What happen to all the AOF racers?

[ECHOLStylor20]

this weekend

We had a great time, and thanks again to everyone that made the long haul.

[Kevin Martin]

pat, you are sooo right, we have the exact same issues here, even if the first race was in july i think this would be an issue, it for some reason is tough to get going. i just didn't want to see and apba/aof squabble here it had absolutely nothing to do with that whatsoever!!!!!!! i gaurantee you for sure we will have the same issues at our first race, we always do see you sometime this summer kevin

[propnuts]

Here's the deal

Troy isn't getting much support here, but I can tell you exactly where he's coming from. I was at the board meeting when it was asked that AOF be invited to the Bridgeport race. The board members were quite confused since ALL APBA members are invited to all races. The fact that a formal invitation was requested, and indeed given indicated that there was interest from the AOF folks in attending. Since we didn't see anyone there that we didn't really expect to see there, the conclusion would be that the invitation went unheeded and was therefore a waste of the boards time. I understand that it was an attempt made, one that I supported as commodore 3 years ago. There is no need for finger pointing, SOA folks didn't show up either. Hopefully things will be diferent next time and we'll see a bigger turnout, it was a great race, great site, great weather and a great job done by Dick and his committee. Remember AOF folks, anytime there's an SOA race and your and APBA member YOU ARE INVITED and you can have points in whatever organization you'd like. Tony

[AOFoffice]

I just got off the phone with my good friend Russ Bircher. Russ and I both feel that it is time to put this thread to rest. (Since it was Russ who was pushing for this the hardest).
Yes, turnout at this race was not the best..
Yes, AOF was not as represented as anticipated. Blame it on miscommunication, timing, or whatever. But the week end was not a total loss. Someone must have hd fun, right?
Russ also wants to thank the Haegy trailer and the Sampson trailer. (Might have been more, but I can't read my notes), who did make the trek.
In addition, both AOF and APBA got new members. Sometimes things happen one little step at a time. The venture was worth it, but only time will tell if it was earth shattering.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?
AOF Office

[Kevin Martin]

tony thanks for your input, i always enjoy your insight. aof was interested in this joint venture to gain new members from within soa, and give your members an opportunity to score points in another organization, since aof is so well represented here in the northwest, and at the same time hope that if the joint venture were offered it would pull some of the existing aof members to your race. if it was presented to you at the board meeting that if you made this decision to joint this race, you would certainly pull from the east side of the mountains, i'm truly sorry it was presented to you wrongly!!!!! russ and dennis westby have been working hard to do these point sharing races here in the northwest, along with some folks within soa, i think it's headed in the right direction, unfortunately the aof "drivers" were never asked, before the presentation at your board meeting, would they or could they support this race if point sharing existed. i can tell you only a small handful of us over here are remotely interested in apba points, and the travel involved, and i think over the past few years you've seen those of us that are attend your races regularly. when speaking to our club we honesly couldn't make it make sense $$$ wise for most of our members to come run this past weekends race, because they had no intention of running another apba race at all this year. i do infact understand where troy was coming from, and his frustration level, sepecially if your board was promised boats if they did this, unfortuately the birchers and the westby's were the only trailers who could make that committment to this race. it is early and we are all brothers, with one of if not the strongest region in the country. this will all be kool ,you will see us a few times this summer, and we hope to see some of you. kevin martin AOF SAFETY DIRECTOR

[RuthieRae]

on vacation

Whew, I was out and I do have something to say on this of course ( I always do). Not too negative, but I believe that troy does have a beef, and maybe rightfully so as he is on the SOA board and knows that plenty of notice and time was given and things were kind of promised (maybe that was a hope but it sounded like a turn out of more than one would happen). His beef, one member from the spokane area came. One (and we thank you very much you know who you are). The circular and information for Bridgeport regardless of the AOF points issues has been published and forwarded to the east side clubs since early February. The major complaint I believe is that a lot of effort was put forth and I think that the communication sucks, it would be great to have heard somewhere sometime before the race that hey, thanks for the offer, but our club isn't ready and our members aren't ready. For months, we have been talking, hearing that 7 boats would come. We heard this as recent as last month, when the AOF members requested that SOA pay for their single event APBA memberships. I guess that affected the turn out....obviously, because the seven boats that were going to show....Didn't. And, that is okay, it is a choice, but as ALL of you know by your posts of the low turn out at this race for the past three years....SOA can not afford to give away money at this race. Simple. If they could have, they might have as they did last year. Unfortunately for those of us trying to make a difference, the winter nationals did have one negative affect, and that is that the conducting club was able to offer these single event memberships for free (or paid for by the club) we simply cannot do that on a local/regional level. I know for sure, the most disappointing part is that my dad would travel to any AOF race if I give the go....and he really enjoys the Spokane crew and would like to have seen them support him as well. Unfortunately, that did not happen, but the turn out this year was better than it has been in the past and I want to thank everyone who came............Especially the CORA members, and there were more than one.

Thanks,
Ruthie

[AOFoffice]

There were actually quite a few AOF drivers at the race. Unfortunately, there weren't many from "Spokane" or "Eastern Washington". The AOF points will be posted soon. (once I get them).