Desert Storm Notables Prepare for Tomorrow’s Shootout

Despite the fact that the top two finishers from the 2013 Desert Storm Poker Run Shootout won’t be running in tomorrow’s top-speed event on Arizona’s Lake Havasu, there should be some impressive speeds, assuming the weather holds out.

Gary Smith’s Predator, a 40-foot Skater Powerboats catamaran, is one of the favorites for tomorrow’s Desert Storm Poker Run Shootout.

The forecast is calling for a slight chance of showers in the morning, but notable Shootout participants Gary Smith, Ivan “Buck” Stracener and many others aren’t going to let that stop them from hopefully laying down a big number.

Ivan “Buck” Stracener and his son, Brett, walk the
Desert Storm Poker Run Street Party.The competition for the King of the Desert should be interesting with Smith in Predator, his 40-foot Skater Powerboats catamaran with twin 1,700-hp engines from Larry’s Engine and Marine, being the odds-on favorite thanks to last year’s King of the Desert Don London opting to pass on his 180-mph top speed in his Skater cat. Although a handful of speedy Dave’s Custom Boats models could swoop in and take the trophy. Smith, a regular front-of-the-pack participant in the poker run said he was sitting out the run today to make sure his boat was ready for tomorrow’s Shootout.

Stracener, who had his 28-foot Nordic Boats catamaran on display at the Street Party Thursday and was walking around with his son Brett, is hoping to surpass the 150-mph mark in his 28 SS, which is powered by a single 1,350-hp engine from GT Performance. Stracener said he planned to test a new prop from Hering Propellers on Friday and give it his best effort on Saturday.

Another boat to watch for will be George Ogden’s E-Ticket Boats 29 Luxury Cat. Ogden, who lives in Lake Havasu City, ran 112 mph in the 2012 Shootout with a set of Ilmor Marine MV-710 engines in the 29-foot catamaran. Tomorrow a pair of 1,025-hp engines from Teague Custom Marine will be spooled up for Ogden’s passes along the course.

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