Erie Poker Run report

Erie Poker Report

 

July 11, 2017

At CYOB we view the Erie Poker Run as a Canadian event, nearly. Why? Reasons 1, Canadians participate. Reason #2. Many of the boats involved are sold and tuned by Double R Performance in Oro-Medonte halfway between Barrie and Orillia.

Andrew MuscatAndrew Muscat and Jorden Peters from Forth Erie, ON.

There are more Erie depends on Canada – the PBS station (and likely other Erie outlets) in Erie gets most of its funding from Canadians, the Erie Otters hockey team plays in the Ontario Hockey League. Not only do the Otters play in the OHL, in 2017 they were the –wait for it – League Champions! So if Erie isn’t nearly Canadian, who is?

Mean Streak

So it was with Canuck enthusiasm that I headed for this year’s event operated by Elite Poker Runs who also manage a number of other top tier runs. Erie PA, just across the lake of the same name from Port Dover has what I feel is the best harbour on the Great Lakes. That harbour, which made it a huge industrial and shipping port once, today is a superb recreational boating resource the Erie folks use with zeal.

Bayfront hotelsthe hotels situated right on the Bayfront are the centre of the action all summer.

The civic waterfront is home to two really nice new hotels and the Sheraton Erie Bayfront hosts the Poker Run, the drivers’ meeting and fun awards dinner. This year 32 boats were registered and the filled up the inner basin in the centre of the city creating a lovely sexy spread of spectacular watercraft.

Spectacular Watercraft

The weather, which had been nothing short of Noah’s Ark rainfall, cleared up for a glorious day and with a phenomenal roar the Poker Runners were off pounding the waves on the Lake.

In the end the boats looked great, were polished to gleaming and a wad of cash was raised for the charities involved and boat owners got to show off their beasts. A fun event in a great venue that should be part of every performance boat owner’s schedule no matter which side of the border they live on.

-JM

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