Kinetic Animation Hosting Pre-Fun-Run New Year’s Eve Bash

With the Twisted Metal team’s shop out as the host venue for tonight’s New Year’s Eve party in advance of the annual Joey Gratton Memorial New Year’s Day Fun Run in Sarasota, Fla., Ryan Beckley of Kinetic Animation has stepped up to host the party at his graphics shop. According to Beckley, the party will begin around 7 p.m.

With the event T-shirts ready and most participants in town, all that remains is tonight’s party and tomorrow’s run (click image to enlarge).

“We’re going to have casual cocktails at our shop,” said Beckley, a veteran offshore racer who organizes the annual Fun Run. “It’s not going to be what the Twisted Metal guys have done—they roasted pigs for a couple of years’ parties—and there’s a big shindig in downtown Sarasota, but it should be fun. We have plenty of stuff, but if people like they can bring a ‘bottle and a bag of ice.’”

The 26-mile Fun Run leaves Sarasota at noon tomorrow and will head to the Tarpon Pointe Grill and Tiki Bar for its decidedly social lunch festivities. Beckley said he’s expecting more than 80 boats to participate.

“All the hotels are packed,” he said. “We have a bunch of people in from out of town from California, New York, New Jersey, Texas and Washington—people are coming from everywhere.”

Kinetic Animation is located at 6003 31st Street in Bradenton.

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