I'm throwing this out there to see if you guys can come up with some ideas to help save the sport of boatracing in general.

I have been a boat racing fan and participant all of my life, I can even remember the first boat race I attended (Calero circle boat races in 1972, I was five), the problem I am seeing and do not have a solution to is that boat racing is and always will be a spectator sport, unfortunately that makes it sponsor driven, which would not be a problem in a good economy, but with fuel prices the way they are, the mortgage crisis and the environmentalists jacking things up it is getting tougher and tougher to get programs running without several miles of red tape being cut first (which costs money).

We recently had the World Championship Jetboat races in Northern Ca. and Southern Ore. which would have been absolutely huge 5 years ago, but the spectators were few and far between which did not help our (WJBA, SOPBA) cause (there might have been three-hundred people in town), river racing is not a type of sport that you can charge an "entry fee" because the races take place on a 38+ mile long river, so the funding has to come from spectators buying things like T-shirts, food, lodging, and basic necessities. Unfortunately the turnout was less than impressive, meaning having the races come here again just got that much harder.

What I would like to ask you guys is, what needs to be done to improve the sport to the point that spectatorship increases (all boat related sports) and keeps this thing alive?

How do we make boat racing more apealing?, I will use NASCAR as an example, crappy cars, very restrictive racing, a bunch of ego-heavy punk kids making millions of dollars a year turning left, yet it is the most popular motorsport there is (don't get me wrong, I like NASCAR) and has more than its fair share of fans (nationwide).

The one idea I do have but don't have a clue how the legistics would work, is to have an event that combines several different types of racing in one event, this year we had the Jetboats and the river Hydros, but need more to keep interest up from different walks of life.

If there was a boatracing event that was a whole weekend+ of racing and octane and had say, Whitewater Marathon/Endurance racing, Hydros, Jetsprint, and maybe some circle racing or even drags, would you go?

I see the Long Beach race coming up and it gets my mind going on how well that race is promoted, it seems to have a little something for everyone, old(er) and young alike.

Another thought to run by you is how would you change boat racing to be more eco-freindly to appease our treehugging counterparts? These people are some of the most uninformed, clueless groups ever, but that is another rant alltogether.... Thanks in advanced.

GT

I thought the Nostalgia class was/is a good idea . It really opens the eyes of guys who dont have big budgets to blow , thus making it appealing to the "Average Joe" who see's another average Joe out thwere racing . The beer gardens dont hurt either 

There was some kicking around of ideas for the NWSRA (ski racing) in creating slower 65mph , 80mph , ect. to draw in more people .

I think the broader range of people you can try and appeal to , the more will show up . All these NASCAR douches come out saying "look at me , I'm a country boy!" America loves that and there you have it . I think .

-beerjet-

That's what I'm talking about, the Whitewater clubs when this first started here in the states (actually started in New Zealand) were very budget concious and you could go racing (and be competitive) for under $10k, now all of a sudden we have $150,000 boats going over 140MPH and making the average "Joe" look at that and say "wow!, I could never do the" and they would probably be right.

I guess everything has to evolve, but holy cow.

The one thing they did do, which I think helped, is to include a "crate motor class", but there are only three or four participants in each (big block crate and small block crate) maybe because nobody wants to see an 80mph boat versus a 140mph turbine powered freak of nature, I dunno.

GT,
Obviously exposure is key. Whether it is via the Internet, magazines or whatever. Up until I joined this website site I had no idea that circle racing even existed. I have been around and owned jet boats most of my life but never heard of circle racing. I have turned some friends on to this site and told them about the racing and cant wait until the next event. More events a year would never hurt either. I know it can get very expensive for your “average Joe” but the more exposure the more possible sponsors you might pick up. Like you I would love to see the sport take off.

Bob

GT,
 No disrespect for the white water guys here but, I think part of the problem is the type of racing. I cant see it being much fun to watch , sitting on a river bank watching a race boat go by every once in awhile, with no idea who's winning or whats going on  .  This country doesn't seem to enjoy that as much as closed course racing (where you can see the race and see who's winning).  Auto racing has the same prob with rally races (and to some extent road racing) over here, in other countries people line the course (crazy!!!) but here we stay home and watch it on TV where we can see whats going on for more than just one corner.

That's an exellent point and exactly why we need some input, there are supposed to three races in California this year and only one (Marysville) has anything other than river runners planned, just seems like such a waste to get all of the permissions and insurance and the environmental BS that goes along with putting on any kind of motorsport event, why not make it a little more diverse, but with what?...Jetski's, I think not

That being said, and no offense taken by the way, you have not lived until you see a Rock Dodger go 80 plus MPH through whitewater that a racoon could cross without getting his butthole wet.

This past weekend, one thing I noticed at irwindale is that there wasnt one dull moment. there was ALWAYS something going on....on and off the track. they got a silly ass mascot that throws shirts in the crowd to keeps the crowds going. im not saying thats what we need for boat racing, but its the little shit that keeps peoples attention.

At the APBA/SCSC and NJBA races there way too much down time which drives my attention span into the ground as a spectator. Maybe mix up the classes a little...dont run 3 hours straight of hydros.

the NJBA charges an entry fee at ming...why doesnt the SCSC? those fee's could be applied to help offset boat racer entry fee's. Long beach is costing about $300 per racer for entry fees....i personally dont agree with it, but it is what it is. I think the races should be more welcoming to the racers rather then taxing the hell out of them. Any racing is expensive and we all know not all of us can afford it, but we struggle to make ends meet to feed the beast of a hobby that breaks the bank at ever race.

After visiting a region 10 race Burley, I got many ideas there that i would like to apply to the SCSC. I have recently been nominated/elected as the secretary of the SCSC (replacing Brad Stillman - he resigned). I hope to introduce some of these ideas. Some have to do with motivation of drivers to make events, class scheduling, promoting, etc. I hope to get involved and actually do something to help direct the sanction in the right direction rather then just gripe about it on the internet.

I think boat racing should be much bigger then it is and should have more public recognition. I don't plan on making it huge over night, but we are on track to a steady growth. Yes, we might be in a slump right now because of the economy and gas prices, but shit bounces back, it always does. I say while things are slow, we should get back to the drawing board and get things straightened out so we are ready when money is more readily available to allow for more races and spectators.

enough of my rambling - lets go racin!

I cant really see the pit pass deal working.....how would you control something like that at parker or ming? Long beach its possible, but i couldnt see it at the other 2 venues we race at.

I think charging for admission works both ways.....it does the obvious of generating money....but also it keeps people there. they want to get their moneys worth. "I paid 5/10/15 bucks to get in here, i aint leavin just yet!"

ever notice if youre on a street with many bars....the ones that charge a cover are packed with a line out front? and the ones with no cover are empty? same concept. funny how it works.

i used to promote/manage bands for many years and it was always the 'free shows' that were the least successful. it didnt matter what the lineup was.

I just printed my coupon so the old lady could get in cheaper....thanks!!!

NOW ARE THESE COUPONS PER EACH TICKET OR IF I BUY THREE TICKETS DO I ONLY NEED ONE FLYER? ILL SEE YA'LL ON SUNDAY

1 flyer should work for the whole group (per Ross). but i would print one out for each person in case the person at the gate makes up their own rules.

Sounds like everyone has some really good ideas, but in all walks of life it comes to the actual marketing. This is the dollars and sence of it all. If it wasnt for TV, Nascar would still be on dirt tracks with trailer hitches on the bumpers so they can pull the plows after the race!

I onder what they guys at "Pinks" would think of doing a water version for their show? I am sure there is money there that is used towards the cars they race. i doubt very seriously that these Ol Boys are building 8 second cars and taking a chance of loosing them in a drag race for nothing? Being on TV is cool, but DAMN!

Then there are the local lakes that always want to see attendance higher than it is. Motorcross track everywhere have their practice days with one day set aside for race days. "SUNDAY - SUNDAY - SUNDAY = RACEDAY! If you ask them to sanction it, they wont, but if you ask them if we could and they would get a cut of the gate (or visa/versa), now maybe we would have a shot at it.

Combine a local lake, local web sites, local speed shops, local boat MFG's, and the local news papers and news channels hosting it, and away we go.

In 1988 I started a pool hall in Palm Desert. There was not a pool hall within 100 miles of this little hell hole, and nobody wanted it to open. I went against the Riverside County Sherriff's office, City Planners, and a few Johovahs witnesses on 10 speeds and I was granted a Conditional use permit. From the first day i opened it was balls to the walls! Nobody THOUGHT it was a good idea, everyone THOUGHT it was bad for the area, but for 13 years my little pool hall was packed with families, friends, & fun. With the help of "The color of money" the business was unstoppable.

If we are to be serious about this, all it will take is commitment on our end. The rest comes in form of ideas just like these!

Lets make it happen - Captn!

See you guys on Saturday...

HELL MUTHAFUKIN YES !

-beerjet-

the subject of 'pinks on water' was brought up before over on hotboat....cool idea, but i would be concerned it would ruin the typical 'river racer' scene on the water.....kinda like what 2fast2furious did to street racing. destroyed it.

Yeah but the "2gay2bi-curious" flicks were gay from the git . 

-beerjet-

kinda like what 2fast2furious did to street racing. destroyed it.

Why because after that movie came out every kid in a honda shitvic thought he was a drag racer? 

Earlier this year the Kern County board of supervisors set out to raise the Lake Ming rent for racing events. I think NJBA got their rates raised, not sure, but Ross stood firm because SCSC doesn't charge the locals a fee to get in, and allows them to use the lake after the days races are over. Based on that, SCSC's rate was not increased, at least for this year. If the rate is doubled, as they tried this year, SCSC/APBA and lake Ming are through.......After trying to find races in region 10 this summer, we realize how lucky we are to have SCSC in region 12. Region 10 attempted 6 races in 12 weeks......If it wasn't for the region 12 boats at Blacklake there would have been no Western Divisional flatbottom classes. (SS/PS, NO Ks, NO GNs) With that many races, 2 weeks apart, the boat attrition made 2 days of racing impossible, and I think at least 2, if not 3, races were canceled for the flats entirely, and a couple of others only had classes for the first day due to broken equipment. In Region 12 we field a full class of SS and even more PS boats lately for all the races. Long Beach should be fun again this year..........Ray