H2O International promoter Jay Shoup seems focused on cleaning up the weekend that rightly or wrongly has become a nightmare because of his VW/Audi event.
For many years, Shoup’s event was largely held without much attention outside of the automotive enthusiasts who attended. It brought in thousands of passionate Volkswagon and Audi owners to the area, but their impact was marginal. They may have provided some economic surge, but they certainly did not cause the public safety issues and wreck the resort as happened last year.
Within the last three years, something has changed. Shoup acknowledged as much this week on social media. First, over the weekend, he posted a notice to followers on Facebook about the date being moved for the event to October and went after the troublemakers of recent years.
“To the ones who think H2Oi is a ‘FREE_FOR_ALL’ and no rules or laws exist while attending H2Oi and staying in OCMD, I hope to make this crystal clear … I don’t want you, the VW/Audi community doesn’t want you and Ocean City doesn’t want you! So please stay home if you cannot control yourself and act like normal, respectful adults. I have told OCPD and the Maryland State Police to ticket, impound and arrest any fool who cannot obey the same laws that I am expected to obey! If you don’t like it – STAY HOME! Again, YOU ARE NOT WELCOME!,” the post read. “I would like to remind everyone that H2Oi is a positive event! We have supported the community and charities for years … I’d like to think H2Oi has brought some great things and will continue to do so! I need your help in passing along this information! Help me, help you! I promise to continue to provide this great event with your assistance to make it known that the nonsense will not be tolerated!
Later on Instagram, Shoup posted, “If you’re offended, perhaps you’re the problem…? Help us take it back…! We don’t want you, if you’re going to act like a fool.”
Shoup is doing what he should be doing here and he is to be commended for being aggressive. It’s no surprise his statement was viewed with mixed reactions online. Some applauded the position, while others blasted him with a disturbing tone and a clear entitlement that was so evident during last year’s event.
It’s the latter crowd that wreaked havoc on Ocean City last year at the end of September. They were rude, careless and obnoxious and seemed intent on disrupting the town as much as possible. They hate the police and wanted nothing more than to cause problems. Things got so testy at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center parking lot among mostly foreign-owned vehicles with no affiliation to the H2Oi event that police had to shut down the parking lot because the crowd could not be controlled. There were numerous other disturbing situations, such as brutal fights in business parking lots, trash strewn around everywhere and pedestrians nearly being struck by vehicles clearly trying to scare them with close calls.
Shoup has done his part and seems intent on continuing to do his part, but the fact is this weekend needs to be a major concern for the town and law enforcement. Shoup’s message was great to see but the city and police agencies need to be preparing now and be pro-active to avoid a repeat of last year’s concerns.