Grass Lake ASH Appeal to National Commissioner

[daveracerdsh]

Dedicated boat racing sites

Very interesting stuff. How bout the Dayton Hydroglobe? Miami Marine stadium? There are other sites......I am going to do some research on this and rattle some chains.

[bill van steenwyk]

2 more sites that come to mind are Mission Bay San Diego....and Lake Ming Bakersfield California. I am sure not an authority on the subject...but was not Lake Ming built for boat racing in the 50s? Named after a Dr Ming? How is it now that they make it so hard for outboard clubs to put on a race? I am talking about Kern County. And was not Mission Bay dredged out in the 60s for the express purpose of hold regattas? Huh? And now we have to freaking BEG people to allow us to race on lakes etc. Makes me want to throw my APBA card into the lake,. random thoughts. Dave

Dave:

I have no idea about the problems that evolved at the two facilities you mention, as I was only at Bakersfield once in 1982 for the PRO Nationals, and I have never been to Mission Bay for a Boat Race.

BUT IF I HAD TO TAKE A GUESS........

One thing I have learned, is any time you have a publicly owned facility where motor sports of almost any kind takes place, it will raise objections from politicians who have the power to regulate the venue, objections from the public who pay the taxes to operate it and either do not approve of a particular kind of use for whatever reason, or is happening there now, or what may happen in the future. Also at play (and don't sell this reason short as there is lots of money in water) are a multitude of other special interest groups that have jurisdiction over water or the rights of where it is or where it goes, (or someone wants it to go) especially in a heavily populated area like California.

Possibly similar things have happened there as happened with the Miami Marine Stadium which is another facility I forgot to mention in my earlier post. That was an absolutely beautiful facility built for Boat Racing with covered grandstands, etc. I attended an Unlimited race there in the early/mid 70's during the hey-day of the Allison V-12 aircraft engine powered Unlimited's, and I will never forget the ground shaking while I was walking from the parking lot to the grandstands while the Unlimited's were testing just beyond the chain link fence separating the lot from the water. If you want to learn more about the status of that facility, and what has happened in the past, and is happening presently in an effort to make it operational again, go to BRF and use the search function for "Miami Marine Stadium." A history and pictures of it are in the thread.

Long story short, I imagine politics/special interests had much to do with the facilities you speak about, especially since they are located in California.

As you know from previous posts, I am not a big fan of past and present APBA leaders, but I seriously doubt that much fault lies with them for any problems that exist in the places you mention in your post. The local politicians are more than capable of screwing the situation up, I am sure, and I doubt APBA could have had much effect there unless they had an expensive lobbyist and a LOT of money to throw around, and that does not seem to be the case these days unless your company is named Crown Partners.

Perhaps a good place to ask your last question about those places, is on BRF, where Ron Hill has much experience in that area, as he has lived there I believe most of his life, and of course is a big booster of Boat Racing thru the web site and his business.

Dave, based on this conversation and other messages we have exchanged over the last few months, you seem to be a very intelligent person who has an extraordinary interest and love for this sport. If you are to continue with these interests and enthusiasm, know that a lot of folks will try to discourage you and knock you down. I hope you keep your enthusiasm, and most important, LEARN FROM THE PAST, and recognize those who not only do not agree with you, but will go to great lengths to stop you if your vision does not agree with theirs. It will be hard enough to keep your enthusiastic
ways, with others trying to pursue different agendas from yours, and not always in a nice way.

Always remember what the cartoon character (Pogo) said in a very popular newspaper cartoon of the past. "I HAVE MET THE ENEMY, AND IT IS US", or something similar.

[Dave M]

Answer

I have been involved in inspection with Seattle Outboard for a number of years now...and I HATE throwing people out when they come to the scales and they are 1 lb light or to high etc etc etc. I for one could not be chief inspector at a national event....simply not in my makeup to be the bad guy at times. It is sorta interesting that we use current racers as inspectors at big events.....Karting and other motor sports use inspectors that have no so called "dog in the fight"......IE they don't race karts or have family members that do. I don't know if karting inspectors are paid or if they are volunteers....no idea. This is sure not a slam against any chief inspector at nationals...far from it...I just find it interesting that we do it different then other racing organizations.

Dave,

Think about it. What is driving your fear of inspecting at a big event ? Rules is your answer is. If the rule book could be much more simple, a lot less objective, and make more sense to the grass roots racers, you would never have an issue at a big event. Look at what the current APBA rulebook is... if you even receive one in time for the race season. It is like taking the bar exam, confusing to say the least. One should NEVER need to look at two rulebooks to see if they are legal. The class rules, and the general rules should not conflict, and one should not superceed the other.

Since this got off topic, here it goes. You would never be able to hire an inspector. One look at the rules and they would laugh you off the chair. To many rules. To few hours in inspection. APBA needs rebuilt from the ground up, not just some bells & whistles tossed into the lions den. And I am not saying the current leadership can't do this. But first you have to recognize the fact you have a problem and it needs fixed yesterday.

[sponsonhead]

Bueller? Bueller? Bueller? Anybody?

Sorry to dig out this big ol' Turd Sandwich again, but has anybody heard the outcome of this....or a timetable for a decision?

Inquiring minds want to know. And, I have a Nationals Book I'm trying to write.

R-19

[Marlee Hill]

Lol.... I just talked to Matt asking the same thing! No word yet.

[ricmontoya]

Interesting read ;-)

I like this rule;

The driver is responsible for the condition of the equipment as raced. Errors on the part of the manufacturer, mechanic, inspector or previous owner is no excuse.

[propnuts]

This is pretty rich considering the source.

All of you guys that want to DQ someone who just won the nationals for a rule that does NOT say what the penalty is instead of warning him, have a serious Napoleon complex and should seek therapy.

Sounds like those grapes are a bit on the sour side.

[Racerkyle20]

UIM safety dude says....

Bob Wartinger brought this up in a safety presentation at the region 10 banquet and could not believe we (SORC) over turned a safety rule.

I understand both sides, but if we (APBA) ever want to have insurnace in the future we need to actually adhear to our own safety rules. Losing insurance's will only be our faults if things like this keep occuring. I have stated this over and over with this issue. Bob agreed with me, but also stated it is not only APBA having insurance/safety issues within the UIM scope.

BTW Matt and Mr. Stillwell my opinion expressed here and at the SORC voting of this issue has nothing to do with you two personally. It's a principle thing for me.

[DeanFHobart]

Insurance Company

What does our insurance company have to say about over turning a safety rule??

Should we contact them and get their opinion??

[reed28n]

Over turning?

I suppose it would be no different than not enforcing the bible of rules we fail to enforce and continue to try to re write and duplicate.

[Tim Weber]

No decision yet? How long has the nationals been over? Who ever is decided the winner at this point will have such a tainted title, who cares! Vacate the title for 2012.

What a four letter word, joke. Let's just move on.

Tim

[csh12M]

No truer words have been spoken!

I suppose it would be no different than not enforcing the bible of rules we fail to enforce and continue to try to re write and duplicate.

People who live in glass houses....or something like that.

Before you call anyone you better read those rules and check your local racecourses. I have, not many conform.

[Big Don]

Bob Wartinger brought this up in a safety presentation at the region 10 banquet and could not believe we (SORC) over turned a safety rule.

I understand both sides, but if we (APBA) ever want to have insurnace in the future we need to actually adhear to our own safety rules. Losing insurance's will only be our faults if things like this keep occuring. I have stated this over and over with this issue. Bob agreed with me, but also stated it is not only APBA having insurance/safety issues within the UIM scope.

BTW Matt and Mr. Stillwell my opinion expressed here and at the SORC voting of this issue has nothing to do with you two personally. It's a principle thing for me.

Kyle, if that is the course this takes...I hope your kill switch never fails after it has been inspected. Man would that suck if you won CSR at the nationals and you had to be DQ'ed.

[PittmanRacing]

It is time to let it go. Matt clearly won and there was no doubt he was the fastest boat. The process, including appeals, worked.

[Big Don]

Paul, the appeal has not been ruled on...just wait until it is...this site will be entertaining.