The New Year started out in true offshore style in the great city of Sarasota. What began several years ago as a few friends going boating on New Year’s Day has evolved into an annual fun run that serves up plenty of performance and excitement for boating enthusiasts.
Story by: Karl Ecker
Photography by: Lake Racer, LLC
The New Year started out in true offshore style in the great city of Sarasota. What began several years ago as a few friends going boating on New Year’s Day has evolved into an annual fun run that serves up plenty of performance and excitement for boating enthusiasts.
Boaters – and boats of all makes and models – are welcome to attend and there’s no fee to enter. In recent years, the event changed its name to honor the late Joey Gratton – a world-class throttleman, husband to Priscilla, father to Blake and Brock, and friends to so many – who lost his life during a fatal accident at the 2011 SBI World Championships in Key West.
“…With an excellent New Year’s Eve party, 65-plus entries, and an exciting run, there was no better way to start off the new year…”
Ryan Beckley, throttleman for Double Edge Motorsports and long-time friend, felt honoring him would be a way to not only show respect, but help heal the sadness and heavy hearts his family and the racing community has endured since his passing.
Beckley, owner of Kinetic Animation Graphics, begins planning this event immediately following the Key West Worlds, designing T-shirts, decals and finalizing plans for the special day. Assisting in making the event a success is Billy Glueck, throttleman of Twisted Metal fame. He transforms his racing headquarters into the place to be on New Year’s Eve, serving food and even organizes an amazing fireworks display at 12 midnight. The event now draws the who`s who of the offshore racing community every year.
“…the unfavorable weather didn`t stop the participants from starting the run at the 10th Street Ramp in Sarasota New Year’s Day…”
This year, for the 2013 poker run, Mother Nature was not cooperative, delivering mild temperatures and overcast skies. Regardless, the unfavorable weather didn`t stop the 65-plus boats from starting the run at the 10th Street Ramp in Sarasota New Year’s Day. While a smaller group from Tampa descended from the north side of the bay, the groups came together at the mouth of the Bradenton River, and continued to the lunch stop at The Tarpon Pointe Grille, which welcomes all the participants with docking space, entertainment, and of course, great food.
The run seems to grow every year with the furthest traveled from Bremerton, WA, which is home to Kyler Talbot of Talbot offshore racing. This past New Year’s Eve, Beckley received a call from famed World Champion throttleman Steve Curtis of Team Qatar about attending the event, leaving Beckley in awe by having someone of Curtis’ stature being in attendance. F-1 Tunnel boat driver Shaun Torrente and his family also participated, arriving with a 28’ Skater.
With the awesome New Year’s Eve party, the 65-plus boats, the who’s who of offshore in attendance, and a great day of running the beautiful Gulf Coast, there’s no better way to honor Joey Gratton and to begin a new year.
In a city rich with history and home to a strong tradition of offshore performance boating, it is never too early to plan for next year. Hope to see you at the 2015 event!
