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The City of Kingston rocked with excitement on the weekend of August 11-13, as more than 125 offshore performance boats sliced through the waters of the mighty St. Lawrence River in the 18th annual edition of the 1000 Islands Poker Run. This event, cited by Powerboat Magazine as the ※Top Poker Run in North America§ has earned the respect of boating enthusiasts and residents of the region for the safe and courteous manner in which poker runners interact with the communities at large. Hollywood's Dan Akroyd Kicks Off Friday Drivers Party With many of the participants arriving early to enjoy the beautiful scenery and the facilities of the greater Kingston region, the excitement began to build mid-week. On Thursday afternoon Poker Runners created a ※Parade of Power§ almost ten miles long as a convoy of boats arrived from east and west, meeting at the junction of highway 401 and the main access route to the harbor. Logistics for an event of this size can challenge the local tourism infrastructure, but the City of Kingston worked like a well-oiled machine to assure that the finest facilities were available for our poker runners. Four hotels hosted the participants 每 the Confederation Place, Holiday Inn, Ramada, and Four Seasons, each offering excellent accommodations as well as dining and restaurant facilities. As the boats arrived, volunteers guided them to the launch facilities, and then to the secure trailer parking area 每 which happened to be on the grounds of Canada＊s infamous Kingston Penitentiary...you can＊t get any more secure than that! The entire waterfront area was alive with the pre-event activities, as local K-Rock radio promoted the event, offering listeners the chance to win rides on the boats. As the major teams set up their street displays, downtown Kingston transformed from a conservative but trendy vacation haven into a beehive of activity resembling the pits at a NASCAR event. With the Honorable Harvey Rosen, Mayor of the City of Kingston at the podium to welcome poker runners and invited guests, and local radio personality Glenn Williams ※The G-Man§ serving as the official MC for the evening, Canada＊s own and famous ※Blues Brother§ actor Dan Akroyd kicked off the weekend with a keynote address at the Friday evening cocktail party, hosted by the Kingston Economic Development Corporation, Bill Allison＊s Confederation Place Hotel, and Poker Runs America Magazine. Following the speech, Poker Runners and invited guests had the opportunity to meet Dan in a taste of ※Hollywood North§, and enjoy a sample of his famous Patron Tequila. With a myriad of restaurants and entertainment within walking distance of the harbor, Kingston once again proved to be a very popular venue for a major boating event. As Friday night blended into Saturday morning, the streets of downtown Kingston were alive with the excitement of a waterfront festival weekend. Driver's Meeting Poker Runs America＊s Dave Kirkland shifted the 1000 Islands Poker Run into high gear on Saturday morning, at the mandatory driver＊s meeting. Dave Bodner briefed the participants on the nuances of the route, paying special attention to the many regattas and waterfront events that would be sharing the river with the Poker Runners. (Page Top) Start Your Engines! With the fleet assembled in Confederation Basin, the pace boats, led by Bill Taylor in his 47＊ Fountain, brought the two flights to their appointed coordinates, as designated by Kingston＊s Don Bearss. In an event of this size, the fleet is broken down into two groups, those who prefer to cruise at speeds under 75 mph, and those who enjoy speeds approaching the century mark, and beyond. Bill and Betty Jennings were on duty aboard the Official Poker Runs America Glacier Bay Catamaran Safety Boat, moving in and around the assembled boats. Eight pace boats were deployed to keep the 125 boat fleet organized. Leading the first wave was Bill Taylor in the 47＊ Poker Runs America Fountain Pace Boat, accompanied by Jean Richer and Laurent Lemay aboard the 32＊ Target ※Grand Galop§, Rick Merola of AquaMania, and Bob Christie of Typhoon Marine, on his Nor-Tech, ※Perfect Storm§. The under 75 mph fleet was led by Rejean and Jennifer Doucet in their 45＊ Sonic, with Gene Weeks, in the Donzi Factory 38 ZR, Paul Honeywell in his 33＊ Eliminator, and Bob Barnhardt aboard his 51＊ Nor-Tech ※Predator§ assisting. More than 50 boats comprised this flight, including Charlie Amorosi, who looked great in his 39＊ Velocity ※Tsunami II§, a new V-bottom with twin Pro Roc 750 hp engines, and Tom Jewsbury in one of the original ※Miami Vice§ 38＊ Scarabs. With two helicopters in the air, the Poker Runs Airborne crew, led by videographer Stu McDonald, and photographer Tamara Taylor, and Norm Rosen in ※chopper two§, all poised to capture the action when the green flag dropped. With thousands of spectators crowding the shore of the St. Lawrence, and even more fans in a 40-mile long line of spectator boats that marked the course from Kingston to Brockville, the fleet throttled up for action. Right from the start, Oliver Bock picked up speed and passed the pace boat like a kid in a candy store, pushing his brand new 51＊ Outerlimits to the max, and testing the very first triple Merc 1075 installation. Bill and Julie Pyburn were there as well, in their 47 Outerlimits, accompanied by builder Mike Fiore and Leander Nunez. It was a real thrill to see these boats pull away from the pack, in a demonstration of the very latest in performance boating technology 每 and the excitement just kept coming, with Alec Cloke sneaking up on us in his brand new 43＊ Nor-Tech, ※CatAstrophe§ sporting twin 1075＊s and the new Nor-Tech ※Stealth§ exhaust system 每 imagine skimming the waves at speeds up to 150 mph, in a boat that＊s so quiet you can hardly hear it coming! Gene Weeks in his 38＊ Donzi ZR carved the waves like a hot knife through butter, with a bevy of Donzi＊s tagging along. John Coe was running hard in his 42＊ Cigarette, pushing his twin Keith Eickert 1000 hp engines to the limit, and leaving a rooster tail the length of the St. Lawrence in his wake. Bad boy ※our cousin§ Vinnie Rifice and Frank Barbarino were in the heart of the lead pack in Vinnie＊s new 40＊ Skater ※Bad§, powered by twin 1000 hp J.C. Performance engines. Frank flew in from California for the run, and the duo flew across the waves of the St. Lawrence, turning heads all along the route. Corey Norman and Dick Congel were running smooth in the new 35＊ factory edition Baja, ※Poker Face§. Fred ※the tooth fairy§ Hurlbut, one of Kitchener＊s favorite dentists, looked ready to pull some teeth in ※Desperado§, as he moved up on Bob Barnhardt＊s 50＊ Nor-Tech ※Predator§. Aaron Jolley in his Sonic ※Throwin＊ Dough§ ran side by side with Chuck Allen in ※Sinkin＊ Fast§. Lenny Noble came all the way from Stuart Florida with a new 42＊ Sonic factory boat, and navigator Crystal Campbell. Making his 1000 Islands Poker Run debut, he led a procession of Sonics throughout the day. The first leg of the run took the boats through the Canadian channel, past Wolf Island and Howe Island toward the Ivy Lea Bridge, where the boats came up on plane at a steady 55 mph. to the delight of several hundred campers at the Ivy Lea Park. The fleet had spread out over several miles by this point, and the procession was spectacular as the boats headed through the Rockport area on their way to Brockville and card #2. When they hit open water by Grenadier Island speeds were increased, then the pace boats brought the fleet down to 45 mph at the entrance to Brockville Narrows, and then it was time for a well deserved lunch stop. Local legend Bill Tomlinson, whose twin Lycoming turbine powered Skater ※My Way§ is the unchallenged king of the river, broke a drive just before the lunch stop. Bill made a few cell phone calls, arranged for a drive to be flown in from Ottawa, and then went home, pulled the drive out, replaced it, and still made it back to the lunch stop in time for dessert! Fans filled the docks at Brockville, where the entire town was hopping, with a rib fest, street entertainers, and activities for the whole family to enjoy. Our poker runners tied up at Paul＊s Marine, and at the town dock, and we headed to the World Headquarters of Buds On The Bay for lunch. After lunch the fleet formed up in two waves for the official start of the next leg of the poker run, which took us to Prescott and card stop #3. To facilitate the size of the fleet, two boats were deployed with cards, to speed up the process. Two starts were scheduled for Prescott, as the boats headed for Rockport and card #4. From there we went back under the Ivy Lea Bridge, through the no wake zone, where we could relax for a few minutes to enjoy the magnificent scenery and the pristine waters of the St. Lawrence River, and then it was back to Confederation Basin in Kingston for the evening festivities. (Page Top) Dinner Under The Stars Our Poker Run Banquet brought more than 450 people to historic Fort Frontenac, just a short walk from their hotels in downtown Kingston. This venue, opened to the poker runners for the very first time to non-military personnel, is the training centre for all junior officers in the Canadian Armed Forces. As we passed through the 400 year old gates, the ambiance was incredible 每 stately maples provided a canopy, with moonlight shining through the leaves, and we walked along the paths to our banquet tables, arranged under a massive tent on the fort＊s quadrangle. All around us were the mementos of centuries of tradition 每 including a number of cannon still standing ready overlooking the river. Our host for the banquet was Charlie Mignault of the Kingston Economic Development Corporation, who, along with our major sponsors, provided an exceptional feast 每 savory poached salmon, roast beef, and all of the gourmet side dishes adorned the buffet tables, and strategically placed bars poured liquid entertainment selected to accompany the feast. Fort Frontenac＊s Mess Manager and our evening＊s on-site co-ordinator, Karen Pardy went above and beyond to cater to our every need. Throughout the evening, the Poker Runs Airborne crew screened footage of the day＊s event, along with aerial photos of each boat in full flight. Smiling Stu McDonald captured the memories of the evening to be included in the event video. The banquet culminated with MC Dave Kirkland announcing the winners, and then everyone returned to the downtown area, for a Saturday night to remember. The Winners Tim Dillenback not only had a great time on the water in his 31＊ Scarab, he drew the best poker hand of the weekend 每 a jack high club flush 每 to take the first place honors. Edward Laguardia drove his 37＊ Outerlimits to a second place finish, with a 9 high diamond flush, and David Luciani and friends powered their 39＊ Hustler to third place, with an 8 high club flush. The ※Best Graphics§ award was presented to ※Poker Face§ a brand-new 35＊ Baja crewed by Corey Norman and R.C. Congel of Congel Marine. Kingston Cup 每 What a Way to Wind Up the Weekend! Sunday morning dawned to a new challenge as ten of the Poker Runners readied their boats for the ultimate test of skill on the water 每 match their performance to the official radar run results to claim the Kingston Cup. In keeping with the concept that performance boating should be a safe and enjoyable activity for the entire family, the Kingston Cup requires drivers to predict their speed over a measured course - the boat that comes closest to ※hitting the mark§ without going over the speed is declared the winner. Each boat gets three passes through the course. Unlike a Kilo competition, which is based purely on the top speed attained through a measured quarter mile, the ※hit the mark§ shootout can theoretically focus on any cruising speed 每 it is up to the competitor to set the target speed＃ most choose a mark toward the high end of their boat＊s cruising capabilities. Even with the latest in GPS, this is not an easy task 每 the river current, winds, and water conditions all affect the boater＊s ability to fine tune speed to within 1/10 of a mile per hour. With spectator boats lining the southern perimeter of the course, and fans languishing on the shoreline, ten boats competed for top honors. At High Noon, Paul Honeywell turned his T-502 powered 33＊ Eliminator onto the flight path, and roared through the radar trap at precisely 80.6 mph, taking the First Annual Kingston Cup. Watch for the full coverage of this event in the next issue of Poker Runs America Magazine! (Page Top)

Dan Akroyd invited Brian Haas and friends to toast the Poker Runners with a taste of Patron Tequila.


L to R, Tony Esposito of CMI, Bob Mason of Ilmor Engineering,
Nancy Reid and Laurent Lemay (Target Boats).


Bill Taylor takes a moment to thank the Kingston Poker Run volunteers.




Charlie and Lois Amorosi on Tsunami II.

For Thank You, Volunteers! An event of this magnitude requires tremendous behind the scenes organization. At each venue, dozens of volunteers provided logistical support, from the marshal boats that patrolled the route, to the traffic control staff, who helped participants at the launch ramps and the trailer parking facilities. We would like to acknowledge all of the Kingston area volunteers who devoted time and effort to the Poker Run weekend. To Katie Bates, of KEDCO, whose participation throughout the weekend brought the entire community out to celebrate the Poker Run. Ross Cameron, Coordinating Chairman of the Kingston based Poker Run events. Joe Farish, the Ontario Provincial Police Marine Coordinator. Sid Devries, our dockmaster, whose background as a former O.P.P. officer assured all of our participants that their stay in Kingston would crteate only the best of memories. Alison Lock, who coordinated the street displays for the Kingston BIA. Don Bearss, the ※rear admiral§ of the marshal boat fleet and its fleet of volunteers. Dave Bodner, whose expertise and knowledge of the region was instrumental in creating a memorable route through some of Canada＊s most beautiful waterways. And Glenn Williams 每 The ※G§ Man from K-Rock 105.7 FM, whose skills as an MC brought that extra special sizzle to all of the weekend festivities. Special thanks to Bill Allinson, of the Confederation Place Hotel, site of the Friday night reception. The 1000 Islands Poker Run, 2006, was the first time in history that Kingston＊s Fort Frontenac was used for a non-military gathering. We would like to extend a very special thank you to Karen Pardy, Mess Manager at Fort Frontenac, and all of her staff for an outstanding Saturday evening banquet. Thank You Brockville! Our 1000 Islands Poker Run has become quite the attraction for the residents of Brockville, who combine a series of tourism attractions into a major waterfront weekend. With rib fest, street displays, and a full slate of entertainment, the city is a great venue for mid-summer family excursions. We would like to thank Ann Weir, Tourism Manager, Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce for her tireless efforts, as well as the hundreds of local volunteers whose dedication to this sensational weekend make Brockville one of the highlights on the Poker Run tour. For many years, one of the highlights of our 1000 Islands Poker Run has been shore lunch at John Ackerman＊s ※Buds on the Bay§. This year, the chef provided a feast worthy of special thanks 每 after a morning on the water, nothing beats the flavor of lunch with your friends on the patio at Buds on the Bay - World Headquarters. Peter Buell and the Brockville Police Marine Patrol provided safety and crowd control. Lou Lochner of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary coordinated the safety boats for the event. Dave Paul, City of Brockville Economic Development. Rick Pankhursty, harbormaster for the City of Brockville, coordinated docking facilities for our lunch stop. Chris Dwyre, and the Brockville Fire Department who assured the safety of the fleet and spectators during the refueling procedure. Lucas Pearson, Paul Desgens, and the crew at Paul＊s Marine saw to it that all of the boats were refueled in Brockville 每 a monumental task that was executed with the smoothest precision possible. Larry Journal, the marshal boat coordinator for the Brockville area, and Peter Amo, from Brockville Parks and Recreation, who supervised all of the land-based activities. (Page Top)

Corporate Sponsors:
Mercury Racing
KEDCO – Kingston Economic Development Corporation
Ogilvy & Ogilvy
Snap-On Tools
Ontario- Yours to Discover
Fountain
Cigarette
Outerlimits
Formula
Donzi
Target
Nor-Tech
Ilmor Marine Engines
J&J Sales & Service
R-Tech Performance
Shogren Performance Marine
Myco Trailers
Lake Cumberland Marine
Custom Marine Inc.
Ocean Performance
Jim Earle Marine
Double R Performance
Typhoon Performance Marine
Gordon Bay Marine

Kingston Sponsors:
Kingston BIA
Downtown Kingston
K-Rock 105.7
Tyroute Communications
Motosport Plus
Radisson Hotel Kingston Harbourfront
Confederation Place Hotel
Four Points Sheraton
Holiday Inn
The Rope Man
Interlink Direct

Brockville Sponsors:
City of Brockville
Paul’s Marine
Buds on the Bay
Quality Inn
Travelodge Inn
Days Inn
103.7 BOB FM
104.9 JR FM
The Recorder and Times
OLG Casino Thousand Islands

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