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Less than a week after canceling the Tickfaw 200 event originally scheduled for April 29 to May 2, organizers have mailed checks back to those who had prepaid to attend, as well as to the event’s sponsors.

Owned and operated by Joey Fontenot, the Tickfaw 200 poker run is Louisiana’s biggest poker run, so named for its scenic 200-mile length. It is headquartered at Fontenot’s Blood River Landing Marina, and has been running annually since 1996.

“We just had to mail everything back,” Fontenot told Powerboat Nation. “But this isn’t about money. We don’t make a dollar from this. Tickfaw is about seeing all our friends, people like Kenny Armstrong. It’s about raising money for charities and helping the local economy and businesses. We don’t mind missing the poker run. What we care about is that this is going to result in a million-dollar impact to our area. What we bring in for one weekend will help them carry some of the restaurants and bars for a month, maybe even two months.”

Canceling the event because of Coronavirus fears was inevitable, Fontenot says. “They pulled my liquor license and they pulled my gambling license,” he says. “The state of Louisiana says you have to have a gambling permit to put a poker run on.”

At this point in time, people are still free to go boating, Fontenot says, “but there are no restaurants open, no bars open. There’s nothing. But I’ll tell you what’s happening now—you’re seeing more families going fishing. This has always been a river with fun and partying and powerboats, and now we’re seeing a lot of bass boats and families with kids, because they’re all out of school.”

Fontenot and his crew have little recourse now except to plan for a bigger and even more exciting Tickfaw for 2021.

 

Organizers of the Tickfaw 200 Poker Run have cancelled the event for 2020 in the wake of the global pandemic known as COVID-19.

“Honestly, at this point, we can’t even get permits to do it,” said event spokesman Casey Harrison. “They’ve pulled all permits and are not issuing any new ones for the foreseeable future.”

He said the idea of postponing the event until later in the year was discussed, but ultimately abandoned. “We just don’t know what the future has in store,” Harrison says. “We don’t know what’s going to take place. Anything’s possible, but at this point, we’re just shooting for 2021.”

Harrison said that while it’s still possible for boaters to hit the water, “there’s nothing open. All restaurants are closed, all bars are closed. Takeout only. There is absolutely nothing out there. You’d be hard-pressed even to get gas.”

Taking place in Springfield, LA, and headquartered at Blood River Landing Marina, the Tickfaw 200 is Louisiana’s biggest poker run, so named for its scenic 200-mile length. Owned and operated for many years by Charlie William Albert, known as “Crazy Charlie,” the event kicked off in 1996, and it has attracted innumerable muscleboats, all of which come to compete in the world-famous party. (Tragedy struck in 2009, when Albert was killed in a motorcycle accident at age 54. Tickfaw 200 is now owned by Joey Fontenot.)

Harrison says the most devastating part of cancelling the event is the loss of the money raised for charity. “That’s the most upsetting part about all of this,” he says. “We’re not going to be able to give to any of the charities right now, and the community counts on that. We support a lot of the local charities—helping kids going to prom who couldn’t afford dresses or tuxes, and the local 4H clubs, church organizations, kids’ funerals—lots of little stuff that nobody really ever knew that we did. That’s going to be the biggest hit.”

And the industry braces for announcements of further closures and cancellations.

For the 2019 edition of the Tickfaw 200 Poker Run, participants were no longer confined to Louisiana. Some players went as far as Mississippi for a poker card this year.

Headquartered at Blood River Landing Marina, the event expanded its run into the Magnolia State for the first time, adding an extra day to the itinerary. In addition, the poker run added Shaggy’s Pass Harbor, home of the original Shaggy’s restaurant in scenic Pass Christian Harbor, as a stop. This year’s course encompassed a total 280 miles.

“It went really went smoothly,” co-organizer Casey Harrison said. “We had a little rain on Saturday, which slowed things down, but that’s kind of typical. Everybody seemed happy.”

Harrison said the expansion into Mississippi went extremely well, with one exception: “The marina over there said they would have enough 93 octane, and they didn’t. But we made it work out—luckily, a guy came through with a tank truck and helped us out.”

Most of the Tickfaw regulars were present and accounted for, including Kenny Armstrong, John Woodruff and Todd Campbell, and at least two boats were sold at the event, including a 35 Statement and a 42′ MTI.

Tickfaw 200 was scheduled within two consecutive weeks of Desert Storm in 2019, and Speedboat Magazine and Powerboat Nation’s editors attended both events to capture images of two of the largest and wildest events known to the performance boating world.

The wild and wooly Tickfaw 200 was formed in 1996 by “Crazy Charlie” 23 years ago. It’s easily one of the highest attended Poker Runs in the country. The appeal of this run, unlike most others, is the surprising lack of schedules. There are no start times, just as there are no end times. There is no specific order in which to hit the card stops, nor is there a mandate to hit them at all. The vibe is loose and casual, and that’s exactly how organizers Joey Fontenot and Casey Harrison prefer it.

That’s not to say that they don’t work hard in putting this event on. Quite the contrary. Both guys work year-round to assure that everyone that attends, enjoys their time there. There are the countless things that make the Tickfaw 200 unique. Like the many RVs that literally camp on the grounds of the Blood River Landing all week, the “Fun House” bar, which is an eclectic compound of cool and kooky collectibles, that stays well stocked exclusively for the thirsty fleet.

There’s also the imminent possibility that you may boat right past an alligator, which call the swampy waters their home. This year, boating super-enthusiast and personal friend John Woodruff of the famed MTI Windship brought along his personal friend, celebrity comedian Ron White of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour to Louisiana and the performance boating community. He was cool, comedic and cordial to all who recognized him–shaking hands, taking pictures and, if you were lucky enough, sharing his brand of Juan Tequila with him. He even agreed to judge the Powerboat Nation Party’s bikini contest at the waterfront establishment, Rum Buoys Bar & Grill.

Four full (or half-full) days of boating, long nights at the “Fun House,” and loads of memories encapsulate the “Tickfaw 280-2019.” Thanks to Joey Fontenot–who not only made us feel welcomed back in Louisiana, he made us feel like family. And to Casey Harrison, whose seemingly endless energy and enthusiasm keep this run worthy of “Crazy Charlie’s” legacy. He would be proud.

Be sure to look for Speedboat and Powerboat Nation at the 2020 edition of Tickfaw 200, which always encompasses the first full weekend in May. The 2020 dates are April 29 to May 2. Check out this gallery of photos from the 2019 Tickfaw 200!

 

Although the Tickfaw 200 doesn’t officially kick off until Wednesday, May 1, participating boats are already showing up at Louisiana’s Blood River Landing Marina, according to event co-organizer Casey Harrison. The event’s official headquarters is expecting hundreds of Tickfaw regulars to descend on Springfield, LA, in the coming hours to become part of Louisiana’s largest powerboat poker run (May 1-4). Lake Havasu’s Desert Storm may have powered down this past weekend, but some of the same participants in Arizona are planning to head from the desert to the bayou for a poker-run “twofer.”

Thanks to the efforts of Harrison and marina owner Joey Fontenot—as well as the invaluable assistance of their friends, families, volunteers, employees and local agencies—this sleepy marina transforms into one of the most exciting poker runs in the country.

This year, for the first time, the Tickfaw 200 will extend its run into Mississippi and add an extra day (Wednesday) to the itinerary. The idea to include a stop in Mississippi has been kicked around for a while, but it’s finally happening for 2019. In addition, the poker run will be adding Shaggy’s Pass Harbor, home of the original Shaggy’s restaurant in scenic Pass Christian Harbor, as a stop. The bonus miles will render the name “Tickfaw 200” as antiquated as the store 7-11, as the poker run’s monicker was a tribute to its scenic 200-mile length. This year’s course will total 280 miles.

Another highlight of this year’s Tickfaw event will be the epic Powerboat Nation Party on Friday, May 3, at the Poker Run stop of Rum Buoys in Amant, LA. Speedboat Magazine’s editors will be on the scene, covering the entire event for its June 2019 issue.

The Tickfaw 200 draws numerous high-profile participants; this year, Jim Lee, Kenny Armstrong, John Woodruff and Todd Campbell are expected to attend, according to Harrison. “We actually have a significant amount of boats coming from California this year,” he adds, including a number of DCB owners.

Live entertainment is also a major draw of Tickfaw. “We’ll have bands performing Wednesday through Friday night in the Fun House bar, as well as live bands in Madisonville on Saturday, which will be nice.” Harrison says he’s excited about the event’s “chicken drop” game, in which attendees wager on which squares are “fouled” by the fowl.

In addition to Shaggy’s Pass Harbor, poker-hand stops will also include:

• Prop Stop on the Tickfaw River;
• Lagniappe and Canal Bank Bar on the Blind River;
• Morton’s and Riverside Bar in Madisonville;
• Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant in Slidell;
• Blue Crab and YNOT Dock in New Orleans.

The YNOT Dock is another new stop for Tickfaw; it offers a protected harbor and a live band. “That’s a pretty cool place,” Harrison says.

The Tickfaw 200 is on a short list of the top poker runs in the nation, and certainly the very biggest in the state. In southeast Louisiana, the Tickfaw River moves slowly through a vast swamp where the water is dark, and the soft mud grows lush vegetation. A thick forest of tupelo and cypress forms a canopy overhead. Spanish moss hangs down from the branches and entangles spider webs; white egrets and blue herons sit motionless on fallen logs just above the water looking for a meal, while large reptiles and amphibians lurk motionless just under the water. These critters go pretty much undisturbed by outsiders until the first week of May. That’s when the big boats come out to play, and even the gators look for other places to hunt.

A Bit of Event History

Charlie Albert came to the Tickfaw River in 1979, when the only things here were the mosquitoes. He set up a small marina he named Blood River Landing, and didn’t bring much with him except for a reputation for wild times. The boats started coming in the mid 1980s, and that’s when “Crazy Charlie” put on a small event called the River Rat Run. By 1996, Charlie put together a 200-mile course with eight stops for the performance boats, and that was the first year of the Tickfaw 200. Since then, Blood River Landing has been the site of innumerable powerboats that have come to compete in this world-famous party.

Tragedy struck in 2009, when Charlie was killed in a motorcycle accident at age 54. The event was not held that year, and some felt that the event should not continue out of respect to its creator. However, the local community lobbied strongly for it to come back—partly because of the millions of dollars in revenue that the event brings in. Tickfaw has been so popular that each of the fuel stops along the run’s course report that tens of thousands of gallons of fuel are sold during the week.

The Southern Louisiana culture is a key component of this poker run. The food, hospitality and natural scenic beauty of the area are among the best reasons to attend, and important in distinguishing it from other runs. The seafood alone is a huge draw: stops along the run include the opportunity to sample many of the signature savories, including crawfish boils, catfish, gumbo, redfish, grilled oysters, po’ boys and other foods exclusive to the region. The Louisiana locals are unpretentious and straightforward, and their sense of humor is robust and unforgettable. Ask anyone attending this event if hospitality is a reason why they attend this event, and most will rate it the #1 factor for repeat attendance.

Worried about the size of your boat? Relax—this poker run features all types of boats participating, from pontoons to million-dollar catamarans and beyond. Unlike some other runs, the Tickfaw event has a theme of inclusion hospitality; snobbery, arrogance and exclusion are all verboten.

For more information about the Tickfaw 200, click here.

And check out this gallery of photos from the 2018 Tickfaw 200:

The Bayou is about to get a taste of the Magnolia.

Based in Louisiana, the Tickfaw 200 poker run will extended its 2019 run into Mississippi, according to event organizer Casey Harrison. The next installment of the popular event will take place May 1-4 at Blood Landing Marina, adding a Wednesday to the lineup.

The idea to include a stop in Mississippi has been kicked around for a while, but Tickfaw had been reluctant about stealing any attention from the Smokin’ The Sound Poker Run. When the 2018 event was canceled, an exporatory call was placed to their camp. “We asked if they were going to continue, and they said no,” Harrison told Powerboat Nation. “Their response to us was to give us the green light to the move toward Mississippi.”

The Tickfaw 200 will be adding Shaggy’s Pass Harbor, home of the original Shaggy’s restaurant in scenic Pass Christian Harbor, for a total 280-mile course. Stops will also include:

• Prop Stop on the Tickfaw River;
• Lagniappe and Canal Bank Bar on the Blind River;
• Morton’s and Riverside Bar in Madisonville;
• Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant in Slidell;
• Blue Crab and YNOT Dock in New Orleans.

The YNOT Dock is another new stop for the Tickfaw 200; it offers a protected harbor and a live band. “That’s a pretty cool place,” Harrison says.

The “388 Platinum Series” from SKATER POWERBOATS was a vision originated by Bill Pyburn Jr,  where the culmination of extreme limitless personalization of an object by a manufacturer to deliver the ultimate product is not a new idea.  These ideas of extreme can be found in the likes of the finest of automobiles from Bugatti, Ferrari, and Lamborghini, as well as the customization shops the likes of  Fosse,West Coast Customs, Carlex Designs and surely many others.  The overall goal was to go beyond what was readily available and partner with a builder to bring the ultimate performance powerboats with a level of luxury and performance that was unparalleled.

The hugely popular and race course dominant 388 catamaran from SKATER of Douglas, Michigan has become a cult hero. The boat is recognized in the same way a super hero, a legend or anything that stirred the emotions and commanded respect and admiration. The “Platinum Series”  is what the fans and enthusiasts consider the ultimate level of refinement and performance.  When David Branton of Covington, Louisiana first laid eyes on the original 388 Platinum Skater of Bill Pyburn Jr. he was looking down at it from his luxurious 52′ RIVA.  David told us “I just had never seen anything like it in the High Performance world of Powerboating. The luxury and refinement is second to none.  This coming from a guy who is not a newbie to the powerboating world.  David has owned over a dozen boats and four of them were SKATERS as he has always been in awe of how you as the customer have the ability to completely customize the boats total design.

Sure the boats are exquisite in design but don’t think for a minute the amazing 1950 horsepower Goodwin Competition Engines that were new to the world of powerboating at the commencement of the first boat didn’t raise the awareness and spark fascination with David. He was literally on the dock when Bill Pyburn  Jr. moored up and the discussion took off and centered around if they built another one how could they build it even better.  Bill’s response was simple “I’m not sure you could make it better as there’s just nothing equivalent except the other Platinums in development. But you could make yet another unique version.”  Bill Pointed out that taking the existing new platinum design that they could yet evolve some more aerodynamics into the boat by slightly reshaping the deck and hatches as well as rake the windshield back slightly. They could also alter the transom angle to better accommodate the return to Mercury SSM6 outdrives that just seem difficult to improve upon.

David said his fleet of high performance boats were known for their “VooDoo” names and would Bill consider taking on and assisting him through the development of yet the next “Platinum Skater” and that became the plan. The discussion started about the  colors and graphic design and they would again lean on the industry’s famed Dean Loucks from The Art of Design to craft this next piece of art. With Red/black as well as White/black Platinums already on the water it seemed a perfect fit for a Blue/Black version.

Bill said the biggest advantage of this boat as well as those to follow receive, is the hundreds of hours of testing and development into the refinements of the boats power train. “We broke new ground when we brought 1950HP pleasure boat engines to this market place. The boats had never had to support such giant power and there was an unimaginable amount of time and changes required to provide the necessary fuel and water requirements to feed these huge engines.  The engines developer and manufacturer Goodwin Competition relied a lot on in water testing  data as they devoted a whole division of their race engine facility to re-create the needs of the boat.

In the end what was delivered has proven to be a bullet proof performer with unmatched power on pump gas while providing an engine that idles and shifts around  the docks like a kitten and brings on a top performance level of a performance level like a den of lions.

If you have followed me at all you know how much I like the Tickfaw 200 and how much fun we here at PBN participating in the run.  This year we have moved the Powerboat Nation Party to Rum Buoys on the diversion canal.  With more dock space, a larger bar, and having the ability to drive to the place it should be able to accommodate more people because as the past years have proven we keep running out of room.

The other big bonus to the move is that the owner, Donovan Johnson and his team have put together a stellar event with tons for fun planned for everyone.  So whether by water, land, or even a helicopter you cant miss the Powerboat Nation Party and Bikini Contest (with $1000 in cash prizes) at Rum Buoys on Friday 4 May starting off at about noon and ending whenever you are done!

 

 

The Motor Monkey starts the Poker Run season in Louisiana by sponsoring the Tickfaw 200, a premier fundraising event benefiting the Sheriff’s Department Marine Division. Known as Louisiana’s largest powerboat poker run, the course covers 200 nautical miles of Louisiana waterways, from Lake Pontchartrain to the scenic rivers, swamps and marshes of the state.

This highly anticipated event draws players and million dollar boats from across the country for a fun filled weekend of great food, music and partying, all for a good cause.  The three day event kicks off on May 3 at Blood River Landing in Springfield and the course spans across Southeast Louisiana covering stops from Livingston and Tangipahoa Parishes to the Northshore and New Orleans.

The Motor Monkey crew will have two of their boats participating in the event, the Sunsation 34 CCX, and  a 388 Skater, and will be featuring their premier, patent pending product, the Motor Monkey fender.  Making its debut at the 2018 Miami International Boat Show, the innovative fender design was initially developed to protect the Motor Monkey Team’s own outboard motors when docking stern to, rafting, and in close quarters that are common at events like the Tickfaw 200. Over years of development, the concept evolved to become a multifunctional fender that solves many of the issues boat owners face when docking and with limited storage concerns.

CEO, Kort Wittich, says that with the warmer weather and the boating season gearing up, Motor Monkey is showing great promise and has seen a steady increase of new customers and distribution partners from across the country.  The entire team is passionate about what they do and are currently working on their next development project which they say will be in line with the quality and functionality of the Motor Monkey.

If you’re heading to the Tickfaw 200, then be on the lookout for the Motor Monkeys and Kort’s Monkey Crew and Miss PBN Brittany and the Powerboat Nation crew on the 34 CCX Sunsation!

The Tickfaw 200 has made helping the Texas hurricane relief paramount, and through a display a pure generosity and goodwill they have sent they High Water Vehicles purchased from money raised during the Tickfaw Poker run to help out in Texas.

Neighbors help neighbors. So the sending 3 Hummers, 6 boats, and a massive 5 ton high water truck from Sheriff Jason Ard of Livingston Parish to help out in Texas will be invaluable in the recovery and relief efforts. Louisiana knows all to well how hard people are affected by these types of natural disasters and they had no hesitation to send help to Texas. Additionally, some Texas power boaters from Legend Marine and a crew from Chris Bradley’s and company also pitched in to send supplies to Houston.  David Whelan of Gulf Coast Complete Marine Service has been all over Houston helping where he can. Donations like these have the ability to impact hundreds if not thousands of lives.

We can’t express enough thanks and appreciation to the organizers of the Tickfaw 200  and all the others who have contributed so much to those affected by this  disaster, and we hope that the donations will be used for many instances to come.

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