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  • Population Much Larger

    This is not meant to anger anyone if you respond please do so in a positive way.
    these questions are directed to everyone but most specific Stock Commission, Mod Commission and Pro Commission (which I'm one) &BOD
    1. why with the Population larger than 20yrs ago does the clamp on ranks not increase.
    2. why does most small engine toy dealers(dirt bike,quads,water craft,smallaircraft) see so much increase in there sales and memberships.
    3. why do so many boat race drivers feel that the cost of our racing equipment is to much
    4.why do so many drivers fight against safety rules when safety committee's
    follow these items and have nothing but good intentions
    5.why is it so difficult for race chairman to get volunteer at race sites
    6. why do the same people always seem to do all the volunteering
    7.why is APBA so Broke(or am I wrong here)
    8.why do our leaders seem to be the same people over and over
    9. What do you think should be done to better APBA and how can this be achieved.
    10 What does a better APBA mean to YOU.
    11. why when racing throughout the county is on the rise ours is not
    12.why do we restrict ourself when it comes to manufactures of engines
    (well maybe not pro)
    Will you do something positive to improve Clamp on Boatracing?????

    Pat Wright

  • #2
    OK... I'll bite.

    Originally posted by raceright View Post
    Will you do something positive to improve Clamp on Boatracing?????

    Pat Wright
    I tried to answer a couple other questions. But, I don't know enough, or been around enough, to presume to know the answers to them.

    So, I'll take the easy one:

    I will improve clamp on boat racing by getting at least one new person involved in the sport next year.

    (BTW) My motor bolts onto my boat, not clamps on.


    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by jeff55v View Post
      I tried to answer a couple other questions. But, I don't know enough, or been around enough, to presume to know the answers to them.

      So, I'll take the easy one:

      I will improve clamp on boat racing by getting at least one new person involved in the sport next year.

      (BTW) My motor bolts onto my boat, not clamps on.
      Excellent--Excelent you get an AA+on that Question

      Comment


      • #4
        I made some observations about some of this yesterday. I took the unwounded kids out to the dirt bike track so we could ride yesterday. It was easy....
        Loaded up the bikes in the utility trailer .....took 5 minutes.....strapped them down....grabbed the fuel and safety gear and we were off.
        30 minutes later we rolled them off and played all day.
        It cost $10 dollars per person riding and signing a waiver.

        The track is maybe 6 acres open on the weekends with some races on Friday night. I can find a race any weekend close.There are plenty of motorcycle shops in the AO and plenty of motorcycle/ATV suppliers online. I can go and buy a bike and take it home the same day. I don't have to know anyone who races or rides dirt bikes or ATV's to get started. I can go down to my local dealer and find out anything I need to know.

        My point is other sports have much greater access to the public especially at the local level then we do. I cannot go and buy a boat and motor take it home with me and go down to the local lake and find a race or a bunch of guys testing their race boats. Same thing with car racing.....I can find a local track and go any Friday or Saturday night and probably find a local guy who can help get me started. Local grass roots racing is very important to our sport....where did it go??? Part of the problem perhaps is the fact that everyone and their brother wants to have lake front property so the venues are harder to find. I also wonder is it because our society is so much more mobile. People do not put down roots and stay forever in the same communities anymore so the communities change and the racers move away.

        What can we do about it?? The hardest question and the magical answer we are all looking for. One thing is take someone who has never seent he sport before to a race...we need exposure. Sign them up for a one day membership and put them in a boat. Support the grass roots clubs. Take the ideas that we throw out on HR and put them to use!

        Kristi

        Kristi Z-22

        PRO Commissioner


        APBA BOD

        "Ask not what your racing organization can do for you...Ask what you can do for your racing organization"
        Tomtall 06

        Comment


        • #5
          What we are doing about it in Region 11

          Check out this page from our Region web site.
          http://www.boatracingr11.com/areas/N...00%20Hydro.htm

          Darrell

          Comment


          • #6
            Kristi nailed it down . . .

            Hydro/runabout racing requires many hours of prep, and we're in competition with other motor sports that require near zero hours of prep. One can buy a motorcycle and drive it off. One can buy a PWC ready to rock and roll!

            Even my old business, a hobby shop that sold all sorts of toys like radio control airplanes, sailboats, powerboats, cars, etc has changed. We use to buy KITS and assemble them, install the R/C gear, tune it up and then go play. I walked into a hobby shop recently and couldn't even find a kit! Everything was RTF (Ready To Fly) or ARF (Almost Ready To Fly). the almost (ARF) planes required installation of your radio gear, the RTF planes required opening the box, strapping on the wings and zooom ... off into the wild blue yonder.

            A problem we face is the gradual loss of skills related to boat assembly, repair, and engine assembly and tweaking. Motorcycle or PWC conks out, they take it to the dealer. Sad.
            carpetbagger

            Comment


            • #7
              Like Kristi and Bill said:

              Click on the link below:

              http://www.easykart.com/Easykart_Con...sykart_Models/

              You can walk into any Karting store world wide swipe your credit card and buy everything you need from fuel to the entire kart plus safety gear and charge your whole set up on Visa. Don't forget that same Kart shop will sign you for lesson etc. get you certified and hand you the local racing schedule and track locations. My point is we have no one stop shop for all your racing needs and believe it or not most parents would rather buy all new gear then put there kid out in used second hand gear.
              HTML Code:

              "https://twitter.com/HydroRacerTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false">Follow @HydroRacerTV

              Comment


              • #8
                Talk !!!

                I personally feel it's very hard to compare boat racing with other styles of motor sports. Even though there are millions of boat owners in this world very few are interested in straping on a helmet and competing on the water. Most people that own boats are boat owners for recreational reasons. That said, what I have noticed in speaking with spectators that do attend the races are they are there to spectate because "Those speedboats are cool". They really want to know more about our sport. This is where we come in as racers,crews and owners. I can't believe the amount of spectators that stand at the edge of racers pits looking over the boats and equipment with no one syaing "HI" ,"How are you doing today." I have seen racers treat our spectators as if they have the plauge or they are put out by having them invade their space. TALK TO THEM PEOPLE !!!! My wife and I had our trailer and boats parked at the Indian River channel spectator location again this year and talked with people for hours about the boats and the sport. They suck it up like a sponge. Make flyers up with info about internet sites, personal information, club contacts, ect.. Keep a stack of them in your trailer. Get the serious ones phone #'s and follow up a few weeks after a race to see if they want to test a boat. The grass roots of racing is up to us to make work. If we don't our sport will suffer in the future. By the way region 11, very cool idea on the rent a ride concept!

                The picture below is one of a future racer changing a prop out on our marithon boat. He contacted us from Ga., over the internet. When he was on vacation in our state we put him in a boat to play. 2 hours latter he decided to join the sport. He will compete next year in APBA races. Simple. Do it!
                Attached Files
                Last edited by Tomtall; 09-03-2007, 09:56 AM.
                Tom L.

                Comment


                • #9
                  The picture below is one of a future racer changing a prop out on our marithon boat. He contacted us from Ga., over the internet. When he was on vacation in our state we put him in a boat to play. 2 hours latter he decided to join the sport. He will compete next year in APBA races. Simple. Do it!

                  Tom, that person from Georga bought a set of plans from me & is building an ASR marathon boat for next year's Top O'

                  Darrell

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by CSR4C View Post
                    The picture below is one of a future racer changing a prop out on our marithon boat. He contacted us from Ga., over the internet. When he was on vacation in our state we put him in a boat to play. 2 hours latter he decided to join the sport. He will compete next year in APBA races. Simple. Do it!

                    Tom, that person from Georga bought a set of plans from me & is building an ASR marathon boat for next year's Top O'

                    Darrell
                    yes yes help people get into our sport totaly believe in this--it is so hard to get into our type of racing and yet year after year reguardless of the obsticals set before them new blood does show up, we have something special for sure
                    Pat

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Marithon boat

                      Tom, that person from Georga bought a set of plans from me & is building an ASR marathon boat for next year's Top O'

                      Darrell
                      Darrell - Yes I know. Jerry said you have been very helpful in making it come together. Thanks!
                      Tom L.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Specators = Racers

                        When is the last time you saw an ad in Outdoor life Magazine, Field & Stream, or any magazine that is available off the shelf at Barnes & Noble and newstands everywhere that relates to kneelers ? Personally I have seen a few when I was a small kid. You used to be able to purchase equipment from popular Mechanics magazine......... HELLO !!!

                        At APBA races it is difficult for the spectator to get into the pits. There is a lot of hassle. I understand the need for insurance purposes..... it all relates to insurance and lawsuites some how or another in todays's society.

                        When is the last time you saw the grass roots boat racing actually promoted on a national level ? How can they get involved in the sport when they still don't know what kind of airplane you have on your trailer at the gas station......

                        Cost is a huge issue. If a parent is going to invest into racing they want something in return. Recognition. They want the kid to win, not ride around and never win. Competitive equipment they can have tweaked or tweak themselves. Not to many bolt on go fast goodies are available for boat racers at the kneeler level.

                        Personally I think we have policed ourselves into a hole that we will never get out of. Hard enough to keep track of the rules that you stop caring about it and find someting to have fun in.
                        Dave Mason
                        Just A Boat Racer

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Just a question....

                          Not meaning to thwart your efforts to get new people involved and all, Tom....

                          But after all the discussions here recently about people running capsule boats with no seat belts on and such....

                          Did you REALLY send a prospective new racer out for a ride with just a T-Shirt on under his lifejacket, and no cut pants?

                          R-19
                          www.gleasonracing.com

                          "No, THAT is why people hate him."

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Saftey

                            No. The gent that drove the boat wore kevlar. The young ladd in the vest is my son.And no he was told after this picture was snaped that he was not running in a t-shirt. Picture is a little deceiving. You make a good point and thanks for bringing it up.
                            Last edited by Tomtall; 09-04-2007, 12:54 PM.
                            Tom L.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Tomtall View Post
                              No. The gent that drove the boat wore kevlar. The young ladd in the vest is my son.And no he was told after this picture was snaped that he was not running in a t-shirt. Picture is a little deceiving. You make a good point and thanks for bringing it up.
                              I hate to counterdict you but It was not one future racer it was two. My 14 year oldson T.J. Plans to race also he will help in the building of the boat. He wants to get me up and running then run his own boat as we get established.
                              I would definely say Darrel Soreson has been bending over backwards to help and Steve Grieves has been very helpful. I think that the sport will grow as long as there are Embasadors like Tom, Darrel, and Steve promoting the sport and help people get involved.
                              Jerry

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