If I Were King I'd....

[Raymond]

Next time we start a thread like this, how about adding this rule: Any and all ideas are welcome; no commenting on other peoples input is allowed.

For this thread to work, all input must be fresh positive ideas with no feedback on other's ideas. If we don't invoke this rule the ensuing augmentative discussion distracts from the synergistic benefits of brainstorming.

Ok, here is my $0.02;

1) APBA, spend a dollar and expose the sport.

2) Club membership MUST get involved to support exposure and barrier reducing programs. Keep up the good work with Racer School programs but...how many boat shows are we going to set booths up in this winter? I will spend a vacation day or two this winter to staff one. I know that many of you veteran races have old boats lying around that could be used for this.

3) Why don’t we employ simple stupid fundraisers like 50/50 raffles and t-shirt sales to supplement event revenue generation to offset costs?

Sorry to be blunt but...it does not take a rocket scientist to see that the majority of the sports participants don't put any more elbow grease into the sport than it takes to keep their personal racing programs on the water. While this may sound...negative...it does not violate my rule suggestion above; I don’t think))

[spud62w]

How about a claiming rule? It does keep the cost down and works very good at our local race car track. You could set it at the cost of a new motor plus the shipping. Might work on the sidewinders if you start now,
I think that racers should not make rules, It's kinda like congress saying thats good for everyone else but not me or my class.
I think that every class should have a 10 year rule. If it's growing and equipment is available extend it for 5 more years. After that make it a mod class or a local class and move on.
I think there should be some 4 cycle class with maybe a nosecone on a fishing gear case. The average spectator can relate to a stock looking engine. You could even put them on a aluminum boat and race them when it to rough for your hydro's and runabouts.

[sam]

I would suspend high points until membership numbers increased for 3 consecutive years.

Cut out fat & pork that benefits the few and concentrate on what benefits many.

Those who didn't like the idea ... would be responsible to bring in new members to get what they want

[14-H]

****

Ed,

I think we need to start to move to 3 heats per race. ***?

This is already permitted... even at the Nationals. Look at the GRR.

[14-H]

1.
2. IF #1 CANNOT BE IMPLEMENTED, BAR "EDDIE THE CHAIRMAN" FROM EVER HOLDING ANY MEANINGFUL OFFICE IN APBA AGAIN.
.

Hey, Bill: you are the worst and most sore winner I have ever come across in my life. And by the way, Ron Hill and I have been friends for years. He knows that my ribbing of him was in jest. I should delete your post for lack of any real ideas. But I'll let it remain because that's the kind of loser I am.

Happy, Thanksgiving,

Eddie.

[Art K]

Like this one in Wheatland, MO built by Lucas Oil scheduled to be finished in July 2011?

http://www.lucasoilspeedway.com/news...o-next-summer/

Now that is a central location! I hope the NBRA guys are all over this....

BW

Go to NBRA site ck forums. Art K

[HydroKyle93R]

Get Community Involvement

I was listening away at the last SOA club meeting the other night when someone brought up that we were having issues getting and keeping race sites. Mike Perman brought up an excellent idea. If the club were to reach out to local community charities or organizations, like a food drive, and every driver were required to make some sort of donation prior to paying their entry fees, those in power who decide whether or not our clubs can race at their venue, would have a harder time sleeping at night if we were willing to give a little just to be there.

Thanks Mikey

[ricochet112]

Clean house! fire the entire paid staff relief all comminsioners and presidents of their current duites.

Tear down the national HQ building and sell the brand to a private entity that has the ability to restructure and rebuild the brand.

http://www.coreform.lv/#/en/works/f1...skais-dizains/

http://www.coreform.lv/#/en/works/

* For any of you that might think my post is joke, please think again I am very serious.

Exactly!

Nothing will ever change until we gravitate away from being a membership run organization...

[bill boyes]

Bw,

No, I mean 3 heats per race. More boat time for the buck. And you are right, it can be done now-current stock rules allow for three heats per race.

True, Except Nationals.

[B Walker]

If I were KING for a day....

Buy a water-filled stadium for Saturday night racing under the lights. Have races there once a month, complete with beer, food, announcers, and, oh yea... "fast chicks" (a la B. Walker...lol).

Chris Johnson
111-Z

Like this one in Wheatland, MO built by Lucas Oil scheduled to be finished in July 2011?

http://www.lucasoilspeedway.com/news...o-next-summer/

Now that is a central location! I hope the NBRA guys are all over this....

BW

[roperz111]

If I were KING for a day....

Buy a water-filled stadium for Saturday night racing under the lights. Have races there once a month, complete with beer, food, announcers, and, oh yea... "fast chicks" (a la B. Walker...lol).

Chris Johnson
111-Z

[Andrew 4CE]

1) make runabouts runabouts and hydro's hydro's... hydrobouts run with hydro's.

2) entry level class(es) with standard gear foot. off the dealer showroom floor with inexpensive kits for throttle hookup and steering bars. The rest fo the associations on this planet have figured this out... what's wrong with north america?

3) take the drivers/owners for the most part completely out of the rule making equation.

4) ditch these 20 year old motors. yes all my motors are older than 20 years. start now with a 5 year plan to get rid of them all. new motors have 10 year shelf life... then is no longer eligible for national points (race it locally if you like, no problem). New engines sold are tracked by serial number for puchase date or something. This might evolve into a great national racing program and a great vintage racing program... like most other motorsport operate.

5) jumping the gun, you get a 1 minute penalty, not DQ. Or some way to award some minimal points if you raced regardless of outcome. No one on the water should get zero unless maybe failing inspection.

6) slow down ASH to AXSH and ASR to AXSR speeds, remove the extra classes.

7) Either make all stock and mod classes ABCD based or CC based. Make it easy for people to understand.

8) Just cuz something makes and outfit go faster, doesn't mean it's the right thing to do in the rules. Bigger penalties for not passing inspection. DOn't want to pay the big pentaly... don't machine so close to spec. Close competition on a relatively economical budget is what this sport is founded on I believe.

9) someone said remove junior classes from HOC. I thought that was a great idea.

10) make classes that are 90% inline with UIM rules, true UIM classes. make a real UIM OSY400 class. This should be your most promoted class... world stage class. You can see the excitment that is building in this area over the last few years... run with it!

[reed28n]

King for one day

1) Centralized Nationals - for all categories, hosted and promoted by APBA. APBA should benefit from our Sanctioned Nationals Events - not clubs. Maybe even an APBA owned site....or combined classes or categories. Make it spectator friendly. Don't park all of our enclosed trailers on the water's edge park bleachers of people watching the competition on the water.

2) Consolidation - No safety rules should be left to categories. A committe should be formed from across the organization. This committe makes all decisions based on the best interest of our membership and our risk as an organization. This will reduce duplication and clumpsy verbage.....steamline what we need and not what a small movement in a category sees as its own pressing issue.

3) Mandated National platform of classes recognized for competition as national classes with national points. Let local clubs race whatever they want. Then at a specific time slot during the day we run our premier classes. Reduce the number of classes across the board to well populated classes and classes we are planning for the future.

4) In production equipment only. The only motors that should be raced on the afore mentioned platform are motors that the general public....Joe the plumber can access with no previous knowledge of the sport of boat racing. At least for an entry level well promoted class within each category.

Race ready.....it is the responsiblity of ABPA to insure that these prodcuts are easily accessible. APBA has to insure this ease of entry. Not the categories all spirally off in there own direction. If we had the greater good in mind for all plans within APBA we would have a range of likely lower cost spec classes rather than one that may only benefit one category.

5) Stop planning everything we do to the lowest common denominator. Set the bar at a reasonable height and work on ways to bring people to that mark.

[raceright]

I make constructive ideas everyday.

1. Lower the one day membership to a dollar or not have any fee if you can show medical insurance.
2. Combine classes, shorten the day.
3. ALLOW one points race per weekend, allow new drivers test and have practice time on Saturday.
4. Give more points for more boats beat.
5. Allow the the 15 A to have a class of their own....
6. Make the Sidewinder a B motor ONLY until their are over 100 Sidewinder motors in APBA.
7. All production 15 HP Johnson/Evinrudes to run in J Class.
8. Require all runabouts to have a vertical side measure and the fin must be on the bottom out of sight of future racers.

1. disagree no free lunch
2. agree
3. agree
4. disagree (not all categories are the same)
5. disagree (believe bore and stroke is the best way)
6. undisided here
7. agree
8. disagree (just do not like this)

Pat

[Ron Hill]

Are You Kidding Me???

Okay, for all of the whining on this message board, I see little concrete thoughts on how anyone would improve anything. Here is your chance. If you were King (or Queen) of APBA, what would you do to improve the organization? Door is open for anything and I really do want to hear what you have to say.

Couple of rules though:

1) Don't give me your particular brand of class combinations. I've heard them all. If you think that would save APBA though, by all means, just post "class combinations."

2) "Fire Chairman Eddie" is NOT constructive criticism! Besides, I've heard it before and been sued for being the Chairman. I'm not going away.

3) "Make Mike Barrett President"... also, NOT an option (although I admit that this would be VERY intertaining).

4) "Lower costs" or "Remove barriers". This is what we conservatives call politically-correct psycho-bable. Be specific!

5) "Give me free entries (or equipment or beer)". No can do! That is why Obama is in the White House. Ask him. APBA cannot confiscate money from anyone like he can so it ain't gonna happen.

6) Ron Hill MUST offer constructive ideas within 24 hours of this thread opening or the whole thread will be erased. (and none of that rambling non-sense, Ron ).

That's it. Let's hear your ideas.

I make constructive ideas everyday.

1. Lower the one day membership to a dollar or not have any fee if you can show medical insurance.
2. Combine classes, shorten the day.
3. ALLOW one points race per weekend, allow new drivers test and have practice time on Saturday.
4. Give more points for more boats beat.
5. Allow the the 15 A to have a class of their own....
6. Make the Sidewinder a B motor ONLY until their are over 100 Sidewinder motors in APBA.
7. All production 15 HP Johnson/Evinrudes to run in J Class.
8. Require all runabouts to have a vertical side measure and the fin must be on the bottom out of sight of future racers.