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It all began last January, at the Miami Boat Show, when Scott Shogren of Shogren Performance the “World’s Largest Fountain” dealer, Mike Livorsi & Reggie Fountain sat down with Bill Taylor to finalize creating the “Inaugural” Windy City Poker Run in the Chicago. The idea was pure gold – cars and boats would go head to head in pursuit of the best poker hand, all in support of the Make-A-Wish foundation. After consulting with Scott Shogren of Shogren Performance Marine, Rick Mackie of Mercury Marine, and Mike Livorsi of Livorsi Marine, we began planning the inaugural Windy City Poker Run. The idea was to combine the excitement of offshore performance boating with the thrill of motorsports, by staging a parallel Poker Run along the coastal highways for the Lamborghini enthusiasts of Chicago. Both groups would collect a series of five sealed envelopes containing a single playing card, and at the end of the run, the crew with the best poker hand would be declared the winner.
More than 300 performance boaters and dozens of Lamborghini enthusiasts converged on the grounds of North Point Marina, in Winthrop Harbor, IL, to bring a taste of the most exotic forms of personal transportation to an eager audience comprising both motorsports and offshore boating fans. (Page Top)
The weekend began with an afternoon devoted to community service, as our Poker Runners, led by Scott Shogren, of Shogren Performance Marine, participated in a special Make-A-Wish Foundation program, providing rides on the most exciting of the Poker Run boats for 68 children and 19 families. In addition to spending several hours introducing the Make-A-Wish families to the thrill of offshore boating, The Make-A-Wish foundation of Chicago and Wisconsin was generously supported by a number of Poker Run corporate sponsors, including Mercury Marine, Formula Boats, and Prairie Rock Brewing Company/Shogren Performance, each contributing $5,000 to make a child’s wish come true. The event raised more than $15,000 for the Make-A-Wish foundation of Chicago and Wisconsin. Founded 25 years ago, the foundation has granted more than 144,000 wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. This event would not have been possible without the support of Dennis Ellerbrock and the entire Skipper Buds staff. Skipper Buds moved their entire fleet of brokerage boats to accommodate the windy City Poker Run entrants for the weekend. After the Make-A-Wish rides were completed, the group gathered at Tropics Restaurant, where good friends, great food, and Tri-State hospitality combined for an outstanding evening. (Page Top)
Factory reps from Fountain, Cigarette, Donzi, and Formula, were on hand to provide technical backup for their customers, and to enjoy one of the summer’s most interesting Poker Runs. It was a social event as well, as our land and water based participants included some of the most successful professionals, celebrities, and entrepreneurs in the mid-west.
At the stroke of 10:00 a.m., the starter’s flags dropped signaling the first wave of boats to set course northbound for Milwaukee, while the Lamborghinis roared to life for their dash up the coastal highway.
You know that an event has captured the imagination of enthusiasts and spectators alike when the major media personalities are in attendance. The Windy City Poker Run had every base covered – sponsor publications Poker Runs America Magazine staff and Powerboat Magazine associate publisher Vicki Newton and editor Gregg Mansfield were on site, as well as the staff of Power Boating Canada Magazine. The event drew the interest of the Chicago Tribune, with Mike Esposito reporting on the action. The twin fleets converged for lunch at Skipper Bud’s in Milwaukee, where boats and cars were on display for the general public to enjoy. For many of the spectators this provided the first opportunity to see the custom designs and immaculate rigging characteristic of the offshore performance class. As boaters and motorists mingled there were many discussions comparing these thoroughbred performance machines… “wanna swap that Top Gun for a gently used Diablo?” (Not likely).
From Kenosha, it was a quick dash back to port at North Point Marina, bringing the nautical phase of the event to a conclusion. (Page Top) The Windy City Poker Run ended on a high note, with a gala dinner and awards evening, with Tropics Restaurant catering a buffet dinner under the big tent at Winthrop Harbor. Poker Runs America publisher Bill Taylor kicked off the evening by welcoming the Poker Runners as well as guests from the Make-A-Wish foundation, who presented a very touching video describing the history and achievements of this worthy cause. As the Windy City Poker Run was dedicated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, several of the families were on hand to receive checks to make their child’s wish come true. Fred Kiekhaefer presented a check for $5,000 from Mercury Racing, Vic Spellberg did the honors with a check for $5,000 from Formula Boats, Scott Shogren, Mike Origer & Sue Origer added their $5,000 to make the fund-raising segment of the evening a stunning success.
Following the presentations, the evening swung into high gear as each participant’s Poker Run hand was revealed. The motorists ruled the evening with first place going to the Ehrlers, who led the Lamborghini contingent, with second place captured by the Kochers. Our Poker Run boaters were represented in the winners circle by Dr. Bob Rosenberg, whose 42’ Fountain “Quick Delivery” has been a regular entry in Poker Run events in the Mid-West. To top off the evening, Vic Spellberg of Formula Boats presented a special award to Wayne and Stacy Rosing, the Formula owners with the best poker hand in the event. As the evening drew to a close, participants reflected on the many facets of this unique Poker Run experience. For many, it was an opportunity to enjoy boating in one of America’s most desirable locations, for some, it opened the doors to a whole new adventure in motorsports… whether they arrived at the finish line in a Lamborghini, or at the helm of an offshore performance boat, everyone agreed that the Windy City Poker Run was a great idea, and there can be no doubt that this event will become one of the major stops on the Poker Run calendar for many years to come. For more information on the Windy City Poker Run, please see Poker Runs America Magazine, Volume 8, Number 8. For information on organizing an APRA sanctioned event, please visit www.americanpokerrunsassociation.com or call 800-354-9145. (Page Top) 2005 Windy City Poker Run Sponsors Shogren Performance Marine Cigarette Racing |
The
most unique Poker Run of the APRA calendar captivated the imagination
of performance boating and automotive fans in the greater Chicago
and Tri-State area on August 5-6, 2005, when Shogren Performance
Marine, in cooperation with Poker Runs America,
Mercury Racing, Livorsi Marine, and Lamborghini of Chicago, brought
the fastest boats and the fastest cars in North America to the shores
of Lake Michigan for the first annual Windy City Poker Run.
Sanctioned
by the APRA (American Poker Run Association) this event marked the
first time that a Poker Run of this magnitude had been staged in
the Tri-State area. The success of the Windy City Poker Run is a
tribute to many hours of diligent effort contributed by a wide range
of sponsors as well as the local authorities.
All
day Friday, the area buzzed with excitement as the participants
arrived at the Illinois Beach Resort, just a few minutes away from
Winthrop Harbor. After registering and settling in, the resort was
filled with boaters and sports car enthusiasts from all parts of
North America. 
Excitement
filled the air as crew after crew arrived, many bringing boats that
had never participated in an event of this type. Jimmy John Liautaud
brought the first all-carbon fiber 42’ Outerlimits, powered
by twin Mercury 850’s to the event, assisted by well-known
Poker Runner John O’Loughlin, who was on hand to participate
in the vessel’s maiden voyage. The new Outerlimits sported
a sensational TAOD (The Art of Design) paint job that accentuated
the boat’s carbon fiber construction.
Among
the many celebrities from the performance marine industry, Skip
Braver, owner of Cigarette Racing and Jim Schultz were at the center
of attention when they launched the first 2006 39’ Billet
Series, all decked out with Livorsi custom “Monster Racing”
instruments and Billet accessories. Skip also brought along American
Muscle III, the new version of the high tech Cigarette, powered
by twin Merc 1075’s. It was very appropriate that Fred Kiekhaefer
of Mercury Racing was the man behind the wheel of American Muscle
for this event.
Vic
Spellberg not only brought a 2006 38’ Formula FasTech, powered
by twin Mercury 600’s, but he led a brigade of nine Formula
owners, all eager to show off their boats and make wishes come true.
(
Gene
Weeks and Tom Kosto from Donzi Marine were on hand as sponsors,
with a contingent of Donzi owners flying the colors throughout the
weekend.
Scott
Shogren’s Performance Marine team fielded an impressive range
of offshore muscle, including a 2006 42’ Poker Run edition,
with twin Mercury 600’s, a 2006 47’ Fountain with triple
Mercury 600’s, and the Shogren team provided event support
aboard a brand new 48’ Fountain Express Cruiser with triple
Mercury 525EFI. Shogren also announced their representation of MTI,
and debuted a new 39MTI Race/Pleasure with a spectacular paint job
provided by (TAOD).
There
were 37 Fountains in the Windy City Poker Run fleet, spanning 15
years of marine technology.
The
Windy City Poker Run also welcomed a wide range of classic and exotic
offshore performance boats, including Joe Mattioli’s 35’
Lightning with twin Keith Eickert 800’s, Fred Nielsen’s
36’ Eliminator outfitted with twin Mecrcury 900sc poker run
motors and Brad Zastro’s 35’ Motion Cat with twin Ateco
1000 engines. (
Many
of the Poker Runners challenged the waters of mighty Lake Michigan
in boats that have long track records of performance and dependability.
David Gronke campaigned a 40’ Baja with twin Merc 500’s,
John Haydock and friends cruised along in comfort in his vintage
38’ Scarab, Dr. Bob Rosenberg throttled his triple Merc 525
powered Fountain “Quick Delivery” to a third place finish
in the event, and Mike Livorsi led the fleet in his 38’ Staggered
Fountain Lightning.
The
air crackled with excitement as Scott Shogren fired up a new MTI
Cat to lead the first flight of boats in the 100 mph plus category,
along with Bill Taylor in the 42’ Fountain Special Edition
Poker Runs America Pace Boat, powered by twin Mercury 900 SC motors.
(
In the air above the fleet, three helicopters carried the media
– Al Antoni of Falcon Precision piloted his brand new R44,
with Poker Runs America photographer Norm Rosen and Performance
Boat Television videographer Stu McDonald on board. Tom Newby, ace
photographer for Powerboat Magazine and Poker Run safety coordinator
Dave Kirkland followed in a second chopper, while the Boatpix crew
flew over the second wave of deep-vee boats.
After
lunch, the fleet powered to the third card stop at Reef Point Marina
in Racine WI, then headed to the fourth card stop at the Blue Fish
restaurant in Kenosha, WI, where enthusiastic spectators lined the
shoreline to see the boats in full flight.
As
host for the Poker Run, Scott Shogren called fellow organizer Mike
Livorsi to the podium to make a series of presentations to the many
sponsors, whose encouragement, support, and effort made the event
a success.