TEXAS OUTLAW CHALLENGE

The celebrated Texas blowout returns with both barrels blazing.

TEXAS OUTLAW

CHALLENGE

It was a great Covid comeback,” says organizer Paul Robinson of the 2021 edition of the Texas Outlaw Challenge, which unfortunately took last year off because of the pandemic. But with the landscape gradually changing, it was time for the gunslingers to return to the proverbial saddle, and that’s just what they did.

“People were ready,” Robinson says, adding that “we had 150 boats, which was a good comeback jumper.” But as he points out, the event didn’t merely attract a lot of boats—there was also a lot of actual boating going on.

“The community and the industry supported the event more than ever this year, which was a real positive. We had a great helicopter coverage and got some awesome aerial shots of most of the boats.”

Early arrivals began trickling in to the area on Wednesday, June 28, for a Shooter Pre-Party, but the main event officially kicked off on Thursday with the Stampede Street Party in the Kemah Downtown area. Bars, bands, boat displays and miscellaneous craziness permeated the streets as a lot of awesome creations whet attendees’ appetites for the on-water fun (see Page 24 for Street Party coverage).

A mandatory driver’s meeting at 9 a.m. set the stage for a 10:30 a.m. Return of the Champions Shootout Competition, followed by Day #1 of the Gunslinger Poker Run from noon to 5 p.m. Friday night brought the tradition Outlaw Pirate Party and Miss Outlaw Bikini Contest at Barge 295, one of the real highlights of the event. Saturday brought Day #2 of the Gunslinger Poker Run, followed by the Outlaws to the Max / Casino Night grande finale and awards presentation, at which a record number of awards were given away.

“We did a lot more boating this year, due to social distancing,” Robinson says. “It was just the right thing to do. And people enjoyed the additional boating, and our new stops.” This year, the poker run added two new poker-hand stops—Marina Bay Harbor Marina and Pier 6—for a total of nine stops. (Pier 6 is a new waterfront marina and oyster restaurant in the coastal town of San Leon, where participants enjoyed good food and drinks.)

Robinson gives a huge shout-out sponsor Marine Max, as well as to the City of Seabrook. “Their support has been indispensible.”

Clockwise from top: The Kemah Boardwalk; registration party; Harborwalk Saturday lunch/pool stop; Miss Outlaw Bikini Contest winners.

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Above: Jared Wammack and friends in his Good Company Fountain. Left: Johnny Ballard drives his 43' Nor-Tech, Busted. Below: Jody Galley in his 38' Fountain, powered by twin 572 engines.

Above: Black Thunder owner Tim Doran, one of Texas Outlaw Challenge’s event sponsors, pilots the company’s 43' demo boat.

Right: Nicholas Alexander Keith in his Donzi 35 ZR.

Left: Benny Lopez in his multi-colored Skater.

Below: This 42' MTI is powered by twin Mercury Racing 1100 engines.

Scott Marcotte in his Hustler 388 Sling Shot, Catch Me...If You Can.

Right: Justin Digiovanni in Ginger, a 34' Pilini Marine. It recorded a speed of 111 mph.

Below right: Chad Havens achieved a speed of 144 mph in Savage, his 40' Skater, which is equipped with Mercury Racing 1350 engines.

Bottom: Patrick Koch was clocked at 97 mph in his 2017 Shockwave, powered by a TCM 1200 EFI. Left: Blake Sullivan drove his 22' Donzi to a speed of 80.3 mph. The boat is powered by a Mercury Racing 496HO.

WeOnTop.com is owner Brian Cole’s one-off 38' Badboy.

Left: Top Gun Cat Class Shootout Winner Curtis Morris achieved a speed of 156 mph in his 2009 36’ Skater.

Right: Texan Cass Shewbart got a top speed of 99 mph in his 2020 Outerlimits SL44 Liquid Prozac, which features twin Mercury Racing 860 engines coupled to #6 drives.

Below: Event sponsors Mike and Jason Dillon of Dillon Auto Sales display their 2018 Cigarette 39' GTS.

Above: The Huski Chocolate 53' MTI, powered by twin 1,750 hp Mercury Racing power, is seen at the Street Party with Chad Havens’ 40’ Skater Savage, equipped with Mercury Racing 1350 engines. Below: Local boater Chance Kemp shows off his Nor-Tech 390, powered by quad Mercury Racing 400Rs. It sits atop a custom MYCO trailer.

Above: Legend Marine Group, one of the original Outlaw sponsors since 2008, displayed this Nor-Tech center console powered by quad Mercury Racing 400Rs.

Right: Wayne Hardin displayed his Statement center console.

1: Bill and Angela Friedrichs are presented with an Event Sponsor Award. 2: Event producer Paul Robinson and Daryl Turner were presented the Bay Area Community Pinnacle Service Award from Rick Clapp, CEO of the Bay Area Media Group, for their outstanding service to the community. 3: The cool and coveted awards for Texas Outlaw Challenge winners include a Six Shooter for the poker run and a Shotgun for the Shootout. 4: Event Sponsor Greg Connell and Jennifer Bishop of Legend Marine Group. 5: Event sponsor Kenny Armstrong of DH Tech.