MTI Owners Plan Fun Runs During 10th Annual Lake Powell Challenge
With the Lake Powell Challenge coming up Sept. 13-16, plans are under way for a pair of special side events to take place in conjunction with the main poker run. More than a dozen boats have already committed to pair of MTI owners’ Fun Runs set for Thursday and Friday, Sept. 13-14.
Mark Schouten, owner of the 43 MTI El Gato Patrón (powered by twin Mercury Racing 1100/1350 dual-fuel engines), is helping to coordinate the “unofficial” Fun Runs. He told Powerboat Nation that MTI models set to attend the Fun Runs include Bob Bull‘s 52’ offshore competitor CMS, as well as Black Diamond (the first MTI 52’, owned by Derek Wachob), Wired Up (Jake Nossaman’s MTI-V 42), Panty Dropper (Brett Baur’s 48′ MTI), a pair of boats being brought out by MTI owner Randy Scism—and, of course, Schouten’s own 43’.
The current plan is for the gang to head to Bullfrog Marina and see Cathedral Canyon on Thursday, then head to Rainbow Bridge, Dangling Rope Marina (a lunch stop) and Rock Creek on Friday.
Now in its tenth year, the Lake Powell Challenge is headquartered at Antelope Point Marina in Page, AZ, and raises money toward finding a cure for Type 1 Diabetes, with proceeds going to the nonprofilt 501 organization JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), founded in 1970.
“We are extremely excited for what this event has become in 10 years,” says Lake Powell Challenge organizer Burl Griswold, general manager of Antelope Point Marina. “The first year, we raised $5,000; last year, we raised $513,000.” He praised the many volunteers who help execute the event year after year, including his staff at the marina, as well as the contingent that JDRF sends to the Challenge.
“I am frequently asked how I do this, and the only answer is that I found the most generous people in the world,” he says. “It wouldn’t be possible without the group of boaters who come to this event from across the country.”
Expected to attend this year’s Lake Powell Challenge will be the usual excellent turnout from DCB owners, including Dave Magoo, Carlton Bass, and Jeff and April Lamb, as well as DCB employees like Tony Chiaramonte.
This year’s registration includes one hand per boat, two T-shirts, dinner for two on Saturday night and two tickets to the Lone Rock Beach Party and Barbecue. The actual poker run begins with a driver’s meeting at 9 a.m. on the docks in the Marina Village Restaurant; the run will be organized by classes, with emphasis placed on speed and hull design.
