Kiss another decent event goodbye Augusta. Just like the article says. A lot of finger pointing but no one to accept the blame. Sounds just right for this place! Congrats Augusta, We officially suck again!
The ChampBoat Grand Prix of Augusta, which lured thousands to the Savannah River in May to watch the return of high-speed "tunnel boat" racing after a 10-year absence, won't be back this year.
"We just couldn't get any support there, unfortunately," said Mike Schriefer, the president of Charlotte, N.C.-based ChampBoat Series. "We're not coming back to Augusta."
Promoters hoped the event, modeled after the old River Race Augusta held for a decade before it was discontinued in the 1990s, would become an annual event for race fans already accustomed to the Southern Nationals dragboat competition, which is entering its 23rd year.
The main problem, Mr. Schriefer said, was that no one stepped up to establish a committee or sponsoring organization to promote and manage the event.
"Our business model is to help get an event started and then pass the baton, if you will, and let someone local help it grow," he said. "Usually the market gets real excited, and there's lots of enthusiasm and they put together a committee and it takes off from there."
The Greater Augusta Sports Council, which helped recruit last year's ChampBoat event, did what it could, he said, but the council isn't large enough to do all the promotional work itself.
"With Augusta, it was a lot of shrugged shoulders and a lot of negativity," he said. "Nobody really wanted to take ownership of the event, and we've had to reduce our role as an event promoter."
Randy DuTeau, the sports council's event manager, said losing the series is unfortunate.
"With this event, he was really looking for a local owner," Mr. DuTeau said. "We don't manage a ton of events. We support lots of them, but something like ChampBoat requires a lot of local involvement."
Tammy Stout, the sports council's executive director, said she was disappointed that Mr. Schriefer felt the ChampBoat organization wasn't supported locally.
"Our sponsors, all the volunteers that turned out, the Southern Nationals people, everybody embraced him in this community and did their best to help," she said.
The ChampBoat organization tentatively plans to hold at least 10 races, including a return to Savannah in October.
Reach Rob Pavey at 868-1222, ext. 119, or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
Kiss another decent event goodbye Augusta. Just like the article says. A lot of finger pointing but no one to accept the blame. Sounds just right for this place! Congrats Augusta, We officially suck again!
Big surprise
I went to the races last year and it was the saddest thing I ever saw. I bet there wasn't 200 people there. I agree with AugustaVoter.
Three people pointing fingers, did any one of you step forward to help?
"With Augusta, it was a lot of shrugged shoulders and a lot of negativity," he said. "Nobody really wanted to take ownership of the event, and we've had to reduce our role as an event promoter."
Just another indicator as to why Augusta stinks.
The people had no clue what they were doing and treated the ASN people like they were dogs.
What a shame, I thought is was a great event but once again, poor planning on the cities part will let the event go down the tubes. I somethimes feel that their are certain people in Augusta who don't want change. Augusta is a lovely city and the potential is there for it to be a great city. There needs to be events that attract everyone not just a select few.........
What the &%$$? Augustans dropped the ball again? First no good shows at The Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum and then no drag strip and now no boats. What's next?
Remember South Africa many many years ago? It was a beautiful cultured city............see it now? miles and miles of nothing but crime and ghettos.......thats augusta on a much smalle scale. In South Africa they gave the country to those who demanded it and now its the world's largest garbage dump..... (seems like the seagulls get more and more plentiful each year around augusta)
To all of you bi#ching and moaning about Augusta not supporting this boat race; I have two questions. First; how many of you actually went to the race last year? Second; how many of you volunteered to help organize the race for this year? If you did not do either thing, you need to shut your pie hole. If you are so passionate about having this event; call Mr. Schriefer or Mr. DuTeau and tell them you will step up and help.
If anyone dropped the ball it was the Champboat company. They left a supposed huge event in the hands of small local council and expected them to do everything. When the city said they didn't want host the event again (due to a lot of lost money I'm sure) Champboat wants to make it sound like they decided to not bring it back. What a load of crap! Pay attention people, get your facts right.
Disaugusta does it again. If the corps keep releasing what little water is left in Lake Thurmond we will lose all those events also.
what in the hell does south africa have to do with this article?
Why does the city have to do it. Most successful, ongoing events are taken on by civic organizations or people in the community and worked from there. Leave the city out of it and get off your behinds and make the changes. I moved from Augusta 15 years ago to a smaller town and I make changes everyday where I live because I am involved in it. I volunteer my time for a couple of events and charities that do really well and no government is involved in any of them. Wake up, quite whining and make a difference!
I didn't really realize how bad things have gotten in Augusta until I went to Savannah last week. Savannah has continued to grow and prosper over the past two decades while Augusta has decayed and contracted. South Augusta used to be relatively decent overall, and even West Augusta now is starting to look more and more shabby and depressed. Not working to attract sporting events is just part of the same process of deterioration afflicting this poor city.
GO AUGUSTANS I am suprised one of the County Commissioners did not ask for the City to take charge. That is an event that you could Rip Off thousands .
ChampBoat organization? Does Champ, uh, I mean CHUMP Walker have anything to do with this? Curious.
Had the Augusta requirement of low mental comprehension (watching boats speed down the river),should have been a hit.
The problem with augusta is the people who live here. There always negative and do nothing but complain. Instead of bringing change to their community. Just read the comments above, and see how negative people are.
Augusta has been milked of everything. The only thing left are the wantabe's, who just don't have the intelligence and training to get the job done.
Nice blog re South Africa. There's also Liberia. For those wondering what is relevant about these cities and the plight of Augusta, the issues would overload your neurons: Don't bother to ask. I'll make it simple. Where there are incompetent city administrators and school board members, a city and its environs would turn into a "blackhole." That is a sociological fact.
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