VIRGINIA BOAT RACING ASSOCIATION MEETING – JUNE 8, 2009
The meeting was called to order at 8:00 by Jerry Glass, Commodore. It was held at Kelly’s Tavern in Hampton. The following people were in attendance: Lisa Adkins, Jason Browning, Kasey Browning, Terry Browning, Randy Browning, Julie Davis, Jerry Glass, Kent Powell, Hope Prather and Bill Snider.
Jerry said the next region Inboard race is Cambridge, July 25-26. Kent Narrows is 1-2 August. There are Outboard races at Tabor City 13-14 June and Roanoke Rapids 27-28 June.
Richard Sechman flipped Sunday in Elizabeth City but is doing OK. The Pink Panther is fixable. Also, Glenn Wilson is seriously ill at Riverside Hospital.
Summary of what was discussed regarding the Hampton race:
Jerry said there will be flatbottoms this year.
Julie Davis will take pictures requested by K&K Insurance and Propeller Magazine. She did this at Portsmouth and they were pleased with the results.
We decided not to do a dual sanction with CBF.
The course survey was due to be recertified this year. It is required every 10 years for a record course. Bill Snider was able to get it done for about $300. The work was valued at $2,500 so that was a huge savings to the Hampton Cup Regatta Committee.
Sanction paperwork is due July 1.
Friday will be testing in the morning from 10:00-12:00 for boats that pre-register and notify the race director by the date specified on the sanction (suggested date is August 10). Qualifiers for the Summer Nationals will run in the afternoon. There will be a drivers meeting for those testing prior to the test session. A break will occur between the testing and qualifiers when a drivers meeting for all drivers will take place. J stocks will not run on Friday.
Saturday will be Summer National qualifiers and finals. J stocks will run. Trophy presentation will be after racing is complete on Sunday.
Sunday will be a bonus day (or catch-up as required) with a separate set of points. J stocks will run.
Kasey Browning will post the testing information on the Inboard site.
For planning purposes, we decided to tell the Hampton Cup Regatta Committee to budget for 80 boats with regard to tow money. Our bid to APBA specified $300 per boat for all boats up to 100 boats. Since we probably will not get that many boats, and because they are examining every line item in their budget, we wanted to give them something to work with. This comes with the caveat that they will be required to pay the entire amount of tow money in the bid ($30,000) should we get 100 boats or more because the accepted bid is a contract with APBA.
Set up for Hampton is August 8.
We WILL NOT have a meeting in July. The next meeting will be August 10 which is after set-up day so please keep the set-up date on your calendars.
The Hampton Cup committee is not sure if they will continue meeting at Kelly’s Tavern, but will hopefully have it worked out well before our next meeting. Will keep everyone posted.
The meeting adjourned at 8:48.
The Hampton Cup committee has made what we hope will be a final change (at least for a while) for their meeting location. We will follow suit. The new location is Kelly’s Restaurant, 1934 Coliseum Drive, Hampton, Virginia 23666 (phone 313-9555).
VIRGINIA BOAT RACING ASSOCIATION MEETING – MAY 11, 2009
The meeting was called to order at 7:45 by Jerry Glass, Commodore. It was held at Marker 20 in Hampton. The following people were in attendance: Lisa Adkins, Rick Adkins, Kasey Browning, Terry Browning, Randy Browning, Julie Davis, Jerry Glass, Keith Owen, Kent Powell, Hope Prather, Danny Ramsey, Bill Snider, Alex Turlington, Mike Turlington, Durward Wilson and Glenn Wilson.
Jerry thanked everyone for their help at Portsmouth. The set-up and clean up went very well this year because so many people helped. Terry Browning said we need to address parking for next year. The police department estimated 5,000 spectators. Randy Browning said we should rent the shelters next year so that we can use that area for parking. Randy also said he is working with Towne Bank for publicity to get more local businesses involved next year. Randy said we have enough money to have a no frills Portsmouth race next year.
Jerry said the new prints of the Hampton course are complete. APBA requires a new race course survey every 10 years for a record course. The cost had been estimated at $2,500; however, Bill Snider was able to get the work done for about $275. Thanks to Bill. Jerry further reported that funding from the City of Hampton was cut in half this year. Kasey Browning suggested that we do pre-registration and charge more for registration at the race site. Terry suggested that we offer testing on Friday as incentive to the racers. Terry and Randy talked about how we sell T-shirts at Portsmouth. The vendor does not date his shirts and VBRA gets a cut from the sales. Hampton is having trouble getting a T-shirt vendor this year so Jerry will pass on this suggestion to the Hampton Cup Regatta Committee. Alex Turlington said he knows a vendor that might be interested. Officials for Hampton will be Don Melillo (Chief Referee), Jerry Glass (Assistant Referee), Ann Shaw (Chief Scorer), Sid Johnson and Bill McCowan (Inspectors), Terry Browning (Race Director) and Kent Powell (Risk Manager). Jerry said we are not getting any money from the APBA Inboard Fund.
Jerry said Clarksville is doing well with their fund raising and almost has enough money.
Julie Davis took pictures at Portsmouth as requested by K&K Insurance. Jerry thanked her for doing an outstanding job.
Randy said the X motor for the T class is currently in Oregon where it has been run through at least two dyno tests. Next it will go to the technical committee for approval and might be in race boats this season.
Jerry said the Lake Hopatcong race has been postponed until the fall. It was scheduled to be run May 16-17 but the water level in the lake is too low. Jerry will contact Region 3 to ask when they are thinking about rescheduling it for.
The meeting adjourned at 8:45. The next meeting will be June 8 at Kelly’s Restaurant, 1934 Coliseum Drive, Hampton, Virginia 23666 (phone 313-9555).
Virginia Boat Racing Association – April 13, 2009 Meeting
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 by Jerry Glass at Marker 20 in Hampton . The following people were in attendance: Lisa Adkins, Randy Browning, Terry Browning, Julie Davis, Jerry Glass, Jim Huffman, Keith Owen, Kent Powell, Hope Prather, Richard Sechman, Alex Turlington, Mike Turlington, Diane Wilson, D.J. Wilson, Durward Wilson, Glenn Wilson, Valerie Wilson, T.J. Browning, Sara Thompson, Mark Griffin, Rick Adkins and Lisa Wilson.
Jerry asked Julie Davis to take special pictures requested by K&K Insurance at the race in Portsmouth . K&K requires these pictures of every race site.
Jerry reported that everything is in place for Portsmouth . City services are lined up, Lockwood Brothers and LCM are on board. Set-up will start at 9:00 Friday, April 17.
Terry Browning said there will be an opening ceremony where Chris Hall will run his vintage two-seater - possibly with Bob Astin, President and CEO of Towne Bank, riding. This boat is a Henry Lauterbach hull. Bluewater Yachts donated some money to the race this year.
Randy Browning said he has been working with marketing people from Towne Bank. Their goal for next year is to get more Portsmouth businesses involved and make it more of a community sponsored event.
Alex Turlington asked how many tow boats would be required for Portsmouth . Jerry said 4. Alex will have it covered. Terry will bring one boat for turn judges and Alex will get the second one.
Sara Thompson said lunches and VIP are all set.
Randy said we got a grant from APBA to help purchase radio equipment. We will be broadcasting on FM 107.3 during the race and there will be sound in the pit and spectator areas. Randy will write up talking points for the announcer, Mark Griffin, regarding sponsors.
Keith Owen reported that ambulances will be at the race site by 10:30 each morning and that they know to call another ambulance for transport to ensure appropriate coverage.
Jerry emphasized that it takes the entire club to put in a race and asked that everyone help at the end of the race with cleanup.
Jerry also said money is tight across the region for race sponsorship. Mark reported that city funding for the Hampton Cup Regatta will be cut this year by an as yet undetermined amount.
Jerry said the GP’s are still negotiating to be at Hampton . Randy explained that there are two groups of GP’s – one whose members can race anywhere they want and one that can only run where their association approves. There is conflict between the two groups and money issues also complicate the situation.
Jerry welcomed D.J. Wilson back from Iraq and thanked him for his service to our country.
The Hampton Cup Regatta Committee, which meets immediately before VBRA, is in the process of finding a permanent place to meet. April and May will be at Marker 20. It might change in June. Jerry will keep everyone posted.
The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m. Next meeting is May 11, 2009 .
Virginia Boat Racing Association – March 9, 2009 Meeting
The meeting was called to order at 7:40 by Jerry Glass at Mama Rosa’s in Phoebus. The following members were in attendance: Lisa Adkins, Randy Browning, Terry Browning, David Coes, Julie Davis, Jerry Glass, Jim Huffman, Keith Owen, Hope Prather, P.J. Prather, Durward Wilson, Valerie Wilson and Richard Sechman.
Jerry reported Portsmouth Power in the Park is in good financial shape thanks to Towne Bank.
The new buoys approved at the region meeting have been ordered and should be received this week.
The membership roster was passed around for corrections. Randy Browning said he has the ability to prepare and e-mail cards to members that they can print out. Let him know if you need one.
Jerry said money for the Hampton Cup Regatta (HCR) is tight. Mark Griffin, HCR Co-Chairman, said the committee is facing deep funding cuts from the city plus reduced free services from Fort Monroe Jerry said Clarksville is also feeling the pinch front the current economic situstion. .
Jerry gave out summaries he composed of the APBA National Meeting held in January.
There will be a display of antique race cars and race boats outside the Hampton Coliseum Saturday, March 14 to advertise the HCR. Arena racing will be held inside the coliseum. If you can help staff the booth please be there at 5:00. Julie Davis went the inboard race in Lakeland, Florida March 7-8. She reported it was an awesome race site and the weather was great! Randy is testing a remote speaker system to use at the Portsmouth race. Valerie Wilson asked if the dress code would be enforced at the Portsmouth race. The answer was yes.
The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Next meeting is April 13, 2009 .
Virginia Boat Racing Association
February 9, 2009 Meeting
The meeting was called to order by Jerry Glass at 7:30 p.m. at Mama Rosa's in Phoebus. VBRA members present were Jerry Glass, Alex Turlington, Mike Turlington, Kent Powell, Danny Ramsey, David Coes, Durward Wilson, Glenn Wilson, Terry Browning, Randy Browning, Hope Prather, Lisa Adkins, Julie Davis and Bill Snider.
Jerry said officers were elected at the January meeting and the same slate will repeat for 2009. They are:
Commodore - Jerry Glass
Vice-Commodore - Kent Powell
Secretary/Treasurer - Randy Browning
Parliamentarian - Kasey Browning
New members to the club include Gordon Oakley of Mooresville, North Carolina and F.E. Collier of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina . Gordon owns a 5 liter hydro and Mr. Collier is an outboarder.
Randy Browning said we have money in the treasury. Sanction and insurance fees have been paid for Portsmouth . He will be getting with Gloria Huffman to do the taxes.
The date for Portsmouth is April 18-19. Terry Browning said the president of Towne Bank has approved funding for the race. Terry is thinking about bringing a boat for the VIP's to watch the race on. He is still working on details.
Robin Truman and Sara Thompson will handle VIP food and lunches for officials and those on the water again this year.
Other VBRA race dates are Hampton (Summer Nationals) August 14-16 and Clarksville October 3-4.
Set up for Portsmouth will be April 17 and course set up for Hampton will be August 7.
Bill Snider is handling getting the re-survey of Hampton done. It is due every 10 years. The Hampton Cup Regatta committee will pay the survey fee. Jerry will submit it to APBA for approval.
Lockwood Brothers, as well as LCM Corporation, are lined up for Portsmouth and Hampton for crane and environmental support respectively. LCM will also provide environmental support at Elizabeth City and Clarksville .
Jerry has the Coast Guard permits in hand for Portsmouth , Hampton and Clarksville .
Jerry said the fee for Rescue will be $400 per day this year. This is due to increased repair and fuel costs.
K&K Insurance will be visiting random race sites to observe.
We will not rent a radio station for Portsmouth since we now own our own equipment.
The Grand Prix hydros want to come to Hampton but they charge a fee which Hampton Cup Regatta committee will decide if they are willing to and can afford to pay.
March 14 there will be an arena racing event at the Hampton Coliseum where Hampton Cup Regatta will advertise. They need race boats to display.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 . The next meeting will be March 9 at 7:30 at Mama Rosa's.
