US Title Series News

[Racerkyle20]

Maybe the people who control it get there way.

Apba members vote in their leaders....so good or bad the organization is run by its members. So not sure what you're saying?

[Dr. Thunder]

[snip] ...thanks Obama

Daren ... Really, what does Obama have to do with APBA insurance rates?

But more to the point ... How many more Pro entries does Depue have than other USTS events (not counting OSY)?

[walleye]

Apba members vote in their leaders....so good or bad the organization is run by its members. So not sure what you're saying?

Just briefly looking at how APBA and NBRA operate seems to be fairly similar. But with NBRA only representing Mods and PRO it looks like USTS participants will end up with more leverage in decisions regarding the things they do. Frank

[Bob Rusnak]

Just briefly looking at how APBA and NBRA operate seems to be fairly similar. But with NBRA only representing Mods and PRO it looks like USTS participants will end up with more leverage in decisions regarding the things they do. Frank

Why would you even think something like this. What are you trying to imply?

[raceright]

old

But more to the point ... How many more Pro entries does Depue have than other USTS events (not counting OSY)?


About twice as many, but of no concern, as posted on this site one of the most exciting races ever was only two Unlimited s.

USTS is all about quality not quantity, not all races are as close as we would prefer, but many are.

The old theory of we need a bizillion boats has failed we need what the USTS has done, period.

[pdlweb]

USTS - Working in the Wright Team Pits

I had the opportunity to work the pits with the Wright Team at DePue, Hartford and OK this season and taking a 'first' look at the USTS, I can attest that the races are top rate. I cannot understand why this sport is the best kept secret in the USA. Several races (Hartford comes to mind) was decided in the last 50 yards (125 hydro - Chrissy Ellison won it literally right at the wire in the last 10 feet).

I took a look at the USTS schedule and was wondering why there is no West Coast race, they have them in the East, South and North. A West Coast race would make the USTS a complete pro-national tour which may one day rival NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

I have to say I prefer the clock start to the Euro style starts, at DePue. The push start runs counter to my expectations of racing in general, but they were good to watch nonetheless.

- Phil

[master oil racing]

I've not been active regarding rules and any changes in APBA since 1981, and only in the last few years been a spectator at some racing. Having said that, it was my belief that USTS was NOT the Pro division of APBA, but an organization within the PRO ranks that put a package of professionally run races throughout the year following a formula they thought would be best for racers, sponsors, fans, and spectators alike.

It is much like what my Dad Baldy Baldwin, the late Jerry Waldman and Marshall Grant, Tim Butts, Joe Rome, Steve Jones and myself were working toward in the early 80's. We ruffled some feathers with the first Invitational at Hot Springs, but the idea was to have team captains from the east, west, north and south pick their class teams so we would not have to run a lot of eliminations. There was not enough pit area where we raced for one, but the main thrust was Marshall Grant's idea of a short, fast paced program that would leave the spectators wanting more.

At the time this was happening, NOA was falling short in providing racers with what it had in the past. I don't know if it was because Claude Fox was getting old and not able to keep up, but there was a lot of grumbling going on. AOF had just started. A bunch of us had a meeting at the first AOF Gulf/Canadian series race in Missouri. We were wondering whether the NOA Pro group should put all its efforts behind AOF or go with APBA. At that time APBA was long established and many of the racers belonged to both organizations. AOF had a great presentation and showed some promise, but it was not yet proven. So we all went with APBA.

I am now surprised after so many years that APBA seems to not know what to do with the information age. I became an APBA member in 2006 for the first time since 1981. I never got a renewal notice, and when I went to their website, I was very confused as how to renew my membership. I did it the first time through Boatracingfacts, but the APBA website was too much effort. I never did receive a response to what membership I needed. I was wanting to join as a nonracing member and receive the propeller, but I did not have that option. The only Propeller I received were a half a dozen copies of the issue that ran the article that Ron Hill and I co-wrote regarding the 2007 DePue Reunion. Other than that, I received nothing from APBA, and could not really find much current or historical information on their website regarding the Pro division. And now I hear they spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for a contract that the members don't even know what they're getting. {Flashback to when the offshore division took over APBA to sanction drug running races between islands and Florida) Seems to me APBA administration has brought a lot of this on themselves. A shakeup might be good, and the USTS move to NBRA could mean something of a revival for the Pro division.

The way I see it, there will still be the Pro division in APBA, and their is no reason why USTS members would not want to race in the nationals, or why APBA would not want them too. USTS is looking out for the interests of their members, and their members like the formula. Let an organization that will promote that formula run with it. I say congratulations to Todd and the other board members, and good luck. If I was still racing, I would be behind you all the way.

[Big Don]

I'm not passing judgement on their decision but I hope for their sake they did talk to their members and know who will support them and who won't. I would just hate to see the numbers get worse.

I guess you can also look at it from the aspect of they are trying something different, so at least they tried something.

[Bob Rusnak]

I'm not passing judgement on their decision but I hope for their sake they did talk to their members and know who will support them and who won't. I would just hate to see the numbers get worse.

I guess you can also look at it from the aspect of they are trying something different, so at least they tried something.

As mentioned before, USTS members run a select number of classes and the members will support them. This has been talked about for a while and was not a quick decision. It was brought up at the annual USTS meeting with no objections. The decision was made and it was the right one.
Now ask yourself, did the APBA membership have a say in Crown? It was forced on the membership. The USTS is a club, not the PRO division. They can chose to run in any organization they want as many of the so called outlaw clubs did. They choose to run with the NBRA and the APBA Pro commision can then decide what they want to run and where the Nationals will be. We can go on and on and maybe the Mod division may in the future join NBRA. You will get a lot more for your dollar. And that is just my opinion. Bob N-96

[Rex Hall]

National Championship

There will be a National Championship, it will be the U.S. Title Series Nationals. It probably will be at Depue.

[fcliff]

Am I reading this correctly? Pro members of NBRA will have no vote in their national organization?

[Merc1]

The Title Series will stand alone, NBRA will not have control of it. Voting on NBRA policy will be a non issue.

[Team 12R]

usts rocks

just attend a usts race and you will see. respectfully speaking they really don't need the apba or the nbra. they have a program that attracts spectators and paid back 40,000 bucks to it's racers last year. good job in cutting ties with an outfit that has fleeced it's weekend racing members because of high risk divisions that throw safety to the wind resulting in outlandish insurance fees.

how on earth can this decision be looked at as anything other than "brilliant"?

[HRTV]

just attend a usts race and you will see. respectfully speaking they really don't need the apba or the nbra. they have a program that attracts spectators and paid back 40,000 bucks to it's racers last year. good job in cutting ties with an outfit that has fleeced it's weekend racing members because of high risk divisions that throw safety to the wind resulting in outlandish insurance fees.

how on earth can this decision be looked at as anything other than "brilliant"?

Spot on Bill, for more then a decade the American Powerboat Association has been nothing more then a insurance broker who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance for compensation. USTS, Stock Outboard or any other series can do that all on their own.

The Emperor is dead and a new day is dawning!

Bravo USTS... Rock on with your bad self :-)

[YankeeRacing]

Think Tiers

This move can actually be beneficial to APBA. Discussions should be held at the APBA national meeting as to what their clubs really want and then work toward that goal.
USTS wanted self- government and cheaper insurance. NBRA is selling them cheaper insurance and they have agreed to stay out of USTS business and visa versa. A club can obtain even cheaper insurance and have the choice to be involved in the government through AOF.
There is nothing that says any club cannot take advantage of any or all of the above depending on the wishes of their membership.
Maybe now is the time for APBA to offer options to clubs?
As examples:
1. Not all race sites need 5 million in spectator liability coverage. (ie: some municipalities carry the main coverage, and theirs is better anyway. And some races don’t have spectators so why pay boo coo bucks for it?
2. Not all clubs (members) need the additional medical coverage that is secondary to both APBA and NBRA insurance, but that you pay for anyway, never to be used.
3. Not all races need or even qualify for national points, so why pay the extra bucks to begin with? Some people race for fun and really don’t care about the HOC. And with some clubs (USTS) the prestige of winning high point on that level is more important than on a national level anyway.
So APBA, use this as a wake- up call and at least discuss these issues. As Dan said, the main reason for a sanctioning body is to provide insurance. Maybe it is time for APBA, NBRA, and AOF to work together as each has attributes that meet specific needs.
APBA is trying to build from the top down. They have forgotten that you need a very strong foundation first or everything crumbles. To me, the three tiers (AOF at bottom offering bare bones at grass roots prices, NBRA offering better at medium cost, and then APBA who has the (admittedly) most with the highest costs).
I know we hate to compare ourselves to NASCAR, but seriously, where would NASCAR be without the backyard dirt tracks and the medium asphalt sponsored venues. I can bet they would not be on TV at Daytona.
All of us are on this site because we love boat racing. We want it to work, but the first thing we need to admit is that we have a problem, and that maybe there isn’t one right answer to fix the problems.