Shanghied Again
09-13-2001, 05:49 PM
I cant E-Mail my mailbox is down. I have to switch cable Modems!! It is now offical The race is off!
Good afternoon everyone,
This week has been a week that few of us will ever forget. The magnitude of
the tragedy that has occurred has been unfathomable. Thousands upon thousands
of people have been affected by this week's events in one way or another.
Some people that I have spoken to have lost loved ones or dear friends.
Others have been stranded away from home because of the airlines not being
allowed to fly. Even today as I listen to the radio here in my office, select
NJ & NY roadways and bridges are closed. No one is quite sure when the
country will return to "normalcy" or at least as close to the way we used to
know it.
With that said, we still had a National APBA offshore race to produce
starting in 7 days. After much communication with the USCG, NJ State Police,
FBI, Atlantic City Fire Department, Atlantic City Police Department and APBA
Offshore, all of us have agreed that the best thing to do is to cancel this
year's race in Atlantic City. I know that many of you may feel that we should
keep the race on to demonstrate our defiance of the terror that a few have
imposed. I agree with you 100%. The extenuating circumstances that we cannot
control or predict is what is preventing us from producing the race.
Right now, the USCG stations all along the NJ shore have sent personnel,
boats and choppers to NYC. The NJ State Police have done the same. NY Harbor
has been shutdown to all boat traffic until further notice. This could be a
few days but looks like it could be weeks. We need their people to give law
enforcement support for the race.
Right now, the airlines barely have planes in the air. According to the news
a few days ago, they were supposed to be up and running today. Reports today
say that it looks like the airlines won't be back to full operation until
Sunday/Monday. That is also with a week of backlog on their passenger
rosters. As we know, teams were supposed to fly in all next week. Obviously,
to try and predict that everyone will be able to fly in is impossible at this
moment.
Right now, the Paramedics that come on our Poker Runs - Scot Blue, Rick
Kennard, Glen Walsh and other MONOC paramedics are being heroes and are
giving medical aid to the victims of the NYC tragedy. Scot will actually be
at "ground zero" tonight. Take the time to say a prayer for his safety. Many
many more paramedics from Southern NJ are also in NYC. A lot of them were
supposed to be volunteering at the race next weekend too, but right now they
are performing a much more important service and no one knows how long they
will be needed. THESE GUYS ARE OUR HEROES and please remember to buy them a
drink at the next event and say "thanks for protecting us."
Also, the other part of the equation that has not happened yet but could have
a major impact on the country is that we have not militarily responded to the
terrorist attacks yet. This could occur this weekend, next week or next
month. No one knows when it will happen and no one knows what could happen as
a result of it. Right now we think things have changed. This could be nothing
based on the unknown.
Bringing this event to NJ was not an easy task by any stretch of the
imagination. We originally wanted to produce the event in NY Harbor. That
option fell through a few months ago and we were able to regroup and secure
Trump Marina in Atlantic City. We were determined to bring World Class
Offshore Racing back to NJ and our will has not diminished. We have developed
an outstanding relationship with Mike Allweiss, Carrie Rassmussen and all the
great folks of APBA Offshore. They are committed to bringing APBA Offshore
Racing to NJ in 2002 as well as we are.
I would like to thank everyone for their support of the event. I have been
absolutely blown away by the outpour of support we have received. As of
today, we had 8 turn boats plus backups, 40 patrol boats, 8 medical boats and
8 dive boats, plus 5 VIP boats! Even today we are still receiving volunteer
forms. The members of NJ Performance Powerboat Club have demonstrated that
when they want to do something, they can get the job done and deliver. I
never stop being amazed by the devotion and commitment of our members. To
demonstrate that, we are now going to start planning the 2002 Trump Offshore
Grand Prix!
In closing, I would again like to say thank you for your support of this
event. We could not have done it without you. APBA would also like to express
their thanks for your time and efforts.
So instead of attending what would have been the race next week, spend time
with family and friends and say a prayer for those who have been less
fortunate.
Sincerely,
Dave Patnaude
President
NJ Performance Powerboat Club
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
:( :(
Good afternoon everyone,
This week has been a week that few of us will ever forget. The magnitude of
the tragedy that has occurred has been unfathomable. Thousands upon thousands
of people have been affected by this week's events in one way or another.
Some people that I have spoken to have lost loved ones or dear friends.
Others have been stranded away from home because of the airlines not being
allowed to fly. Even today as I listen to the radio here in my office, select
NJ & NY roadways and bridges are closed. No one is quite sure when the
country will return to "normalcy" or at least as close to the way we used to
know it.
With that said, we still had a National APBA offshore race to produce
starting in 7 days. After much communication with the USCG, NJ State Police,
FBI, Atlantic City Fire Department, Atlantic City Police Department and APBA
Offshore, all of us have agreed that the best thing to do is to cancel this
year's race in Atlantic City. I know that many of you may feel that we should
keep the race on to demonstrate our defiance of the terror that a few have
imposed. I agree with you 100%. The extenuating circumstances that we cannot
control or predict is what is preventing us from producing the race.
Right now, the USCG stations all along the NJ shore have sent personnel,
boats and choppers to NYC. The NJ State Police have done the same. NY Harbor
has been shutdown to all boat traffic until further notice. This could be a
few days but looks like it could be weeks. We need their people to give law
enforcement support for the race.
Right now, the airlines barely have planes in the air. According to the news
a few days ago, they were supposed to be up and running today. Reports today
say that it looks like the airlines won't be back to full operation until
Sunday/Monday. That is also with a week of backlog on their passenger
rosters. As we know, teams were supposed to fly in all next week. Obviously,
to try and predict that everyone will be able to fly in is impossible at this
moment.
Right now, the Paramedics that come on our Poker Runs - Scot Blue, Rick
Kennard, Glen Walsh and other MONOC paramedics are being heroes and are
giving medical aid to the victims of the NYC tragedy. Scot will actually be
at "ground zero" tonight. Take the time to say a prayer for his safety. Many
many more paramedics from Southern NJ are also in NYC. A lot of them were
supposed to be volunteering at the race next weekend too, but right now they
are performing a much more important service and no one knows how long they
will be needed. THESE GUYS ARE OUR HEROES and please remember to buy them a
drink at the next event and say "thanks for protecting us."
Also, the other part of the equation that has not happened yet but could have
a major impact on the country is that we have not militarily responded to the
terrorist attacks yet. This could occur this weekend, next week or next
month. No one knows when it will happen and no one knows what could happen as
a result of it. Right now we think things have changed. This could be nothing
based on the unknown.
Bringing this event to NJ was not an easy task by any stretch of the
imagination. We originally wanted to produce the event in NY Harbor. That
option fell through a few months ago and we were able to regroup and secure
Trump Marina in Atlantic City. We were determined to bring World Class
Offshore Racing back to NJ and our will has not diminished. We have developed
an outstanding relationship with Mike Allweiss, Carrie Rassmussen and all the
great folks of APBA Offshore. They are committed to bringing APBA Offshore
Racing to NJ in 2002 as well as we are.
I would like to thank everyone for their support of the event. I have been
absolutely blown away by the outpour of support we have received. As of
today, we had 8 turn boats plus backups, 40 patrol boats, 8 medical boats and
8 dive boats, plus 5 VIP boats! Even today we are still receiving volunteer
forms. The members of NJ Performance Powerboat Club have demonstrated that
when they want to do something, they can get the job done and deliver. I
never stop being amazed by the devotion and commitment of our members. To
demonstrate that, we are now going to start planning the 2002 Trump Offshore
Grand Prix!
In closing, I would again like to say thank you for your support of this
event. We could not have done it without you. APBA would also like to express
their thanks for your time and efforts.
So instead of attending what would have been the race next week, spend time
with family and friends and say a prayer for those who have been less
fortunate.
Sincerely,
Dave Patnaude
President
NJ Performance Powerboat Club
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
:( :(