Honor the Past, Challenge the Present, and Envision the Future

One of the goals I have for Unlimited Hydroplane Racing is of course to share perspectives, engage in conversation, and essentially learn about and enjoy something that I would call an extreme sport. It is important to honor what got us here, but we also need to challenge our current thinking to ensure we have a solid future. So far, we’re off to a good start. However, if that goal is to accommodate the “here and now,” another would be to support the sport for a sound future.

First, a bit of background.

There has been a downward trend for many years in the level of engagement in fraternal and voluntary organizations. Between the family connections and team camaraderie that exists in Unlimited Hydroplane Racing, it is easy to make the “fraternal” connection. However, it is understood that with the significant financial investment – and exposure – that is often evident in racing, the term “voluntary” is used carefully in this example.

There just aren’t as many people joining the Elks, Eagles and various Women’s Auxiliary organizations today as when our parents’ generation used these tools for their version of “social media.”

You get the idea.

This is a reminder that we can learn much from history – and we should. For racing, we must keep alive the pioneering spirit of the past, which laid the foundation for the current technologies we enjoy on the water. But in doing so, we must continue to be flexible and evolve fluidly to prevent us from becoming just another “lodge.”

An August 10, 2012 Facebook post by the 88 Degree Men/USA Racing partners team caused me to think about the importance of looking to the future. In that photo album post, they show Jeff, a new crew member in training.

In training.

That has a nice ring to it. If you look at the photos of Jeff hosing, lifting, stacking, carrying and steadying, while looking like he’s enjoying it, you see the future of the sport. That’s a future which includes crew participants who know what it takes to support a boat. They aren’t doing it because it’s easy – they are doing it because it’s hard work. That’s the future I want to support here at Unlimited Hydroplane Racing. Nice work, 88 Degree Men/USA Racing Partners!


So how does that support play out? One method is The Boat Book.

The Boat Book was started to explore what it takes to put on a race. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? “Put. On. A. Race.” If you say it slowly, it sounds even easier.

We all know differently.

As a fortunate coincidence of timing, The Boat Book was used to capture the journey Frantz has undertaken to bring Unlimited Hydroplane Racing to Arkansas. He still has a long way to go, but has already made great progress toward a Lake Dardanelle celebration. The first “chapter” was focused on selecting a race site. After considerable discussion, it is now time to support that future vision by turning the page to the next chapter.

Financial Considerations.

Yes, I know. This is a very broad line to draw in the grandstand sand. That’s on purpose. Just as Selecting a Race Site took us in quite a varied number of directions, I fully expect the financial commentary and discussion to do the same thing.

Look for this new chapter-post soon. In the meantime, begin to think about all the financial implications of racing. My hunch is that you won’t need to ask your Elks Lodge buddies or your Facebook friends for topic ideas.

Dave


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