Problem Solving 101

[David Weaver]

This thread was not started to discuss classes. If you want to discuss classes start your own **** thread! We have to stay focused on the real issue first. HOW TO BETTER PLAN OUR FUTURE! This thread is also primarily for and about Stock Outboard. I am a S.O. commisioner and cannot focus on other catagories. No issues can be decided until we have a philosophy and a goal. Thank you all for your input.
Time to go to Millville! John Runne

Maybe start with anger management............

[modracer7b]

Well, I also brought several people into the sport over the years. That was when there was more than one race a year that was less than 200 or 300 miles away and their were more classes available that you knew there would be a class to race when you did travel all that distance. That was when you could race enough to get a return on your time and money invested. Everyone does not have the ability or the resources to take time off of work to go to a race 500 miles away that might not even have enough boats to run their class. I raced in the old days when I could race several times a year within 100 miles of my home and often have eliminations in all my classes at a local race. It was a different sport than it is now. What you call racing now is only a shell of what it was and I personally don't see things getting better. There is no agreement on any positive direction for the sport. Does everybody thing that it will just magically get better overnight all by itself??? It appears that way. There's lots of talk, lots of disagreement and lots of hesitation to do anything. It's a very sad situation that boat racing finds itself in these days. I hated having to leave the sport the first time around, but it was a relief to finally make the break this time. Now, you can all let me have it, because the only sure thing about the sport now, is that nobody wants to hear anything that doesn't agree with their views and ideas. With Ken's retirement this year, our family will now be gone after 50 years and 3 generations of racers. Our kids tried it and left it. They did like it for awhile, but not enough to stay at it. Makes one wonder why?????

- Bill Rosado

[ryan_4z]

What you call racing now is only a shell of what it was and I personally don't see things getting better. - Bill Rosado

Its attitudes like that that are going to kill this sport. Makes me wonder why you even bother to waste your time with these discussions if it is all so hopeless. I personally dont know what I would do without this sport, in fact it is killing me that I am here right now and not at Millville. And I for one refuse to sell off boat racing as a dying thing. These discussions are what envoke people to think of ideas and try to better this sport. If you think its a lost cause than I dont see what you could possibly have to contribute to the sport.

[mike ross]

The Rosados I know were very good people and loved to go boat race. I think his sport keeps kids and there family focused on good things to do. It keeps them off the street and out of trouble. Lets forget all the bad things that have happened in APBA to date as those issues are over the dam and down the river( like AJ's boat). Lets look ahead and try to see the positive things. This boat racing isn't going away. There are way to many people who love it and will keep doing it. I for one am almost a retired racer. I will now switch roles and try to become a helper for the good of the sport I love. If every other retired or soon to be retired racer was to become more involved we would probably suprise ourselve at the strides we could make. SEE YA Mike

[jsilvestri]

Big Mike,
Say it ain't so, your nearing retirement? And, just when you got that Runne-Craft you like so well. I guess I'll just have to harass you to the point that you won't be able to retire from driving.

[ryan_4z]

My Proposals for the Future of Stock Outboard

I have spent today working on these proposals and watching football(GO GIANTS!!! 4-1). I have put together some ideas that I think will get this sport heading in a positive direction. These are some things I intend on proposing to the SORC for this years national meeting. I would like to see what everyone thinks. In particular I would like to see a response from the commissioners, as they are the ones making the decisions.

Proposal #1-Class Structure/Legal Motors

ASR/ASH-OMC A, Merc A
BSR/BSH-15 cu.in. Hot Rod
CSR/CSH-Yamato 102, Yamato 302
DSR/DSH-Bass Tohatsu D
20ssH-Yamato 80

This is a proposed class structure to begin for the 2009 season. The idea here is to keep 20ssH around until it dies out(refer to proposal #2), and then get back to the ABCD class structure. This allows time for guys currently running 25 or the Merc D to make plans to get new equipment. Also some time between now and then research should be done concerning the future of the A class. This goes along with my second proposal as well. I believe Ron Selewach is planning on making an A motor. This would be the preferable choice for the future as it would be a motor designed for us, and would be readily available as a complete motor to us.

Proposal #2-Class Standards

In order for a class to maintain National Status it must have 40 active participants and 12 boats at the nationals. Privileges of a class with national status would include having an official National Champion, National High Point Champion, and recieving Hall of Champions points. If a class drops below these standard it would be put on probation, and follow the same procedures that were used when class standard rules applied in the past. If after any season a classes participation drops below 55 participants a special committee would be put together to research the future of the class. Look for new motors, etc., and make suggestions to the SORC on what to do to increase participation.

Proposal #3-Introduction of New Motors

Once a decision has been made to bring a new motor into a class there will be a 3 year phase in period. During the first 2 years the new motor will be probationary. In the third year both motors would be legal for competition. After the third year only the new motor will be legal, the old motor is now considered to be obsoleted.

Proposal #4-Promotional Booklet

A committee should be formed to put together a booklet to be given to prospective racers. These booklets will be provided to clubs for free to be given out to spectators at races who show interest in joining the sport. These booklets would include the following--

-History of Stock Outboard

-*Future of Stock Outboard*-this is very important as hopefully we are heading in a direction were we are looking more towards the future.

-Specific Class Information
-Engines-how long they will likely be legal in the class, what can be done after they are eliminated(Mod, etc.)
-Speeds, Competitiveness, Driver commentary
-Weights, Boat sizes, Motor weights, ideal driver weights(this information might better help a driver decide what class to run)

-*Free Advertising*
Provide contact information for-
Engine manufacturers-Bass Tohatsu D
-Ron Selewach Hot Rod
-Yamato Dealers
Boats-Any builder who want to be included must provide information
-Pictures, Price lists, write-ups about accomplishments, etc.

Props-Information on propeller makers

Safety Equip.

*Used Equipment Network Director*-It is imperitive that we get this network up and running. This will make getting good used equipment to new drivers. It is also important that we do not sell out of date, obsolete equipment, we have to help the new drivers as much as possible.

[SunRiseRacing]

one suggestion.

Why do the motor have to be obsoleted after 3 years? If you can't compete with the the older motor, than it's up to the individual to make the change to the new one. I believe that if the motors are obsoleted we WILL lose drivers. This is almost identical to the introduction of the OMC A's and the Yamato 102. People had the equipment, some of it front running, and plenty of parts to rebuild it. Why should they have to stop running it.

I'd not saying that your plan is more favorable, but there will be people that oppose it. When the Merc was OBSOLETED we lost driver. Lets not repeat that!

Just my 2 cents!

[ryan_4z]

Kevin,

The only reason I would want to do that is to avoid the problem of guys complaining that they cant win races with there old motor. I am one who does not believe in trying to achieve motor parity, which is what we would end up doing. I think we should have one motor in a class, that is true parity.
I also feel that a three year phase in period will allow guys time to prepare to buy a new motor.

Thanks for responding I appreciate the input. Again, this plan is just what I see as being the direction our sport should take. I want to see if others agree.

[Fox]

OPC Has a minimum participation number which is used to help determine high points as related to Hall of Champions. It is either 25 or 35 (check rule book).


In responce to Hearn's comment about elections. I Agree that we should elect someone based on their plan and positions. Today we vote based on there history in the sport. When I read the descriptions people have to find out about them they give how many championships they have and who there family is not how they feel about issues and what they plan to do about them. We would probably get more voter turnout as well.

[14-H]

***That was when there was more than one race a year that was less than 200 or 300 miles away and their were more classes available that you knew there would be a class to race when you did travel all that distance. **** Does everybody thing that it will just magically get better overnight all by itself??? It appears that way. There's lots of talk, lots of disagreement and lots of hesitation to do anything. It's a very sad situation that boat racing finds itself in these days. I ****
- Bill Rosado

The best medicine for boat racing participation is to put on a local race. There are alternatives for large turn-outs. Find a few small sponsors and try some new ideas. Smaller courses, combined classes, marathons and three or four heat races. Some of the most fun my new drivers had this year were at race sites where something "different" was tried. Ed.

[ryan_4z]

Ed, is there any way that APBA could give clubs a discount for runnign more than one race at the same site in a year. I'm thinking maybe it would be better to build up race sites to the point where we are running 3-4 times a year instead of always trying to find new race sites.

[Tomtall]

The best medicine for boat racing participation is to put on a local race. There are alternatives for large turn-outs. Find a few small sponsors and try some new ideas. Smaller courses, combined classes, marathons and three or four heat races. Some of the most fun my new drivers had this year were at race sites where something "different" was tried. Ed.

Ed-I think this idea would be very cool for racers that don't have the funds to travel to long distant races,however I also see two conflicts here.#1 clubs are trying to keep race partisipation #'s high two offset the cost of putting on the races thus by drawing every available out of state racer to their race and #2,if you look at the differant regions putting on races over the summer, it's always a battle not to try and conflict with other clubs races.I don't see how putting on several small races all over the country every weekend is going to have higher #'s when we're strugling to keep our clubs in the black as it is.Can you elaborate on this idea?

[ryan_4z]

What happens is if you put on alot of races within say a 100 mi. radius, it is easier to get new people into the sport becuase they dont have to travel. That is how you build up racers.

[14-H]

I ***
ASR/ASH-OMC A, Merc A
***

Hey Ryan: Do you now support the concept of attempting parity among different motors in the same class? Ed.

[ryan_4z]

No, I just wanted to avoid opening that whole can of worms again. There is not parity in the A class, and I am not advocating any kind of change there. If there was support to remove the Merc I would be behind it. Just have the Merc in J and AXS. Acctually I didnt have the Merc in the plan originally, but I added it to avoid that discussion. Mostly beause it is fairly trivial at this point considering the proposal to restrict the OMC was shot down.