4 Attachment(s)
NBRA is Paying $10,000 Tow Money: APBA Offers $200 Memberships
In 1979, I was Region 12 Chairman, actually back to 1977, I bid for the APBA National Meeting at Las Vegas. At the time Caesar's Palace sponsored a Seebold Tunnel.
I did my usual job of management, and with the help of our Region 12 clubs, and Molly Ballou, Margie Harmon and a few other hard working women, we put on a hell of an even. Rocki Aoki of Bennani Hanna fame was a prop customer, and he put on a two hour booze and food party, OMC spent $2,500 for a cocktail party and Mercury spent $5,000 for a cocktail party, We had a snake charmer put on a show for us, at the banquet and every lady was given a long stem red rose. Every table AT LEAST ONE BOTTLE of Champagne. Roses and CHAMMPAGNE WAS COMPLIMENTS REGION 12.
With tee shirt sales and all we made $25,000. (And I pocketed the money, NOT). I returned the profits to the clubs based on membership.
Fast forward, 2023, Who put on the APBA Convention and why? APBA puts on the convention because no club can afford to do it or wants to do it. What's in it for them?
So, APBA boat racing except for Offshore is circling the drain....not my words, a true fact.
It is time for APBA to GIVE BACK to their members and start promoting races. They need a National Sponsor and they need a national Plan.
How would NASCAR do if they only sanctioned races? No need to answer!
9 Years ago, Marlee Hill...and Dave Hale...me, Bunker Hill put on a driver's school. APBA needs Driver's schools with equipment ready to buy at the schools.
There has not been another driver's school in California in 9 years...
1 Attachment(s)
Nice Post, Well Thought Out: Outboard Racing Could be Bigger the Bubble Up
I don't know you but you have some great, and possible good ideas.
APBA is dead and they just keep circling the drain. NBRA has done a great job, except they aren't thinking growth. You can't keep a sport alive with 40 year old ideas. They have not expanded out! They have no new FOUR STROKE classes. Four Strokes have been mandated since 2006 or 2009.
NBRA has no "LITTLE LEAGUE". Off Road Racing has classes for "YOUTH" and at 16, it is an adult class. So, dad can run the boat as an adult. Kid, can run as youth...
Back about1984, I started the Mini Boat Revolution. Tohatsu's were being distributed by the Volvo Distributor. and I talked them into paying our insurance when we raced.
Our first MAJOR race was a Five Hour Enduro. We had like 67 boats in three classes: C-Nod, O-Nod and U-Nod. Nod was National One Design.
This Picture in Havasu...and I have idea whyit is side ways!
2 Attachment(s)
!985-86 Mini Boat Revolution Was in Full Swing
The Volvo Distributor (Western Engine) was paying our insurance bills and giving us money for trophies. The Mini Boats were racing with the "BIG BOYS".
Jimmy Johnson, Rick Hoffman, with the help of Ed Land had the 30 Yamaha' doing about 90 MPH.
Because the way I wrote the rules the 31 cubic inch, 40 Tohatsu was fastest in O-Nod.
Charlie Strang, OMC President, hated the Japanese and called them, "Japs". Charlie tried to make a deal with Ernie Dawe, then Stock Outboard VP a deal. He'd make a new "A" motor and anew "E" motor if Ernie would kick the Japs to OPC where he and Mercury controlled the rules. Ernie made a smart move and said, "Get me the motors and I will get these "Sit down Classes" moved to OPC.
Charlie built the "A" and the "45 SS". Trouble was the 45 SS was so fast, OMC broke the test driver's leg testing the motor. So, Ernie kicked C-Nod, O-Nod and U-Nod to OPC.
OPC being controlled by OMC and Mercury changed the rules for these classes.
The 45 had promise on a tunnel but would not beat the Yamaha. So, OMC hired Fred Miller to start a 45 Series. Paying pretty good money for various races. U-Nod became Mod C, and "Dropped" for lack of members. (All members has Yamaha motors)
The 45 was nightmare on a tunnel. Everyone that owned one blew them over. Breaking arms. legs, shoulders. The small prop and high speed wasn't safe like a big gearcase.
So, once OMC had the 45 class being dominate, they pulled their money out of the series.
A new series of classes could easily be started with the new four strokes.
Someone, like a RON HILL, NEEDS TO WRTE SOME RULES.
The Canadian Hydro League would be a perfect place to start a new "GRASS ROOT" group of classes.
Keep in mind anything FREE from big business, probably has a catch to it. In Canada's Hydro Plane League, RACING is their business. I could see real growth here!
John Rinker in an Evinrude power O-Nod Parker 5 Hour. #9 Chad Hill one of if not the last Mini Enduro with 45's in it. Chad finished Second to s Stock Formula 50 Tohatsu. Formula 50 was a great classes, killed by APBA. Capsuled tunnel with 50 Tohatsu... Trouble was the motor wasn't Merican.
Pre 1977, I was Region Chairman of APBA: Ernie Dawe was SCOA Commodore
I was to say that from about 1967 till 1977, SCOA had a Boat Show with equipment for sale at the Unlimited Hydro races in San Diego. The race was in the last week of September, and for about ten years we recruited about ten new racers a year at San Diego.
Frank Pruess was our Race Chairman and a hard working SOB, and his wife Ernie worked just as hard. After the 1977 Bakersfield Nationals I drifted on to MOD VP racing, my two children took a ton of my time. Frank moved to Colorado. Ernie Dawe was teaching, like me and raising three kids.
But alass, in '82 or so, it was Ernie Dawe and Ron Hill that started the Mini Boat Revolution.....
OMC and Mercury were so dishonest with the Japanese Outboard companies. Both were glad to see Yamaha and Tohatsu disappear from racing.
I saw my first Unlimited Hydro, in Detroit, 1956. I was 12, on our way home from Cambridge, Maryland where we'd raced the Stock Nationals.
1 Attachment(s)
Dean: Boat Shows and The Like Are Worthless Without Something to Sell
Let's see: You have a boat show in SoCal. Races are 500 up north or 500 miles east...two or three races are within 300 miles. No Sidewinders to sell, no Yamato's to sell. Those that have Yamatoes don't want to sell them. You need a $1,200 cut suit but no one makes them. Let's see what can we sell at the "SHOW" T-Shirts? Oh, I've got a motor for sale! 1960 650 Merc on a speedmaster...no class for it but I have a motor.