Boyne Thunder Sold Out—Waiting List Open
High-performance powerboat owners who think they missed the boat, so to speak, on the Boyne Thunder Poker Run thanks to its recent 100-boat sell-out can at least get their names on waiting list for the Lake Charlevoix/Lake Michigan event slated for July 11-12. That’s the word from Pete Oppermann, one of the 11th annual Boyne City, Mich.-based event’s organizers.
Even though the organizers opened the Boyne Thunder Poker Run to 100 for the time in the event’s 11-year history, it sold out earlier than expected. Photos courtesy/copyright Jay Nichols/Naples Image.
“We capped the event at 100 boats and it sold out more than a week ago, but people’s plans changes, boats break and so on, so we do have a waiting list, said Oppermann.
In addition to reaching its registration capacity earlier than expected, the event has seen a rise in corporate sponsorship. Ilmor Marine and Mercury Racing are among the marine industry companies lending their support. On the automotive side Downs Custom Automotive—owned by local go-fast boating luminary Tom Borisch who also owns the turbine-powered 50-foot Mystic catamaran called Low Altitude—and Cauley Ferrari of the greater Detroit area are bringing exotic vehicles to display in combination with a variety of high-end performance boats for Friday night’s street celebration in Boyne City.
As it did last year, the street display in Boyne City on Friday night will feature a variety of exotic go-fast boats and cars.
“There’s just a ton of people who came last year returning for this year’s event, and we’re really excited about that,” said Oppermann. “The event ‘unofficially’ kicks off with a lunch run on Thursday from Lake Charlevoix to Bay Harbor on Lake Michigan. On Thursday night, there will be a party on top of Boyne Mountain—you have to take a chairlift to get there and the ski hill overlooks Boyne Valley—sponsored by American Custom Marine. On Friday, everyone shows up at City Marina to get registered and there are all kinds of things happening like a boat stereo competition and the boats and cars on display that night. And then on Saturday morning we have the poker run.
“There are guys coming up for the July 4 holiday and staying the whole time,” he added “It’s a perfect place to be this time of year.”
Editor’s Note: For information on getting on the Boyne Thunder waiting list, contact Hugh Conklin at Main Street, 231-582-9009. Look for real-time coverage of Boyne Thunder on speedonthewater.com, as well as a feature on the event in the July/August issue of Speed On The Water digital magazine.
and then