HR at car show / possible new race site

[blueskyracer]

We went to one of the biggest car shows in Western Montana with our boats and our Corvette to see what kind of local interest we could get. A lot of folks came buy and asked lots of questions. We also let the parents take pictures of their kids in the boats. Everyone had a blast but boy was it hot. The temp hit 100 and we were glad to get in our air conditioned house when it was over.

About half way thru the show a man approached us and asked how much it would cost to get us to come and race in there city. We were speechless. It turns out he runs the resort in a town 25 miles from our house. He said they would take care of all permits and contacting Fish and Game. We are now weighing out our next steps to bring racing back to Montana. They raced in this town back in the 1950's and Unlimited Lights just finished there second race in Polson on Flathead lake.



Below are pictures from the show and the town that wants the race.

[blueskyracer]

More pictures

[blueskyracer]

And possible race site

[blueskyracer]

Last pictures

[Andrew 4CE]

Nice work!! Hope it pans out for you!

[Mrs blueskyracer]

As you look at the pictures of the boats, realize that we were there HOURS before anyone else arrived. We wanted to get a good spot! By 10:00 open of the Car Show there were cars all around us. I was meeting and greeting so many people that I didn't have a chance to take anymore car pictures. The boats and the boat building process have been featured in the local newspaper more than one time so it was great to get the actual boats out where people could see them.

When we breifly spoke to the gentleman who had approached us at Saturday's show on Sunday he said he had already been in touch with other businesses in town and they REALLY want us to come race there.

[Silas_53A]

Thats awesome, I hope it works out. Great idea to bring them to the car show.

[Brian10s]

Great site

Looks like all that work is paying off - very nice site.

Only 1 word of caution - check with your local club and fellow racers prior to going through all the work to set up the race. The last thing you want in your hometown is to get everyone excited about racing and the townspeople putting up hard earned money and have no boats show. It has happened before and leaves a bad taste with everyone. If your fellow racers will support it and you get a good date for your event (both are as critical to a good event as good water), then everyone will come out happy and wanting to make it bigger next year.

Good luck!

[Mrs blueskyracer]

Brian,

We are going to offer it first to our own AOF club and if they aren't interested we are going to offer it to SOA/APBA. If nether club wants it then of course it isn't going to happen. The person who is interested understands this issue and knows that without a sanctioning body it isn't going to happen. The date is probably going to be the biggest hurdle because I see both our club and SOA seem to have quite a few races around the weekend they want to have one and it is highly likely that folks can't attend races three weekends in a row. However, we will put it out for bid and see if it flies!

Teresa

[Kev43V]

Bluesky You guys are a great addition to boatracing. Thank you for all you are putting into your new sport.
many people try to put more into the sport every year than they did the last one. Yet your family has done so at a level that is amazing. I look foward to the day I get to meet you in person.

[propnuts]

I'd love to race there

I wonder if you could talk someone into putting up some tow money? I'm not saying it wouldn't be a mighty struggle to get SOA folks there, but that would be the first step in even having a shot at it. Unfortunately for you guys SOA is currently flush with local West of the Mountains races.

[blueskyracer]

I wonder if you could talk someone into putting up some tow money? I'm not saying it wouldn't be a mighty struggle to get SOA folks there, but that would be the first step in even having a shot at it. Unfortunately for you guys SOA is currently flush with local West of the Mountains races.

Everyone seems to have plenty of races. It is a shame to not be able to work something out at a site so nice but thats what it looks like will happen. Maybe we can all talk at Eatonville. We could do May or October and call it the snow or ice cup These folks even said tow money would definately be possible after a couple years when the event is established.

We are driving 4 to 9 hours everytime we go to a race now and it would be nice to see Montana reap some of the benefits. And we go to 7 races each year for the last two years. The folks here are super nice and would love to do whatever it takes.

We will take any suggestions that anyone can come up with to help get this done. We will be meeting with the resort owner again the middle of August to come up with possible dates and find out what the towns plans and hopes are.

[Dave M]

Nice Site

Here is my opinion. Attendance will be low for a local race. Just a fact being in Montana. If, however, you bill it as a major race, such as a nationals, you can make a big splash right away. With the bids for Nationals going way out it would give you a few years to establish communications, put on some exhibitons for the town (testing for you) and reall get the town behind it. If you can get some noisy Mods there all the better, the noise really attracts folks. At the Constantine MI race I was out inpatrol boat when 750CCMH ran. I looked up at the street on the hill when there was a nearly full field coming down for the start all lined up. There were well over a dozen cars that suddenly stopped and watched the race. Once it got quiet again they all left.

I also feel that maybe you guys should try and build the racer count in Montana instead of going after race sites. Build the numbers and then build upon the sites. You will find the sites are the easy part. I applaud all your efforts, and hate to see good sites like the one pictured go to waste, but you have to put on a good show to keep the site. Maybe make it an invitational only race to guarentee racers show up ? I dunno. If I was closer I would be all over it. A day and half travel for a local race, even with tow money would most likley not draw me unless that tow money paid for expenses. Then I could consider it. I think a lot of racers will think like that as well. We will travel for the big races, but not so much for the local races. Some will, most won't.

I really hope you can build the racer count in Montana, it would be great to see that region racing. Montana has a lot to offer people in terms of outdoor recreation.

I love your display with the pics and such. Maybe put one together with a how to get started handout ? All small steps I know, but it is a start.

[dwestby]

What town were you at . We should talk at Ione.

[pro350hydro]

I'll give anyone props for finding a new race site and for helping to promote boat racing.

I for one, would go to Montana to race if it was a good race site and I had a class to race with. But what about the local races SLORA has that are not being supported by their own members? SOA has a hard time getting support with their own members for the Moses Lake race...What happened to Bridgeport? What about the Scootney/Warden race site? They are gone due to lack of attendance by their own club. Getting them to Montana is going to be a far cry.

And no I'm not trying to be negative, just real. Take a poll at Ione and see how many people would drive to Montana for a race...They complain about going to Moses Lake, and it's the best water we have, and no passes to go over.