Lake Cumberland Thunder Run Expecting 100-Plus Boats

Hosted out of Grider Hill Resort and Marina on Kentucky’s Lake Cumberland, the Lake Cumberland Thunder Run is expecting another solid turnout according to Go Fast Threads owner Justin Lucas, one of the event organizers.

Between cruisers, sportboats and offshore V-bottoms like the Cigarette models above, all boats are welcome at the Lake Cumberland Thunder Run.

“We had 106 boats registered last year and we are expecting around the same this year,” said Lucas, who owns a 288 from Sunsation Boats. “As always we have made small changes to the run this year not only to keep/make it safer but also to give the participants something different.”

Brian Shelton of Indiana drives his 42-foot Fountain Powerboats V-bottom in the poker run on Kentucky’s Lake Cumberland.

Taking place Friday and Saturday, June 27-28, the sixth annual poker run includes a fun run on Friday to State Dock for lunch followed up by raft-up at 76 Falls and a registration party at the resort. The poker run starts after an 11 a.m. drivers’ meeting on Saturday and runs to Conley Bottom, Wolf Creek Marina and State Dock with a lunch stop at Grider Hill followed by a raft-up at 76 Falls before returning to the resort to pick up the last card at turn in.

Along with appealing to the high-end offshore cat and V-bottom guys, Lucas said the event attracts many smaller sportboat owners like him because of the welcoming atmosphere and affordability. It also draws a sizable cruiser class, as there is a shorter version of the run for anyone wanting to fill their cruiser with friends, enjoy a leisurely run and still attend the other activities.

He added that the organizers take a lot of pride in giving poker run participants “the most bang for their buck.” As usual the event will include a fireworks show on Saturday night and first-class entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights, including Louisville DJ Ryan Coxx. If you didn’t see it, Coxx helped power the Florida Powerboat Club Key West Poker Run raft-up from a Nor-Tech 420 Monte Carlo in November (read the story and watch the video).

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