Four Horsemen Poker Run Threads The Weather Needle
Rain is no fun in a powerboat, even less so during a popular powerboating event such as yesterday’s Four Horsemen Poker Run. The good news for 13th annual event on Lake Winnebago in Oshkosh, Wis.? The rain predicted for the area mostly held off until the end of the day. Temperatures in the high 60s under mostly grey skies and some mist in the air did make for some cool running in the morning, but that’s what hoodies and long-sleeve T-shirts are for.
And there were plenty of them among the 200-plus participants in the 51-boat fleet.
Vinnie’s Diorio’s SC 37 catamaran was newest addition to the Four Horseman Poker Run’s traditionally large Outerlimits fleet. Photos by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
“We made it to the lunch stop and there was a little rain at the destination, but we made it back to the docks at Sweetwater Performance Center and Marina before it started raining again,” said Gary Swanson, the general manager of the event’s host venue. “All in all, it was a great day and a great run.
“And Pete Boden knocked it out of the park this year with some amazing pictures,” he added.
From Baja to Sunsation, every major high-performance powerboat brand was well-represented during the event. But Outerlimits Offshore Powerboats led the heavy hardware contingent with the likes of Don Verkuylen’s SL 52, David and Nicole Weschler’s SV 52 and Vinnie Diorio’s new SC 37 catamaran powered by twin Mercury Racing 450R outboard engines and more in the mix.
Even the nation’s currently outrageous fuel prices weren’t enough to dull Diorio’s enthusiasm for the event, which as a resident of Omro, Wis., is local to him.
Enjoy more mages from the 2022 Four Horsemen Poker Run in the slideshow above.
“It was a great day except for a little rain, though running 450Rs with fuel at $6.78 a gallon was comical,” he said, then chuckled.
The day ended where it began—at Sweetwater Performance Center on the Fox River—and the second party of the weekend began.
“We had a band last night along with the card draw and a live auction,” said Swanson.
Added Diorio, “There was a crazy amount of people there.”
As previously reported on speedonthewater.com, the organizers chose Christine Anne Domestic Abuse Services as the event’s benefitting charity. The weekend’s event raised $25,000 for the locally based nonprofit emergency shelter and abuse services organization, a significant increase from last year’s $15,000 total.
“All three poker-hand winners donated their money back to the charity,” said Swanson. “Donnie Verkuylen bought the auction fridge and beer for $7,500 and donated it back, and Jerry Farhner bought it again for $3,600.
“We raised more than $20,000 and will be donating $25,000 to the charity this year, he added.
A little cool weather couldn’t stop the good times on and off the water.
Related stories
Gallery Of The Week: Four Horsemen At Sunset And More
Four Horsemen Poker Run Sitting Pretty With 52 Entries And Heavy Outerlimits Presence
Four Horsemen Poker Run Saddled Up For 2022
Four Horsemen Poker Run Donates $15,000 To Local Abuse Shelter And Services Organization
Four Horsemen Poker Run Boasts Larger-Than-Planned Turnout
and then