APBA's Days Numbered?

[Poky]

yep, no cats, open breathers, open air cleaners, flames out the open exhaust.

[WaterZebra]

APBA and OPC have no vision and this is a great example. OPC should just be called the Vintage Outboard Performance Category. Nothing like a two stroke but it’s time to move on.

No surprise here. A long-winded way of saying "we're quitting". APBA motor tech committee doesn't even exist anymore. Was anyone from the APBA administration even at Havasu 2021? No

[WaterZebra]

APBA and OPC have no vision and this is a great example. OPC should just be called the Vintage Outboard Performance Category. Nothing like a two stroke but it’s time to move on. <br>
<br>
<img src="https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=497997&amp;d=1639494927" border="0" alt="">

No surprise here. A long-winded way of saying "we're quitting". APBA motor tech committee doesn't even exist anymore. Was anyone from the APBA administration even at Havasu 2021? No

[powerabout]

If 2 strokes ran methanol it be sourced from green production, not huge yet but shipping is going to use it so the volumne will be huge and from renewable processes.
Vintage racing of cars seems to be growing at a huge rate worldwide as in 70's stuff.

Are the dying classes only the ones Merc are influencing??

[Instigator]

I think Offshore is the only division that continues to stay strong.

Local and national.

Everything else appears to be dead or dying.

The inboard division has been struggling for yrs.

On closed course, circuit racing, I think the insurance/permits process has helped bury it.

It’s almost impossible to hold a circuit race in Fla due to manatees.

I dont think capsule rules helped either.

Ken Warby’s teams struggles w/them on capsule rules shows their disconnect.

On a personal side, when I started racing kneel downs in the ‘70’s we ran 1 2/3 mile laps.
We had real straightaways! (Which I lived for!)
Then the fuel crunch hit.

The courses shrunk to 1 1/4, then 1 mile then some at even 3/4 mile!
Theyre now racing in circles!
It was supposed to be temporary.
I quit racing in the midst of this but always planned to race again.

When those short courses became permanent, I said no mas.
The short courses were “safer”.

Add to all of the above, the fact that today’s young people would rather be inside, on the internet instead of in the garage spinning wrenches.

If 2 strokes ran methanol it be sourced from green production, not huge yet but shipping is going to use it so the volumne will be huge and from renewable processes.
Vintage racing of cars seems to be growing at a huge rate worldwide as in 70's stuff.

Are the dying classes only the ones Merc are influencing??

[Poky]

I agree, it looks like as much fun as drag racing 1/8 mile or shorter. I talked with a guy that drag races his car at 600 feet, it was hard not to ask what was the point. as for the next generation, they just aren't present in anything involving being outside. When I do to a swap meet, car show, boat show, any kind of race, and I'm the young guy at 50 years old, Something is wrong. You see it out on the lake, a few family, but mostly grampa and granma with the grand kids, and then those kids get old and don't come back. They definitely don't go out and buy there own rigs.

[WaterZebra]

APBA and OPC have no vision and this is a great example. OPC should just be called the Vintage Outboard Performance Category. Nothing like a two stroke but it’s time to move on.

Ha Ha Ha.....,.look at the tail wagging the dog here. This very name made its way into the workings of the APBA and penetrated the organization with a never ending series of "what if" scenerios that affected the safety committee and created things like "risk managers" assignments documented on race sanctions. It's had an effect on racing membership declines, the extinction of an entire catagory (OPC), death of the motor tech committee and on and on. ........I stepped away from the APBA over 15 years ago with no regrets other than all of the money I spent on racing equipment was not recovered. No wonder GEICO dumped their offshore program.

[powerabout]

When the fleet keeps getting sliced and diced by new engines its keeps getting smaller. If the new engines are cheaper to race then everyone buys one if not...
Do you watch unlimited hydros as your a lycoming fan, who on the bank even knows what brand engine is in them?
Do we watch Texas Tri hull because they are V4 OMC's, no its all about the boat race.
Spectators go to watch boat racing did anyone notice that?

Engine racing is called drag racing.

Win on Sunday and sell Monday went away in the 70's

[Instigator]

Yep

I quit watching OB drag racing when they went to 700’ and then 600’ in some classes.

Great point on the Unlimiteds too.
Soon as they switched to turbines, I turned them off.

Theres been an argument forever too that asks:
Is it about the cars or the drivers?

Do we race because we want to win and set records, and not care if there’s no spectators in the stands??
Everything changes when you start trying to put paying spectators in bleachers.

W/O corporate sponsorship you have no chance of getting any air time.

I followed F-1 car racing for decades but when they went to hybrid powerplants, and then hide them so we can’t see them……, I think they lost their way.
The most advanced machines on the planet and they hide them from us.
They have evidently decided w/them, it’s about the drivers.

As to the lack of new blood, Ive recently discovered two old school hobby shops in my area.
I loved those places when I was young!
I was geeked to find them.

Between them both, I’ve been in the a 1/2 dozen times and the other customers have always been middle aged guys like me.
No kids.

Not good.

Then when we “spectators” bitch, we’re told that bitchers bitch and racers race.

[Noah Burns]

Well, it is accurate.

Then when we “spectators” bitch, we’re told that bitchers bitch and racers race.

[WaterZebra]

Yep

I quit watching OB drag racing when they went to 700’ and then 600’ in some classes.

Great point on the Unlimiteds too.
Soon as they switched to turbines, I turned them off.

Theres been an argument forever too that asks:
Is it about the cars or the drivers?

Do we race because we want to win and set records, and not care if there’s no spectators in the stands??
Everything changes when you start trying to put paying spectators in bleachers.

W/O corporate sponsorship you have no chance of getting any air time.

I followed F-1 car racing for decades but when they went to hybrid powerplants, and then hide them so we can’t see them……, I think they lost their way.
The most advanced machines on the planet and they hide them from us.
They have evidently decided w/them, it’s about the drivers.

As to the lack of new blood, Ive recently discovered two old school hobby shops in my area.
I loved those places when I was young!
I was geeked to find them.

Between them both, I’ve been in the a 1/2 dozen times and the other customers have always been middle aged guys like me.
No kids.

Not good.

Then when we “spectators” bitch, we’re told that bitchers bitch and racers race.

Just watched a Lucas Oil drag boat event on TV. What were they doing? Looked like a series of tune up runs.

[Noah Burns]

what series of racing do you currently take part in?

Just watched a Lucas Oil drag boat event on TV. What were they doing? Looked like a series of tune up runs.

[WaterZebra]

what series of racing do you currently take part in?

Stopped trying to fix "stupid" 15 years ago..............

[Instigator]

Raced APBA for 9 yrs, conceived, created and ran Rumble on the River w/a partner for yrs.

7 page story covering it in Hot Boat magazine.

Had drag racing, too speed contest, poker run, boat parade etc.

Biggest yr attracted 176 boats from 13 states and two countries.

I know a bit of which I speak.

Well, it is accurate.

[WaterZebra]

Ha Ha Ha.....,.look at the tail wagging the dog here. This very name made its way into the workings of the APBA and penetrated the organization with a never ending series of "what if" scenerios that affected the safety committee and created things like "risk managers" assignments documented on race sanctions. It's had an effect on racing membership declines, the extinction of an entire catagory (OPC), death of the motor tech committee and on and on. ........I stepped away from the APBA over 15 years ago with no regrets other than all of the money I spent on racing equipment was not recovered. No wonder GEICO dumped their offshore program.

First it was helmet types (Full cover etc)
Then it was life jacket brands
Then reinforced cockpits
Then rear view mirrors
Then breakaway pickle forks
Then boats had to be nose up sinkable
Then vents for nose up sinking
Then collision proof structure on cockpit back.
Then collision proof structure on cockpit sides
Then collapsible cockpit noses
Then roll cages for trihulls
Then cockpit helmet clearance
Then belt attachment
Then "risk managers" for all race events (liability scapegoats)
Then lifejacket and helmet age inspection and certification
Then radio communication
Then external kill switch for rescue.
Finally, mandatory air supply systems for safety cockpits.
ADDED This YEAR (June 2022): HANS devices MANDATORY for all safety cockpit classes!

No wonder a lot of racers quit?