commission elections

[csh2z]

I,m running for Commissioner and would appreciate the votes of Region IV members.

[propnuts]

But John,

how will people ever know where you stand on things?

I,m running for Commissioner and would appreciate the votes of Region IV members.

[pav225]

Bpiii...

Not to speak for my brother, but I think his "platform" is pretty clearly spelled out in the latest Propeller magazine...

Support your local club and get people in boats!

Great job by Bill, Paul and the rest of MRC on the driving school!


- Mike

[Tom Cronk]

email

Mike
Check your private messages on HR.
Tom

[Big Don]

I would like to get elected to the Stock Outboard Racing Commission for Region 7. Unfortunately it appears I may not get to the meeting in time. Hopefully Thomas’s football team is still playing in the playoffs. I want it to be known to everyone that is going to be there that I am interested in the position and would appreciate their vote. No I don’t have all the answers and I don’t need all my ideas to go my way. We have to understand that there are very few things we are all going to agree on. The one thing we do all agree on is we all love this sport and are very passionate about it.

I believe it is long overdue to make some changes in our category. While it seems there may be a contingent thinking we should make lots of changes at one time… I believe we need to go a little slower, but still fast enough to react and try to increase our number of participants. That does not mean I don’t support their end goal, but we need to be careful with the changes we do make and how many things we change at one time. I believe we are very fragile right now and too many changes at one time could destroy racing in some areas of the country and put a hug financial strain on other areas.

I believe in a strong local race schedule. How are you going to sell our sport to someone if you have to tell them they have to drive 400 miles to a race 6 times a year.

I believe we need more time on the water per class over the weekend. I’m not locked into doing this any certain way. I could support a 3 heat format, could support 3 days of racing over two…I just think we need to be able tell a prospective racer that they will get at least 20 minutes of race time not 14 like we have now.

Do I support some realignment of stock classes? Yes, we have too many classes going to same speeds. We are diluting our pool of drivers. We have classes that have been on the brink of elimination for 10 years, we have classes that are not supported, and we have classes not supported nationally. I don’t believe in national classes that are only regionally supported. (one of the reason I think we have to many classes) As an example: BSR is mainly a Midwest class, it shouldn’t be the same 8 guys racing it at the nationals with a few others with equipment that show up. Do I think the class should go away? NO it’s one of my favorite classes to watch and very competitive. So how do we grow that class? I have been very disappointed more people didn’t buy the new sidewinder. I know there are a lot of people that want it to stay a roll up class. Would it grow faster if we were to allow side fins? It’s just a question Mr Hearn. Plus I want to see if you are really paying attention. Could or should DSR be a marathon only class? Just trying to think out of the box.

We need to have a clear plan of where we are going that does not include elimination of current engines. If they slowly go away because they are no longer the engine of choice that is ok.

Let me just share some numbers, some of these have already surfaced but I thought if they were all together it might spark some ideas. My numbers could be off a few I probably don’t keep as good of records as Dana does. But it will get the point across.

Total participants for all classes
2006 - 709 total drivers, 316 raced less than 3 times that is 44.6%, 393 raced more than 3 times
2007 – 699 total drivers, 318 raced less than 3 times that is 45.5%, 381 raced more than 3 times
2008 - 693 total drivers, 305 raced less than 3 times that is 44.0%, 388 raced more than 3 times
2009 - 727 total drivers, 322 raced less than 3 times that is 44.3%, 405 raced more than 3 times
2010 - 637 total drivers, 278 raced less than 3 times that is 43.6%, 359 raced more than 3 times
The thing that is so consistent is that 43 to 45% race a class less than three times every year.

Unique Drivers
2006 – 437 drivers, average number of races per driver 5.51
2007 – 417 drivers, average number of races per driver 5.37
2008 – 417 drivers, average number of races per driver 5.51
2009 – 438 drivers, average number of races per driver 5.25
So far 2010 – 437 drivers, average number of races per driver 5.23

In 2010 so far 212 of the 437 drivers or 48.5% race one class. This was a shock to me, I did not think it would be that high.
108 of them raced 3 times or less. Now these numbers could be misleading a little because the person could run a J, Mod or Pro class (OSY) also.
So I go back to a question someone asked a few weeks ago…why are they not racing more? Why do they only race one class? Why don’t they go more? What can we do to get them to race more? It’s a lot easier to keep a customer than to land a new one.

It also appears to me that we have not had a loss in the number of drivers. Some of the players may have changed but the numbers are consistent. What we may have had happen in the last few years is the guy dropping his 2nd, 3rd or 4th class that he used to just run a few times a year? That is why you could see some class numbers going up & down.

Sorry this was so long but if people vote me in I want them to know where I stand at this time.

[26V]

Thanks Don,
be sure to put in your request to be a commisioner to Dee, If you have not already done so.

[csh12M]

Don is that 437 unique drivers across Stock Mod and Pro?

2005 was the last year I tracked the SO, MO, and Pro stats. We has 420 different people who raced at least one SO event. I think I am going to try and make a drive down to APBA headquarters and get the data from the last 5 years.

Thanks,
Dean

[Big Don]

Dean,

Just Stock...