Thread:

Scared of Losing CFW

Changes are happening - Scared of Losing our Love
Great time...great people...lots of people on the beach saying how much they liked seeing the boats in the water... As much as I hate to see time change things as much as everyone else, the quarter mile side by side CFW matches, lots of bracket racer type v-drive/jet/whatever type staged boats, attended by entusiastic outlaw types as everyone knew in the past appears to be and looks to have evolved into memories for the most part. Same as the sanctioned events...Expensive and non-localized.

Late 80's/the 90's...hundreds of hot boats, Putah Creek bridge/CFW/local reservoirs...How I got hooked...first boat went 60mph..last boat went 160...Took them all to the lake, even the strictly race.

Nowdays...Awarded bull...t liability lawsuits, no personal responsibility for your own choices/actions, going extreme attitudes to the extent of property/personal damage effecting those willing to expend the effort at risk of allowing the event to happen...Now what happens...it doesn't happen...


Wow, i sound old school but wow, I hate it. Camp far west is one of the few (or only actually) remaining survivors with owner/concessionaires that want to actually hang on...They want us...need us...and are their to cater to us...

The way it was may be gone, but the door still appears to be wide open at CFW for us to be creative and put something together that keeps it alive. It was awesome to have CFW arrange and pay for
a live band playing saturday nite right in the cove...It was for us, not many showed...

If we don't do something...it's going to be gone everybody...

please everyone... post some suggestions on how we can get something together before it's too late. no one thought berryessa would change

Let's take what was good "back in the day", be creative and keep this thing alive...Race/games/contest/grudge/show???

I know we can do something and even get some of those guys we all know to pull their stuff out of the barn that they thought was never to be used again but never will get rid of ...because the love and memories are there...

Bracket boats...hotboats...whatever type boats...Putah Creek bridge is probably gone forever...The IHBA and NJBA are what they are but what we have at CFW is priceless at this point...

The volume of boats/families/spectators/camping/whatever in a volume generating enough capital for the concessionaires is the only way CFW can remain true to our special treatment and continue what they also love without looking for alternate capital generating means ...

Lets not lose it everybody...



dave myrice, family and great hotboat friends young and old

( ex-"fancy sausage" Fineline XH-1 dragboat)

Sloppy, we aren't turning our backs on these places. I live here in Parker, and even the strip is down on numbers. The economy is hitting everyone. The best idea I can think of is planning a certain weekend for events. Irvine Lake is hosting th V-Drive Regatta in June. Plan something similiar, and the people will come. Just my .02.
Jeff.

This is probally it for me. This year and maybe 2009 then I'm gonna hang it up. No plans on selling the boats just yet but no upgrades or new engines in the works. I was there at Putah Creek/Berryessa in the late 80s up to the planned closing on 8/08. Still my favorite place to boat but when the new operators take over who knows whats going to happen. All the things you cited, lawsuits, no responsibility for one's actions, the "I'm the only one on the lake that matters" attitude, wakeboard boats and their huge wakes, idiots on jetskis that think they are the only one on the water and the sh*t from the bark eaters/treehuggers pressuring the BLM and anyone else who will listen about the evils of hotboats. Just getting tired of shoveling sand against the tide I guess. Its been a good run, I've been in the boating world since the mid 50s boating on the Oakland estuary with the likes of Harry Schilling, Paul Gutleben and family [Golden Gate Ski Club] my neighbor Don Philbrick [Philbrick boats] and assorted other people whos names are lost to time. Seems like the "scene" has always changed over the years but the love for anything that floated and moved under its own power always remained the same. Now there are other outside influences dictating what we do. From the pollution police, noise police and every other type of police that seem to think we are the cause of all the problems to the canoers and kyackers that are "intimidated" by our presence. Just getting to be more than this old fart wants to deal with. Rant over

Yeah, I agree - the economy is really tough on everyone right now. Even IHBA is way down. Father's day is usually big at CFW; let's start now with a roll call and make this one the biggest yet. For many of the boats up at CFW it is the only place (outside of sanctioned competition) to run. I don't race and it's the only place that I don't get hassled.

Most issues at any lake, river or at the Drags are created by the powers that be..And there's not alot we as hotboaters can say or do about it.. Gary at CFW has more than stuck his neck out for us to be allowed to run..After all, It would only take something like the local sheriff that patrols the lake to retire & the next guy to have a bitch with what's going on there and it's all over that quick..
One thing that we must do is keep the number of incidents down that will cause or draw attention to what we like to do with our boats..As a group, we for the most part are resonably safe for what we do at our functions/get togethers...There's always gonna be someone, that for what ever reason it be will cast a dark cloud on what we do..Remember, We are already under alot pressure from the powers that be so it's up to us to project a positive image on what we do as a group or as indivuals...Most of these issues are avoidable...As a group that boats together we seem to help each other out as we understand the inherent dangers of our pleasures we call Hotboating..
The one thing that always needs to happen and you see it at the drags is that our boats are inspected prior to running them..When we've ran our boats in the past, guy's that we boat with(Morg,ColemanII,Paul Chassaign ect..) are there to help look the boat over with a fine tooth comb to insure that the chance of a mechanical failure is minimized...These few minutes it takes out of everyones time are priceless..No one needs to be in their boat after drinking..Save it for after,it's alot more fun that way for all concerned...
Well, that's about the end of my little sermon on this..Boat safe and as a group we will boat longer...

Here's a pic a the CFW House Band.....

Originally Posted by Quickjet

I think accidents and ignorring safety are more of a threat to CFW than than lack of financial support.
I saw on more than 1 occasion (probably about 20) of people going on full throttle passes with passengers and no one was wearing ANY safety equipment. NO life jackets...not even a stupid ski vest. I saw many drivers head straight for the shore at full speed so that the guy on the beach could get that "perfect shot" with his camera. These weren't slow boats either. Hydros and a couple runner bottoms were the biggest offenders.
As far as financial support goes, I can't see why anyone with a cool flatty would go anywhere else. Especially if you live in Norhtern California. I drove (and will continue to drive) the 9 hours it takes to get there just because CFW is so Flat bottom friendly. All the other lakes are gay...(yes even Berryessa) No one cares about this hobby like the people at CFW. Yes the bathrooms suck, but that's camping somethimes. Who knows, with more revenue maybe one day they could remodel a bathroom ot two.
Support the lake that supports you!!!! All you have to do is go there.

Amen.
I too was shocked how many "full throttle passes & no gear" runs I saw this weekend.
Remember last Fathers Day when a young girl was badly injured in a Hydro that came apart?
Since I went swimming in 04,I have not been in a boat without vest or without checking ALL my gear prior.
Good to see you again.Had fun this weekend.

Originally Posted by Her454

I believe it was 2003 or 04 when I did the Show N Shine at CFW on Fathers Day, just for fun...and actually gathered some pretty cool, pricey prizes. IF it had been a raffle type deal, or a small fee for entry, alot of money could have been raised. I've done this alot over the years for charity in the form of car shows etc, but it was a first time deal for me organizing for the HotBoaters and I wasn't sure how it would go over - and there are alot of legal issues once you charge for entry etc but if Gary at CFW is open to something like this I wouldn't mind putting in the effort again to help out, if others were willing to help out as well.

If people know the reason behind the "fund raiser" I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to do this again and raise some cash and "promote safety" at the same time..........

Traci

I would be willing to help out.I know my shop owner would donate some prizes.Let me know.Casey

We have some cool Carbon Fiber products that we would be happy to donate if this happens...