OUTBOARD FUN RUN

OUTBOARD

Photography by Todd Taylor and Rob Rich

FUN RUN

Above left: The boats dock at Big Dick’s Halfway Inn.

Above right: Burton Kirsten’s MTI 390x, Jetster (left) and a new Wright Performance 360 (right).

Left: Tyler Miller, throttleman of offshore racing’s famed Supercat competitor M-CON, with wife Lindsey, pilots his new 368 Skater, powered by Mercury Racing 450Rs.

Year #2 of Performance Boat Center’s event was a roaring success.

For the second consecutive year, Performance Boat Center of Osage Beach, MO, pulled off a fun, successful and safe Outboard Fun Run, open exclusively to boats of all types and size ranges—the only stipulation being that they needed to have Mercury Marine and Mercury Racing outboard power. Considering the way that engines like the 400R and 450R have been dominating the industry, with no sign of slowing down, PBC had no problem in the registration department.

“It’s a Friday in July, and normally everybody is busy, but we were still able to get around 55 boats to the run,” says company co-owner Brett Manire. “To get that amount of participation on a Friday from all over the country, when people have jobs and families and such, is pretty awesome.”

Represented brands included the ones sold by the PBC dealership, including Wright Performance, MTI, Sunsation, Cigarette and South Bay pontoons, as well as some Skaters, Spectres, Mystics, Nor-Techs, etc.

The day’s itinerary was fairly basic. Starting with a hearty breakfast at PBC and the requisite driver’s meeting, the fleet took to the water, with helicopter pilot Tom Cline and photographers overhead to snap some memories. The first stop was the lake’s 48-mile marker, where a giant tent awaited at Big Dick’s Halfway Inn, along with a barbecue buffet feast and some live music. The next stop was Backwater Jack’s, a truly hoppin’ place where everybody relaxed and cooled off to the eclectic blend of food, drink, swimming and entertainment. The evening ended with a taco buffet dinner and awards party with more music. “Everybody seemed to enjoy themselves,” Manire reports.

Representatives from Mercury Racing were on hand, as was the company’s famous display truck with engines and other products. “They gave us a bunch of swag to give out to customers,” Manire adds. “We really appreciate their coming down.”

Brett and Sharon Spraggins enjoy their MTI 390X, Bougiee AF.

Burton Kirsten drives Jetster, his MTI 390X. The boat is powered by twin Mercury Racing 450R outboards. Left: Lunch and pooltime fun at Backwater Jack’s.

Below: John Roach and friends in his 38' Statement center console.

Kent and Liz Anderson pilot their Sunsation 40CCX center console.

Bill Allen drives his Nor-Tech center console alongside Shane Sherman driving the Millers’ 41 Cigarette Night Hawk.

Top: PBC’s Brett Manire with Cherell Scism of MTI, accepting the Best Center Console award.

Above: Brett with Brett and Sharon Spraggins, owner of an MTI 390X (Page 52) accepting the Going the Distance award.

Left: PBC’s Myrick Coil and Brett Manire with Lindsey Miller (center), Missi Coil and Jordan Major.

Johnny and Lori Schillace of Louisiana in their 360 Wright Performance, GoodFella.

Right: George Clay of Kentucky drives his 360 Wright Performance, powered by twin Mercury Racing 400R outboards.

Right: Double Trouble is the name of Mike Stordahl’s MTI 340X, powered by twin Mercury Racing 400Rs. Left: The team at Marine Technology Inc. enjoy the run in their MTI-V 42 demo boat.