APBA members it is time to get answers!!

[14-H]

As a lawyer you should know not to trust everything the defendant gives you as fact !

Anyone can put figures on paper and make it look good, as My father always said:
FIGURES CAN LIE AND LIER'S CAN FIGURE!!! I think we have the latter running the show at APBA!

You have the financials which refute your claims but, with no evidence to support what youre saying, you claim that the APBA's assets are not really there and have been squandered. So I guess you're just making stuff up to create an illusion and have no basis in fact for what you are saying. I call that deceit. I have defended a few people like that who have been sued for making baseless statements like this and accusing people like this.

[jpro60]

Howard,
I have seen nothing positive suggested out of you toward APBA's future if I wrote your name in. In fact, all I've seen is a bunch of bickering and stamping of people's feet. This whole "Sea-Tac" thing is CLEARLY in the past and can not be changed now! Enough about that garbage. What exactly is your plan to make APBA a better organization? What positive changes do you hope to affect? How about a 5, or even 3 point plan of what you would do if in a position of power? You've made it obvious that your first order of buisness would be to look at the APBA books.
That's all fine, but THEN WHAT?
I challenge you to tell me, and everyone else, what is your vision for APBA and what POSITIVE idea's do you have?
Unless I get an actual answer, I assure you that I won't be writing your name on my ballot.

[14-H]

Please help me 14-H. If a dues paying member of APBA requests a copy of the Crown contract with APBA, will APBA satisfy the request?
Thank you.

I don't know. I am not an officer or director of the APBA. I am only the immediate past chairman of the Stock Outboard category. However, APBA's balance sheet and PL statement have been disclosed. Those are the official APBA documents that Mr. Shaw baselessly claimed at the start of this thread were being concealed. As I said at the beginning, this is totally false & Mr. Shaw, who used to attend the APBA annual meeting where these documents were distributed to the members, knew it was false when he said it. He then shifted his argument when I pointed this out and now, apparently, is baselessly accusing the APBA Treasurer & other officers & directors of fraud.

[doc 35-0]

Each of us can improve

The What's Up Doc? Race Team is one of the few racers that participate in both organizations. We travel to race in both groups and that is expensive and is the most common explanation to why we do not get cross overs. We just want to race and most do not want to get involed in the politics. We all would like it to be cheaper. I have some observation that I would to share. NBRA works hard at getting sponsors much like the Pro div. of APBA does. This lowers the cost of racing. APBA stock and Mod. work at getting good sites that are really fun to race. They most often have to give up tow money or prize to get these good sites. I think APBA should go after large corp. because APBA has allot to offer and then they have the best of two worlds. So NBRA wins on that front. If you have a sponsor then you have an obigation to that sponsor to put on a good race(show). NBRA rules help put on a better show. There is no time kept on the heat except at the Nationals, and that means you only have to win by a foot and you get the points for that heat. It also means that the race can be a tie, with both drivers getting the same points..Some drivers want a winner. What happens then is there is closer racing and a better show. If you do not have a sponsor then you can drive way out front. APBA is not going to change the rules, it is one of the basis of their rules. APBA is a large origaniztion, with many committed and hard working members. Ed Hearn is one of those people and I like to race with him, because is extremely fair and hard working. NBRA needs to sell it's program and it's worth to other national corp, for that never ends.

[HRTV]

The What's Up Doc? Race Team is one of the few racers that participate in both organizations. We travel to race in both groups and that is expensive and is the most common explanation to why we do not get cross overs. We just want to race and most do not want to get involed in the politics. We all would like it to be cheaper. I have some observation that I would to share. NBRA works hard at getting sponsors much like the Pro div. of APBA does. This lowers the cost of racing. APBA stock and Mod. work at getting good sites that are really fun to race. They most often have to give up tow money or prize to get these good sites. I think APBA should go after large corp. because APBA has allot to offer and then they have the best of two worlds. So NBRA wins on that front. If you have a sponsor then you have an obigation to that sponsor to put on a good race(show). NBRA rules help put on a better show. There is no time kept on the heat except at the Nationals, and that means you only have to win by a foot and you get the points for that heat. It also means that the race can be a tie, with both drivers getting the same points..Some drivers want a winner. What happens then is there is closer racing and a better show. If you do not have a sponsor then you can drive way out front. APBA is not going to change the rules, it is one of the basis of their rules. APBA is a large origaniztion, with many committed and hard working members. Ed Hearn is one of those people and I like to race with him, because is extremely fair and hard working. NBRA needs to sell it's program and it's worth to other national corp, for that never ends.

Leonard you hit the nail right on the head, you also touched on the exact point that is driving a lot of the frustration within the Stock Outboard and Mod ranks.

I personally feel that the money being spent on Crown should be going to a professional firm that can help obtain corporate sponsorship which in turn will help lower cost with the help of title series sponsor in place. Engaging Facebook fans is neat but the organization needs cold hard cash not Facebook likes. Same thing holds true for the new APBA online community forum which is neat but this does not generate revenue or help off set cost on race day.

As it stand there is no one to help defray the cost so it lands solely on the shoulders of the drivers and members which is formula that cannot continue into the future. It would appear that many drivers are tired of carry the full load and are ready for a little assistance.

Bottom line is that if the amount of time and effort that is currently going into building online community message forums and digitizing the front office were being spent looking for corporate sponsors I personally feel this entire issue would be mute. You dont have to have a fancy Facebook Page or community forum to obtain a title sponsor. Both NBRA, USTS have done so without either.

So in closing I will ask the question that I think everyone wants answered. How much is the Crown contract costing the membership per year/month and how is the partnership with Crown attracting new series title sponsorship to help defray the cost and burden that sits squarely on the shoulders of every paying member?

Be safe.

[Jack Stotts]

Dan, I believe you will find that the comments from What's Up Doc Racing were made by Leonard Miller, Ricks father. Rick posts under 34-O. Jack

[HRTV]

Dan, I believe you will find that the comments from What's Up Doc Racing were made by Leonard Miller, Ricks father. Rick posts under 34-O. Jack

Opps thanks Jack

[Team 12R]

again someone asks the same un-answered question...

dan... you hit the nail right on the head from the way i see it. i think howard is trying to ask this same questions. he is being attacked about things a lot further back than what appears to be our problem at hand.

safety is the single biggest reason that our costs have risen this last year. howard brings up the situation about sponson tips being ignored at nationals this year. funny how howard is being blasted with "sea-tec" and "what's your format". let's hold the feet to the fire of those who are making a mess of our sport "right now"...

"write-in" howard shaw if we want to survive...

[mercguy]

apparently not!!

Please help me 14-H. If a dues paying member of APBA requests a copy of the Crown contract with APBA, will APBA satisfy the request?
Thank you.

this is what the APBA Pres posted when asked about how much we are paying Crown for their services......

"It has never been APBA's practice to disclose the fees paid to individual vendors."

.........guess we are not allowed to know............

[hshawwpba]

You have the financials which refute your claims but, with no evidence to support what youre saying, you claim that the APBA's assets are not really there and have been squandered. So I guess you're just making stuff up to create an illusion and have no basis in fact for what you are saying. I call that deceit. I have defended a few people like that who have been sued for making baseless statements like this and accusing people like this.

Your words not mine I am just asking those who know the facts to provide the proof to the membership of the great things you claim! =)

[raceright]

finance

Several years ago I was given APBA's financials--all i did was ask for them.
I posted them on this site for all to see,there was no hide the info going on. But and this is a big but no money was being spent on Promoting powerboat racing,this will and has caused APBA much harm--the founders of APBA in there bylaws under APBA's purpose said we shall promote powerboatracing.

We are a bunch of motor heads with no knowledge of promoting and I fear it is to late to play catch up. A promoter said to me reciently what are you guys hiding from the public or something.lololoo

Pat Wright

[Racerkyle20]

So in closing I will ask the question that I think everyone wants answered. How much is the Crown contract costing the membership per year/month and how is the partnership with Crown attracting new series title sponsorship to help defray the cost and burden that sits squarely on the shoulders of every paying member?

Be safe.

I believe the cost bump per membership this last year was $25. It was stated in the application for APBA renewal as a 'technology fee'. It was also communicated by President Wheeler in an open letter when crowne was awarded the contract. And it was also comunictated this fee would go away after the crowne contract was up. I'm pretty sure you're asking total cost of the actual crowne contract, but in short that's what the membership personally paid towards this contract.

It's funny everyone has a short memory on the crowne plan. It's a 3 year plan. We are just past year 1. The next step in this plan is attracking sponsors (i.e. maybe even a title sponsor). I'm not ready to jump ship like everyone else apparently.

I can not even believe how bad this thread has become. I literally have stopped coming to this site in the last week because of it. It defines the 'hydrowhiner' mentality. WE ALL NEED TO RELAX.

[mercguy]

Sponsorship??

what does APBA (stock/mod) have to offer a major sponsor/sponsors for that sponsor/sponsors to get a return on their investment? This is a serious question and if that is what the current APBA administration has plans to do, I would like to hear the plan/plans.........

if that is to happen, MAJOR changes will have to take place, which definately will affect membership. Is that what we really want?

hell, it is hard enough for NASCAR teams to retain/attract sponsors, of which that sport has a much better chance for sponsors to get a return on their investment. Yes, of course, we do not need any where close to the amount of $$$ they do, but the same basic principals applies....

are we trying to grow to a more professional atmosphere or are we trying to retain the more comfortable family/friends atmosphere that it has always been? Is there a happy medium?

[PRO-MOTIONRACING]

Thanks for the reality check Daren. Lower the overhead and let's go boat racing.... Club Style



"When the last outboard races the motor will be, Modified"

[Bmwbob]

Possible alternate path for APBA?

I spent 10 years (1998-2007) with the American Motocyclist Association as national chaplain, and assistant starter for the Grand National Dirt Track series (flat track pro's).
The AMA was quite good at selecting and preparing the tracks for races (Exception: Grand Prairie, Texas), but was CLUELESS about how best to promote the sport.
When the ban on tobacco company sponsorship took effect, one of the racers told me that his annual income decreased by $250K.
The AMA, after going through turmoil that would make the current APBA flap look like a kindergarten playground squabble (complete with officials being fired, and successfully prosecuted), sold their entire Pro Racing Division to a professional motorsports marketing and promoting group based in Daytona.
Although it meant a wholesale changing of field personnel (myself included), it has been VERY good for the sport as a whole.
More media coverage, bigger purses and more venues for the races, more filled bleacher seats.
I don't know if APBA is structured so that the field operational functions can be separated from the promotional and marketing functions. But, if they can and still have the organization survive, maybe this is a solution?
You may be seeing what they used to refer to in Business School as the "Peter Principle" in action. It happens when someone is promoted above their level of competence, and seldom has a happy ending.
For instance, in your machine shop, you are blessed to have a particularly skilled machinist, so, as your business grows and you add more employees, you reward them by making them a supervisor.
Only problem is, this person is GREAT with things, but LOUSY with people!
So, everyone loses.
Being a world class boat racer or wrench doesn't automatically qualify someone to oversee an organization.
I mention this just so that no one doubts my grasp of the obvious.
So, whatcha think? Can/should APBA split off its promotional and marketing functions to folks who are pros at it?
Bob

Several years ago I was given APBA's financials--all i did was ask for them.
I posted them on this site for all to see,there was no hide the info going on. But and this is a big but no money was being spent on Promoting powerboat racing,this will and has caused APBA much harm--the founders of APBA in there bylaws under APBA's purpose said we shall promote powerboatracing.

We are a bunch of motor heads with no knowledge of promoting and I fear it is to late to play catch up. A promoter said to me reciently what are you guys hiding from the public or something.lololoo

Pat Wright