2 1/2 months until the Enduro here is your ANNOUNCEMENT!!

I was doing a monthly countdown to the Enduro, and I apologize for stopping it a few months back. Truth be told if I was a smarter guy I would work on this a little at a time all year long, but nobody ever accused me of being smart. So six months back myself, Ben Marrone and Dave Rankin put a ton of hours into the 2015 race. We solved all the problems that we needed to solve (not that this is a trivial feet by any means), and when the political hurdles had been jumped through, and the concerns had been put too bed, well to be honest... I put the Enduro to bed until it got closer. Well here we are it's 8 weeks out, and it is very possible that I might have let sleeping dogs lie a little too long. The phone calls are coming in "what's going on with the Enduro?" and yes... Unfortunately I've already heard the rumors "Dave is over it, he's not doing the Enduro this year."

Stop right there.



Nobody is abandoning anything guys. I do have a day job just like all of you, which obviously has to come first. While I love the Enduro, I love my three kids more, so I have been taking care of whats important first. That being said I also don't forget what is fun, which is Endurance racing and a chance to have fun with all of you guys! So with 8 weeks out I will put aside my personal conquest to take over the world, and dedicate my days to making the race, and all the fun that surrounds it happen.



So lets start with where we are at currently.

Our proposals have been submitted to our Host location the Blue Water Resort and Casino. I have asked for a "smidge" more then I have in the past namely because I believe the race is growing, and I think they have, and will be reaping the rewards for that. These are all minor changes, and to report what my contact has said "I don't expect any problems." I am very sensitive to every business'es needs regarding this event, and it is my hope that as it grows, their profits grow with it. While I won't set a firm date on it, I would expect to be solidified on our contract in "short order."



On a positive note this is the first year for the Enduro in recent memory that we will have the opportunity at the whole hotel! The Enduro has always shared the date with the Blue Waters "Cage Rage" which is an MMA event that they put on during the same weekend. This has provided difficulty in booking rooms for some of the racers and staff in the past. Due to the double bookings in the last two years we have had to put some people in the town of Parker at various venues. This year the Cage Rage event has moved from our event date (which is huge for us) and it has opened up quite a few more rooms for our event! I have very little doubt we will book the hotel solid, but I do feel I should mention that if you had plans to stay somewhere else for the weekend, it is our goal to book the hotel solid! So call and make your reservations if you haven't already. http://www.bluewaterfun.com/ 888-243-3360.



So moving forward to the direct part of what is happening right now.
There is a million moving parts to putting on an event of this scale correctly. Everybody looks at it and they think "Well I would" or "You could" or even better yet "It's not that Hard." So I'm going to start this with the a thing... "Cinder blocks."



I can almost see you guys scratching your heads, and that is the exact reason that I started this portion of my announcement with cinder blocks. Cinder Blocks are one of the million moving parts to this event that are just as important as any other part of it. Because you see if we didn't have cinder blocks we wouldn't have "cheap anchors" to hold down the course markers that would end up making up the race course. The upside of it is, is I believe we have secured our cinder blocks. The down side of it is we have exactly zero course markers.

For the last two years I have contracted Scott Schatz to be our race director and one of the many upsides of that was he owned quite a few course markers (bouies). Due to, I guess you would call personality conflicts, Scott wasn't to be our Race Director this year. I didn't foresee this as that big of a problem as there wasn't any really bad blood or anything and I figured I would just "rent" whatever we needed to put this on in 2015. The problem is Scott's race trailer was stolen taking with it any chances of that, along with a host of other things.

So now I get to go and remake all of our yellow flags, red flags, black flags, and I get the absolutely awesome option of owning a bazillion course markers. Course markers would include giant tetrahedrons, to small hippety hops and everything in between. I have on idea on the cost of all this, but have currently budgeted it at 5-7,000 until I get a hard number. (We are going to have to make that number up in sponsorship FYI)

There's a lot of parts to the Enduro. More so (if you would like to do it correctly anyways) then most other boat races in the country. This race isn't just for the racers, nor is it just for the people in the crowd. There is a lot of history to the race, and it is our duty if we are to put it on to honor that history and make the town itself proud.

So to leave you with this for our race update. I have pulled the trigger on several "pre Enduro" shirts to help fund raise for the event itself. Simple shirts like "I heart 336" and "Do you Enduro?" type stuff. Single or double screen type shirts that should be designed by this weekend and in production on monday. I have pulled the trigger on the 2015 graphics which will end up being last years winner overall (1st and second Nordic boats) and my secondary outboard shirt (which I'm currently looking for a Stoker picture if anyone has any suggestions). We have started our budget for 2015 which outlays everything from lunch for the safety boats, to staff accomodations, and ends with professional photography and video.





I personally am into this Enduro about 60 hours, and as of tonight just under 4,000 bucks. We aren't folding, contrary to the rumors. It is our goal to make this Enduro the biggest and Best Enduro yet!

Mini Enduro

I don't want you guys to think I forgot about you. The amount of interest in this has been overwhelming. Yes I realize there is a lot of grey areas in the rules. Yes I realize you "could" show up with this and that. It is a "tester" race guys.. a show up and have fun and run some laps kinda deal. Yes I do know that someone can show up with the perfect storm and runaway with it all... and maybe they will or maybe they won't? In the mean time this is a "good time sport" kinda race. If it's 10-13' come out and have some fun. We will evaluate if there should be changes and more stringent rules and classes after this year. Right now it is a test of participation and fun more then anything else.

P.S. watch out for "The Bandito." (My Personal Entry)


RD

Cinder blocks work well, but steel wheels and cranks work really good too if you have a salvage yard available .

that announcement is fine and dandy... but its hard to prep for a race and order 300 gallons of fuel (for 2 boats) without a sanction in place and more details, other then you are still looking for sponsors to foot the bill....it is now 54 days away... the way I see it is if your still looking for buoys at this point we have a problem...please let the racers know what's going to happen with the race is it on or off!!!!!!!!!! not trying to be negative in any way but just honest

Where is a good place to watch the race from?

Gordyd4 said:

Where is a good place to watch the race from?

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Anywhere along the course is good, as long as it's not too far from the ice chest. :beer

The race is long enough that you can drive to different locations and visit different groups of friends. I plan on hanging out at Barry's house. :thumbup:

poundsand said:

that announcement is fine and dandy... but its hard to prep for a race and order 300 gallons of fuel (for 2 boats) without a sanction in place and more details, other then you are still looking for sponsors to foot the bill....it is now 54 days away... the way I see it is if your still looking for buoys at this point we have a problem...please let the racers know what's going to happen with the race is it on or off!!!!!!!!!! not trying to be negative in any way but just honest

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poundsand, Pretty much every boat race isn't actually "sanctioned" until immediately before the event (sometimes it happens even the day of!).. It is the way the APBA works. We have our blessing from the father son and the holy ghost on the rules etc.. We are fine.

RD

Here's some cheap marker bouys

http://www.boatshowproducts.com/butt-buoy-yellow#.VejJE01RGUk

lbhsbz said:

Here's some cheap marker bouys

http://www.boatshowproducts.com/butt-buoy-yellow#.VejJE01RGUk

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LOL.. While that's absolutely my style, I'm not sure they would pass the APBA and insurance requirements.. I'll look into it though. The big course markers I was talking about are 6-8' tall just an FYI. That'd be a big ass!

RD

Their Mcrib approved that's good enough for me.

Red adult-sized Hippity Hops are the least expensive way to go. Buy 20 at $24.99 with free shipping and get 8 free. Just think about the party you could have with these after the enduro. http://www.amazon.com/Adult-Size-Ho...1684689&sr=1-2&keywords=Red+Hippity+Hop+adult

make the course 6 miles again... less stuff too buy and a lot less rescue needed.........just a thought....if money is tight

poundsand said:

make the course 6 miles again... less stuff too buy and a lot less rescue needed.........just a thought....if money is tight

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I think we'll be ok, and still be able to buy the real deal nice stuff.

I will make another update tomorrow. We already have more sponsors, and have arranged for the Friday night banquet again.

RD

where do we send the registration??? I would like to send in asap

poundsand said:

where do we send the registration??? I would like to send in asap

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Please click the "rules" link at the top of the forum under the 336 tab!

Here is a copy of the first three paragraphs of the rules so you know where to register at. (all done electronically this year at www.motorsportsreg.com SEARCH PARKER ENDURO and find it on Oct 23-24 on the vertical list )

REGISTRATION: This year we will be changing the registration process to an ONLINE REGISTRATION! Toexplain this you will be able to fill out all of your paperwork online at www.MotorSportsReg.com . Previous to therace you will receive a packet in the mail, which will include pit assignments, event shirts (if ordered), contingencystickers and other items. You will receive your pit credentials at the race site itself. We will have all the forms filledout for you, and we will just require signature on the release of liability form. A picture ID will be required at thetime of the signature to receive your credentials.Early Registration will open in January and will continue until April 30th 2015. Early Registrations will receive a50.00 discount to the registration fee, making the Entry 350.00 (plus fees). You may pay by credit card onwww.motorsportsreg.com or you may mail a check at the completion of your registration process. Early registrantswill receive two complimentary event shirts. They will also be able to purchase event shirts, banquet passes, andother promotional items as they become available at a 33% discount all the way up until the event itself.Nominal Registration will begin June 1st and will continue until Sept 10th 2015. The nominal registration fee is400.00 (plus fees) and can be paid by credit card on www.motorsportsreg.com or you may mail a check at thecompletion of the registration process.Late Registrations will begin Sept 11th 2015 and will continue until Oct 16th 2015. The late registration fee is 500.00and can be paid by credit card on www.motorsportsreg.com or you may mail a check at the completion of theregistration process. Racer Packets for late registrants will be picked up on site at the Bluewater Cantina on FridayMorning.On Site registrations will be available Thursday Oct 22nd, and Friday Morning Oct 23rd. The fee for onsiteregistrations will be 600.00 and must be paid in CASH at the time of registration.Note: In the past racers would have to fill out their APBA Entry Blank. RiverDavesPlace LLC will be handling this aspectfor all of the Entrants to the 2015 Parker Enduro.Checks will be refunded if the event is cancelled up to two weeks before the event.APBA MEMBERSHIP: All contestants must be APBA members. A single event membership can be obtained for about$50.00 and will provide SECONDARY INSURANCE ONLY! If you are not a year round member of the APBA andrequire a single event membership, that form, and payment will be collected during your registration process atwww.motorsportsreg.com.