalry, David Vs Goliath, stable/safe boat Vs unstable/dangerous, you'll have the crowd on their feet every time.
I used to run a fair sized outlaw event and that was my favorite part. The main even was O/B drag racing and I paired the boats and I did my best to always put OMC Vs Merc, Vee Vs Tunnel and then talked about it on the PA.
You could see the crowd following what was going on. Hell, done right, you could watch the guys in the pits following along!

Cameras:
In the last 40 yrs, I've seen very few, well done TV episodes. W/todays technology it'd be a slam bang. Pending financing of course.
The key is on board video. Pick three boats. One in the expected winning/lead boat, one back marker, and one under dog that always drove the bajesus out of the boat, normally mid pack.
Done right, people would say "Nas what?".

Liability/local issues:

The insurance parts has pretty much killed all the small, under funded events. We got grants from the local tourism board to pay our liability policies or they never would have happened.

For local issues, down here in Florida the local municipalities won't even talk to you unless you have helicopters in the air watching for manatee's.
Has ended many, many races.

Thats whats on the top of my head for now.

BTW, great post Jackie and THANKS!

Gary

[Tom Foley]

Equipment got way more expensive , the PWC allowed kids to cruise fast with hot chicks on the back instead of sweltering lakeside , and the final blow ......liberal manatee azzholes .

[jackiewilson]

Jesus wept Gary, that was some in depth observations on "THE DEMISE", the best yet, and right on the button.
Walt Yarborough could always make a two horse shootout into Match of the day.
I'm all for conservation but the tree huggers and manatee cuddlers are pathetic people.
Will do some more analysing later, and thanks.

[hydrostream1]

The lack of exposure ,too many sports Chanel's hype up basketball,football and baseball,even hockey.I thought speed Chanel would help but they never show boat racing,just a bunch of stupid DIY high performance how to shows on cars.Mavtv has Lucas oil drag boats,but what about F1 and offshore?? That and costs to race,rules etc.I drag a STV and Quartermaster ,but the capsule boats and carbon fiber with no beginner or slower classes knock out the people that want to get into it.How about a vintage class and get back to basics?

[99fxst99]

"Mod VP, promoted properly would have been the Nascar of boat racing."

My thoughts exactly. I was racing an LTV in ModVP and there were spectators in LTV river boats watching and cheering me on. IMHO, a properly promoted and managed program with SST140, Mod VP, and maybe a Mod 60 and/or EP level class would have been workable. Multiple engine manufacturers could participate and the level of competition would have been spectator friendly. And rules configured to keep costs and maintenance down. These could have been raced on a regional level as well as a national, again like NASCAR.

Just my 2cents worth.......

[GENE LANHAM]

-----It all started that day in November, 1969-----Mr. Kiekhaefer left Mercury-----

[olboatman]

-----It all started that day in November, 1969-----Mr. Kiekhaefer left Mercury-----

:iagree:You hit it dead on! Gary

[doubleeagle]

-----It all started that day in November, 1969-----Mr. Kiekhaefer left Mercury-----
About sums it up!!!!

[largecar91]

Politics and liability is 2 major reasons.

[Instigator]

-----It all started that day in November, 1969-----Mr. Kiekhaefer left Mercury-----

Even though Mod VP didn't even start until the mid 80's??
Inboards were in their prime in late '70's??
Unlimited's '80's??
Offshore, same.
OPC late '70's - mid '80's?
Stock/Mod/Pro O/B mid '80's?
Drag mid '80's - late '90's?

[JWTjr.]

Lots of good responses on this thread, especially from Gary and Largecar. I would agree with most responses. Certainly the American populace changed over the years, in general but also with respect to boat racing in particular. That's a big one in my book. The mentality from the early 1920s until the mid-1980s slipped from one of "I want to do this and will do what it takes to learn and succeed" to "It's too hard and takes too much of my time". The percentage of the population willing to do the hard work (researching, asking, saving, buying, testing, racing, failing, repeat until successful) declined noticeably from the late 1970s until now, with a precipitous drop from the 1990s till now. Other "pastimes" that involved much less effort (golf, team sports, family activities, vacations, etc.) became more popular in that time frame. By comparison, these activities made boat racing seem too hard. Even the tax burdens of supporting an increasingly socialist-leaning society made it harder--when both parents have to work to do what one parent could do "back in the day", there's less time for effort-intensive hobbies like boat racing. Sure, you can mention computers and electronic games and phones, but even (ironically) the technological progression of our own boats has been a factor. When a readily available family boat would run between 20 and at best 40 mph, and a race boat would run between 50 and 70 or so (this is from the 1920s-1970s), then watching race boats go round and round was exciting. Even when speeds stepped up in the late 1970s and early to mid 1980s (i.e. you could buy pleasure performance craft that would do 75-80, but race boats, i.e. Mod-VP and SST-120/140/F1 boats would run 90-115), the wow factor was still there. That's because with the available power in those days, it still took a lot of work and testing to obtain that performance. By the 1990s, anyone with a credit card could put together a 100+ mph rig, so watching a bunch of Mod-VPs run around at 90 became less and less attractive--even less so if you were a racer. Today, even just "hanging out at the sandbar with the performance boat or even a pontoon boat (for God's sake!) is more attractive to many people than boat racing and all it entails. Here's an example of just that--in the 1990s when we were forming the New England outboard drag club (NEODA), we tried in vain to get local "grass roots hotboaters" to come out and participate. Good luck with that. Far too many said "You mean I have to register with APBA ($225), buy a lifejacket ($400), buy more propellers ($$big bucks), make my boat fit the rules ($$ ??), and then test and practice? Nah, I'll drink beer and hang out, it's easier". A lot of other factors also contributed, such as OMC/Merc political gamesmanship (one-brand engine parades are no fun to watch for average spectators), of course encroaching environmental politics, ever-increasing insurance concerns playing havoc with racers' wallets and available race sites and sponsors, and of course what we have been witnessing since 1996--the slow death of the lightweight, high-revving two stroke outboard. Who's interested in watching a bunch of quiet, pig-heavy 4-strokes run around? Not me.

[2us70]

The answers to this question are all of the preceding because for each of us what killed racing is different. For me it just kind of snuck-up on me. I found my self with an obsolete race boat and trying figure what to do next. The next thing I know its two years later and I have money in the bank for the first time in my life. I couldn't afford to race what I wanted and didn't want to race what I could afford. I guess if someone had offered me a decent ride I would have continued but it was not in the cards.

[fyremanbil]

I didnt come into the boat racing scene till the early 80's, but watched the glorydays and then decline of ModVP first hand. All the reasons above are valid and part of the cause. BUT...we did something about it!
Grassroots racing needs to be: Affordable, accessable, reasonably safe, and interesting enough to get people to participate. Boats and engines that can be found on craigslist for about $5k, top out at about 80mph, and are large enough to put your wife and kids in and take a ride. Run in a class that fits into an APBA special events catagory and can be added to any sanction.
If you havent heard about it, check out the COR class rules on APBAs site or the COR racing site. I drove ModVP in club races locally in the 80's, and a few of the bigger events like Havasu and Parker 7hr enduro. COR 2L looks, sounds, smells, and feels (from the drivers seat) like ModVP.
This weekend the only remaining (that I know of) run what you brung type of enduro will be held in Parker AZ. Loose rules where most anything will fit in a class somewhere, running 336 mi on a 12 mi course. I know it's not an easy task, but it's paid for with combo sponsor/entry fee money, insured, and sanctioned thru APBA.
It can be done if good people like here on this board band together to make it happen.

[JWTjr.]

Bil is right; COR is a great solution. I've asked my local "racers" repeatedly if they would consider including COR or a form of it to replace our drag racing schedule. I'd love it. But you need participation, and I'm not getting much response.

[Instigator]

I love the idea.

I think if you did a class where the boat can be dual use....., as in ski and race, you would have an easier job of attracting racers.
I think a huge hurdle to Super Sport (besides cost) is the mandatory capsules. That eliminates a dual; use rig.

Personally, I loved the old OPC vee bottom class back in the '70's w/a riding mechanic. If you have a friend who's into that, you now have someone to share driving/towing duties, pit crew etc.

I would consider assembling a rig in the 17' range w/a V-4 (in-lines for the Merc guys) if we didn't need capsules. Would be an awesome class for marathons and endurance races too.
Easy to get past mamma too w/an old (read cheap) rig, plus it's a ski boat ;) Plus my wife would be the riding mechaninc!
You can get a 16' - 18' Stream, Checkmate, Baja, Action etc for next to nothing.

IMO, another big mistake in attracting racers is assuming everyone wants to win or nothing. I know in my day we had many racers that just wanted to be part of the carnival. Those people are hugely important.

Also IMO, another huge issue too is the internet. Kind of as John eluded to, 80 is no longer fast.
With the advent of the internet, everything has already been done. Fastest Stream, 2.4, 2.5, STV, A Bote, JohnRude etc, etc.
It's all been done so to many the challenge is gone.

Plus if you raced a 75 - 80 MPH boat, wouldn't that make you gay?

[milkdud]

Is there a minimum weight that a COR boat has to weigh?

[fyremanbil]

Is there a minimum weight that a COR boat has to weigh?
1550 with driver

[fyremanbil]

I love the idea.

I think if you did a class where the boat can be dual use....., as in ski and race, you would have an easier job of attracting racers.
I think a huge hurdle to Super Sport (besides cost) is the mandatory capsules. That eliminates a dual; use rig.

Personally, I loved the old OPC vee bottom class back in the '70's w/a riding mechanic. If you have a friend who's into that, you now have someone to share driving/towing duties, pit crew etc.

I would consider assembling a rig in the 17' range w/a V-4 (in-lines for the Merc guys) if we didn't need capsules. Would be an awesome class for marathons and endurance races too.
Easy to get past mamma too w/an old (read cheap) rig, plus it's a ski boat ;) Plus my wife would be the riding mechaninc!
You can get a 16' - 18' Stream, Checkmate, Baja, Action etc for next to nothing.

IMO, another big mistake in attracting racers is assuming everyone wants to win or nothing. I know in my day we had many racers that just wanted to be part of the carnival. Those people are hugely important.

Also IMO, another huge issue too is the internet. Kind of as John eluded to, 80 is no longer fast.
With the advent of the internet, everything has already been done. Fastest Stream, 2.4, 2.5, STV, A Bote, JohnRude etc, etc.
It's all been done so to many the challenge is gone.

Plus if you raced a 75 - 80 MPH boat, wouldn't that make you gay?

There is a set of rules drawn up for a COR 100 class, 100ci engines on flat or v bottom boats. I would be racing that if I didnt already have so much 2L stuff.

[jackiewilson]

Keep it up all you guys, the only thing that will get racing to take off is ENTHUSIASM and dedication
Go for it, talk to each other.

[MCRacing]

​Litigation

[jackiewilson]

​litigation

participation. ????

[MCRacing]

participation. ????

participation due to litigation

[jackiewilson]

participation due to litigation

no, due to desire and a passion for boats and the excitement that they generate.

[Mike Bennett]

Where are you guys located. Manatees are the problem here in SW Fl.

Mike Bennett

[2us70]

Mike. Can you imagine trying to run the Gold Coast Marathon today?

[Mike Bennett]

It could never happen again. It was great fun but those days are over.

[2us70]

I am just glad I was able to do a few of them. Point to point racing is indeed gone forever. Are you going to Tavares for OFF in a couple of weeks? You should post pictures of your finish in 64.

[Mike Bennett]

Just got back on this after a couple of years. What's happening there?

[2us70]

Same stuff. A bunch of old boat racers now racing computers. If you mean Tavares there is a big vintage race boat gathering Nov. 8,9&10. A bunch of guys that post here will be there. Some are bringing vintage OPC stuff to run. T2x says he is bringing an 18 Switzer with 150s.

[H20WKD]

"As kids growing up in New York in the 50's & 60's, we always would spend countless hours hanging out at the shore of Long Island Sound to see who had the fastest boat and biggest outboards. Two that still come to mind, almost 50 years later, are a Raveau with an I-4 Merc 500. Then there was a bubble deck Power Cat hydro with twin I-6 Merc 800's. By today's standards they were sleds, but thought of driving something that cool back then was all that occupied my mind. Today, all the kids know is who has the fastest smart phone and who has the most apps. Every where you go today all you see is the young generation texting, tweeting or what ever else it is that they do with those phones. Yes, times and interests have changed."


Bingo....it's really hard for the majority to relate to what they see running today.


A little easier when times were simpler.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2QolmV1MtU

Bob

[GENE LANHAM]

Just got back on this after a couple of years. What's happening there?

Mike---there are still a few of us left that remember your Gold Coast Marathon finish!!!

We are the same ones that remember when you could go to a boat race that had 50 to 250 entrants!!

[specboatops]

Like many have said, it sure was fun "back in the day" I was young but Dad raced some and loved to go and watch too. I remember parking lots FULL and big lots at that of boats and trailer and racers all having a good time, laughing, helping each other out, never really remember any real issues. It also attracted a LOT of spectators, vendors, and other things. I have enjoyed most all comments made on this thread....

[Mike Bennett]

Hi Gene,
It's been a long time. I think the first time we met was at Mike Regines (excuse the spelling} house. That was about 1962. He had several Allisons I think you use to race for him. I remember your brother Bob worked for Bobbys. They rigged one of our 18 footers with a pair of 100's. I was running that boat in the Gold Coast when Carol Mosley hit a piling head on in her Sea Craft cat.

Mike

[H20WKD]

.......I was at this race. :eek:
http://i44.tinypic.com/j8pefa.jpg

Bob
:cool:

[Dave S]

not a thing to be shamed of.......

[H20WKD]

Dave,

That was the start of the fun for sure, great day with the whole Family.

Stayed with me ever since.

Wouldn't have the GSE today if it weren't for Thunder on the Ohio.:thumbsup:

[olboatman]

:thumbsup:Hey H20WKD Great pics! Thanks for sharing those with us. Is that a different kind of oil on the trailer in the red and white cans. LOL Gary:D

[H20WKD]

You'll get a charge.....Bernie came around to say hi to Bill and the Atlas team and while he and Bill were slapping each other on the back a Bud crew member set them there. :eek::thumbsup:

[mike schmidt]

I have been involved in kneel down / laydown racing since the mid 60's. One of the biggest issues is the speed of the boats. In the 50's a KG-4 Mercury would run 50 MPH. The pleasure boats of the 50's were running in the 20 MPH range. Today a good jetski or bass boat can outrun most of the kneel down classes. Why spend big $$$ on a rig that your pleasure boat outruns.......

[vnemous]

I love the idea.

Personally, I loved the old OPC vee bottom class back in the '70's w/a riding mechanic. If you have a friend who's into that, you now have someone to share driving/towing duties, pit crew etc.

I would consider assembling a rig in the 17' range w/a V-4 (in-lines for the Merc guys) if we didn't need capsules. Would be an awesome class for marathons and endurance races too.
Easy to get past mamma too w/an old (read cheap) rig, plus it's a ski boat ;) Plus my wife would be the riding mechaninc!
You can get a 16' - 18' Stream, Checkmate, Baja, Action etc for next to nothing.



The OPA has a class much like this now. 20-22 SOB V bottom. Very cheap to get into. Only down is it is limited to 60mph racing against a sealed GPS. However many of the races take place in the Atlantic Ocean where 60 usually is not probable.

[2us70]

Several people have expressed a fondness for boats like the old " Family Ski" or FS class. I have a different perspective. When FS class was running it was basically JP boats with a crew of 2,a higher weight limit and a prop shaft height limit. I was working at Action at the time and we built several FS boats. I helped build ,rig, setup and test these boats and I hated them. The class allowed power trim and this combined with the pushing the 150 club foot unit through the water at those speeds caused the boats to suffer high speed prop blowout with no warning. One of our boats went sideways right on the start line at Eufala in front of the whole field. Nobody hit them but the Co-Driver quit racing on the spot. I never saw the sense in exposing those Co-Drivers to the mistakes of the guys behind the wheel. I rode in a couple of FS races and looking back I cant figure out how I got talked into the second one. I just didn't like being "the other guy".

[Watermark]

I never saw the sense in exposing those Co-Drivers to the mistakes of the guys behind the wheel. I rode in a couple of FS races and looking back I cant figure out how I got talked into the second one. I just didn't like being "the other guy".


:iagree:.... for those who yearn for that experience, sign up to to be a passenger in a Jersey Speed Skiff. Don't forget to check the fine print in your ObamaCare policy first.

[powerabout]

not one of u are going to address my thoughts ?,s and the way i was treated from day 1
I assume you are referring to the gold medallion and silicone tits part of powerboat racing?

I think there is more recreation available to do these days, so kids have easier access to other things.
And for sure there are less places to do it, all those baby boomers are retiring to the lake for peace and quite forgetting what they did on that lake 30 years ago
I hear snow skiing also taking a hit

[T2x]

I assume you are referring to the gold medallion and silicone tits part of powerboat racing.

All of this talk about the "rich guys" ruining the sport is simply poppy cock. The offshore/poker run folks are well funded (to a point), but they are very accommodating for the most part and aside from the normal "ahole" contingent (present in all performance groups regardless of boat type) they are normally a good group of people. The real losses are in the outboard and inboard hydro ranks which have always been the development series for larger/faster race boats after gaining experience. If no one comes in through the starter classes, there is no population to draw from for growth. I have noticed that outboard drag boats have grown and in many cases have taken away from the OPC closed course ranks. These types of "options" have made it more difficult for a beginner to find a place to get started in circle racing. That coupled with the legal, liability, and other forms of entertainment have hurt our sport. In the end, however, the stretching of the media dollar over too many boat racing classes has left us with no real marketing source or strategy to boost interest and create a buzz. As less and less people are exposed to TV race boat coverage in comparison to golf, bass fishing, Motorcycle racing, Extreme sports, drifting, F!, Nascar Cup, Nascar truck, Nascar reality shows, Danica Patrick in a bikini..etc, etc, we are fading into network obscurity.

Sad truth is..."If you televise it correctly, they will come"

Just MHO.....

T2x

[powerabout]

all true T2x
I did some offshore back in OZ and had a small percentage of guys that couldnt navigate out of the marina along with the guys that couldnt afford to do it but tried and plenty of guys that did it for fun - no big sponsors so no big money in those days
The outboard/inboard/drag and ski racing has much more involvement.
Some classes have grown in OZ in the last 20 years.
F1 certainly grew back once capsules were mandated as it did in Europe
The cockpit rule is still not quite there is there is no rule on the actual canopy yet as I think they also need a 2-3kn rating.
That would have saved 2 guys in the last 12 months in unlimited inboard

[afr]

I assume you are referring to the gold medallion and silicone tits part of powerboat racing?

I think there is more recreation available to do these days, so kids have easier access to other things.
And for sure there are less places to do it, all those baby boomers are retiring to the lake for peace and quite forgetting what they did on that lake 30 years ago
I hear snow skiing also taking a hit
no i was shunned away by other web site host,s even banned from one site for a while and still cant use my name on that site along with being treated like crap and accused of having a death wish on drugs and just about everything you can think of mainly i even went to black top lake looking to see who was going to step up in face then all that smoke dropped down and then i caught the same hell from some of the cats on this site as well
i am over it but then i seen this post and responded
i am to poor to race anyways so i am done with even thinking i could that bucket list was drained a few years back

[Instigator]

no i was shunned away by other web site host,s even banned from one site for a while and still cant use my name on that sitek
Scott I thought your comments were in regard to actually racing which I did not know you had done. Were you only posting regards to websites only?
If so, ain't the same thing.

100% of the racers at an actual race, actually race.
1/10 of 1% of the "racers" on websites actually race.

Guarantee you, if you go to any race and show interest in getting involved, the racers are worse than used car salesmen in trying to sign you up.
Every division that I attended, and asked questions at, their crews did EVERYTHING possible to help me out.

Please don't get the two confused cause they ain't even close.

[racerx]

Instigator knows how to put a party and boat gathering together better then anything I have ever been too....

[powerabout]

100% of the racers at an actual race, actually race.
1/10 of 1% of the "racers" on websites actually race.

Guarantee you, if you go to any race and show interest in getting involved, the racers are worse than used car salesmen in trying to sign you up.
Every division that I attended, and asked questions at, their crews did EVERYTHING possible to help me out.

Please don't get the two confused cause they ain't even close.
very true

[afr]

Scott I thought your comments were in regard to actually racing which I did not know you had done. Were you only posting regards to websites only?
If so, ain't the same thing.

100% of the racers at an actual race, actually race.
1/10 of 1% of the "racers" on websites actually race.

Guarantee you, if you go to any race and show interest in getting involved, the racers are worse than used car salesmen in trying to sign you up.
Every division that I attended, and asked questions at, their crews did EVERYTHING possible to help me out.

Please don't get the two confused cause they ain't even close.
this is just my experience i seen face value was totally different but it was a major turn off
we dont have that with 4 wheels we dont judge what we dont know i wont name the web site but its easy to find my new handel is sws115

[Instigator]

this is just my experience i seen face value was totally different but it was a major turn off
we dont have that with 4 wheels we dont judge what we dont know i wont name the web site but its easy to find my new handel is sws115
Still not sure what point you're trying to make but......., I will say this in reference to what I think you're trying to say.

I march to the beat of a different drummer too.

Know how many people on here have told me I'm crazy and none of my ideas will work??
Bazillions!

Know how many were actually racers?
ZERO

Know how many people on here talked ****, posted **** and took joy in seeing me fail?
Tons.

Know how many of them were racers?
ZERO

Know how many people one here have supported my projects?
Quite a few.

Know how many actual racers have supported my projects?
100% of them!

Racers know the only way to get fast, competitive and to finally win is by taking risks on ideas others say will fail.

Can't state clearly enough how different a racer is from a key board jockey.

I really like this old racers quote.
"RACERS RACE AND WHINERS WHINE"

[afr]

Still not sure what point you're trying to make but......., I will say this in reference to what I think you're trying to say.

I march to the beat of a different drummer too.

Know how many people on here have told me I'm crazy and none of my ideas will work??
Bazillions!

Know how many were actually racers?
ZERO

Know how many people on here talked ****, posted **** and took joy in seeing me fail?
Tons.

Know how many of them were racers?
ZERO

Know how many people one here have supported my projects?
Quite a few.

Know how many actual racers have supported my projects?
100% of them!

Racers know the only way to get fast, competitive and to finally win is by taking risks on ideas others say will fail.

Can't state clearly enough how different a racer is from a key board jockey.

I really like this old racers quote.
"RACERS RACE AND WHINERS WHINE"
yep thats about it right there i keep getting it faster and safer once i get it dialed in ill put a driver in it due to health reason i have to give up that seat

[Dave S]

I had a Mk 75h that I was runnig for Fun in the Bay.... on a 14 De Silva....1973...a Guy I knew said bring it to the races....Ok....I brought it to the races........For Fun.....did I miss somethin? Any way Had to join APBA and Drive to Conn and later Ins came. End of Fun. Back in the same days Broad channel was Fun......anyone Rmember?The best was Run what ya had.....4 cly stacker chissler on a tunnel one wear....Next year my brother in a 18 howard with a BBC.....next year My bro had a 23 foot tunnel with BBC....He won I think but got ran over buy his own boat trailer....What a Fool.....HeeHee....Tripps....And a nodda story a race up on the north shore of LI my buddy go the race in Newsday and they had the best turn out. Rember running or being there at a race at the old worlds fair and the Loopers sound ratling the towers/ highrises.....only one race there...why?

[Dave S]

Lack of Funnnnn.....