"Buran Wins Surfing," Los Angeles Times, October 18, 1978

Joey Buran of Carlsbad won $3,000 for his first place finish in the first Southern California Pro Surfing meet held recently at Oceanside Harbor jetty. Buran was the judge's unanimous choice for the title, beating out Hawaii's Larry Bertlemann (2nd), La Jolla's Chris O'Rourke (3rd), Ocean- side's Nick Adams (4th) and Hawaii's Randy Kim (5th).

"A Special Protest," letter from Joey Buran to Surfing magazine; published in February 1979

On October 10 [1978], the finals were held for the Bob Hart Southern California Pro. The finals were held in glassy three- to five-foot rights and lefts at Oceanside Harbor's North Jetty. When the results were tabulated, I was pronounced the winner. Behind me were Larry Bertlemann, Chris O'Rourke, Nick Adams, and Randall Kim, in that order.

When I received my prize money of $3000, my check was postdated October 15. Bob Hart said that I could cash it before that time if I just called his bank in Newport. The next morning I called Bob Hart's bank and, because my check was postdated, [was told] I couldn't cash the check until the date shown on the check—which turned out to be a Sunday. So on Monday, October 16, I tried to cash my check through my bank in Carlsbad. At 1:00 that afternoon, I was told the check was no good because Bob Hart had insufficient funds. (No money!) 

From that day on, my mother and I have had to endure all kinds of lies and intimidation from Mr. Bob Hart.

On October 17, my mom brought her lawyer into the case. I had called Bob Hart on the 16th to find out why my check was no good, but he was not in. He had an answering service on which I left a message for him to call me. (Which he never did.) On October 18, Bob Hart returned my lawyer's calls and said the check would be made good on the following Monday, October 23. He told my lawyer to tell me he would deposit the money in his bank at 10 a.m. on the 23rd and then drive down to Carlsbad to deliver me a new check. He was also supposed to call me at 10 AM on the 23rd, after he had deposited the money. He never called, and never deposited the money. At this point, I was understandably upset.

So I called to find out what his excuse was this time. Once again, his answering service could not tell me where he was and that they could only leave a message. He did not call that night. The next morning (the 24th), I called once again and told them if Bob Hart didn't call by 10 a.m. I was going to start taking legal action against him.

That afternoon, my mother and I went to the Oceanside Police Department and took with us the October issue of 

, in which he had placed a two-page advertisement for his contest, and where, in clear print, it stated there would be a guaranteed first prize of $3,000. Also, I took in an entry form which also read the same as the ad in 

. In addition, I took in a typed manuscript from my lawyer recalling the events that had happened since I had first received my check. The police said they would call in a week or so and let me know whether the State would prosecute, or if I would have to take him to civil court, where it would be my lawyer against his.

On October 26, I left for the Hawaiian Islands and left my mom in charge of the legal problems. But just before I left, I received a very interesting phone call from one of Hart's associates, Mr. John Peck, who told me that I shouldn't attempt to sue my Christian brother Bob Hart.

What kind of a Christian runs a surf contest where he charges 108 people $100 each and doesn't pay off first, second, third, or fourth places? Where did that money go? We, the surfers, put in over $10,000 [in entry fees]. Who got it? Bob Hart? The people he owes money to? What about the surf contestants? Did he forget about us? Or did he just hold the contest so he could rip us off? And John Peck has the nerve to tell me that I'm the bad guy just because I want my money! I don't know where he or Bob Hart are coming from, but I know one thing: they should 

"DA Charges Checks Awarded by Surfing Promoter were a Wipeout," Los Angeles Times, May 18, 1979

The promoter of a surfing tournament that drew 107 entrants to Oceanside Harbor last year was arrested Thursday on charges that he wrote bad checks to the winners. Robert Hart, 28, was arrested by Orange County sheriff's deputies and Oceanside police at his South Laguna home and booked at Oceanside City Jail on $5,000 bail. The San Diego County district attorney’s office filed charges of grand theft and writing bad checks against Hart in connection with the first Southern California Professional Surfing Open, last October 3 to 10.

According to authorities, Hart accepted entry fees of $100 each from 107 surfers and offered $7,000 in prizes. The winner, 17-year-old Joey Buran, was paid $3,000 by check. Others placing in the tournament also received cash prizes paid by checks that bounced, authorities said. The district attorney’s office said some of the checks paid to winners did not bounce. An investigation is continuing to determine if there were other victims.

Hart, head of Robert Hart Associates, is a manufacturer of surfboards, the district attorney’s office said.

"Surfing Contest Promotor Jailed on Check Count," Los Angeles Times, July 28, 1979

The promoter of an Oceanside professional surfing contest last year has been sentenced to 90 days in jail and ordered to pay $8,204 restitution because of bad checks he wrote to winners of the surfing event. Robert Hart, 28, of Laguna Beach, had earlier pleaded no contest to the charges of writing bad checks and grand theft. He was sentenced this week by Municipal Court Judge J. Morgan Lester, who heard the Superior Court case.

Hart’s Southern California Professional Surfing Open, held last October, attracted 107 surfers, each of whom paid a $100 entry fee. Dep. Dist Atty. William Paparian, who prosecuted the case, said 13 persons received bail checks from Hart, including the top three surfers in the contest, judges and contest workers. Of the $7,000 in prize money, checks amounting to $5,000 were not honored by the bank, Paparian said.

Hart was ordered by Morgan to make restitution in the amount of $200 a month until everyone due money was paid.

The well-publicized contest attracted surfers from California, Hawaii and Australia.

"California Pro," by Steve Pezman; SURFER Magazine, February 1979

Who knows why some people develop the urge to promote surf contests. To associate with surf stars? To mistakenly think they can make some money? To do something for the sport? For Bob Hart, it might have been any number of reasons, but after the smoke had cleared from his California Pro, there was still a bad odor in the air. The event itself was conducted intermittently at Oceanside Jetties during a solid southwest swell, and the contestants each paid $100 to enter. Several days after the completion of the event, word was out that winner Joey Buran's $3000 check had bounced higher than his off-the-lip. 

While this pro event floundered through the usual amateurish follies, the surfing itself was quite good, and the level of competition rather even from all quarters of the international field. So the California Pro was another frustrating one-step-ahead-and-two-steps-back for pro surfing in the Golden State, heartland of commercialism and media blitz, which is perhaps a type of statement in itself.

1978 Southern California Professional Surfing Open

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