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www.pokerrunsamerica.com AMP-AMP-eded U Upp!! AMERICAN MARINE PERFORMANCE’S ARTHUR FUSCO TM MYCO TRAILERS ON A ROLL MERCURY RACING MIDWEST CHALLENGE RECORD BREAKER OFFSHORE ENDURANCE RECORD SMASHED FORMULA’S NEW 457 CENTER CONSOLE TIME OUT WITH TIGER PERFORMANCE NOVEMBER ISSUE / 2023 Cover 26-3.indd 1Cover 26-3.indd 12023-10-20 10:38 AM2023-10-20 10:38 AM19731980 Pioneers of Power Explore 50 years of innovation, milestones, and people that have helped create Wide Open. EST. 1973 C M Y CM MY CY CMY K 2023-MR-PRA-AD-Insert-1.pdf 1 2/6/23 9:55 PM19731980 Pioneers of Power Explore 50 years of innovation, milestones, and people that have helped create Wide Open. EST. 1973 C M Y CM MY CY CMY K 2023-MR-PRA-AD-Insert-1.pdf 1 2/6/23 9:55 PMBill Taylor PUBLISHERS NOTE 4 WWW.POKERRUNSAMERICA.COMWWW.POKERRUNSAMERICA.COM VOLUME TWENTY SIX / NUMBER THREE PUBLISHER William E. Taylor bill@pokerrunsamerica.com EDITOR Gregg Mansfield info@pokerrunsamerica.com TECHNICAL EDITOR Price Turner CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tim Banse, Zenon Bilas, Bob Brown, Mike Burns Bill Jennings, Bobbye Kenyon, Chris Kourtakis, Mark Rothermal DESIGN ads@pokerrunsamerica.com Tamara Taylor, Giselle Bansal WEB DESIGN Moe Basha mbasha@taylorpublishinggroup.com PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Giselle Bansal giselle@pokerrunsamerica.com VP ADVERTISING & SALES Todd Taylor todd@pokerrunsamerica.com SALES Todd Taylor todd@pokerrunsamerica.com FLORIDA SALES Kevin Peterson klpetersonmarketing@gmail.com SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATORS Nancy Mueller, Melanie Taylor coordinator@pokerrunsamerica.com ADMINISTRATION President William E. Taylor Group Publisher Melanie Taylor-Wallis VP/Special Projects Norm Rosen PHOTOGRAPH/VIDEO Tamara Taylor tmtaylor@taylorpublishinggroup.com Duane C. Adams, Pete Boden, Ken Denardo, Jeff Geradi - Freeze Framevideo.net, Lisa Mazzoni, Randy Nuzzo, Tim Sharkey- Sharkeys Images EXECUTIVE & EDITORIAL OFFICES NEW YORK 777 East Park Drive, Tonawanda, NY 14150 FLORIDA 131 Brandiwood Court, Debary, FL, 32713 Tel: 1-800-354-9145 TORONTO 268 - 44 Crawford Crescent, Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 905/844-8218 EDITORIAL OFFICES 1-800-354-9145 Subscription inquires call: 1-800-354-9145 Website: www.pokerrunsamerica.com E-mail: info@pokerrunsamerica.com Cover and contents are copyright protected and may not be reproduced in any form without prior written consent from the publisher. Editorial contributions must be accompanied by return postage and will be handled with reasonable care. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return or safety of artwork, photographs, or manuscripts. Poker Runs America reserves the right to refuse any and all advertising and disclaims all responsibilities for claims or statement of facts made by its advertisers or independent columnists Regular subscription rates are 4 issues: $19 US. 8 issues: $32 US. Canadian subscribers add $10. Single copy price is $5.95 US and $8.50 Cdn. POSTMASTER Send all returns to Poker Runs America, 777 East Park Drive, Tonawanda, NY 14150 PRINTED IN USA POKER RUNS AMERICA | Volume 26 Number 3 TIDBITS FROM AROUND THE BOATING INDUSTRY William E. Taylor, Publisher bill@pokerrunsamerica.com As 2023 is coming to a close, it’s been another banner year for boatbuilders and engine manufacturers in the high-performance marine industry. The companies have been busy catching up on the backlog from the pandemic and are looking to the future. Several new models will be making their debut at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) when it takes over South Florida in late October. Although the performance-boating scene isn’t what it used to be at FLIBS, it’s still a great preview of what is coming in 2024. Whether it’s checking out Formula Boats’ new 457 Center Console or hearing the big announcement Adrenaline Powerboats will be making at FLIBS, there’s lots of excitement in store. Speaking of South Florida, I recently stopped in to visit Bob Latham and Latham Marine in Fort Lauderdale. It was my first visit since Bob’s longtime spouse, Kathy, passed away in January after a three-year battle with multiple myeloma. Bob and Kathy were partners in building Latham Marine into the powerhouse it is today. Since Kathy’s passing, Bob has been focusing on the business, and got back into the cockpit of a race boat. Bob, a retired and legendary offshore racer, paired up with Canada’s Lorne Leibel and offshore racer Ryan Beckley in June to run the Ocean Cup Gateway Marathon, an endurance race from West Palm Beach, Fla., to the west end of the Bahamas and back to the mainland. The trio ran the famous 47-foot Apache hull No. 1 that was previously owned by Ben Kramer. Despite the V-bottom having a few years on it, the boat was rerigged three years ago with Sterling Performance engines. The team and boat had an impressive performance, finishing second with a time of 1 hour, 37 minutes, 13 seconds for the 128- mile journey. For Bob, it was the first time he had been in the cockpit as a racer/throttleman since 1989. He admits he was a bit nervous at first, but the muscle memory came back quickly as the Apache averaged 79 mph in the open ocean race. It was wonderful to see Bob and Lorne back together in the cockpit, running one of the most famous offshore boats on Earth. It’s also great to see racers once again embracing old-school endurance runs being staged by the Ocean Cup series. In this issue, you’ll read about an endurance record off the California coast that stood since the late 1980s before being broken in September. If inshore racing is more your speed, check out our report on the Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge from Wisconsin. Whether it’s an offshore endurance run or inshore racing, it’s great to see the legends back on the water. Even for one day. PRA Pub Page 26-3.indd 4Pub Page 26-3.indd 42023-10-19 2:31 PM2023-10-19 2:31 PMAMP UP YOUR LIFESTYLE A M E R I C A N M A R I N E P E R F O R M A N C E . C O M Design A masterpiece of handcrafted luxury, the AMP 333SC is meticulously built with your comfort in mind. Its elegant lines, expansive cockpit, cutting-edge console, and unprecedented beam elevate your boating experience to unmatched levels of sophistication. Lifestyle LuxuryPerformanPe The AMP 333SC center console boat redefines luxury living, setting a new standard with lavish interiors and cutting-edge entertainment. Reserved for the most discerning tastes, it’s a lifestyle of unrivaled exclusivity. The AMP 333SC is a testament to opulence and refinement, making waves in the industry. Emphasizing lavishness and superior design, it exudes sophistication that sets it apart. With plush interiors and state- of-the-art entertainment, the AMP 333SC defines waterborne luxury. The AMP 333SC is a remarkable performance boat with a cutting-edge double-step hull design, reaching speeds from 72 to 95 MPH. It excels in safety, superb handling, and exceptional stability, ensuring an exhilarating yet secure water experience. THE NEW 2024 AMP 333 WILL AMP UP YOUR LIFESTYLE A M E R I C A N M A R I N E P E R F O R M A N C E . C O M Design A masterpiece of handcrafted luxury, the AMP 333SC is meticulously built with your comfort in mind. Its elegant lines, expansive cockpit, cutting-edge console, and unprecedented beam elevate your boating experience to unmatched levels of sophistication. Lifestyle LuxuryPerformanPe The AMP 333SC center console boat redefines luxury living, setting a new standard with lavish interiors and cutting-edge entertainment. Reserved for the most discerning tastes, it’s a lifestyle of unrivaled exclusivity. The AMP 333SC is a testament to opulence and refinement, making waves in the industry. Emphasizing lavishness and superior design, it exudes sophistication that sets it apart. With plush interiors and state- of-the-art entertainment, the AMP 333SC defines waterborne luxury. The AMP 333SC is a remarkable performance boat with a cutting-edge double-step hull design, reaching speeds from 72 to 95 MPH. It excels in safety, superb handling, and exceptional stability, ensuring an exhilarating yet secure water experience. THE NEW 2024 AMP 333 WILL AMP UP YOUR LIFESTYLE A M E R I C A N M A R I N E P E R F O R M A N C E . C O M Design A masterpiece of handcrafted luxury, the AMP 333SC is meticulously built with your comfort in mind. Its elegant lines, expansive cockpit, cutting-edge console, and unprecedented beam elevate your boating experience to unmatched levels of sophistication. Lifestyle LuxuryPerformanPe The AMP 333SC center console boat redefines luxury living, setting a new standard with lavish interiors and cutting-edge entertainment. Reserved for the most discerning tastes, it’s a lifestyle of unrivaled exclusivity. The AMP 333SC is a testament to opulence and refinement, making waves in the industry. Emphasizing lavishness and superior design, it exudes sophistication that sets it apart. With plush interiors and state- of-the-art entertainment, the AMP 333SC defines waterborne luxury. The AMP 333SC is a remarkable performance boat with a cutting-edge double-step hull design, reaching speeds from 72 to 95 MPH. It excels in safety, superb handling, and exceptional stability, ensuring an exhilarating yet secure water experience. THE NEW 2024 AMP 333 WILL AMP.indd 1AMP.indd 12023-10-19 2:47 PM2023-10-19 2:47 PM6 POKER RUNS AMERICA | Volume 26 Number 3WWW.POKERRUNSAMERICA.COM FEATURES 26 20 AMP BOATS ARE HERE Brazilian Arthur Fusco making waves in the sport center-console market 26 TOP GUN ROYALTY American Ethanol wins a record ninth Lake of the Ozarks Shootout Top Gun crown. 32 DOUBLE UP: FORMULA’S NEW CENTER CONSOLE The 457 Center Console is the second center-console boat in Formula’s lineup. 36 ON A ROLL MYCO Trailers is ready to celebrate 50 years of building marine trailers. 40 GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY The Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge was the perfect 50-year celebration. 46 RECORD BREAKER! The Patriotic Duty Team smashes the historic San Francisco to Marina del Rey endurance run. 50 TIME OUT WITH SONNY HAWKINS Tiger Performance founder and owner Sonny Hawkins 55 FROM THE VAULTS From the waters if Lake Norman to the asphalt of Lowe’s Motor Speedway this was a weekend to remember! 4 PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE 10 THE BIG TICKET 12 FAST FACTS 60 POWER PLAY New York City Powerboat Rally; Lake Cumberland Poker Run 70 RACE CALENDAR & AD INDEX DEPARTMENTS pra vol. 26-3 CONTENTS contents 26-3.indd 6contents 26-3.indd 62023-10-19 2:30 PM2023-10-19 2:30 PM7 Volume 26 Number 3 | POKER RUNS AMERICAWWW.POKERRUNSAMERICA.COM xx 40 36 32 Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge 50 contents 26-3.indd 7contents 26-3.indd 72023-10-19 2:37 PM2023-10-19 2:37 PMWWW.POKERRUNSAMERICA.COM SPEED ZONE 8 POKER RUNS AMERICA | Volume 26 Number 3WWW.POKERRUNSAMERICA.COM speed zones.indd 8speed zones.indd 82023-10-19 2:33 PM2023-10-19 2:33 PM9 ENERGY BOOST The Monster Energy/M Con 43’ Skater catches air at the Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge. The Class 1 cata- maran with Tyler Miller on the throttles and Myrick Coil driving, finished third at the Sheboygan, Wis., race. Photo courtesy of Mercury Racing 9 Volume 26 Number 3 | POKER RUNS AMERICAWWW.POKERRUNSAMERICA.COM speed zones.indd 9speed zones.indd 92023-10-19 2:33 PM2023-10-19 2:33 PMNext >