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Accidents on the water happen! SARASOTA, FL
LIFE VESTS SAVE LIVES.
A RUN OF REMEMBRANCE
By Dina Paoella
K
udosto Super Stock racer and Cortez and out into Tampa Bay to the
proud new dad Ryan Beckley for Manatee River for a festive afternoon
making his traditional Sarasota under considerably cloudy skies at the
New Year’s Day fun-run a memorable one. Tarpon Pointe Grill. Talbot Excavating,
Beckley and company were once again Tarpon Pointe, Black Pearl, Twisted Metal
successful in bringing together more than Motorsports and Lone Shark were some
60 boatloads of powerboating friends of the race boats in the mix of speedsters
and professional racing companions of gracing Florida’s west coast waters in
beloved, fallen offshore champion, Joey honor of Joey.
Gratton, to celebrate his life and reminisce For many of the crews... ringing
about the hero he truly was.in 2014 by boat meant having to set an
Joey’s wife Priscilla and sons Blake alarm or add a second espresso shot to
and Brock presence throughout the day their coffee, after the late night they spent
made the tribute all the more meaning- winding down 2013 at the lively New
ful. The family took the opportunity to Year’s Eve bash hosted by Twisted Metal
raise awareness for The Joey Gratton Motorsports Billy Glueck and friends.
Education Foundation they established,
which allows children to partake in Donations to The Joey Gratton
sports activities and work towards pro- The chilly January 1 run headed north- Foundation can be made at the following
moting personal integrity and teamwork.website www.joeygratton.com.
bound up Sarasota Bay, passing through
Opposite page, top:
Of course there’s always a Statement SUV to be found where
there’s a poker run.
Bottom: Steve Curtis of Spirit of Qatar fame in his Cougar RIB.
Right: Jimmy, Patty and Chris Kirkland running full throttle in a
38’ Cigarette Top Gun.
Below: Tarpon Pointe marching through the run to the lunch stop!
WWW.POKERRUNSAMERICA.COMVolume 17 Number 1 | POKER RUNS AMERICA 73
