Introducing Guest Author Program
Guest Author Program Launched!
It is with great pleasure that I announce the Unlimited Hydroplane Racing Guest Author Program. With the current 2013 season complete (except for some final details…), it is time to start looking toward to the future. Recently, I posted a recap of 2013 with a look to 2014. But much, much more is needed.
It’s no surprise there is plenty of turmoil in our beloved sport of Unlimited Hydroplane Racing. The ultimate 2013 season winner is still undecided, race sites are seeing fewer boats in attendance, and even a direction-setting meeting can’t seem to find its compass.
What better time to introduce the Guest Author Program. It isn’t a complete accident that the acronym is GAP since there seems to be more like a crevasse between where we are and where we should be as a sport. The Guest Author Program will allow any of the many UnlimitedHydroplaneRacing.com readers to voice your opinion, cite your position, or even lobby for or against a particular issue.
Program Guidelines
This is my ship, so I have the final say on what gets published.
That’s a bold statement, but my intentions are to maintain a civil and intelligent discourse about our sport. Sure, an opinion can be opposite of mine, but that will NOT be a reason for me not to publish. I want arguments that are well thought out and diplomatic in nature. This will NOT be a place for whining or mud-slinging. Open, honest and thoughtful messaging and debate is the goal.
Finally, I will reserve the right to edit the submissions, subject to the author’s final approval. I will not edit the content, but it is important to me to publish information that is written well enough to be easy for visitors to read. However, the opinions expressed by the Guest Authors are entirely theirs and do not necessarily reflect the position of UnlimitedHydroplaneRacing.com.
Let’s kick off this new segment!
UHR Dave
Arkansas Crystal Cup’s Frantz Kientz Kicks it Off
Guest Author: Frantz Kientz
Frantz is an avid boat racing fan living in Arkansas. He has been working for some time to bring racing to his state.
First of all, I’d like to thank UHR Dave for allowing me to share my story with you on UnlimitedHydroplaneRacing.com. I appreciate his generosity.
Recently, I made a difficult decision and didn’t want people to be mislead into thinking no one wanted to have boat races at Lake Dardanelle in Arkansas. The Unlimiteds will not be included in the 2014 Dardanelle Water Fest / Arkansas Crystal Cup.
Keep lifting us up in prayer, and we will have Unlimiteds here when we can swing it. We need to have a successful first year for people to see what fun one of these events really is. It has been suggested to me by others, if possible, I should get maybe two boats here the first year for people to see how awesome they are. Then, with the event being a success its first year, that may persuade other sponsors to become involved in the fun to help bring the “Full Monte” here for year two or three.
If I may, please let me elaborate on a few things. There have been critics that believe getting this event organized has taken too long. It is hard to have a decent discussion with those “attitudes” because many of the armchair critics have never stepped up to the plate to promote any kind of a function. They simply don’t understand that the first event of its kind in an area can take time.
I would suggest that each of you (especially the critics) think about something. The next time you buy a ticket for any event, please, in some shape, form, or fashion, give the utmost thanks to the promoter, sponsors (whether you use their product or not) and anyone else involved.
My reason?
The details for one event are mammoth. Just think about it for a few minutes and I’ll bet you can think of 20-50 things off the top of your head that would need to happen. Parking, shuttles, drivers, handicap accommodations, seating, ticket printers, ticket sales, programs, advertising, restrooms, food, drinks, trash, insurance, medical, safety, security, media, printing, PA equipment, etc., etc., etc.
I think you see where I am going with this – I haven’t even scratched the surface.
Before all of the above can happen, you have to find a place that can accommodate people, the race teams, and their equipment. Then get permission to even start the ball rolling and sell the idea to the parties who will let you do it. State, federal, and local agencies all the way down to even the residents around the facility.
Think about the timing. Dardanelle State Park has been wonderful to work with, but with all the functions they have, they have to know a year in advance so the campers and other visitors who reserve as far out as two years, will know the park will be shut down for the event.
This has been my sole mission in life for the last year and a half. Except maybe for running a business, managing a home, and trying to enjoy a little bit of life.
So consider for a moment you’ve been able to complete enough of the tasks mentioned above so that you actually have something to “sell.” You’ve gotten the numbers, demographics, estimated revenue, promotional videos, and everything else together. Now it’s time to convince Mr. and Mrs. Business owners why they should buy into this dream of yours.
That’s where the biggest hurdle begins.
Your big companies get hundreds if not thousands of requests a week for support. So if you don’t have something spectacular, and enterprising for them, they are not interested. There is also the case where you are approved for thousands less than you hoped for. So now you try going outside the box for support, and scrape up a grand or two here and there.
Don’t forget to keep in mind, “THE COUNTDOWN CLOCK IS TICKING!”
Now that I have been at this for a bit, I came to the realization I am trying to sell something no one knows about. I promise, if you were in my shoes, you will come to hate the word “NO” real fast.
You know how great these races are, and how much fun the weekend is, but the average Joe doesn’t have a clue what you are talking about. So now my secondary entertainment is changing to be the premier event because I am getting more of a response for them because of their awareness.
F1 boats, drag boats, wake board demonstrations, and many other water-based activities are more affordable and should be just as much entertainment. I am not forsaking our beloved boats, but instead, dropping back to punt and get the first Dardanelle Water Fest underway. Then later, incorporate the Unlimiteds.
My direct contact for H1 has had high praise for how far we have come in such a short time. I have been told more than once, by many, that it sometimes takes years to pull one of these things off. Personally, I felt I should be farther along, but I guess I under-estimated the difficulty. I am not a quitter, but I am trying to be realistic and taking a path of less resistance.
What I have written here is just a taste of the magnitude of such an effort. By no means am I complaining, and do not want to discourage anyone from attempting such a project. My intention was to shed some light on just what it takes to create something like this from scratch. Hopefully, those who have complained about it taking too long will have a clearer understanding of what it takes.
Frantz