Old Hickory Fun Run Expecting 75 Boats, Expanding Street Presence

Hosted by the Tennessee Powerboat Club, the Old Hickory Fun Run event is slated for August 1-2 on Old Hickory Lake outside Nashville, Tenn. The organizers for the run, which is entering its second year, are expecting at least 75 high-performance catamarans and V-bottoms to participate.

Organizers of the Old Hickory Fun Run in Tennessee are expecting a healthy fleet in just the second year of the event.

“We are having our kickoff party on the rooftop of Rock Bottom Brewery in Nashville,” said Chad Collier, a member of the club and one of the key organizers for the event, which has EB Marine, Universal Kia and Pier 57 Marine as its title sponsors. “I have also secured a lane-closure permit with security and traffic control, so will be able to park a couple boats on the street below our party. Most likely those will be Project Mayhem (a 38-foot Marine Technology, Inc., catamaran owned by fellow club member Mark Godsey) and another MTI cat, both on tilt trailers.

“Nashville has never seen anything like this before, and it is the start of what I intend to be a full fledged street party that will marry powerboating and Nashville night life,” he added. “I think this is very unique, especially in a metropolitan area like Nashville, to have our boats displayed so publicly in a place they have never been before.”

Project Mayhem will be on display below the event’s kick-off party in downtown Nashville.

A meet-and-great lunch and a casual raft-up on the lake are scheduled before the kickoff party on Friday. From there, participants will be shuttled by bus for the 30-mile trip to downtown Nashville for the party.

“I have secured Uber as a sponsor to give all our participants $20 off their ride home after they enjoy the night life that Nashville has to offer,” said Collier.

Hosted by The Rudder at Anchor High Marina, Saturday’s post-run evening awards presentation and party with live music will began at 6 p.m. There will be cash prizes of $1,500, $500 and $250 for the top three participants. A portion of the proceeds from the run will go to Centerstone Children and Family Services, a nonprofit provider of family mental health and substance-addiction treatment services.