James & Brent Dalling St. Eustache, PQ 32’ Sunsation SSR
With his passion for boats and speed, it comes as no surprise that James Dalling is an avid poker run enthusiast. His first run was approximately six years ago in Kingston, ON, and has enjoyed many performance events since, regularly attending the 1000 Islands, Casino Lac-Leamy, and Rockland poker runs. Of all the events he has attended, he ranks the...
Bill Gogel, Deland, FL 390 Velocity
It’s not uncommon to see families participating in performance boating events across the country, running a variety of models with various lengths and power. Bill Gogel, along with his wife Jackie and daughter Amanda, are just one of the families that rip up the water in their stylish 390 Velocity powered by a set of staggered Mercury Racing 700 SCi...
Matt Brooks/Christine Muller, Rochester, NY - 28’ CHECKMATE
Matthew Brooks has spent the better part of his life on the water, enjoying time in the Upstate New York region cruising and fishing the Finger Lakes with his family. In fact, Brooks and family ran a plywood speed boat built by his late father, who also loved to watch poker runs, hoping one day to join in on the...
Kenny Hohwiesner Debary, FL General Manager Velocity Powerboats/Design
As general manager for Velocity Powerboats/Design Marine and known for his relentless attendance at Poker Runs America events since 2003, it’s safe to say Kenny Hohwiesner is a familiar face on our poker run circuit - not to mention the go-fast arena. In fact, you’ll probably know Hohwiesner already if your engine has broken down at an event. His philosophy is...
Rodney Murtaugh Syracuse, NY 32’ Skater
From Georgian Bay, ON, and Gatineau, QC, to Lake Cumberland, KY, Rodney Murtaugh has run with the best of them at poker runs. The Syracuse, NY-resident has no plans on slowing down either as he is hoping to attend the 2012 Desert Storm Poker Run in Lake Havasu. With a long list of performance boating events to his credit, Murtaugh explains...
Justin Boisvert/Jena Townend - Belleville, ON, Canada - 30’ Advantage
While Justin Boisvert is not necessarily a newcomer to poker run events in Canada and the United Sates, having being a passenger on boats at several of our run, he can now be seen running his own waves aboard his 2001 30’ Advantage powered by twin 496 MAG HO MerCruiser engines. With such impressive power, he can easily run at...
Mike Lasell/Katie Bryerton - Sandy Creek, NY - 36’ Baja Outlaw
Poker run team Mike Lasell and girlfriend Katie Bryerton are just two people in their group of eight friends that enjoy poker running throughout central New York state. “There is a large group of us that run the poker runs together throughout the summer, including Holy Cow owner, Kelly O’Hara,” and 32’ Skater owner, Rodney Murtaugh”, says Lasell. “There are always...
Jim Stevenson Syracuse, NY 35’ Donzi
Not too many people can say that their occupation involves providing metal finishing services to components for thermal weapon systems for the United States Military. But for long-time poker runner, Jim Stevenson, that’s just one aspect of being president of Anoplate, a metal finishing company based in Syracuse, NY, which puts coatings on metal components for the military, aerospace and...
Swonko Kischnick Berlin, Germany 28’ Lavey Craft
It is with great pleasure that we are beginning to welcome poker runners from all over the world. This is true of Swonko Kischnick who has been at several runs in Florida during the last few years. Swonko has been boating for about five years. He started participating in poker runs in Berlin three years ago where he thoroughly enjoyed the...
Wayne & Julie Casey Summerstown, ON 39' Cigarette
When poker runners hail from a community called Summerstown, it comes as no surprise that they enjoy boating. In fact, Wayne and Julie Casey, long-time residents of this St. Lawrence River boating community in Ontario, Canada, are dedicated participants at our events. After attending their first Poker Runs America run in Alexandria Bay, NY in 1999, they have never looked...
Michael Lattomus Annapolis, MD 42’ Outerlimits
There’s not a boating season that doesn’t go by without seeing Michael Lattomus at the helm of his carbon fiber-built 42’ Outerlimits, cruising the exciting waters of Chesapeake Bay. Lattomus explains he attends the majority of his poker runs on the bay around his hometown of Annapolis, MD. When he is not cruising the top speed of 127.8 mph with his...
Mike Brienzi Rochester, NY 38’ Hustler Sling Shot
Ask Mike Brienzi what his favorite poker run is and his immediate response is the 1000 Islands Poker Run in Kingston, ON. The long-time performance enthusiast has been attending poker runs since 1997 and continues to enjoy his passion to this day. At any given event, Brienzi and his crew can be found aboard his 38’ Hustler Sling Shot, Bad...
Steve Keaton Columbia, SC 32’Skater
South Carolina’s Steve Keaton gets wet all the time. Of course, he prefers when it’s for pleasurable purposes such as rocking and rolling over the ripples of Lake Murray in his Skater rather than dousing a building gone ablaze in Lexington County, where he works as a fire fighter. His 32-footer, purchased from Miami-based TNT Marine, screams out for attention...
Eric Clement Rockland, ON Canada 32’ Sunsation
Eric Clement has boated for almost all of his lifetime. At the moment he is the owner of a 32’ Sunsation, which he trailers around North America in his hunt for poker runs. He got the poker run bug when he participated in his “first” poker run in Ottawa with PRA, and as quite often happens, he won with the...
Vu Nguyen Baton Rouge,LA 38’ Donzi ZR
Puns and plays on words when used as boat titles can speak volumes about a captain’s personality. But Vu Nguyen’s SEE VU PLAY Donzi ZR wins the trump card for originality. Hailing from Siagon, Vietnam, Nguyen adds a hint of international flair to the poker run circuit, though he’s more likely to consider Louisiana home-base. Nguyen’s family uprooted to the...
Doug Falcone New Vernon, NJ 42’ Outerlimits “Sir Charge”
When it comes to performance, poker runner Doug Falcone has enjoyed it both on and off the water. Falcone spent his youth (and his late 20s) treading the motor cross course competing in the Northeast District 6 Division in New Jersey and eventually earned his pro license. He then took his competitive edge to the water, trading his bike in for...
Brian Haas Rochester, NY Formula 382 Fas³ Tech
Chances are likely you’ve seen or met Brian Haas as he has been on the poker run scene for more than ten years. His first event was in 1999 at the 1000 Islands Poker Run navigating for fellow poker runner, Mike Brienzi in his 38’ Hustler. Today, Haas owns a Formula 382 FAS³TECH and always runs with long-time friends, Bob Wyman,...
Manny & Cristina Roman Miami, FL Motion GT 430
Manny and Cristina Roman own Motion Powerboats. For the Miami-Latinos with family roots in Cuba, poker running is all about having fun and family bonding is the name of the game. On many South Florida jaunts often seen handling the helm is their teenage son Gaby. The back seats are often fully stocked with a crew of the family’s compadres,...
Jean-Louis & Ingrid Fatio Geneva, Switzerland 39’ MTI
Monsieur Jean-Louis and Madame Ingrid Fatio of Geneva, Switzerland journeyed to the Southern-most town in the USA as spectators during the Key West Worlds in 2009. They loved it! Genuinely impressed with the energy, endless smiling people and abundant displays of extreme speed, it was clear they longed to return. On January 1st, 2010 they weren’t deciding upon New Year’s...
Ken & Karen Trelfa Lake St. Clair, MI 42’ Outerlimits "Instant Insanity"
Poker Runners Ken and Karen Trefla know that to enjoy the better things in life, you have to work hard before you can play, and they have certainly built a solid foundation over the years. Ken has an asphalt paving business in Utica, MI, and Karen runs her own general contracting business. They have been in business for 26 years...
Pete Behrhorst Fort Myers, FL 23’ Formula
If luck was with anybody during our 2012 Cape Coral Poker Run this past March, it was with Pete Behrhorst of Fort Myers, FL. Following a failed alternator on his 1987 223 Formula, which delayed him for a short while on the run, Behrhorst and crew ended up taking first place of the event. “We had the oldest boat, the smallest...
Dr. Bob Rosenberg Chicago, IL 38’ Cougar
When Dr. Bob Rosenberg is not in the delivery room attending to wailing newborns, the soft-spoken Chicago OB/GYN can be found making his oversized, white and red feline whine. Not exactly the caged zoo sort, his is a Cougar, since his fervor has always been for the one-of-a-kind powerboats hailing from Cougar Marine in Hampshire, England. Dr. Bob’s current kitty is...
Patrick Bedard Montreal, PQ Canada 43’ Outerlimits “Go Fast”
Patrick Bedard, one of the “French Connection” of Poker Runners from Montreal, Canada, started boating in 1997, and soon realized that this was the ideal prescription for his “need for speed”. Patrick’s love of the high performance boating lifestyle shifted into high gear when he entered his first poker run in Montreal in 1999. He has been a regular participant...
Harry Gummelt Berlin, Germany 38’ Hustler
Harry flew in from Germany into Sarasota, Florida where he took delivery of his latest boat, a Hustler 388 Slingshot, which join the large fleet of boats that Harry Gummelt already owns. For over 45 years he has been boating in Germany, even during the time he began his new construction company, 39 years ago. His boats have grown as...
Douglas Valentine Sarasota, FL Captain Nor-Tech Super 80 Roadster "Lady Lisa"
Douglas Valentine fancies life in the fast lane. He digs driving and his frequent past cameos include maneuvering high-speed watercrafts around the South Florida waterways on the famed Miami Vice television series as well as the 2006 motion picture make over. Simply put, he is a natural behind the wheel. This news flash should come as no surprise for a fellow...
Hubert Weisslinger Miami, FL 42’ Outerlimits “Billy Boy Of Miami"
Moving from Montpellier, France, to South Beach, Florida, provided the opportunity for Hubert Weisslinger to enjoy his first poker at our recent Miami/Ft. Lauderdale event in April. The real estate developer first became interested in performance boating six years ago while living in the French Riviera, owning a 38 Cigarette Top Gun. Following his move to the Sunshine State, Weisslinger purchased...
Jim & Kelli Agles Cape Coral, FL 36’ Spectre
Jim Agles is a former offshore racer, who campaigned with his GM sponsored boat “Mr. Goodwrench” from 1989 - 1997. Originally from Edwardsville, IL, Jim and his wife Kelli moved to Florida in 1997. They have made Cape Coral, FL their home for the past thirteen years. While Jim has been boating for more than fifty years, he only caught...
Jean Francois Dubois Plessisville, PQ Marine36’ Sunsation
Jean Francois Dubois of Plessisville, QC, knows how to enjoy performance boating. At Poker Run America events, Dubois rides a 36 Sunsation. When he is not a run, he still enjoys speed (plus a touch of added luxury) aboard a Formula 40 SS. “Last year I bought a house in Cape Coral,” says Dubois. “The area is such a boating paradise....
Ken Armstrong Houston, TX 44’ MTI
Ken has been boating most of his life, and has been participating in poker runs in the Texas and Louisiana area for the past 18-20 years. He attended his first poker run in clear Lake, TX, with the Texas Offshore Performance Powerboat Squadron (TOPPS). He has been running the Florida poker run circuit for the last 10 – 12 years,...
Maxime Fisette & Julie Thibodeau St-Jean-De-Matha, PQ Canada 32' Sunsation SS
Having attended only their third poker run, husband and wife team Maxime Fisette and Julie Thibodeau took top honors at our 2011 1000 Islands Poker Run, winning first place in their 2006 32’ Sunsation SS powered by twin Mercury 496 HO engines. Residents of St-Jean-de-Matha, Quebec, Canada, the couple are no strangers to the water. With Fisette at the wheel and...
Nick Amelio Fort Myers, FL 43’ Nor-Tech
The late poet/author Carl Sandburg once described the city of Chicago as “The City with the Big Shoulders” and “Hog Butcher of the World, Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat.” When Chicago-native and long-time poker runner Nick Amelio first became involved in his family’s meat packing company in the Windy City, Carl Sandburg had since passed on, but Nick Amelio and...
Dennis Leek North Canton, OH 38’ Cigarette Top Gun
A resident of North Canton, OH., and proud owner of a 38’ Cigarette Top Gun, Dennis Leek has been an avid runner for more than a decade, having never missed the Lake Cumberland Poker Run in the last ten years and he recently attended our 2012 Cape Coral this past March, which was his fourth or fifth time he has...
Steve McEachern Concord, NC 36’ Skater
Meet Steve McEachern - one of North Carolina’s coolest and quietest poker runners. Climbing the ladder of speed, Steve got his start in Off-Road racing in the eighties and the NASCAR Truck Series in the nineties. Turning things up a notch, he moved from the cement to the surf when entering the cockpit of his Allison XR-2001 Pro Gas dragster...
Larry Goldman Xtreme PowerBoats North Miami, FL
Former world and national champion Larry Goldman has turned a love of speed on the water into a successful career. He is seen more often at poker runs and for the past few years has been up front either in the helm seat or in the navigators seat in many different boats. Goldman’s passion for powering fast boats has continued to...
Bob & Sue Morgan Cape Coral, FL 46’ Skater
For those who enjoy the fast pace of the offshore boating environment, Bob and Sue have been a team for many years. They have played hard, worked hard and raced hard – a fast paced lifestyle that this couple thrives on. Bob was a force to be reckoned with on the drag boat circuit before moving up to offshore racing....
Mike & Jordan Poppa Naples, FL 30’ Velocity "Still Crazy"
While Velocitys’ are a common model that are seen at poker run events, the 30’ Still Crazy has to rank as the most memorable, especially among the old school racing crowd. Raced by Mike’s late father and acclaimed racer, Mike Poppa Sr. (who, along with owner Dick Fullman, passed away in a tragic accident at the Key West races in...
