Please read very interesting

[HRTV]

This is a copy of an email that I recived just a few days ago in regards to my post on April 28th

Please post professional and thought out comments only. All hot head comments will be deleted.

My post is in red:

The key here is new young blood, thats what the sport needs to get a jump start. Out with the same old boring old timers and in with the new !

Nick, Amy, Allie, Betz and Booga these young folks are the future of region 5 and should be listen to! the same theroy should be true for all regions across the country.

In my mind who cares if you have been racing for 30 years, this sport needs a face lift and it needs a fresh new look and fresh young ideas to boot. These are smart kids and they can attract other young kids. Whats the draw of a 65 year old man in dirty cut off shorts and a potbelly to a young 14 or 15 year old kid that might want to go racing ?



Email below that I received a few days ago in blue:


I liked your post about the dirty jeans shorts and the old man. You are quite right. However, I have come to learn that boat racing is not really a sport that is open to new ideas or new people. It is a sport, much like NASCAR, that is dominated by a handful of families who have been around for generations and are like boat racings royalty. It is their game, their rules, their ball field and their ball. When they talk of new blood getting involved, they mean their kids and when they speak of passing on the torch of boat racing leadership they mean to their families new generation. There is no room for a new bee like me to have a say or voice, the power racing families are not interested in that. They will continue to die a slow death and the end will come when their children start finding other interests.

[Steve Johnson]

NASCAR is less a sport....

Why is boat racing always compared to (NASCAR tm) by our members. I watch it once in awhile ,but don't fool yourselves. (NASCAR tm ) is simply a MARKETING MACHINE ! Entertaining like most major league sports, but call it what it is. PERIOD. We can never be that machine nor do I really think we would want to be even if it was possible. Nascar is ruled not by a royal family but by corperations and the almighty $.
wake up and smell the currency. Start looking in the right direction please.
Steve

[crankbearing]

catch22

Hey Dan,

I agree to disagree with some of the statements of both the above threads. I totally agree with Steve that Nascar is 100% dollar motivated and if you do not have it you do not play. They have rules that change all the time and there is I am sure as much politics as in our sport..

I agree we need younger members and new ideas in the sport. Have you gone to a GM or FORD delaership in a while, 90% of the techs are under 30 years old.. the old ways of fixing cars are long since gone unfortunately with that goes the mutual respect and honesty of the local mom and pop shops where you could get your car fixed knowing it was done right and pay for it next week on time, becuase you have known that garage for 10 years or more. OH Yes! you can still do that today it;s called VISA. Now ! with that said I do not agree that the sport should be handed down to younger members without many years of training and discipline. Would you start a new business and put an untrained individual in a VP position - probably not.

To the response of Dan's post - You are right in a sense that boat racing does have 3 or 4 or 5 generations of the same family involved in racing at a higher level and they do not make all the rules. But ! If you look 95% of those families actively fill rolls at most local race weekends where we cannot get volunteers to assist.. It is not uncommon to see one family offering services as ref, inspector, scorer and there kids are in the patrol boats.. NOW! you want to change things a little no problem - GET INVOLVED and earn a little give your way, it will happen I can assure you.. When I started I new it all and could change the world, I got ZERO respect with that attitude so I changed as a person, now you know I try to help everyone and the sport as much as I can. I love this sport and I TRY to overlook as many of the negatives as I can. I had the same outlook you have and it does not win anything, please do not get me wrong I am in no way trying to sway your views. I just know that the bottom line to all this is that I am going to have fun with the sport as long as I can. We had a racer retire three years ago that has at least 50 years behind the wheel, two things, 1) anyone that can be involved with anything other than marriage that long has my respect and undivided attention and secondly I can only hope that this sport allows me to participate half that long for the friends and long term fellowship I have enjoyed for the past 15.

So, NO you may not change anything overnight but become a active part of things and you will see that your input will be accepted and considered at least. Not too say that you are not involved now. We also have a voting system so if you do not like what is happening with your region you have a vote at minimum it counts for your concerns.

I feel like Jerry Maguire and his mission statement. Oh well I work for myself so I can only fire ME.

Regards,

[HRTV]

Good post Dave,

Thanks

[Kristi Ellison]

My Thoughts

I think the NASCAR comparison is only valid to the degree we go fast, turn left and there is multigenerational family involvement. After that there is no comparison. We are self governing and weather you consider that good or bad it will limit some of the changes peolpe would like to see. No matter what there will always be some self interest involved with those in leadership positions.

I read over and over again how the sport is dying and I disagree. It is harder to promote growth for many reasons.
First of all we compete with all the folks who are willing to spend a lot of money to live on water. Therefore we lose race sites to homesites.
Next kids are busier with recreational sports these days. There was no YMCA soccer and baseball or basketball when I was a kid in the summers. We went racing every weekend...nothing else for us to do.
Cost of living is another factor...gas is no longer 50 cents a gallon and will never be again. Most of us live in households with both parents working so time off is harder to get. There are some past times to get involved in that are close to home and do not require as much time off and driving therefore saving money.
Sponsor money...again that takes time dedication and some knowhow. We have to have a show to offer and we will not have a show unless we race for the crowd and not ourselves. I am not talking about high dollar sponsorship I am talking about covering your costs and being asked to come back. Put on a reasonable schedule and deliver what you promise.
Time and patience.....My Dad spent every weekend and many weeknights in the shop working on engines and boats. We went racing everyweekend ( or so it seemed),A lot of guys don't have time or the desire to spend all their time working on equipment and traveling. Therefore they plan the 6 or 7 races they WANT to make for the season and they are happy.
I think most racers will tell you today if they can make 6-8 quality races throughout the year they would call it a good season. We need to focus on what brings guys out to the races and try and to promote the sport that way.

I am one of those 2nd generation families with kids that race. I welcome any newcomers to the sport. I never saw myself running a club or being a Commissioner but I feel like it is time for my generation to step up and learn how to do this and hopefully have a positive influence on the sport I love so much.

Kristi

[BP125V]

interesting

[/QUOTE]
The key here is new young blood, thats what the sport needs to get a jump start. Out with the same old boring old timers and in with the new !

Nick, Amy, Allie, Betz and Booga these young folks are the future of region 5 and should be listen to! the same theroy should be true for all regions across the country.

In my mind who cares if you have been racing for 30 years, this sport needs a face lift and it needs a fresh new look and fresh young ideas to boot. These are smart kids and they can attract other young kids. Whats the draw of a 65 year old man in dirty cut off shorts and a potbelly to a young 14 or 15 year old kid that might want to go racing ?[/COLOR]



Email below that I received a few days ago in blue:


I liked your post about the dirty jeans shorts and the old man. You are quite right. However, I have come to learn that boat racing is not really a sport that is open to new ideas or new people. It is a sport, much like NASCAR, that is dominated by a handful of families who have been around for generations and are like boat racings royalty. It is their game, their rules, their ball field and their ball. When they talk of new blood getting involved, they mean their kids and when they speak of passing on the torch of boat racing leadership they mean to their families new generation. There is no room for a new bee like me to have a say or voice, the power racing families are not interested in that. They will continue to die a slow death and the end will come when their children start finding other interests.[/QUOTE]


Dan makes a very good point, not sure what to do about it but he is right on.

I understand the frustration in the second quote but I have a different perspective on this issue. From what I see in the Midewest and I'm sure it is the same elsewhere is that the younger/new drivers for the most part have not stepped up and taken leadership positions. What that means on a practical level is that you end up with the same people doing the same jobs for many years just because they the only ones willing to do it. It APPEARS as though these people/families have a strangle hold on the sport but the realilty is that they are the only ones who year in and year out are willing to do the work. I guarantee that there is not a single person who would not gladly step aside and let a new person do the work. I know I would. The fact that the younger single guys are letting the ones with the families do all the work is a real shame.

This sport is starving for new members. Not only do we need new members to swell our ranks and add boats but we need their enthusiasm and energy as well. We've had several join us in the last year or so and they have been a huge shot in the arm not only for the help they provide but for their ideas as well. However, one thing that the new member needs to understand is that you are not going to change the world. Don't get discouraged and realize that gains are made in small steps. Plus, rely on those drivers/families that have been in the sport forever, they have seen it and done it all (except maybe registering for a race after the first heat has been run )and have a wealth of knowledge. Find out why they might not like your idea, who knows, maybe it has been tried already and they are just trying to save you the time and effort.

Bill III

[HRTV]

Good points Bill

Thanks

[acr924]

Dan, what was the name of the thread you originally posted your "post in red" on?
thanks,
allie

[14-H]

I think the NASCAR comparison is only valid to the degree we go fast, turn left and there is multigenerational family involvement. After that there is no comparison. ***
Kristi

Kristi: you forgot the beer similarity... Ed.

[HRTV]

Dan, what was the name of the thread you originally posted your "post in red" on?
thanks,
allie

Compressing Classes

http://www.hydroracer.net/forums/sho...7&page=2&pp=15

[Kristi Ellison]

Ed

Still no comparison....Our racers definitely drink more beer than NASCAR drivers...they fly out right after the race....we stay in the pits and??? well you know!

Kristi

[Dave M]

Another Perspective (personal)

As a somewhat younger generation single racer here is what might be a different perspective.

Once I felt comfortable with my racing I did get involved. I held club positions in a couple different clubs, and finally decided to accept a Commisioner Role. I thought right along with what Mr. Pavlick said, I am single, I can do it. What I was met with was stiff resistence to anything fresh. The same people in the same roles sometimes have strong ideas on what should and should not go to vote. This is of course in Mod. SOme very interesting proposals were submitted that year I sat on the commision. The resistence to change was incredibly strong. In my opinion I felt like there was no way to change the way their thinking was, so why bother. Therefore I never felt like i could make a difference sitting on the commision so did not pursue a second term. This is also why I no longer attend National Meetings. At least in my area of interest, Mod, it seems more than difficult to change anything. Even in small steps.

So that is my perspective. It is also my interpretaion of my perception while a commisioner, and does not reflect any other opinions or ideas.

[Steve Johnson]

Btt

Bring it around one more time

[RacerX]

Excellent Discussion!

Steve Dan & All other posters,

I believe that Steve and Dan have a great topic!! It is real easy when you move to Florida in 1991 and have 22 boats in your class and now if you go to a local race and generate 5 CSH's you have everyone in the region in attendance. I also grew up in PA in Region 3 same story. I raced 20ssh when I was 17 and would have elimination heats on a regular basis. I saw the class die and grow again over the years but it isn't what it once was in my opinion. I don't think you can argue that membership isn't a problem and an issue. Pick up a propeller magazine from the 50's and 60's if you want to make a larger chart of the membership decline!! I think everyone is on the same page with agreeing that we need NEW BLOOD and it certainly will not hurt!! The difference is in the priority list people have. I think anyway. Some racers believe other issues are more important to discuss or work out quite possibly? I believe that if this was the focus and we had our sanctioning body help develop a plan that all the rest would be easy to fix. It is easy to grow any business if you have marketing $$$ when you don't it becomes quite tricky. If the sport grew by 100 members per year or 6 members per region on an annual basis and we could improve retention we would be going in the right direction. In five years of this type of growth at roughly $200 per member we would generate an additional $100,000 that could help impact our future. The fact that there would be 30 additional drivers in each region and local clubs would enjoy the growth as well is great!!! Although it is easy to crunch numbers and point fingers the complication is in how we can do this and how we need to go about it. Everyone one has a better idea or gets upset but what we need to do is spell out your better idea and act on it!! How do we get some postive action in place and make a difference in our sport? The numbers I outlined in 10 seconds seem achievable to me if we had a plan!!! I have been in sales jobs that had way more pressure then those achievable numbers!! BUT HOW???

APBA and other sanctioning bodies all have channels that have to be gone through to make this a discussion topic. I have lots of questions and ideas. Here is what I would like to know.

How does that work? If you wanted to propose or alter an existing marketing budget or develop and propose a marketing idea how would you get this done and taken seriously?

How many members that read this are interested in a change and believe that this is an important issue?

What has to be done to get this topic discussed and looked into at the National Meeting? Further.......Between now and then can there be a group organized to discuss and develop ideas. A group that made sure that if this topic did get to the level of the National Meeting that it was a well thought out, researched and discussed topic. A group that would come up with better solutions within a budget so this didn't get put off another year or another national meeting.

What is the budget for advertising at APBA now does anyone know that answer? Does APBA even have the money for marketing at this point?

If the members US came up with a better way is there any reason that the APBA leaders wouldn't consider a new way of building the sport?

What is the 10 year plan for the sport? What is the vision of our leaders now? What are we doing to achieve that vision? If we don't have a goal and a vision we better get one!!! (Any leaders that want to fill me in I would love to hear)

I know this is going to send some peoples blood boiling but it is my right to say this and god gave me a telent for pissing people off anyway.... IS STEVE HEARN THE BEST MAN FOR THE JOB AS APBA PRESIDENT? It is the memberships right to have the best man. Could someone else do a better job guiding our sport? I would love to hear the list of what he has done while in office because I am not the only one that doesn't know of any!!! What does he do?

I think in my opinion this needs to be addressed. The sport needs to frankly try something!!! We need a leader that will DO SOMETHING weather we like it or not. When I can pull into a gas station when I travel to a boatrace and I have people come up to me that know that the thing on the trailer is a hydroplane and know that boatracing exists we will be doing something!! People don't know we are here. We aren't on the map and need to be!!! Dan and Steve are on the right track and this is very important! Take this topic seriously or our sport we all love could really suck in 10 to 15 years! I am glad that someone else finds this to be an issue besides myself!!

Michael Barrett

[HRTV]

Mike and all let me take a stab at this topic the way I see it goes as follows. APBA is just the sanctioning body and the admin side of boat racing in general. To the best of my knowledge they have no interest in marketing etc. and have never been set up to so.

Let’s use the Champ Boat series for example: Take a look at the information below the answer to our problem is very clear and needs no committee or national meeting to address it Stock Outboard Racing needs one thing and one thing only.

The answer is right here:


Champ Boat Series, LLC.
Mike Schriefer
President/Promoter
17505 W. Catawba Ave. Suite 150
Cornelius, NC 28031
(704) 987-5044 office
(704) 904-4141 direct
Mike@ChampBoat.com


The Champ Boat series and all other forums of boat racing do not rely on APBA but they go out and obtain funds from private organizations. They also set aside money to hire an independent Promoter / marketing person.