-- -- Action in San Diego ! - UPDATED WITH VIDEO !!!

Its the big San Diego race weekend, and the action already started. . . 

Read More >HERE<

Goto watch the VIDEO HERE > H2o Full throttle forum

Or the intervju here ; VG : HERE

Picture 1.

 Picture2

Picture 3

Picture 4

And guess what, there is more picture on the H2o Full throttle Forum.. 

A big Suprice to you all..  >HERE>

The 3 options..

Dear Dr Raffaele Chulli, Charles Strang, Christer Gustavsson and UIM Excecutive members, council members. The way i see it, you have 2 options, and we, the driver of F2 have 3. . . 

Read More < HERE>

Its frustrating to be an F2 driver when the UIM Excecutive member, Christer Gustavsson who came with the proposal for our class says that, and I qoute " I have not seen the Riga proposal so I do not know what it covers. After all, it is encouraging that so many have feelings on this issue."

 The UIM F2 drivers agree on one thing. We will NOT accept the way things are. The driver says, NO – Stop.

“I still believe in the idea but when it will be a better one on the table, I will evaluate it and see what I think is best. The same thing, I hope that you can do the same. That is what separates the wise from the stubborn.” Says Christer Gustafsson

First of all, Am not after Christers neck, but WHY has not our letters, proposals and ideas been heard by the group that shall make this important decisions? For me totally unreal !! Has the Formula comitte president Iacconianni not told UIM our points ? Have the UIM not distributed our thoughts witch is submitted to them? Clearly NOT !

Within the last 24h the drivers have been in contact with each other, expressed ideas, concern, frustration and anger. They will NOT continue any more. Jenny Jelf,  and Colin Jelf has received letters to speak on behalf of our group. The UIM is left with two options as I see it.

#1. Listen to what our Team rep and Driver rep have to say, adopt to it – make an understanding and a working group with REAL members who is affiliated with its class, and that fast. Not next month, next year or next election. Rather NOW.

    If this happens, I hope we will have an UIM F2 class in 2009 as well.

If not, well.

#2. UIM do not want to co operate with the class, and they will loose its drivers, pormoters and a lot of their own members, who has called in their support as well.

Thats the 2 options as I see the UIM have.

 Drivers and teams option.

If UIM choose #1. Then the drivers #1 choice is to stay with UIM.

#2. Take our hat and say, “Thank you for the co operation. We do trust that our time has come to look for another partner”

#3. UIM should be fully aware of the fact that the drivers have options. One of the options is that we will form our own coalition, and join the offered possibility. The new coalition has already been offered promoter help, (that was not so hard, as they understand that where the drivers are, is the product) and officials.

So the way I see it, the drivers have one more option than the UIM, they can move on, and live happily outside UIM.

Colin Jelf, and team rep Jenny Jelf has now that power to talk and negotiate on behalf of most our drivers, (majority has answered) as we see this as a crises. We trust in them to seek the best option, and we hope that the UIM listen carefully, its not a “wolf – wolf” this time. Its a real situation.

We are aware of the fact that UIM receives warnings from highly qualified people from around the world on this “mistake” about to be set free. 

Dear Mr President, dear members of executive and council – Please don’t miss this opportunity. We will not step back, we want our voice to be heard, and BTW – forget to try and chance our crash boxes before Malaysia and the final round. We are aware of the opinion to force us to change, but it will not happen.

Please do not give us any more ammunition to leave you, this marriage needs to be worked on from both sides – so please step up and give us your hand.

What now drivers ? Time to leave UIM ?

My fear has been confirmed. The content of the letter signed from the UIM president is confirmed to Jenny Jelf. UIM is looking at hosting ONLY 1 Worldchampionship race in 09 for F2. With a number of continental rounds as qualifiers. Guss what, my sponsors will not pay for that !

 Read more >HERE<

Is it time to leave the UIM now ? Many of The drivers think so, as they are furious !

The promoters I´ve spoke to agrees that this is a crise, and the promoters agrees for the 2nd time in the last 2 years, they will follow the drivers, as they are the product.. No drivers nothing to sell, DID UIM FORGET THAT ?

What will happen ? Will UIM wake up and make a 180`turn ? 

 Will they listen to what the drivers want, or will they risk loosing the F2 class? One thing is for sure, the drivers will NOT take it any more.

Its also confirmed that the there will be more than one promoter, totally against the request from drivers. 

Is it time that UIM turns around and say, Ups – Our bad.. How can we work with you drivers ? We totally forgot that we are working for you, Sorry about that. Can we make it Work ? Please Jenny…..

Dont think it will happen, do you ? 

UIM Launches Formula 2 Bid Process

I need help here, help from all of you in this community to understand the new concept. I´m happy to notice that the UIM will step up from the World Cup status, to once again crown the F2 World-champion, Its not that, but its more the way they will do it im wondering about. Will there not more be a championship? Will there “only” be end of season World-championship ? Well – help me out, give me your ideas.

The real bad news is that, It will not be decided for another month and half. So, in reality the possibilities to have a good 09 season is also destroyed as i see it. Sponsor budgets have been decided upon, without leaving us drivers to even understand the format we will race next year. When can we, the drivers expect to see a calendar? Race format, raceplaces, will it be 1 world-championship race or 6 to 8 races like mentioned by Abdul Salam Fairooz – Well, its More questions than answers again…

Why is the UIM leaving it so late, when they had to know for a long time, like the rest of us that it did not work with 3 promoters ?  

Dont they understand that the promoters needs time, and so does the drivers ? I appreciate the action, its just the question, is it too late for 09 ? Should we freeze all titles in 09, and go for a proper season in 2010 ? One of the candidates have mentioned this as an option.. Would make sense, since it looks like a total new ball game to me.

Is it only P1 that can get it right in powerboating ? Read more < HERE>

 From UIM website. 

17 September 2008
UIM Launches Formula 2 Bid Process
 
The Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) today launched the bid process for the Formula 2 Promoter. All National Authorities, promoters and interested parties have been invited to submit their bid as an applicant to become UIM F2 Promoter.  
  
The procedure involves a thorough review by the UIM Executive Committee of each applicant’s potential to successfully organize the UIM F2 World and Continental Championship. Applicants are invited to submit their bids according to the requirements specified by the UIM. The bids will be evaluated by the UIM Executive Committee in order to propose to the UIM Council the candidate
that will become UIM F2 World and Continental Championship Promoter.  
 
The key dates of the procedure are as follows:
17 September 2008 – Invitation to bid sent out to all UIM National Authorities,
UIM promoters, interested parties and posted on the UIM Web site.

17 October 2008 – Latest date for submission of Application File to the UIM Secretariat
 
29 October 2008  – Examination of replies and decision by UIM Executive
Committee

1 November 2008 – UIM Council acceptance of proposed candidates
2 November 2008 – Council Report ratification by UIM General Assembly  
 
Candidate UIM F2 Promoters will be requested to submit their Candidature File, that is to say an in depth description of their F2 project, send it to the UIM Secretariat by the 17th of October 2008 and to be prepared to submit additional explanations or to answer to further questions that the UIM may ask. The UIM Executive Committee will make the technical, economical and strategic assessment of each candidature and will take the decision.
 
 
 ————————————————————————————————————————-
 
To:  All UIM National Authorities
       All UIM Promoters
       All Interested Parties        
 
Cc: All UIM Council members
 
Posted on the UIM Web site
 
From:  UIM President
 
Subject:  Bid Request for UIM Formula 2 Promoters
   
The UIM will create a new World and Continental Championship for the Formula 2 class.
 
It is intended that the UIM contracted promoter will organize a series of Formula 2 races within the continent or region where the UIM has, with the endorsement of the National Authority or National Authorities comprising the region, authorized him to operate.
 
At season’s end, a number of the top-scoring drivers from each series will be eligible to compete in a UIM World Final event to determine the Formula 2 World Champion.
 
This system is intended to be advantageous to Formula 2 and to our sport in general by providing:

•  More races

•  Less travel expense for drivers, as most of their races will be in their own region

•  Less travel time, making it easier for more drivers to participate

•  A ladder for drivers to progress from beginners to experts

•  Opportunities for more officials to develop their skills

•  A way to stimulate and grow national and regional racing which is a must to bring new drivers into our sport 
  

 
We now request that potential promoters who aspire to participate in this exciting program immediately notify the UIM Secretariat (uim@uimpowerboating.com) of their interest.

To ensure full consideration, each potential promoter should supply the UIM Secretariat with the following information which will be considered when assessing the applications:

•  Geographical region for which he feels capable of promoting Formula 2 series

•  Number of events he will schedule each season

•  Calendar time frame for the events

•  Organization to be provided by the promoter

•  Organization to be requested from the local partner

•  Support for drivers such as prizes, hotel, transportation, fuel, marketing and estimated funding there for
  

•  Proposed UIM fees

•  TV production and coverage

•  Rescue team

•  Time keeping team

•  Co-operation with National Authority/National Authorities

•  Co-operation with F2 drivers and Team rep’s

•  Intentions, if any, to provide a sponsor village at any or all events

•  Ability to deposit $30,000 in a UIM bank account as a guarantee for UIM

When assessing the applications, decision criteria to be applied will include:
 The overall potential of Applicant Promoters to host, organize and stage successful Formula 2 World and Continental Championships; in this respect, all the above requested information will be fully considered 

Compliance with the World Antidoping Code and all other rules, instructions and
conditions which are established by the UIM 

Any other criteria, which the UIM Executive Committee, at its discretion, may deem reasonable to consider. In addition, the UIM Executive Committee reserves their rights to take into account any other consideration relating to the reinforcement of the principles and rules which are at the basis of the sport of power boating.

The UIM Executive Committee shall take its decision pursuant to the criteria for assessment of applications referred to above. However the UIM  reserves the right to accept or refuse any application without giving reason and without any liability to the participants of the bidding process. The UIM  may take into account any other criteria that it may deem essential.  
Any additional information which could be helpful regarding the promoter’s thoughts on how he will organize his series, what his overall goal will be and his view on why he would be the best promoter for the Formula 2 series will be duly considered.
Looking forward to the responses from aspiring Formula 2 promoters, I am
 
Sincerely,
 
Dr. Raffaele Chiulli
President, UIM
 
Monaco, 17th of September 2008

Arif is getting back on track :)

had a good one today, I meet up with Arif Al Zafeen. Arif is back on his feet after the big accident. “Frode, I feel special and lucky” says Arif honest..

Its always great when people recover like Arif, and I hope one day I can race him again. He is maybe the best driver i have ever raced against. 

 TBC…..

Motorsport show in Norway. . F2boat.com was there...

My racecar friends invited to a Motorshow in Søgne, and it was a great event.

A great show with focus on safety, fast cars and a boat.

Go cart was there and so was the trail guys. Street cars, Drifters, rally and rally cross cars, all in one united family. All in all a very good day where all motorsport was standing together.

In a small place like Søgne there was 3000 people spending the sunday, watching Pål and Svein and the other local hero´s running a demo race.

It was an adrenalin rush as the cars was flying around the corners ! 

Police was also there, to control the hole event. 

Thanks for the invitation guys, Brgs Frode..

P1 - another succsess story in Vigo - 100.000 watched the race.

The #53 Pignolo 53 team secured their first Powerboat P1 win after a chaotic and incident packed Evolution Endurance race that brought this weekend’s hugely successful first Vigo Grand Prix of the Sea to a dramatic close. A number of boats missed a marker buoy on the final turn of the course, throwing the subject of who had won wide open as the boats arrived back in the marina.

Sorce; www.powerboatp1.com

The budding double champion #99 Fountain Worldwide 1st4boats.com team led the early stages of the race from their main title rivals, #88 Kiton Outerlimits, until a fuel problem dropped them down the order before their eventual retirement on the 11th lap. That gave #88 Kiton Outerlimits the lead until they, too, started struggling with a variety of mechanics gremlins and dropped back, making the #10 Fantastic 1 Cigarette Racing Team Europe boat the new race leaders.

Then, on lap 11, all hell broke lose at the final turn as the #10 Fantastic 1 boat missed one of the key buoy markers and the #60 GFN Gibellato, #88 Kiton Outerlimits, #57 Centaurian Yachts all followed suit. On the next lap, #10 Fantastic 1 and #60 GFN Gibellato missed the mark again.

Each team picked up a four minute penalty for each infringement, meaning that the #53 Pignolo 53 crew emerged as the ultimate first-time victors of the race, following the lead of fellow Evolution debutant winners #69 Honeyparty.com in Saturday’s Sprint race. The #77 Lucas Oil team secured their best finish of the year with second place, while the #69 Honeyparty.com team followed up their first ever win with a third place this time out.

That gave the #69 Honeyparty.com team the overall victory in the Vigo Grand Prix of the Sea stakes, from #53 Pignolo 53 and #57 Centaurian Yachts.

Malaysia - World Cup Final 2008

Powersport Events Sdn. Bhd. was set up in 2006 to organise extreme sports events in Malaysia. The F2000 World Cup powerboat race in December was the first international event that the company has organised. And what a race it was :)

The company is also working closely with the Kota Kinabalu Motorsports Society to develop motorsports in the state of Sabah, starting mainly in the city area.

Visit their website; http://powersportevents.com.my/

Or the Facebook group - 

P1, babes and Chris Davies - Happy birthday Chris !

Chris Davies, one of the best powerboatphotographerin the world turns 29 today. Chris is corrently in Vigo, so feel free to post your comment on my side, or on the H2o Forum. Witch a sharpe eye for the perfect moment – Chris stands out of the crowed – and captures “the moments” we all love to watch…

The Photographer

Chris Davies ARPS, first started photographing powerboats back in 1987at the Needles Trophy race held in Poole, Dorset. He then started to supply UKOBA with their Championship pictures. Whilst maintaining his growing UK client base he started to venture overseas and soon began working with the Dubai Victory Team as they embarked upon their Class One Offshore World Championship pursuit.

Between 1992 and 2001, Chris was the Official Photographer to the U.I.M. Formula One World Championship, during which time he attended over 95 Grand Prix event at venues as diverse as Thailand, China, Russia, and Turkey. Along with various boating publication, his clients included Castrol International, Chesterfield, Fuchs, John Player Gold Leaf, Mercury Racing, Singha Beer, Texaco Havoline and Waterford Crystal.

In 1995, he established Formula Photographic, which became one of the leading sources in Europe and America for powerboat racing photography with pictures regularly featured in boating publications worldwide.

In 1997, he started writing on the subject and as writer, editor and main photographic contributor he produced the U.I.M. Formula One Powerboat Championship Yearbook, ‘F1 H2O’ from 1997 to 2001.

In 2002, Chris was the Official Photographer to the U.I.M. Pro-Vee Offshore European Cup working closely with its Promoter and several of the race teams. During their 2005 Championship, Pro-Vee actually staged a race inside the Artic Circle, The Midnight Sun Grand Prix, held in Bodo, Norway.

In March, 2004, Chris was awarded the Associateship of The Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain.

Since 2006, he has been working with the Oceania Group Intl, who publishes the powerboat racing magazine H2O Full Throttle.

In 2008, he will be the Official Photographer for the Round Britain Offshore Powerboat Race, “The Greatest Offshore Powerboat Race of the 21st Century.”

Pictures from Vigo : 

Vigo yesterday, packed with people. 

For more picture VIGO pictures by Chris Davies !

MIKE SCHRIEFER BATTLES TO MAKE F1-CHAMPBOAT BETTER!

 Friday, September 12, 2008 –  Maybe he learned it on the motocross tracks of Southern California, but F1-ChampBoat Series President Mike Schriefer  has a “no time for whiners” type attitude  when fighting skeptics who claim that F1-ChampBoat will never be successful in North America.

Despite, the hurtles he’s gone through in the past 3 seasons he has held claim and taken the mantle as the official “promoter” of the longest standing most prestigious tunnel boat series in North America and despite all the doubters who say the sport just won’t work in the 21st Century, the Texas native continues to prove people wrong.
(Mike Schriefer and Scott Gillman.)
“We have had more success than failure in the past three seasons,” said the native Texan. “It’s no secret it’s been a tough battle. We have had some great event partners, but we need more of them. We have great teams and drivers, but we need more of them too.”

“F1-ChampBoat also has had some disappointing partners and contractors and it’s taken us some time to get the right people in position to make it all work. I think we are almost there as we now have a great team of people working with us along with out excellent event staff, I think we are very close. Today we have some great sponsors but of course we need more of them to get us to the next level.” (more news belove picture)
“The naysayers in this sport need to realize that nothing worth having in the world comes easily. If they want success, they need to go out and earn it. Tim Seebold and Terry Rinker have done this successfully. Sponsors aren’t just going to land on their doorstep unless they are willing to put the professional effort behind their sponsor’s brand name. We are going hard to help our loyal teams. I strongly believe the past two years of marketing will pay off for many in 2009. I am confident of that.”

“I’m a relative newcomer to this sport only being focused on this race series for the past four years, I quickly realized how exciting and how important it was to show people around North America why this is such a spectacular way to spend a day along the water with these talented drivers,” said the 45 year-old who now lives in North Carolina. “This isn’t auto racing, where everyone here owns their own automobile and can relate to that sport. Not everyone owns a boat and very few understand what skills you need to make these boats go so fast on water and not hurt yourself at the same time trying to do it.”
(Terry Rinker, Tim Seebold and Chris Fairchild)
“I admire the skills of Terry Rinker, Tim Seebold, Shaun Torrente, Chris Fairchild, Lynn Simburger and the rest of our virtuoso people that work in this sport, it’s something really special and an art form to get it right,” states Mike. “I used to race competitively in motorcycles, open wheel racing and have worked closely over the years with many F1 racers and champions who are friends of mine including Emerson Fittipaldi, Danny Sullivan, Kevin Cogan, Rupert Keegan, Hans Stuck just to name a few and they have all told me how they admire the people that get in these boats and put their lives on the line race after race for the thrill of the speed going 130 mph (225 k’s) while pulling 4g corners lap after lap.”

“I got into this sport hoping that what I had learned from my days in auto racing and show producing for major auto manufacturers would pay off. I was very successful at this end but it hasn’t been easy in my new venture. It’s been a continuous fight with the “good old boys” and the politics in this sport that has slowed us down.”

“People have to understand that my good friend U.I.M. F1 Promoter Nicolo di San Germano and I along with few other people around the world are just a handful of people that spend 24 hours a day at trying to make this sport bigger, more spectacular and more well known in a continuing growing maze of new sports idea’s that continually fractions out the monies and interest around the world to other sports than boat racing”

“I think we have reached the time where all governing bodies must work together and not be suspicious of the people who are trying to continue to grow this sport to a higher level and remove it from the minor leagues to the Premier leagues where it belongs.”
(Mr X watching the birds)
“I’m here for one reason, to make this sport number 1 in racing whether it’s on the water or off and hope everyone who believes in this sport will help us accomplish our goals and enjoy the success together as we accomplish this hopefully in the near future.”

Meanwhile, on the F1-ChampBoat racing front,  a pair of Florida pilots, series points leader Terry Rinker of the Amsoil/Rinker Racing Team and Shaun Torrente of the Talon Boats/Gary L. Barton Inc. sponsored group are locked in a head to head conflict that will be taken almost 3000 miles west for the Tempe Grand Prix the 6th Round of the 2008 F1-ChampBoat Series when drivers from three different countries invade Tempe Town Lake on the weekend of September 27-28 in front of thousands of expected boat racing fans.

CLOSE 3 WAY FIGHT FOR TITLE HEADING TO THE DESERT!

The 44 year-old veteran driver from Tampa, Rinker, holds 3 National titles to his credit and currently leads the championship with 2693 points which is 49 points better than fellow Floridian Torrente who is 2nd with 2644 points after the first five races of the 2008 campaign.

“We feel strongly that our season is getting better and better with each passing race,” said Terry. “We have a win in St. Louis and four straight podiums and we believe that consistency is going to win you titles. We however aren’t letting up one bit as we go for our 2nd victory of the season and we are really excited about heading out West and racing in Arizona.”
(Shaun Torrente )
Twenty-nine year old Shaun Torrente started out the season with three straight victories and looked as if nothing was going to stop him.

His wins at Pickwick, Tennessee, Bay City, Michigan and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania were strong as he had visions of chasing Terry Rinker’s all-time winning streak of seven that he accomplished back in 2006.

Since the 4th of July event in the  “steel city” Shaun has a 2nd in St. Louis and crashed out in the last race in Michigan giving up the points lead at the same time.

“We were doing everything right early and we still believe this is our championship to lose,” said the native of Homestead, Florida.

“We have one did not finish in Algonac the last time out fighting for the win and this has put us in a bit of a chase for the title but we feel confident we can make up the points and still win it before the season comes to a close.”
Tim Seebold                                       

Tim Seebold of the Bud Light sponsored Team Seebold racing organization is the man who is full of momentum having won the last race from the pole in the rough waters on the Saint Clair River in Algonac, Michigan ahead of Terry while watching Shaun crash out trying to stay with the native of St. Louis, Missouri. The youngest racing member of the countries most famous inshore catamaran racing family has 25 career victories and is looking for his 3rd title in the last 5 years.

“We are doing what it takes to stay in the championship and still have a lot to say before the season ends in Naples in November,” said Tim. “We are confident that we can put together another weekend where we won from the pole position and never trailed and are ready to go right to the finish with another win here in Tempe.”

Lynn Simburger and his Playcraft Boats sponsored machine is 4th in the championship looking for his first win sitting with two top-3 finishes, while Canadian Brian Venton is 5th in the championship led by team manager Don Jenkinson in a new Gran Prix hull that seems to suit his style. Jeff Shepherd of Tennessee who has a podium and sits 6th in the title chase is hoping for more podiums in ’08, while older brother Randy Rinker joins his brother Terry on the Amsoil sponsored team in the top ten with a 7th in the drivers points.
Nithut Khunjeng
Thailand driver Nithut Khunjeng continues his first year in F1-ChampBoat and is enjoying the season despite being on his 3rd boat as he continues to settle into life in North America. He finished well in Algonac charging up from the back at the start and has a few top-5 performances in 2008 for the Singha Beer sponsored team.

Ninth in the championship in his first full year of racing is Missouri’s Matt Sadl with a 5th in Pickwick, Tennessee being his best performance so far this season for the likeable driver from the St. Louis area.

Rounding out the top-10 in the points chase is another St. Louis driver in speedy Todd Beckman who despite missing Pittsburgh had a fine 4th at his home Grand Prix for a driver who has won in the past on the tour.

All in all drivers from three countries and two different continents are getting ready to head for the Valley of the Sun and go toe to toe at 135 mph pulling 6 g’s in the corners while matching wits on Tempe Town Lake on the 27th and 28th of September. Seating for spectators will be available at Rio Salado Park which is a great local to be up close and enjoys the world’s fastest turning race vehicles anywhere for the Tempe Grand Prix!

H2o Full Throttle editor Ned Dawson sends letter to UIM

Ned Dawson editor in chife is making a story on F2, and on his way he asks UIM for answers. Will he get one ? 

 Ned with sleeping loin.

Neds letter to the UIM administration is send to Chulli and the UIM office.

H2o Ned says " I think this is a great class of racing, and a feeder series to those going on to F1 so it is needed" 

Goto the forum and check it out here – H2o Forum

We need an "FOUNDATION" Says Michael Jenkins.

Never have the interest been stronger around the F2boat.com´s website. Over 100 emails have arrived in the last 24h. Michael Jenkins have shared his ideas with F2boat.com.

Michael Jenkins is a senior team manager in racing, expirianced as team managers for drivers in Formula 1 and Formula 2. Michael has also a long history from the Formula 3 World Championship class. 

First of all Michael, Thanks alot for the signed contribution to F2boat.com – Thanks for the compliments, I will always sign with my name. I hate when people are hiding behind a anonymous.

So we are now on the topic of the future of F2 again whats your thoughts? . -  As I know not much has happened sins the last race of the WC in Riga. The UIM had promised us that they would contact the promoters asking them for their proposals. But I feel they will leave things until the last moment as always. The drivers and teams all have said what they wish to see for next year and they wish to have news before the UIM  GA. But we will not get a answer from them before that time. They are pulling the strings and they will decide whom will be the new F2 promoter.

How do you thik it will be done ? – Maybe it will be none of the 3 promoters we have now but a new ambitious person who will have a go. I do not think we need this we need a stable promoter for at least the next 3 years. Who has a good team working with him and try to have a 6 race World Championship. We also know that the teams can’t afford spending weeks away from their homes and day job. Most all of these drivers have jobs to get back to and not to mention the crew members.

And more races in Europe ? – Yes we need races back in Europe even in the WC. We also need that the Scandinavian championship carries on. So we have a drivers rep that has to make this clear to the FORMULA committee with the help of the Team representative. And this is why the drivers and teams should come together and create a unit front and create a FOUNDATION.

Like F3 did ?  - Yes,A united front to go to the UIM with their proposals and wishes. The UIM does not like this idea because they have a united front working opposite them and also because they have power.

Why would that work so much better ? – Because without drivers , no races , no races no money for the UIM. We would be much better without them and maybe it is time for us to say enough is enough let’s go for at least 1 year without them and stand behind our sport and try to do it without them and with 1 good promoter.

Leave the UIM? - YES,  Sins 2002 we had 4 promoters we all know there good points and there bad points. Maybe we will see another come along and have to analyse him for a couple of years?

Why ? - Because they would force us to do so. But I think we should now stand behind 1 person and back him for let’s say the WC and give somebody the chance to organise the EUC.

Give us some history. - Well, In 2002 we had races with more than 35 boats and now we have 16 boats if we are lucky O.K. Riga is a different story. But soon we will not have any driver or sponsor interested in F-2.

What are you so afraid for ? - They have made other classes disappear like F3 and they are doing a dame good job of letting F2 going down the drain.

What do we need ? - We need stable rules and no more changes for a long period. F-2 hasn’t got the big budgets to spend and all of them just want to have fun and race and may the best man or women win.

Buy the way the boats are getting to slow no more overtaking, no long straights really boring.

 Any hope for the future ? – I wish to see a healthy and fun F2 season come back for 2009 and beyond and so do we all I presume.
 
Thanks a lot for sharing this with us Michael,    

Statement from Modris and Matiss -

I have been requested to post an statment from the Latvian Promotors, Modris kalcniems and Matiss Kalans. Ready more :

Dear All,
First of all, I must say that with this post I have broken a promise that Modris and I made when we started. We decided that we will not engage ourselves in public discussions concerning internal affairs of Formula 2 and powerboat racing. I apologize for this but it seems that this is the final stretch and our point of view needs to be presented via great publicity achieved by the F2boat.com.

Frode, as always, I compliment your work. At times it is biased, and I have told you that before, but for the amount of publicity within the powerboating community and up-to-date (many times real-time) news – I take my hat off in front of you. ☺

Ok, let us get into details. At the very beginning when we began to be part of F2 World Cup in March 2007, it was our intention to promote the sport to general public in a professional way and to abstain from use of public means (internet) for blackmailing our competitors. Modris and I created the F2 logo and www.F2worldcup.com. You will see that there is no resemblance on our site of our names or publicity created for us. All our efforts were driven by the idea that powerboating, pilots, and their teams must be promoted and not the promoters themselves. People in powerboating must realize that we live in the 21st century and that blue club jackets and wing-tops and gatherings at nice venues for General Assembly will not give the sport publicity it needs to secure financing. Quite frankly, we live in “Financial Times” and it is all about money.

Powerboating venues are competing with other sports venues – local municipalities and local organizers must decide where to allocate their resources and where will they get the highest return?

As somebody already mentioned, with all due respect to powerboating legends such as Cappellini, Price, Gilman, Seebold, and Jelf brothers nobody outside powerboating community knows about them… Ask anybody on the street who is Sami Selio and who is Kimi Raikonen? Both are 2007 F1 champions, but only a few (if any) will know about powerboating champion Sami Selio. Now you should ask the question why? To me it is obvious – the UIM over the last 20 or so years has failed to recognize the changes in business environment and, as a result, the sport lacks publicity. In order for powerboating to stay alive, it is critical that it quickly recognizes the necessity to speak out to young people and people outside powerboating. In the largest and most prestigious powerboating classes we have racers racing well over their 50s… like I said, I have the greatest respect for them, but for me the most important question is – what will happen after they call it quits? Who will continue their legacy? Does the UIM has a 5-10 year plan where it wants to be? Is there a world-wide young driver development program? Our team has contemplated about this for numerous hours and we have ideas how to solve this… we have shared these ideas with our partners, Leif and Abdul, with UIM but so far we have not received any constructive feedback.

I do not wish to touch upon the differences between the three F2 WC promoters because it is quite clear that the three due to cultural, mental and business approaches cannot work together. Leif was doing great in Scandinavia with the regional series there. Abdul is doing a great job in the Middle East and Asia.

However, both of them seem incapable of generating and executing an event of world-wide reach and strategy. Our team recognizes its weaknesses very clearly but at the same time we have ways how to solve them. We will never have such deep pockets as the people in the Middle East and Asia. However, we have strong belief, which is justified by western business standards – money follows good ideas and management and not the way around. First, you must have an idea and means of execution and then the money will follow. Not the other way around. It can happen that you initially come up with huge amounts of money but then it disappears because there is lack of execution capacity and because the whole project is based on wrong principles.

Frankly speaking, right now we are not talking about Leif, Abdul, or Modris. We are talking about powerboating and its future. We are talking about what will be the road that the UIM will take? Back to the old mistakes or a fresh look at the future? Modris and I we are probably the youngest people involved in the sport. And this is what the sport needs – new, young blood, like us. If the UIM decides to stay where it is, it will not be a tragedy for us. We will move on and become outrageously successful. It’s just that we have already invested so much and tried to show where we wish to take the sport with our TV programs, created logo, and website that it will be disappointing to let it all go. The UIM has said that the functions of National Authorities and promoters should be separate. In ideal situation I agree, but under current conditions – the field is just too small and too insignificant. There is nothing to separate and to share!!! As one of our cooperation partners said “The UIM needs you more than you need the UIM”. And after more than a year and half that I have spent dealing with the UIM and the way it has operated, I cannot agree more.

To conclude this – Our team has spent a good deal of time and resources on this. We have generated numerous documents to get this whole thing moving forward, including the existing MOU and, what is more importantly, the amendment to the MOU. So far, it has proved that virtually all clauses of these documents have been breached. Our teams has stood by our promises as far as possible, not to weaken our position against our cooperation partners/competitors at the same time. We have not lied and have honored our agreements. If somebody has something to say against that, feel free – we have nothing to hide and will be man enough to stand up for what we have done and what we believe in. We will address all relevant and appropriate comments made by identifiable persons.

I truly hope that the UIM will be able to understand the importance of the occasion. Modris and I are willing to continue dedicating our time and resources to powerboating, but it has to be under much different rules and agreements which are honored by involved parties as opposed to what we have seen happen in the past.

Best wishes,
Matiss Kalans
UIM F2 World Cup

Discussion, comments and future of our sport. - ( Updated10/10/08 )

Yesterdays press release from FWS kick started alot of feelings around the world, and resulted in a lot of comments. Comments i decided to delete. Why ?

Because I like to promote the sport in a positive way, dont get me wrong. If you follow the website you know Im not afraid of posting my ideas, witch Im free to do.

The only thing I do not want is posts under different names etc. Oki, Angry Jeni from last night is good enough, she is famouse – So is the crasy Svede, Sture Sjøberg – but he is always posting under his own name. 

 Erik the Propeye is erik Braathen, highly respected senior member of the Norwegian NA – is also posting alot, but again – we know who he is. 

On the F2boat.com site its allowed to post critical posts, cause critical points deserves the right to be heard – only point is – think about what you write. 

There is no secrets in the fact that the group around jose Luis Del Palacio is critical to how the process was handle. Personally I think that UIM carried out the wrong decition when Jose´s contract was terminated. I have no problem to say this, and even Abdul Salam, Leif and Modris knows that, from me. 

Unfortunally, UIM did a big mistake in my point of wiue for the class F2/F2000 when they did so, F2 is once again under a rebuilding process after this action, but to blame Abdul Salam, Leif and Modris for it its a step too fare.

They have been called by the UIM and offered to run the show all 3, and we know the result. In the transaction periode Leif has organized 1 event, Modris 3 events and Abdul Salam will have organixed 4 by the end of the year. 

I think even the 3 promoters now agrees that something have to change, and it will. Im sure by the end of the year there is once again only 1 promoter. 

Im sure, because they can not, and will not co operate. Its publically known that non of the promoters works like it was planned. Who´s fault? Not my decition to say. I guess it all have to be run from one hand, its impossible to mix so many cultures, and so many ways of creating ideas. They say all ways leads to rome, but – as you know – there is many ways to choose from. 

Many people ask me about my oppinion, what shall we do, what is right, what is wrong. Well, I do not have all the answers, but I have a few. 

If Jose Luis Del Palacio wants to return as promoter, and get his legal rights back he have to goto UIM and eventually goto court against them. This will take a long time. 1 Other option is, If UIM president Chulli sees the wrong whats been made, and corrects it. 

What about Modris, Abdul and Leif ? 

Well, they have a contract, and they have delivered races in 2007 /2008. So fare the best race this year was Riga, with Malaysia still to come, Modris and his partner Matiss did a great job. All 3 respects their contract with UIM, and gives the drivers races, more than ever. Is it better or worse than before ?

Well, its up to all of you to decide.

New to the market is the Abu Dhabi Club, and they work with their supremo Scott Gillman. Pleased to notice that Scott is back in great shape, and ready to jump in the boat again, cause thats where the laidback american does the best job. Run a boat faster than almost anyone around the race course. 

Scott announced on the World Of Powerboat website that he wanted to “bid” for the World Cup. Not sure if it will be the best for the class, even the events hosted by them are fantastic, the financial support is there – I still have a problem to see how a club from Abu Dhabi can host events world wide. I might be wrong. I pray that they will continue with the President Cup, and host fantastic events like before. 

So, how does my F2 future look ? 

Well, the way I see it is like this;

1. 1 Promoter and a 6 race World Cup calendar. (Pending condition to drivers)

2. Only 1 European Championship. ( Sprint race or GP, imortant is only 1 race)

3. Scandinavian Championship returns back to its origin.

4. President Cup back to its origin, with races in Abu Dbabi, Sharjah, Qatar, Fujairah – Middel east races.

This will open up for national championships in the major contry´s again, Norway, Italy, France, Swe

den, UK etc etc. witch wil once again attracts new drivers to the sport. 

Goto a club / national race in UK or Norway and ask amonst the crowd, ho is Colin Jelf / Rick Ivar haakonsen – and they would probably say “Excuse me?”

We need to build carectors in the home counrtys, Alex Carella is a young pretty boy, and he should be promoted as one hero in his home country – to build up new drivers and fans.

Well, what is your idea? 

If you sign with your name, I promice to not delete your comment ;) 

Who would you like to have as promoter for the F2 / F2000 class ? 

MARITIMO TO RETURN WITH TWO-BOAT ENTRY IN 2009

 The welcome news for the Championship comes on the back of the Australian team supremo’s recent visit to the Romanian Grand Prix, to attend the meeting where the WPPA announced sweeping changes to the rules for 2009, something that Barry-Cotter has been championing for some time.

In line with the rule changes regarding the eligibility of new builds being allowed into the championship based on the same power-to-weight ratio as existing boats, Barry-Cotter will unveil and run his new Maritimo design in Dubai, with Tom Barry-Cotter and Pal Virik Nilsen, the 2008 Australian Superboat Champions, given a wild card entry to compete in the two final races of the season.

Barry-Cotter confirmed that the team will run their lighter 4100kg fibreglass-built hull with 790hp V8s in Dubai, with the team also running a 4800kg minimum weight hull in 2009 with V12s.

Next race for the team is, according to Påls website; 

NEXT RACE REDCLIFFE Our next Class-1 race is Redcliffe offshore powerboat classic in QLD Australia 20TH & 21ST September. This is round one in 08/09 Australian Superboat series. We will test the new boat for the first time in this race. Its a course than can be quite hard with waves and wind. More teams will show up this season witch is very good for the sport in Australia.

Hammer it boys !!