After months of negotiation, I'm happy to announce the latest addition to our fast-growing calendar of APRA-sanctioned events. Scheduled to take place on the July 4th weekend in Sarasota, Florida - the home of one of the world's largest and most successful race sites - the poker run is part of a spectacular Suncoast Offshore Grand Prix Festival.

For four days, Sarasota will, this year, highlight action-packed offshore racing, a gala parade of performance boats, fireworks and a slew of fun-filled activities guranteed to provide visitors with out-and-out thrills.

As we went to press, the official sanctioning body was undetermined. While Poker Runs America was asked if we were interested in establishing a new race sanctioning group, we decided that a move in that direction could be misperceived to be detrimental to the continued growth of the sport.

However, organizing poker runs is where we excel, and the offer to play an integral part in the festive weekend was something we could not turn down. While we do our utmost to promote offshore racing - APBA Offshore, SBI or otherwise - our first priority, as our magazine's name suggests, is to recreational performance boating, i.e. the poker run circuit.

That said, I would also like to tell readers who are still confused about the recent establishment of Race Site Venue Partners that RSVP is NOT a sanctioning group. Its members are, pure and simple, race site promoters dedicated to play a vital role in the continuing growth of offshore competition for America's racing community and devoted fans. Where possible, RSVP members will combine a weekend of heart-pounding race action (either APBA Offshore or SBI-sanctioned) with poker run events and other fun-filled activities for the whole family. There's no question that poker runs have become a recreational power boating phenomenon. Each year, the number of events continues to climb dramatically. Hopefully, the sport of offshore racing will, in the very near future, gain the widespread public acceptance that, for example, NASCAR competition enjoys today.

As a magazine and an event promoter dedicated to performance boating, we will continue to play our part in ensuring the ongoing success of poker runs and offshore racing. I think it's high time we all return to our roots and leave the politics to the politicians. After all, the letter "P" also precedes poker runs, power, performance and, above all, pleasure! Isn't that what we're all about? ( Top )