Four Horsemen Poker Run Catches A Break With Small But Dedicated Posse
No matter how large or small the registered fleet, weather and water conditions can derail any go-fast boating event. They are the only elements over which organizers have zero control. And as of late last week, the weather forecast for the Oshkosh, Wis., area for yesterday’s Four Horsemen Poker Run was looking bleak. Showers were predicted to start Saturday morning and continue throughout the day.
A sheet of glass, Lake Winnebago provided a welcome break from the 2023 offshore racing season for Vinnie and Danielle Diorio and a friend in their Outerlimits Offshore Powerboats SC 37R catamaran. Photos by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
But much to the delight—or at least pleasant surprise—of the 31 registered powerboat owners and their guests the weather held for the actual poker-run portion of the 11th annual event benefitting Christine Anne Domestic Abuse Services, Inc., a nonprofit 37-room emergency shelter in Oshkosh. It was the second time in as many years participants lucked out in the face of a tough weather forecast.
“The rain held off till after the run,” said Pete Boden, speedonthewater.com’s chief photographer. “It was a small event, but I believe those in attendance had a great time.”
The rain held off and the good times rolled for this color-matched crew in their vibrant Spectre catamaran.
Per Four Horsemen Poker Run tradition, the event kicked off Friday evening with a welcome party, dinner and live music at the Dockside Tavern, which is next door to the event’s Sweetwater Performance Center and Marina host venue. Following brunch and a mandatory driver’s meeting, the fleet headed down the Fox River to Lake Winnebago for the multi-stop run.
Among those in the fleet were Wisconsinites Vinnie Diorio and his wife, Danielle. The couple had a weekend off from campaigning their SV Offshore Racing Outerlimits raceboat powered by Sterling Performance engines in the Super Cat ranks.
So of course they went boating.
“It was a blast,” said Diorio, who ran their Outerlimits SC 37 catamaran equipped with Mercury Racing 450R outboard engine-powered catamaran with his bride and a friend. “It was relaxing and the first pleasure-boating we’ve done in a long time. The water was good and the rain held off.
Enjoy more images from the 11th annual event.
“We probably got to the lunch stop 10 minutes before everyone else,” he added, then laughed. “We were joking about how much earlier we’d have gotten there if I still had my (Outerlimits) SV 43.”
A few hours after the fleet returned to its host venue Saturday afternoon, the party resumed with another dinner, awards and more live music.
“It was really good, laid back and easy going,” said Gary Swanson, the general manager of Sweetwater Performance Center. “We all had a great time.”
At press time, Swanson did not have a fundraising total for the event’s charity. “We should have that all figured out tomorrow,” he said.
From its Sweetwater Performance Center host venue on the shores of the Fox River to Lake Winnebago itself, the Four Horsemen Poker Run has all the right elements for successful go-fast boating event.
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