Accident at Lake Cumberland PR

[Slacker]

Poker runs are bullshit which is made clearly obvious by the last video. You want to have a "fun run" then limit the speeds to -80 mph. If you want to go any faster than that, have it on a closed course with all the safety equipment/training needed.

Sorry I disagree. here in Havasu boats go 100 plus on a consistent basis, poker run or no poker run. No big deal.

[Slacker]

Was the Red Skater trying to get some advantage on the rest of the fleet? I'm kind of like Wendi, it seems scary the way things are in the vid. Either the course is not well known or the red boat is trying to get an advantage. I dont see the green one in this video.

It looks to me that operator cut the corner thru the spectator boats, bad move. Operators like that make Poker Runs look bad.

[Wendi]

I have to completely disagree. Watch from the beginning of the clip. The rest of the poker run fleet continues down the center of the lake. This red skater turns left away from the fleet and heads straight toward the shoreline and the spectators. In fact you will see at the point where the red skater turns toward the spectators, the boat to the left of him cuts back across behind the red skaters line to hold a straight line down the lake with the rest of the fleet. This red skater is reckless and completely endangered himself and everyone else around him. Watch the video again and you'll wee what I'm talking about.

I agree now, I watched it a second time and your are absolutely correct.

[gn7]

Its my guess there is some slight shortening of the course that the red Skater took, like there is a bend in the course ahead. The red Skater went INSIDE the spectator boat and the shoreline! None of the others did.

You cannot ever blame a spectator boat in a situation like this. Its paramount to holding the Long Beach Gran Prix on open streets. You enter the thing knowing the streets will have grandpa and the grand kids out for a Sunday drive out there. There is no difference between a Poker Run and any other weekend, except more boats traveling at high speeds than a normal weekend.

One of these days one of these boats is going to kill a boat full spectators, and the lawsuits are really going to fly.

[SummerO]

If you get a "regatta" permit at LOTO now (a poker run is considered a regatta by the state of Missouri), the Water Patrol mandates a 65 MPH speed limit. This was in part due to a few incidents similar to the video above and others.
That said, the spped limit is not always strictly adhered to by all the participants, but it does eliminate the very high speed runs such as Lake Cumberland that has no speed restriction. It also makes for a miserable day on a cat that doesn't lift out of the water until 90+ MPH.
It hasn't seemed to reduce the number of participants significantly, but those that choose not to run under the guidelines usually have plenty of choices of other places to go that day.
I didn't run the Shootout poker run for two reasons: The first being all the trash in the lake and I wanted to save my skegs and props for the Shootout runs, but also running around the lake at 65 MPH going from the same bars all day and not drinking anything really isnt a lot of fun for the driver!
Personally I would participate in a poker run without speed limits but you won't catch me up front trying everything to out run everyone else. I will save it for the shootout and early in the mornings when very few other boats are around.
I guess I'm old enough now I don't feel i have to prove anything to anyone but myself, so it's no big deal to me.
This was a tragic accident and I hope the families can eventually find peace.

[Stainless]

If you get a "regatta" permit at LOTO now (a poker run is considered a regatta by the state of Missouri), the Water Patrol mandates a 65 MPH speed limit. This was in part due to a few incidents similar to the video above and others.
That said, the spped limit is not always strictly adhered to by all the participants, but it does eliminate the very high speed runs such as Lake Cumberland that has no speed restriction. It also makes for a miserable day on a cat that doesn't lift out of the water until 90+ MPH.
It hasn't seemed to reduce the number of participants significantly, but those that choose not to run under the guidelines usually have plenty of choices of other places to go that day.
I didn't run the Shootout poker run for two reasons: The first being all the trash in the lake and I wanted to save my skegs and props for the Shootout runs, but also running around the lake at 65 MPH going from the same bars all day and not drinking anything really isnt a lot of fun for the driver!
Personally I would participate in a poker run without speed limits but you won't catch me up front trying everything to out run everyone else. I will save it for the shootout and early in the mornings when very few other boats are around.
I guess I'm old enough now I don't feel i have to prove anything to anyone but myself, so it's no big deal to me.
This was a tragic accident and I hope the families can eventually find peace.

Great post!

[gn7]

If you get a "regatta" permit at LOTO now (a poker run is considered a regatta by the state of Missouri), the Water Patrol mandates a 65 MPH speed limit. This was in part due to a few incidents similar to the video above and others.
That said, the spped limit is not always strictly adhered to by all the participants, but it does eliminate the very high speed runs such as Lake Cumberland that has no speed restriction. It also makes for a miserable day on a cat that doesn't lift out of the water until 90+ MPH.
It hasn't seemed to reduce the number of participants significantly, but those that choose not to run under the guidelines usually have plenty of choices of other places to go that day.
I didn't run the Shootout poker run for two reasons: The first being all the trash in the lake and I wanted to save my skegs and props for the Shootout runs, but also running around the lake at 65 MPH going from the same bars all day and not drinking anything really isnt a lot of fun for the driver!
Personally I would participate in a poker run without speed limits but you won't catch me up front trying everything to out run everyone else. I will save it for the shootout and early in the mornings when very few other boats are around.
I guess I'm old enough now I don't feel i have to prove anything to anyone but myself, so it's no big deal to me.
This was a tragic accident and I hope the families can eventually find peace.

Excellent post. Thank you.

[Powerboat Girl]

Regardless how it happened, it happened and we are here today missing the great friends we once had .. May they rest in peace and thier names carry on as legends in the power boating industry. To really understand who these two men are not only to me and my husband but the rest of the power boating industry read at this link...

http://www.powerboatnation.com/conte...fe-itself.html

[HB Vic]

Boz, thank you for posting this. I saw it earlier on IG and was going to ask you if I could post it. I'm not 100%, but I believe I met Jeff & Brad at LOTO. Seemed like very nice guys, pretty reserved considering their passion. Horrific event and I wish their families and friends the best through this very difficult time. God speed guys.

[Powerboat Girl]

Boz, thank you for posting this. I saw it earlier on IG and was going to ask you if I could post it. I'm not 100%, but I believe I met Jeff & Brad at LOTO. Seemed like very nice guys, pretty reserved considering their passion. Horrific event and I wish their families and friends the best through this very difficult time. God speed guys.

Entirely possible they both come off as very reserved and quiet guys, you would know them anywhere by sporting the infamous smith power shirts...however they both had the biggest hearts!! They would help anyone.. It just saddens me that everyone is speculating to how this happened and not focusing on the two incredible and talented men the boating industry lost. Brad was fixing to take engines to a whole new level and was simply a genius when it came to motors,turbos and superchargers. May they both rest in peace and the drama come to a close so we can simply have time to mourn over the loss of these TWO LEGENDARY MEN