Toys Tour 2023 ‘Best One Yet’ – Speed on the Water

Longtime Toys Tour participants remember the late “Raceboat” Rus Matos, who founded the go-fast boating event that brings gifts to children in need Palatka, Fla., as a funny, joyful man devoted to the cause he began 23 years ago. Last weekend, thanks for most part to organizer Velocity Powerboats Scott McCormick and array of sponsors, that legacy continued as more than 100 boats and several hundred participants descended on Palatka last weekend to bring thousands of toys to the children of Putnam County.

The 2023 Toys Tour attracted more than 100 boats including a heavy contingent from North Carolina. Photos courtesy/copyright Mike Goode.

“This was the best one yet,” said McCormick. “We ended up with 281 registrants and 97 registered boats, although about 20 additional boats joined the Saturday Toy Run. Out toy collection was 50-percent greater than it was last year. And we added three drop locations along the St. Johns River—Crystal Cove, Renegades On The River and Three Bananas—where the community can continue to bring toys by car until Christmas day.”

Though the event has a nominal registration fee, the real tickets to entry are toys brought by the participants for delivery to local kids by the Putnam Country Sheriff’s Department. For the officers involved in the toy distribution effort, it is the best duty of the year.

“The smiles on the faces of the kids are priceless when we show up at their houses with gifts on Christmas day,” said Colonel Joe Wells of the Putnam County law enforcement and safety agency during the Saturday morning toy delivery and lunch run to Renegades on the River.

Regardless of the vessel, the Toys Tour is all about giving.

Per Toys Tour tradition, the fun began Friday with a lunch run to Three Bananas restaurant followed by the opening-night welcome party in Palatka at Crystal Cove Riverfront Resort and Suites, the host venue and headquarters for all off-the-water hijinks. According to McCormick, this year’s low-country boil feast provided by Outer Banks Boil was “a big hit and will be back next year.”

Participants woke to low fog blanketing the St. Johns River the next morning, which delayed run to Renegades and the toy drop along the way at the Walaka City docks by 30 minutes following the safety briefing. But no one cared. The fog lifted and eclectic fleet, with everything from high-performance catamarans to pontoon boats in the mix, headed to Walaka City.

As each boat pulled up to the dock, it was greeted by a throng of first-responders and others.

toystour23-02

toystour23-05

toystour23-09

toystour23-17

toystour23-13

toystour23-06

toystour23-1

toystour23-18

toystour23-07

toystour23-15

toystour23-14

toystour23-04

toystour23-10

toysrour23-01

Enjoy more action from the 2023 event.

“The amount of policemen, firemen, volunteers and children was an amazing sight as they made a human chain passing the toys down the 100-foot dock and into the toy trailer,” said McCormick.

After a “light lunch”—cheeseburgers, grilled chicken, cheese steaks and a chicken-wing bar—the participants split into two group. About half the fleet returned to the Crystal Cove Resort to get ready for Saturday night banquet, celebration and raffle. The other half headed to the pristine waters of Silver Glen Springs.

Led by DJ Louis Matos, the son of the Toys Tour founder, and an MC Del Flores, the Saturday night celebration rocked the Crystal Cove property late into the night.

“You have people who have been doing this event for the 23 years it’s been going on and then you have new faces and these offshore powerboat teams that show up to experience the St. John River,” said Flores, who is the president of the New Jersey-based Spartan Powerboat Club. “Scott McCormick took the ball and ran with it for this event once Rus Matos passed away. He gave me the honor of being the master of ceremonies, so I get to do all the raffles giveaways and shout-outs the sponsors. I joke with the audience and make them laugh keeping spirits high.

“What keeps coming back is the cause—giving gifts to children who are less fortunate, and showing support to my good friend Scott McCormick and the Matos family,” he added. “It’s really an honor for me to be part of this event.”

Flanking organizer Scott McCormick, Cathy Beckett and Candace Beckett of Renegades “went out of their way” to ensure the participants were well-fed and could enjoy lunch as a single cohesive group.

Chad Shutter has been a devoted Toys Tour participant for years. Heading back to Denver, N.C., with his wife, Ashely, and his extended customer family Sunday afternoon, the BRP Custom principal offered a similar take on the event.

“As always, Scott and his team had the Putnam County Sheriff officers on hand for all captains meetings did an amazing job,” he said. “It’s great to have them get behind this great event and speak about what we’re doing for their area.

“A lot of people tend to forget about how fortunate most of us are,” he continued. “And there’s something that brings a smile to your face to know that we can help try to provide a glimpse of the magic of the season to children that otherwise may not have presents under the tree on Christmas morning.”