Expanding a Shrinking Boat Racing League – Can We Do It?

Here at Unlimited Hydroplane Racing we’ve explored the uncertain future of boat racing, concerned about our precious boats being relegated to relaxing, but somewhat docile duty.  In posts about China and the annual awards celebration, we’ve touched on a lot of unknowns for what is unfortunately, hinting at becoming a shrinking league. Now I suggest we collectively start to look to the future.

In earnest – let’s save our sport.

If you recall in the post, “Hydroplane Racing is Exciting When Fans Are Smart“, I thanked Ron Netzley and Tim Matyn for asking intelligent questions. Now we have another racing fan who is taking the concept of a smart questions to a new level.

In a comment received today on the inaugural post, “Welcome to Unlimited Hydroplane Racing,” Frantz Kientz asks a fundamental question: how can he bring Unlimited Hydroplane Racing to Arkansas? Boat racing would be a great addition to any area, but especially the beautiful state of Arkansas.  The reason it’s fundamental is that his question provides a backdrop for the future of a sport that can be described as an engine missing on one or two cylinders. Getting it back into top running performance probably involves one very significant tune-up element.

Expansion.

Sure, that is much easier typed than done. Even massive, established leagues like the NFL or the NBA take years to plan and then finally agree on how they expand. Rocket boats are infinitely more exciting, so why not start the planning now?

I’d be the first to admit that to bring the big race to a city takes an enormous number of boxes to be ticked, “I”s to be dotted and “T”s crossed. It could take years based on nailing down the necessary permits, insurance, environmental impact studies, insurance, sponsorships… have I mentioned insurance? I’d also admit that I’d love to see that happen. To that end, Unlimited Hydroplane Racing is pledging to dig into what it would take to bring our sport to a new venue.

This is a worthy task to adopt. It would not only answer Mr. Kientz’s question – and a fine one at that – but it may help to raise awareness of what could be possible if a fan knew about some of the steps that would be necessary, and could talk to the right person in their community, and that person gathered friends with funding, and … well you get the idea. Two or three years later, there may be local rooster tails instead of just watching them on TV. Multiply that by a number of interested venues across the U.S. – or the world – and you have a renaissance.

Big Nut to Crack.

This is big. There are many steps between now and rooster tail, and each one could be considered huge in their own right. What I propose is to use Unlimited Hydroplane Racing as a forum for exploring what it would take to establish rooster tails in new coops.

How I envision it to work.

First, through the few contacts I’ve made since obtaining my Jet A Fuel transfusion, I will identify the large (very large) topics that would need to be addressed. No answers and no plans. (Not yet anyway!) No, just identifying and stating the major requirements any logical thinker and fan of the sport would consider that would take us from TV viewing to rooster tail in a new city – any city. The growing base of Unlimited Hydroplane Racing readers will be instrumental in shaping that content. I’ll create a new series of pages on the site to begin documenting the process.

Weigh in. Concur. Disagree. Shape. Have Fun.

It’s been a long time since I’ve made that beautiful drive from Tulsa, Oklahoma to Springdale, Arkansas.  It’s been too many years, but I remember my visit to Springdale as the time when I enjoyed the best catfish I’ve ever tasted.  To honor that memory, let’s see if we can help Frantz Kientz bring rooster tails to the home of Tyson Foods. (Don’t you just love that irony?)

Who knows. We may have already lined up our first sponsor…