Love Machine

All it takes is a few boats and an organizer to pull off a long distance race. So, in the words of an old manager of mine - JFDI (Just Fu3king Do It).

Boats go to the Bahamas all the time. Invite some of your buddys and call it a race. Whoever makes it there first wins and has bragging rights.

Screw spectators, sponsors and whiners. It's going to take a few to shell out some cash to pull off the first one. "If you build it, they will come". You can argue all you want. I just want to know who has the balls to pull it off. No one is stopping us from doing it.

I challenge the Florida Powerboat Club to do a member race to Bimini and back. The winner keeps a trophy for one year until the next one. They do poker runs there, so why not call it a race.

bouyhunter

I read this whole thread, and now we're getting somewhere.

I think Love Machine is right, the racers need to define the course and settings they want to run, and then a sanctioning body (God help us...) will pony up.

I would love to see REAL offshore racing. We have the technology today that a long-haul race could easily be televised. No, with GPS it won't be the same grandeure of the "old-days", but it would be more of a test of man and machine.

Fan Base -
We don't have any fan base to speak of. Let's be honest. OSO has what, 30,000 members? We're the die hard fans.
Last year I was in KW watching the races, sitting next to a gal that was dating a member of the Swipes team - she couldn't believe that my wife and I actually came to KW "just for the races".
This year, I was in St. Pete - again, small turnout on the beach.
My wife likes to watch the racing, but she even said "this is better on TV". I have to agree.
Even though they are running a short cirlce course, you actually see very little of it.
So, cut the crap, let's do the real thing!
I'll watch the televised race. but I will miss "feeling" the sound of the motors.

offshoredrillin

I agree, I would rather watch Talladega or Daytona from home as you get full coverage, a short track is better to view in person. I would think It would start off the same as poker runs, a few guys doing it first to check out the logistics, then start promoting it to the manufacturers. As I had said in my first post, it would be a great opportunity for manufacturers to prove the durability of there "offshore" boat...My wallet isnt big, but heck I'm in...

bouyhunter

Rob is right - in Nascar, a short track is better to see LIVE.
I've seen a few races at MIS - it was kinda boring - you missed half the race.
In powerboat racing, even a short course, it doesn't offer much for the fans. You still don't see much, and it's hard to tell what's going on.
In St. Pete this year, I had one of the "spotters" asking me (I had binoculars) which boat "broke" after we saw - in the distance - a boat lumbering into the milling area.
Live Camera's, Helicopters... That's the way to do it.

CBR

DVD movie cameras are cheap, load up all the boats with cameras pointing every which way, stick some on helicopters/small planes. Tape record every crew conversation, have each team edit and send in their best stuff, edit it for a couple more months, and you would have one incredible show!!!!!!

ck54

There was great video coverage of the old off shore races, look at Freeze Frame and Big Seas. ESPN could do it or buy it.
A race like the Baja off road race or Dakar, isn't spectator friendly either but it gets done because there is a market for it.

GLH

You were around when they squeezed dead ducks for propulsion, you can elaborate about the good old days...

Very Good thread BTW. Sanctionnig bodies should print this,,,, and study it.

offshoredrillin

thats a great point and it gets done because the manufactureres can say our shock, tire, rim, coolant etc. tamed the baja.. and those tires make it to offroad vehicles, same as the boat parts would creep into our aftermarket.

GLH

As for coverage...

The best I have seen in the last five years as been the Documentary about the Race in Venezuela where Mike Seebold and that Ilmore Eliminator took part... It was very interesting, backed by CITGO and on a descent Network...

People out of boating talked to me about that. And this was in South America so a race like NY-Miami if packaged properly for TV would Kill...

Convincing a few big names to do it would also not hurt as mentioned above about star power. I know I'd watch Paris Hilton in KiloKat's rig getting her tight caboose pile driven in 8' waves at 70 MPH... Or something like that...

boatme

Finally a topic to sink the teeth into

As most of you know Bob L and I put on Poker runs here in Michigan, (Smoke On The Water & Blue Water Thunder) but Cherie and I also put on offshore races in Michigan a few years ago

We have been talking about this very subject for a while and I have talked to a few racers about it as well

A few things to consider – Ever watch the DAKAR off road races?? Ever watch TOUR DE FRANCE?? These and many other events are NOT spectator friendly but get plenty of air time and have a HUGE following.

We have been talking about putting on a race from Grand Haven Michigan to Milwaukee Wisconsin and back. This would be across what could be some of the most challenging water ever!! (LAKE MICHIGAN) The event would be approximately 150 Miles in total coverage and be truly a test of man and machine (Navigation is simple with GPS)

Something most people don’t understand is the sheer logistics and COSTS to put on an event of this size, or of any magnitude

It is easy to sit in front of computers and say “This needs to be done” but organizing these events takes many things not the least of which is time, money, commitment, money, support, money, and ohhh yea MONEY

The reason we continue to put on Poker Runs and not races is, First off the lack of politics (Even this is changing in poker runs) and the costs of putting on Race are huge and there is little to no way to garner revenues to cover costs

Sponsors know that selling there product is much easier at a Poker Run and they have more access to guys and girls looking for there product, this is not going to change nor should it.

There are many other mainstream sponsors available if an event is marketed to the masses not just the current boaters

Let me tell you all no one is more passionate about offshore events then yours truly!! If Cherie and I could get enough support and MONEY we WOULD produce a true OFFSHORE event that would set the racing community on its ear.

We know how to do it, we have done it before, and can do it again, and all it takes is money, time and a lot of support

I am convinced that marketing of this event would be key and TV coverage mandatory. The true spectators will come out anyway and watch the start, the turn around, and the finish. Not to mention race village and other activities. To broaden the spectators you need GREAT TV and great MARKETING and then garner your new offshore enthusiast from the millions of households that would watch it at home but won’t go out to the beach to watch it

This formula holds true for current racing as well. I personally like the new format of racing so I can watch it, but I don’t think it matters is if it is onshore or offshore, if it is marketed properly. It is 100% necessary to build fans, or future fans through other mediums beside the race course it self. We are already fans we need to attract NEW FANS

When racing was done here in Michigan in the 80s, and was run “true offshore” the spectator fleet was still amazing and the response was great!

Anyone wanting to dump a load of cash in my lap I WILL stand up and put on an OFFSHORE event that will be second to anything anyone has seen before. Between Cheri and I we have proven experience we just don’t have the resources

Lots of armchair promoters out there!! We have proven our self’s, and can do it again!! Anyone want to help get the money together ????? I am talking LOTS of money here gang, you have no idea what all of this would cost this can be done trust me we have been looking into it for some time.

By the way I am dead serious about this

Marc