Jet And Many Other Boats Gearing Up For Friday’s Support Our Troops Fun Run

Initially intended to be a customer appreciation event hosted by the teams at Big Thunder Marine and Wake Effects at Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, this Friday’s Support Our Troops Fun Run is benefitting H.E.R.O.E.S. Care, a veterans’ services organization and the longtime charity of the annual Support Our Troops happening, and is shaping up to be a great one. And the best part is, you can still register if you’re interested.

Burton Kirsten can’t wait to take some military members for a ride in Jet, his 46-foot Outerlimits powered by twin Mercury Racing 1350/1100 engines, on Friday during the Support Our Troops Fun Run. Photo by Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix

“The entries have been pouring in,” said Big Thunder Marine’s Ed Champion, who has a soft spot for the annual event that not only raises money for H.E.R.O.E.S. Care but provides the opportunity for military members to get to ride in a performance boat for a day. “Right now we have 35 military members signed up for rides and some awesome boats lined up to give those rides.”

Some lucky military members are going to get to catch a ride in Jet, the show-stopping 46-foot Outerlimits Offshore Powerboats catamaran powered by a pair of Mercury Racing 1350/1100 engines and owned by Michigan performance boaters Burton and Yvette Kirsten.

The funny thing is, Kirsten, who is already in town and enjoying the lake, made it seem like he was the lucky one during a quick interview this afternoon.

“I can’t wait to take some of the military folks in my boat and see what kind of faces they make,” Kirsten said. “I talked to Doc (Dr. Michael Janssen) about the event and decided I needed to be involved with it this year. I donated money and I had a bunch of F-35 Jet shirts made to give out. Along with Doc’s boat (an Outerlimits SV 53), we should have a few other Outerlimits boats joining us. Adam Seraphine is here with his boat and I heard we’re going to meet up with the Factory Billet guys, too. I’m super excited for Friday, especially with how crazy the world is at the moment.”

The fun run, which Champion said will comply with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, starts Friday morning with a breakfast at Dog Days, and participants will head to several stops on the lake, including Bear Bottom Resort, Paradise, Tap & Grill, Coconuts, Lake Burger, Millstone Marine and Glencove Fuel Dock & Sea Store, before an arranged helicopter photo shoot takes place at 3 p.m., followed by dinner and entertainment at Dog Days starting at 5 p.m.

Champion also pointed out that the Big Thunder Marine team also is hard at work on the BFD Fun Run celebrating the Baja Marine, Fountain Powerboats and Donzi Marine brands, which is set to take place Friday, July 24, with a welcome party on July 23. Registration for next month’s BFD Fun Run is available online.

Jet And Many Other Boats Gearing Up For Friday’s Support Our Troops Fun Run

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