September Flush With Fine Events From Coast To Coast – Speed on the Water

Fall officially begins two weeks and three days from now. For most go-fast boating hotspots in the Upper Midwest and Northeast, Labor Day weekend was the last gasp of the season. Those are inescapable facts.

But here’s another, far-happier one: September is loaded with events for performance boating fans.

The first DCB M37R Widebody catamaran powered by Mercury Racing 500R outboard engines, Cowboy and Indian will be in the mix this weekend at the Lake Cumberland Poker Run. Photos by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

Just ask Jeff Johnston, the president of DCB Performance Marine in Phoenix. Johnston and company vice-president Tony Chiaramonte have a full roster of happenings to attend this month.

“We have a busy event schedule in the next four weeks, starting with the Lake Cumberland Poker Run in Kentucky this weekend,” Johnston said. “Tony will there. Kiran Pinisetti and Kelly O’Hara also are representing DCB at Cumberland with their new M37R cat with Mercury Racing 500R engines.”

Playfully dubbed Cowboy and Indian—O’Hara is a former dairy farmer and Pinisetti’s parents are from India—the 37-footer is the first DCB to be equipped with the Fond du Lac, Wis., company’s most powerful outboard engines.

The Catalina Poker Run is a Southern California fall favorite. Photo by Erick Bryner copyright Fast Loud Photography.

“Kiran is already at Cumberland with the DCB and taking Shaun Torrente’s driving class today and tomorrow,” O’Hara said. “I’m sitting in the Syracuse airport now, flying to Indianapolis today to grab the RV and the Axopar to head to Cumberland tomorrow.”

Recently revived, the Arizona-based Lake Powell Challenge returns September 15-16. Johnston, who will represent the DCB brand at the event, said he expects 20-plus DCB clients to participate. Next up on the DCB road show is the Catalina Fun Run, September 22-23, and Chiaramonte will be on scene for that one. And both Johnston and Chiaramonte will, of course, be on hand for the company’s annual Regatta set for the first weekend in October.

Thanks to Sheridan Bazemore, her husband, Augie, and their supporters, the Pirates of Lanier Poker Run in Georgia is coming back big this year. With presenting sponsorship courtesy of Hamilton Marine Finance and Jape Services, the September 15-17 event, sold out weeks ago.

Set for September 20-24, the Florida Powerboat Club Emerald Coast Powerboat Week Poker Run will round out the month’s series of significant events. According to club president Stu Jones, 80 members currently are registered.

The Emerald Grande Destin resort host venue is always a hit with Emerald Coast Powerboat Week Poker Run participants.

“We might get a few more entries but 80 is ideal for this event,” Jones said. “We have kept the same course and the same three-day format with a casual fun run Thursday, a more structured fun run on Friday to Juana’s Pagodas in Navarre and then the normal eight-checkpoint poker run on Saturday.

“We haven’t changed much because so far it seems to be working well,” he added. “It will be exciting to get back up to the Florida Panhandle.”