A Plan that WILL work

[Ron Hill]

NBRA "A" Hydro Rules...

What engines (s) are run in "A" Hydro and what are the engine rules?


(I'm not off subject here)...

[Blackhawkguy]

Has anyone ever asked

Food for thought,

Has anyone ever contacted members who have left APBA to see what the reason was. There could be a numbr of reasons.

We all come up with this reason and that but who realy knows the answer. I would bet no one!

To me that is one job the front offrice should be on top of. They are the one place where all the information exist. Has a simple letter ever been sent out to previous members asking them why they no longer participate it boat racing? Even simpler and quicker, a phone call, then you do not have to worry about them not taking the time to fill out the form and mail it back.

We all look to why the numbers are down but should be looking to the product we sell. We cannot control the economy,price of fuel yadda yadda yadda. Provide a good product and it sells itself, the numbers will be the numbers. People are all wrapped up in the numbers but forgetting the product, only so many people will buy crap.

Kerry

[Ron Hill]

I Have, Many Times...

When people quit, I've been know to buy their EEEEquipment...

Gary Lewis
Max McPeek
Dave Bryan
Josh Stoffels
Steve Berwith
Rich Job
Jason Harwick
Lynn Williams
John York
Mike Hunter



To name a few...

[B Walker]

Food for thought,

Has anyone ever contacted members who have left APBA to see what the reason was. There could be a numbr of reasons.

We all come up with this reason and that but who realy knows the answer. I would bet no one!

To me that is one job the front offrice should be on top of. They are the one place where all the information exist. Has a simple letter ever been sent out to previous members asking them why they no longer participate it boat racing? Even simpler and quicker, a phone call, then you do not have to worry about them not taking the time to fill out the form and mail it back.

We all look to why the numbers are down but should be looking to the product we sell. We cannot control the economy,price of fuel yadda yadda yadda. Provide a good product and it sells itself, the numbers will be the numbers. People are all wrapped up in the numbers but forgetting the product, only so many people will buy crap.

Kerry

Yes, in the late late 90's, or early 00's an "exit interview" type questionaire was sent out by APBA. Response level was low, about 20%-30% as I remember.

Most of the reasons for people leaving the sport at that time were things that APBA had no control over. For example: went back to school, had a baby, lost my job, got married, moved, got too fat, joined the military etc...

Only about one in ten responses (10%) was it determined people had left for a reason that APBA had any sort of control over.

At that time the buzz word was "Customer/Membership retention" as the results of the questionaire and an analysis of membership numbers had revealed that APBA did not have a problem recruiting new members.....it had a problem KEEPING them.

I suspect if the same effort was made today the results would not be much different.

A comprehensive plan for growth has got to include something about retaining members as well as getting new ones.

I think Dana Holt was very involved in that project. Maybe he could jump in with more info.

BW

[Dave M]

Bw

Answer, none of the current AOF or NBRA members were ever APBA only members that got tired ot the "rules, rules, rules".

I can assure you that AOF and NBRA membership numbers have not increased by the amount of the decline in APBA. If anything, there are a number of people that no longer participate in the occasional APBA race but were in AOF or NBRA long before they ever attended an APBA race.

I can understand this may give the impression of APBA members moving to AOF or NBRA.

BW

Brad, this might surprise you, maybe not. Most of the NBRA membership are former APBA folks who decided to leave for a variety of reasons that only they could begin to convey. It is not right for someone to assume why someone left. Get it right from the horses mouth.

If you look at the founding fathers of both AOF and NBRA and compare your data sets you might also find something in common. In fact you might even go so far as to comparing the founding fathers of the Mod category in APBA to these.

And yes, it does appear you are playing semantics.

As for you joing NBRA, you will find that you have many old friends there that not only know who you are, but you also know them. Plenty of new faces in the organization as well. Don't think for a second that year end totals of points and names is an accurate way of measuring membership. Best thing I can tell you is to get involved and see for yourself. I do know you will have fun and most of the NBRA folks welcome new folks with style. Even Yanks.

My best description of the organization would be, it is just like the old days we all talk about.

[B Walker]

Dave and the others that have PM'ed me....

I have no problem admitting when I am wrong and after some people dropped some old names on me and a phone call or two....seems I am wrong...

I look forward more than ever to seeing some old friends at the NBRA event at Lucas Oil Stadium and meeting some new friends as well.

BW

[RLR]

Interesting

Brad,
Thanks for the note, but now you have really raised my eyebrows, in a good way, BTW.

Those who have PM'd and or called, seem to have verified that we have lost APBA membership to AOF/NBRA. Now the question is why? I think that there is a lot of information to be gleaned from all of the postings from everyone responding to Ed, Dean, Pat Wright, and others in all of the forums that are on line. Rules, cost of sanctions/insurance/not enough entries at races, race sites, etc.

I for one think that a visit with some of these folks would be worthwhile to figure out what the common ground is and what the cravasse issues are. Who has looked at the insurance issues of NBRA, is there something we can learn there? What are the sanction fees, the cost of mailers for events? etc? What about the rules, can they be streamlined? Somebody the other day wrote an editorial that they are going to look at the regulations we all live under and change them, I don't believe they will, but maybe we in our little world can find ways to accomplish what we should. I do not know what the count is for AOF/NBRA or its total membership without an APBA card, but could we at least have a look?

Ray

[Art K]

Nbra

We are really not interested in getting into as pissing contest with APBA. NBRA is what it is. If you are interested in what we do their is a link to our site here on HR. Just ck the sidebar for our ad. Lots of info their. Call one of the officers if you want. I am sure they will do their best to answer any questions.
Art K

[dcrummett]

Art is absolutely right, as is Dave Mason in a few posts earlier... we are who we are because that's the way we wish to race. And, you'll find some pioneers of the "Golden Era of Boat Racing" on the NBRA roster. We've found ways of making racing possible without a boat load of rules and committees (one of which is to limit the scope of the racing you sanction... kneel down outboard hydroplanes and runabouts in stock and mod classes burning only gasoline). From there it's pretty simple if you have dedicated folks willing to hustle and to help one another.

Best way to find out about NBRA is to ask those who race with us.

Dan Crummett
NBRA President
O-66

[Mrs blueskyracer]

Dan, No laydowns in NBRA? Just curious

[blueskyracer]

Dan, No laydowns in NBRA? Just curious

Dan just got a hold of me and they do allow Laydowns!

[RLR]

Me either

We are really not interested in getting into as pissing contest with APBA. NBRA is what it is. If you are interested in what we do their is a link to our site here on HR. Just ck the sidebar for our ad. Lots of info their. Call one of the officers if you want. I am sure they will do their best to answer any questions.
Art K

Art,
No pee pee contest, I just thought that some of the leadership might be able to look at what and how NBRA came about and what you are doing to remain successful.

Inovation is being able to forget in 30 seconds where you stole your idea from!!!!!!

Ray

[Art K]

Nbra

Ray, In your wildest imagination would you believe that an official of APBA would take advice from the NBRA. It will be the end of civilization as we know it when that happens.
Art K

[Matt Dagostino]

I like it!

Inovation is being able to forget in 30 seconds where you stole your idea from!!!!!!

Ray

Good line...................

[RLR]

Glass half full

Ray, In your wildest imagination would you believe that an official of APBA would take advice from the NBRA. It will be the end of civilization as we know it when that happens.
Art K

Art, Great line, but I am always optimistic!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so tired of politics politically as well as racing. NIMBY is what everyone wants to be about. If any of you want to read two great books that might help all of us, Who Moved my Cheese and How to Think Like Einestein are both fabulous. They are about you cannot just think outside of the box, you have to break the rules!

Our imaginations are the only thing that limits us and I have a fertile one of those. As Thomas Alva Edison said, "Rules, there are no rules, we are trying to accomplish something."

Think of that guys, do we get caught thinking the same solutions over and over again.

Thanks for your patiience Art.

Ray