SO/MO/PRO Nationals @ DePue

[raceright]

Pat: SO had a huge increase in membership and races in the mid to late 80's with the new Merc and OMC engines that became available.

APBA is a non-profit membership organization. As soon as I see your suggestion for an alternative, I'd be happy to comment on it.

Not true we spent nothing on promotion. The SO Category spent $5,000.00 two years ago to produce our promo video. I know Inboard spent a bunch on their website which is a pretty good one. Besides, I agree with the Don Allen theory: we get very little return on advertising money. We get most of our new members the old-fashioned way: by putting them in a boat for a ride. Please see the Quinn Doerle thread as an example.

Finally, the budget and balance sheet are available every year at the annual meeting and distributed there. Don't deceive anyone, though: our expenses always equal our income. Most of the assets are included in the national office in the real estate, building and office equipment. It's misleading to suggest that APBA has $1M sitting around in cash available for promotion since this is simply not the case.

Eddie.

No I said assets not income sitting around but there is as of August 31 of 2007 the following
checking commerica $69,299.96
Commercial Time Deposits $213,104.68
Merril Lynch-ing invastment $277,764.11
Commercial Business Money Market $148,280.04

Right off APBA Financials not my numbers not a million but $708,448.81 not intented to insult but anyone who says advertising is a waste never used it wisely and sure as heck does not understand its power,Home Depot does Wallmart does GM Ford Dodge,Nissan,need I say more.
I donnot believe anyone I repeat anyone has or had I'll intent but just a lack
of what to do and how Promotion and advertizing works But then there is Robbie.
pat

[raceright]

No I said assets not income sitting around but there is as of August 31 of 2007 the following
checking commerica $69,299.96
Commercial Time Deposits $213,104.68
Merril Lynch-ing invastment $277,764.11
Commercial Business Money Market $148,280.04

Right off APBA Financials not my numbers not a million but $708,448.81 not intented to insult but anyone who says advertising is a waste never used it wisely and sure as heck does not understand its power,Home Depot does Wallmart does GM Ford Dodge,Nissan,need I say more.
I donnot believe anyone I repeat anyone has or had I'll intent but just a lack
of what to do and how Promotion and advertizing works But then there is Robbie.
pat

oh yea $5,000.00 is nothing in the the sceam of things what did you gain and you should not give up Advertizing is like planting corn it takes time and has to be done often

Pat

[Jim Porter]

Combined Stock/Mod/Pro Nationals event

Great idea - wrong place. It should be held in Dayton at the Hydrobowl. DePue is just too small and hard to get to. But since the Pro Nationals and depue have become synonomous I don't think that will ever happen.
I remember being at Dayton in the 70's when the stock Outboard Nationals were held one week and the Mod's the following week (or the other way around).

[Kristi Ellison]

Dayton could work......a little too far east to be fair to the left coast.

[spunky64w]

APBA Attendance

450 entries + at the Wakefield So/Mo/J classes since 1998.

Warbs

[Brian10s]

I think the reason the discussion started with Depue was that the Pros have a history there and since this is such a new concept, no one wanted to kill the idea right off the bat by assuming that they would leave Depue. However, if a year off is a realistic possibility (or at least open for discussion) then I would say we should open it up to all possibilities.

The first question is water. What race site is big enough to hold 700 entires and 350 trailers?

I can think of maybe a couple:
Dayton, OH (as Ed pointed out)
Whitney Point, NY
Hinton, WV
Wakefield, MI

Can anyone else think of a site big enough to hold that many trailers?

I think that once we get a list of sites, then we can start to weed them down with geographical considerations, amentities (Hotels, food, watering holes, etc), sponsorship oppurtunities, etc.

[T Chance]

I think the reason the discussion started with Depue was that the Pros have a history there and since this is such a new concept, no one wanted to kill the idea right off the bat by assuming that they would leave Depue. However, if a year off is a realistic possibility (or at least open for discussion) then I would say we should open it up to all possibilities.

The first question is water. What race site is big enough to hold 700 entires and 350 trailers?

I can think of maybe a couple:
Dayton, OH (as Ed pointed out)
Whitney Point, NY
Hinton, WV
Wakefield, MI

Can anyone else think of a site big enough to hold that many trailers?

I think that once we get a list of sites, then we can start to weed them down with geographical considerations, amentities (Hotels, food, watering holes, etc), sponsorship oppurtunities, etc.

Creve Coeur Lake in Saint Louis has a racing history going back to the 1920's.
It is a 320 acre lake in a county park. It has been host to NOA Championships, AOF Championships, Drag Boat Races and currently is the home of Billy Seebold's Saint Louis Grand Prix Tunnel Boat Races. 25 years ago at the time we started the USTS I personally promoted Pro races there two years in a row.

There is enough pit space for every Stock, Mod and Pro trailer in the country.
It is beautiful. It is right in the middle of the country. Noise is no problem as it is isolated in a Park. Motorboats are normally prohibited so a race would not disturb anything.

The downside is that it takes a lot of up-front money.

[Dave M]

Another Location Idea

Rainbow City Alabama. Not as central as Omaha (Carter Lake Iowa) but could handle the deal.

Dayton is okay, just very prone to windy conditions, and the pits are a tough down the hill then up the hill battle, and local regs are very restrictive.

Zanesville Ohio might have enough pit space to accomodate, but the park regulations leave a little to be desired. Hard to get in and out of there without a hassel each day.

There are a few places in MI that could handle it very easily, however, getting into the place could be a big problem. There is a lake here in Battle Creek that would easily be perfect, but I highly doubt we could get it in the first place, let alone for two weeks.

[kampenracing]

Creve Couer

I helped put on the last stock and mod race at Creve Couer Lake. It was the AOF nationals in 1995. We had close to 300 entries and plenty of room. The only issue is how many hoops you have to jump thru and how much $$$$$ it takes to get the lake.

[pops67g]

Who should benefit most from a Nationals?

Today's travel costs will influence a lot of people's attendance at racing events. We all want them to be close. Why not think of staging the event where the community will get some benefit because we are there? Dayton is a city of 180,000+ people, Wakefield has maybe 2400. I don't think it's too hard to figure who gets the most out of an event like this being held there. I would much rather go where the city is glad we are there.

[Brian10s]

Today's travel costs will influence a lot of people's attendance at racing events. We all want them to be close. Why not think of staging the event where the community will get some benefit because we are there? Dayton is a city of 180,000+ people, Wakefield has maybe 2400. I don't think it's too hard to figure who gets the most out of an event like this being held there. I would much rather go where the city is glad we are there.

While I agree with your thinking, my purpose was to find water that is big enough to hold 350 trailers. Once you get a list of possible site, then we can compare the pros & cons of each site. And while the population of a site is important, unless we work hard at getting people to the water to watch and/or have a sponsor that is looking for a return on investment with sales or concessions or whatever, then the people count is less important.

So far, here is the updated list:
Dayton, OH
Whitney Point, NY
Hinton, WV
Wakefield, MI
St Louis, MO
Rainbow City, AL
Omaha, NB
Zanesville, OH

Any other sites out there?

[Kristi Ellison]

Winona Minnesota might be another site to add to the list. The lake is in a park in the middle of town and although they confined us to a very small pit area there is pleny of room as the park is big.

[David Weaver]

Another Site

How about Alexandria, LA? This might require a change in the typical timing, but what a great place to race. We raced there in August one year and I am amazed that nobody passed-out from the heat.

Hinton is a great venue, but I am not sure that the town would welcome us back. Also, not sure about available accomodations.

How about some of the NBRA sites in Illinois? This would require their consent of course.

[AOFoffice]

Alexandria, LA in October

USTS raced there in Oct and AOF just had nationals there. Perfect weather every time we raced there.

More than enough space for pits. Way more pits than is ever used going both directions.

A sponsor or two has come forth already with the idea.

Actually October is not so bad. This could add more club racing in July and Aug because many turn down racing those months as people travel to nationals and all divs and regionals, etc would be finished. Not only would it be a true SUPER nats it would actually be an end of the year nationals.

Omaha would be my next middle of the country site along with Creve Cour, ST Louis.

If people did not mind shuffling, Rockaway Beach, MO, up river a few miles from Branson would be good. Not a lot of pits, but could be managed. The town loves big events. Only about 1000 people there but they accomodate and have many motels. Could be booked a year or so in advance to assure space. Branson is only 10 mi by car and 4 by water. Boat racing is so established in the area that Branson might even consider it. That wuold be a real vacation for the kids and grama too.
Tony

[sadiemydog1]

Race Site

Being very familiar with some of the sites suggested. Iwould have too rule out Rockaway Beach. Just not enough pit area. The NBRA sites in Illinois have drawbacks also. Centralia has a wonderful race course and water,but lacks the pit area required. Shelbyville would have the required pit area and course. But the site is a bit remote, and lodging is scarce. Also the date is would have to be the middle of Sept. Creve Couer Lake in St louis would be the ideal spot. Great water.plenty of pit area,centrally located, motels & casinos nearby,large metro area. Plenty for the family to do.
I would consider helping with this if there were others interested in bringing this to reallity. Also i would consider that you bring in NBRA to help. This is NBRA territory afterall
Art Kampen