Parker 300

[gn7]

I completely get the purse deal. Haven't been to a ton of races, but its evident by the sponsors, not to take anything away from them, but I've yet to see big network TV coverage or General Motors sponsoring a race these days. And I'm with you as far as a few hundred buck purse, not much you can do with that except buy some beer and pizza. Even a grand wouldn't make a noticeable difference on a engine refresh. Maybe a new set of tires for the trailer and a barrel of 110. So the motivator can't be cash, it has to be the kill. The hardware. The bragging rights. I think everyone here can appreciate and understand that. I would certainly like to see some hardware on my mantle, be a heck of a lot nicer than a couple pictures of my dog and some candles. So getting back to this points thing. Obviously points is a big part of any multi-circuit, multi-venue race, I don't think it matters if you're racing road bikes, dirt bikes, or Nascar. Without a points system you may as well just run one race a year. For us who do not understand, can you summarize the sticking points on why this particular race isn't being run on the points system? I think we all have a flavor of personalities involved, so no need really to visit that again I ask because I'm interested for future events, as I think many here are. What can be done to overcome this hurdle so more racers will be attracted and want to participate?

Don't get me wrong. we all like money. whether its $1 or 10,000.00. That said I will tell you what the owner of the boat that won the first 300 enduro told Scott Schatz at the meeting we had with him. He told him that he won a check, and he couldn't remember how much it was for, or what he spent it on, but he knows where the flag and the trophy he won is. The flag is in the wall, and the trophy on his desk of his office, and he sees them everyday at work.
I understand why RD thinks money would have boats stampeding to the race. He's never raced and he doesn't get it. He is a businessman, blood in his veins runs green, a racer's smells like gasoline and methanol. They are different people. We also understand prize money and how it works. 6000 or 10,000 sound like a lot of money, until you divide it up, and then it becomes pretty small compared to the expense. At a normal weekend APBA race that costs about 2000 to run, so 1000 is a sizable chunk, but in a race that costs 5000-6000 plus the wear and tear on the boat, its not all that. Add in that the boat has to be ready to turn around and be at the season opener in 4 weeks, and it really begins to strain the wallet. So you need something more. Try to remember, most of the people running this do not race all year. This is their ONLY chance, so they jump on the chance. this race is a big deal to them. They get to run their river boat up and down the river, making a shit load of noise, not worrying about some wave runner or wake boat, not worrying about getting busted, showing off to the buddies, LAM, racing the boat next to them. Its all great fun. The APBA guys race all year, and they are tired, and worn out. Its the end of the season, boats trashed, and the season is starting over in November again. Its a GREAT season capper, but its not something that they are interested in running for shits and giggles. Specially if it looks like the format has them at some disadvantage to winning the over all, and I think there is.
The stumbling block is the speed limits imposed on the classes. You cannot penalize a boat running for championship points for going too fast. There is no provision for it in the rule book. When you do that, its no longer a race. Racing is who gets there first, not who keeps a schedule and arrives on time.