The answer to all Stock Mod and Pro problems

[HRTV]

Someone recently replied to the Big Don thread and stated there was absolutely no reason to have a Stock, Mod and Pro category. They went on to say that there should only be one outboard category.

In Europe, the UK and Asia if a young or older person wants to race in a Stock Outboard type of boat they have one choice OSY400 or 3 to 4 Pro type of classes thats it.

F125 F250 F350 **F500 which is a capsule. So in all of Europe, the UK and Asia you basically have 4 kneel down classes run under the UIM. One "Stock Outboard" class - OSY400.

On Jan. 18 2013 Lucas Oil made a huge announcement stating that
Lucas unites all sanctioning bodies under one rules umbrella
...and 900 teams vie for 2013 National Championships

"Drag Boat Racing is booming" says Lucas Oil's Executive Vice president, Bob Patison. "The fan base is expanding rapidly and more and more teams are competing nationally. Now our expanded 'on air' presence allows us to dig deeper and explain the techniques and technology behind a sport that easily rivals the thrills and thunder of Drag Racing on land, but with lake shores and river banks adding to the excitement."

For the first time in its dynamic history, Drag Boat Racing is united under one set of rules allowing more than 900 teams to run for a national championship. With live audiences ranging between 10,000 and 40,000 per event and packing the shorelines, 'safety' has become even more vital for the sport to grow.

Why is there a Stock Mod and Pro division?

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact....lLXE5i5t75Ba-4

http://www.lucasoil.com/articles1-50...ERIESEXPANDSTV

[David Weaver]

Good Question Dan

I assume because the individual categories have somewhat differing views with regards to competition and seek to cater to individuals with varying levels of interest with regards to the engines or motors that power their boats. The US traditions run very deep with regards to hydro's and runabouts somewhat doubling the number of classes.

I believe before we can collectively consolidating categories, the categories must first consider how to consolidate classes.

[ricochet112]

Because we're self governing.

Until all boat racing, and I mean ALL powerboat racing, get's under 1 professional umbrella, we will continue a downhill slide, and stay a back woods, back yard hobby.

If boat racing is to go mainstream it will have to be more like UIM, very few classes and the racers should have very little say in the rules.

No corporation in their right mind would pour money into the current state of APBA.

[jeff55v]

Dan, I know I am not the person you are quoting. But back in October I said something very similar:

I think it's wrong that Stock, Mod, and Pro are three separate categories. They should all be ONE catagory, with all the same already existing classes within it.
We shouldn't have to buy a super license to race the popular classes that most of us do.
And that's all I have to say about that.

Nobody's listening. It seems most people on this site are too busy rearranging the deck chairs on a ship that's going down.

[raceright]

outboard

Lets see Lucas is puting up the Buck so as many in the USA hate this many will agree if someone puts up the buck--you race as they wish.

Problem with Stock Mod and Pro is there is no collective view on how to race because of totaly different desires from the sport and many membership driven authorities.
Also a serious lack of understanding that racing in the future will have to be more expensive not cheaper--many in Mod understand this and have spent alot of dollars on there equiptment. I do not see how merging two totaly different cost structures will achieve sucess.

In the case of APBA weather you like it or not membership has caused the problems. And leadership is lost as what to do, so they keep trying things.

I'm sure that many of you do not know that right now Howie Knockols has put together a proposal for the APBA BODto combine Stock and Mod as one category==giving them one commission,rule book, and name.
If you know me ya can guess as to my feelings on this,and they are not positive.
The USTS although a outboard category is trying to break the stigma associated with business as usual and move to a more agressive position in the presence of the outboard racing world. Wish them luck.

There is those who wish for Powerboatracing to be more professional and this requires more buck that APBA does not have so APBA is stuck being only a sanctioning body keeping insurance and points up so the racers can hang out and race.
Professional racing means no back woods racing but many who vote in APBA want to have back wood racing as this is the least expensive type of racing there is. Fun racing and Professional racing can not co mingle with any degree of advance ment or sucess.
Listen having very little money invested into ones sport will only get you so far in the direction of being professional and sponsors will see this and not wish to have a relationship with this. Winning although all drivers goal does not equate to Dollars just think when was the last time the Petties won a race yet they make millions for just being there.

Professionalism requires many dollars on the part of the drivers and the controlling leadership bodies . APBA does not know how to get the Buck and I believe not enough members wish for the level of this sport to be anything but what it is.

[mark5pa]

Carefull what you wish for

I started roadracing motorcycles in 1979 with WERA, a club just like our Stock & Mod outboard group. In '82, I was champ in B SS (750cc). In '83 our club actively sought sponsors for purse money. The first race of the season at Pocono, in roll a bunch of AMA guys with their tractor trailers, filled with spares out the wazoo. I was right up front through the infield, but they killed me on the straights. I stopped racing till '04 when they went back to less purse money.
Every race organization needs an entry level class, small budget, old van or pickup & working on your racer in the dirt pits. I don't have the $ to go much bigger. I am glad to be in SO/MO like it is now. Things may need some tweaking, but that's what makes it fun.
Just my 2 cent.

[HRTV]

I started roadracing motorcycles in 1979 with WERA, a club just like our Stock & Mod outboard group. In '82, I was champ in B SS (750cc). In '83 our club actively sought sponsors for purse money. The first race of the season at Pocono, in roll a bunch of AMA guys with their tractor trailers, filled with spares out the wazoo. I was right up front through the infield, but they killed me on the straights. I stopped racing till '04 when they went back to less purse money.
Every race organization needs an entry level class, small budget, old van or pickup & working on your racer in the dirt pits. I don't have the $ to go much bigger. I am glad to be in SO/MO like it is now. Things may need some tweaking, but that's what makes it fun.
Just my 2 cent.

Mark I disagree, the problem is that having "fun" in 2013 comes with huge premiums and cost that you could go without back in the day. We live in a different world where lawsuits are common place and its just not that simple to have that same "fun" you speak of at no to little cost. Insurance premiums have sky rocketed along with the cost of healthcare and all the associated fees and licenses that go along with putting on a weekend race.

As much as we all would like to have that sunny Sunday afternoon back when times were good it is not going to happen. Racing of any type in 2013 is not a poor mans hobby. If you want to race under the APBA umbrella or any other brand its going to cost you big bucks. If you want to just have fun then a grab a few guys and start a river rat circuit. Fun racing and professional racing as stated here early can not co exist.

[Matt Dagostino]

Spell Check

[QUOTE=raceright;216221

I'm sure that many of you do not know that right now Howie Knockols has put together a proposal for the APBA BODto combine Stock and Mod as one category==giving them one commission,rule book, and name.
If you know me ya can guess as to my feelings on this,and they are not positive[/QUOTE]


Pat
It is Howie NICHOLES not Knoocoles??.........being from New England you should know that. I saw Howie's proposal and it is 'forward thinking' and merits serious consideration at several levels.
Maybe you should buy Howie a beer and hear him out before you pull the trigger and shoot him down??.................
Just a thought..........
Hope all is well.......
Matt

[14-H]

One Outboard Category

I totally agree. For those who say we race differently: go to the races. The races are run by a single race committee running Stock, Mod and Pro combined. We already race together nearly everywhere. Combining categories would get rid of many rules and lessen the confusion about which rule applies to which class.

The problem is that this make just too much sense! It will never happen.

[raceright]

Pat
It is Howie NICHOLES not Knoocoles??.........being from New England you should know that. I saw Howie's proposal and it is 'forward thinking' and merits serious consideration at several levels.
Maybe you should buy Howie a beer and hear him out before you pull the trigger and shoot him down??.................
Just a thought..........
Hope all is well.......
Matt

So Matt spelling and shooting Howie is all you got from my post,
Not everyone has simple to spell names like me (wright) or you Dagasteinooo
Hope your laughing. After all I'm just a duimb roofer.

Main reason for my post is the meetings start today and just thought more APBA medmbers should know about this--and not just the Commissioners.

So from my [point of view I did Howie and apba A FAVOR AS LESS CAN SAY HOW COME I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE CHANGE.

[raceright]

I totally agree. For those who say we race differently: go to the races. The races are run by a single race committee running Stock, Mod and Pro combined. We already race together nearly everywhere. Combining categories would get rid of many rules and lessen the confusion about which rule applies to which class.

The problem is that this make just too much sense! It will never happen.

Eddie you try all cases with one judge--why not they all went to law school.

There are different ideas that is why there is no one in charge of all.

Adding to that its kind of like the rotten apple theory. Some just want to fail on there own and not use the excuse that it was the other guy.

But limit stock and mod classes to 10 raced over a two day weekend and only have a 5 hour show then maybe this idea might appeal to fools like me.

Be in Dallas tonight for those who would like to shoot me, (see ya Matt)

[Matt Dagostino]

Agree

So Matt spelling and shooting Howie is all you got from my post,
Not everyone has simple to spell names like me (wright) or you Dagasteinooo
Hope your laughing. After all I'm just a duimb roofer.

Main reason for my post is the meetings start today and just thought more APBA medmbers should know about this--and not just the Commissioners.

So from my [point of view I did Howie and apba A FAVOR AS LESS CAN SAY HOW COME I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE CHANGE.

I am not a Commissioner and i do agree that Howie's proposal and the ENTIRE BOD AGENDA should be posted on the APBA Site and Hydroracer to assure transparancy!!!..........i see your point in your post but at this point as a Referee, Howie and Hearn understand the 'race management' issues when running multiple cataglories at a weekend event and this proposal plays to that along with other benefits. As Ed say's, it makes to much sense........

Pat, you need Microsoft spell check!......see ya.

[csh12M]

The wrong viewpoint

Combing categories is not the ANSWER to anything it is the RESULT of 20 years of neglect to the real issue. Selling the sport to "new name" racers.

I am not saying it should or shouldn't be done, but it is treating the symptom not the problem. It feels like putting a band aid on a bullet wound.

We need to put the FUN back into all the categories and cost justify a $10K value proposition to "new name" members.

12M

[raceright]

Mark I disagree, the problem is that having "fun" in 2013 comes with huge premiums and cost that you could go without back in the day. We live in a different world where lawsuits are common place and its just not that simple to have that same "fun" you speak of at no to little cost. Insurance premiums have sky rocketed along with the cost of healthcare and all the associated fees and licenses that go along with putting on a weekend race.

As much as we all would like to have that sunny Sunday afternoon back when times were good it is not going to happen. Racing of any type in 2013 is not a poor mans hobby. If you want to race under the APBA umbrella or any other brand its going to cost you big bucks. If you want to just have fun then a grab a few guys and start a river rat circuit. Fun racing and professional racing as stated here early can not co exist.

Dan way to smart for your years lololo

[Dave M]

Dan

We accomplished this with the NBRA. We do not have a seperate category for stock & mod. In fact the Mod engines race in the very same class as their stock counterparts in some cases. I can't talk about the addition of the USTS just yet. But as most know it is a step in the right direction.

We have some good sponsors and we put the fun back into racing. In otherwords, we managed to make backyard grass roots boat racing into a mainstream venue and still have fun !!

Dan, you want a piece of the pie ? I see Alan has a 44XS ready to race in DH. How about showing up and racing some ? Come to Lucas Oil Speedway. See how their sponsorship helps us grow. Youmight also see some other big name sponsors... but that is just rumors.

Come run for fun !!!! (but we pay you too)