IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING HBC-3

Ron C · Post by **Ron C** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 12:13 pm

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING HBC-3

As we have mentioned on several occasions, the Heavyweight Bass Classic is entirely a sponsor / investor based operation. This has allowed us to payback every penny of every entry fee to the winners of our trophy bass tournaments.

In light of the recent and very serious financial crisis facing our country, several of our major sponsors and investors have been forced to cut back on their support of HBC-3, thus creating a tremendous financial hardship for our tournament operations.

We are very well aware that this current crisis is affecting nearly everyone and it will undoubtedly force some of our HBC anglers to withdraw from HBC-3. Because of this, we would no longer have a full field or a sufficient waiting list to allow us to guarantee $50,000 to the winner.

Rather than proceed with an event that would pay back less than $50,000 to the winner, or present a tournament that is anything less than a first class event for which we are known, the Board of Directors of Heavyweight Bass Classic, LLC have voted to postpone HBC-3 to a later date, when this current financial crisis has subsided and our economy rebounds and stabilizes.

As you might imagine, this decision was a very difficult one for us, as we still feel that we have a tournament format that is both very popular and very unique to professional tournament bass fishing.

In the coming days, we will be refunding the complete entry fee to all anglers entered in HBC-3.

Please understand that the HBC IS NOT going out of business. We are simply scaling back our operations and our plans to expand until such time that this current national crisis passes.

On a much more positive note, final plans are in the works for HBC-4 (and additional HBC events), which will be held in the West. HBC-4 will offer the same successful and popular format used in HBC-1 and HBC-2. We will be announcing the details of HBC-4 in the very near future and we encourage you to please check the HBC website frequently for details.

Additionally, we will continue to offer exclusive items for sale available only through the HBC Store. We will be adding several new items to the store in the coming weeks, including a six-inch version of the Huddleston Deluxe trout in the very popular HBC Special color. We are also in the early stages of designing an exclusive HBC Special Swimbait Rod with our rod sponsor Dobyns Rods. Past HBC anglers will be sent a questionnaire asking for their input in the design of this new swimbait rod, which will be available only through the HBC Store.

As noted, the decision to postpone HBC-3 was a very difficult one and we sincerely apologize to everyone affected by our decision. However, we sincerely believe that it is in the best interest of everyone involved.

Thank you for your continuing support of the HBC and God Bless.

Ron Cervenka & Ken Huddleston

biteme · Post by **biteme** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:27 pm

Wow, thats going to make it tough for guys to refund monies to their sponsors.

Charles · Post by **Charles** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 7:13 pm

Might want to think about cutting the entry fee back to something reasonable and not making this tournament to big too fast.

just a thought.....

BMX Bassin · Post by **BMX Bassin** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 8:13 pm

Keep it Cali and keep it going the way it was. You will get a loyal following .....unless you guys are it just for the money. Don Pedro or the Delta sounds good. Keep it real.

Sean Graf · Post by **Sean Graf** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 8:14 pm

Charles wrote:Might want to think about cutting the entry fee back to something reasonable and not making this tournament to big too fast.

just a thought.....

Maybe even keep it in California???

RMANZO · Post by **RMANZO** » Sun Oct 05, 2008 7:45 am

saw this coming as soon as you took it out of cal.......... take small steps before you try and "JUMP"

littlebailey · Post by **littlebailey** » Sun Oct 05, 2008 7:58 am

look at all the chiefs in this one. I say take it across the country. There's more to bass fishing than just Cali. Lets see who can be the true Heavy weight classic champ.

bassindon69 · Post by **bassindon69** » Sun Oct 05, 2008 8:22 am

I saw on a Texas board they are having one any way with or without us. But now on the 15th and 16th. Team, No VTO's.

Don.

Bill Cook · Post by **Bill Cook** » Sun Oct 05, 2008 8:51 am

I'm with Paul. Take it nationwide. The economy will turn and HBC will get big. New concepts are always a tough sell, but innovation like this is needed in bass tournaments. They will tweak the concept and get it back on track. I commend Ron and Ken for thinking differently, we need new ideas.

Bill