If I believed everything I read on various websites about my particular category (Unlimited Hydros) or boat racing in general, I’d think it’s just a matter of the hearse pulling up to the hospital. Naysayers, know it alls, never knews, have no clues—you name it—all have their forecasts of the dire future of our sport. Thankfully, as it’s been for over 107 years, they are still wrong.

While the internet has proved a valuable tool in so many ways, it’s also given a voice, quite frankly, to some idiots. The kind who have likely never accomplished much, and get their kicks in other people’s challenges. The good news is life goes on, our racing goes on, and you and I won’t let them steal our joy.

Even in these trying economic times, we’ve had positive announcement after positive announcement for both our teams and our race sites.

• For my team, Oberto Sausage Company has stepped up again to sponsor the U-1 for the 10th consecutive year, with even more presence than in prior years.

• Lucas Oil stepped up to sponsor the Madison, Ind., Governors Cup over the July 4th weekend and as an associate sponsor of the entire H1 Unlimited circuit.

• Lamb Weston once again renewed its title sponsorship of the Tri Cities race in Eastern Washington. And Albert Lee Appliance and Boeing signed up for title sponsorship of the annual Seafair event in Seattle held in early August.

• Not only did Albert Lee Appliance become title sponsor of the Seattle Seafair Unlimited race, it increased its sponsorship of the U-21, a virtually new Unlimited driven by up-and-comer Brian Perkins.

• The Qatar Marine Sports Federation is once gain bringing the Unlimiteds back in November for the Oryx World Cup in Doha, Qatar—it’s the second year of a five-year agreement.

• Peters and May, the international shipping company, is underwriting the U-37 team owned by Jane and Billy “The Shoe” Schumacher along with their new driver JW Myers.

The facts speak loudly, and say we’re not only fine, but healthy and growing. We have new sponsors, new boats and race sites that are running anywhere from their 40th annual event to the 101st running of the Detroit APBA Gold Cup.

When I served as APBA President in 1996, I recall some people then forecasting the death of our sport. They would tell me everything we were doing wrong, etc. I wondered then, as I do now, how we can do it so wrong for more than 100 years and still exist. Frankly I hope we continue to fail as bad as we have for another 100 years.

As for the naysayers, well, you know :)