Spartan Powerboat Club Launches Labor Day Weekend With Fun Run And Open House

Like all event organizers, Del Flores of the New Jersey-based Spartan Powerboat Club faced endless challenges this season. Weather forced him to move his March event to May. State guidelines and restrictions for the COVID-19 pandemic left him no choice but to cancel his Atlantic City run in June.

The final event of the 2020 Spartan Powerboat Club season, yesterday’s fun run on Barnegat Bay was a hit with participants. Photos by Tim Sharkey copyright Sharkey Images.

But yesterday, Flores and his club members finished strong with their third annual Barnegat Bay Marina Fun Run and Open House. The event attracted a 48-boat fleet of go-fast catamarans, V-bottoms and catamarans. The 100-plus participants included what Flores called “a lot of new faces” as well longtime members of the high-performance boating community such as Pete Mazzo and Chris Ryder.

“The day was a perfect 10 and the vibe was electric,” said Flores.

The event attracted new performance enthusiasts as well as go-fast boating veterans such as Pete Mazzo, left, who struck a pose will Del Flores.

Starting in the morning in Toms River and finishing up at Barnegat Bay Marina in Brick for lunch, the run included three card stops. Between the Barnegat Bay Marina and the Spartan Powerboat Club members, the event raised $5,000 for Autism Speaks—just as it did in 2019.

Flores was delighted with the results of event, which will return next year.

Enjoy more images from yesterday’s Spartan Powerboat Club happening in the slideshow above.

“I really feel that this event was a turning point for Spartan Powerboat Club and I feel that we are gaining popularity and traction for the 2021 season,” he said. “This whole COVID thing put a damper on our schedule this year, but we actually rallied and had some nice events.

“My goal is to have six events next season—I’m already working on my 2021 calendar,” he continued. “I have already secured the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City for June 18-20. And I will be branching out of state to Maryland by request of Joppatowne Marina.”

Flores described the day as “a perfect 10.”said Photo by Dakota “The Kid” copyright speedonthewater.com.

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