Peering Into August—Summer’s Event Full-House

Even if you cloned yourself, bought another boat and took off the entire month, there’s no way you could hit every go-fast boating event in August. On the weekend of August 16-18 alone, there are three events—the Lake Champlain Poker Run in Vermont, the Rock the River Fun Run in Ohio and the Rocky Top Power Run in Tennessee.

Here’s a quick rundown of what’s on tap next month:

• August 1-3—Sunsation Boats Sun Run on Lake St. Clair

Kicking off later this week, the third annual Sun Run is a brand-celebration like no other. Photo by Brad DiMaggio/Scrapyard Media

Now in its third year, the Sun Run kicks off Thursday when Sunsation center consoles and sportboats take over downtown New Baltimore, Mich., and gets the brand-celebration rolling. Come Friday, more than 150 models, from current to vintage, will hit Lake St. Clair for a joyful day on the water.

• August 1-3—Big Cat Poker Run in Discovery Bay, Calif.

The annual Big Cat Poker Run in Northern California is as fun and scenic as poker runs on the West Coast get. Photo by Kris Wesenhagen/KKJ Media

Presented by the Discovery Bay Lions Club, the Northern California Big Cat Poker Run returns to scenic Discovery Bay, Calif., with a welcome party Thursday, a lunch run on Friday and the two-route poker run on Saturday that concludes with a delicious dinner and unforgettable after party. Participants can choose between a shorter route ideal for leisurely boating or an extended adventure that leaves Discovery Bay Marina heads to Pittsburg Marina, followed by a lunch stop at Windmill Cove before returning to the heart of Discovery Bay.

• August 8-11—Texoma Throw Down

The Texoma Throw Down is returning to Lake Texoma for the seventh year. Photo by Kevin Johns/Instant Memories Photography

The Texoma Powerboat Association is all set for its seventh annual Texoma Throw Down, which is being hosted at a new location this year—Catfish Bay Marina at Pointe Vista in Kingston, Okla., and organizers are expecting a big turnout. This year’s event includes another Thursday night street party at Freeman Marine Sales and Brokerage with an afterparty at Caney Creek beer gardens. Of course, plenty of food, refreshments and entertainment is lined up for Friday and Saturday evening at the marina and the adjacent West Bay Casino and Resort.

• August 9-11—Midwest Challenge

Now in its second year, the Midwest Challenge is among the most spectator friendly venues in offshore racing. Photo by Brad DiMaggio

After a month-long break, the American Power Boat Association Offshore National Championship Series picks up again with the Powerboat P1-produced Midwest Challenge in Sheboygan, Wis. So, too, does the concurrent Union Internationale Motonautique Class 1 World Championship season. Fans of the sport are itching to catch more offshore racing action, and the racers are more than ready to deliver it. As it proved for the first time last year, Sheboygan is an excellent place for both.

• August 16-18—The Tri-State Trio

Thanks to the efforts of its organizers, the Rock The River Poker run has come back with a vengeance. Photo by Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix

As you read at the outset of this article, the third weekend of next month is bursting with events. So how to decide where to be, other than proximity to where you are? If you’re looking for a dramatic natural environment, the Lake Champlain Poker Run is an easy call. If you want to try something new—at least with new organizers—the Rocky Top Power Run backed by Cigarette of Kentucky on Lake Norris is the call. If you’re looking for something a bit more “urban,” the resurging Rock The River Fun Run in the Cincinnati area gets the nod.

• August 20-25—Lake Of The Ozarks Shootout

With two days of top-speed competition, a street celebration with dozens of boats on display, the Performance Boat Center welcome party and a poker run, the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout is summer’s biggest event. Photo by Jeff Helmkamp/Helmkamp Photos

A bucket-list event in the performance-boating world, the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout in Central Missouri delivers no less than one event-specific happening per day. The funs starts Tuesday night with the Bob Morgan Memorial Lake of the Ozarks Shootout Hall of Fame induction dinner-celebration. The following evening, powerboats, hot rods and the people who love them take over the Bagnell Dam Strip for the Shootout On The Strip street celebration backed by Waves and Wheels. On Thursday evening, Lake of the Ozarks Shootout presenting sponsor Performance Boat Center throws a traditional welcome bash as its Osage Beach headquarters. The Lake of the Ozarks Shootout Poker Run happens Friday, followed by two days of top-speed competition.

• August 22—Super Cat Fest

For performance boat fans, Super Cat Fest is better than any boat show. Photo courtesy Jeff Johnston/DCB Performance Marine

As both Super Cat Fest and the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout share the same weekend and waterway, Super Cat Fest participants can engage as much or as little in both events as they please. New this year—and only this year—Skater Powerboats is throwing its 50th anniversary bash at the Camden on the Lake Resort on Thursday night of Super Cat Fest. For participants, the event is about showing off outrageous hardware from catamarans to center consoles at the docks and renewing acquaintances. For high-performance powerboat fans who just want to ogle at the best of the best, it’s better than any boat show.

The post Peering Into August—Summer’s Event Full-House appeared first on Speed on the Water.