Rick, Carl, et al...

This is going to take a much higher level of organization for the race than currently exists. It will no longer be the "experience" and the "challenge" that drives the participants. That much prize money will require truly professional judges, very formal protest hearings, random boat inspections throughout the event, and possibly on the water judges. It cannot be Mike's rules anymore...no more "Jensen beach" rule changes at the last minute to keep the race going with everybody...

What about doping controls??? Mike has always used the Tour de France as a model...in a race where we experience the fatigue, sleep deprivation, and minor injuries that can hamper performance...will the dollars at stake drive participants towards chemical enhancement to keep their edge and stamina??? It costs about $200 last I checked to do an Olympic level drug screen, maybe more now. I know from my participation in Football and also in Track Cycling that many of my friends took performance enhancing drugs to reach goals even at risk to their health...and there was not $1,000,000 cash on the line.

Well I better stop typing and start training for 2004... I'll start the bidding for Jaime Livingston's services at $25,000.

FYI...I'm doing the Tybee 500 this year as I'm not interested in racing an 18 foot boat in those conditions at my size...it will be interesting to see what the boat selected for 2004 will be. I thought the F18HT had a two or theee year deal...is that not the case now...or was that never the case? I'm not an HT basher at all...I hope everyone makes it safe and sound this year, but with this much at stake in 2004... what about having Performance build a special boat that has the best of the 6.0 and I-20 in one package. I heard rumors of Performance tendering such an offer for a special Worrell 20 in years past.

Carl...are you going to do the Tybee 500 or the Worrell this year?

Jim Stone
Entegra racing
"Soul Surfer"