Dock does DONZI
 

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...d.php?t=195721

Folks I don't have time to start a new thread but I hope you will click on the above link and check out the Poker Runs America event we had on Lake Norman this weekend.

It turned out to be a great event and I cannot thank Blane Aarup of DONZI enough for inviting the wife and I to enjoy the run on a beautiful 38 Donzi poker run boat with 700's.

Little did I know I would have the wheel and the guy throttling would be the legendary "Craig Barrie".

I lost a $500.00 bet with Blane today on who would be the fastest at the Richard Petty Driving Experience at the Charlotte Motor Speedway but it was worth every cent and I would have paid MUCH more for this opportunity to run a boat with Craig.

Well you had to be there to appreciate this statement but when Craig pulled the steering wheel off and handed it to me in the first no wake zone the wife said the look on my face was priceless.

Then he said the following: (see picture)

There were several Baja's out on the lake watcheing the events Saturday.

Who all was out there that is here on OSO?

Blane Aarup formerly of Baja now with Donzi was the fastest man in our PRA group that went to the Richard Petty Driving Experience on Sunday. There were 31 folks there and the girls I think had more fun then the guys!

Blane ran 143.38 MPH

I'll just say he beat me by a few MPH:evilb:

I would have put my money on Blane. He could get 143.38 out of a rental car! (and probably has!) :drink:

Looks like a great time. I saw the boat at Loto. Its badass!

Here you go buddy. Saw you a few times Friday but couldn't find a good time to interupt.

What a great time! :ernaehrung004:

Glad you had a great time also. I was amazed at all the thumbs up and waves we received from folks on the docks they love the big boats being there.

I was looking for you and SoCal hoping to see you both out there. Man was the weather perfect or what?

Thanks

Blane and that boat were here last weekend for the Norfolk Boat show,

Doc, it makes me feel uneasy with you behind the wheel of a Donzi :rolleyes:

Glad you al had a great time.

WILL:ernaehrung004:

A lot of you guys know David Anderson aka SWEDE here on OSO. he has a website and sells photo's and has some real nice ones online.

Check it out.

www.swedeimages.com

Yeah they are getting around for sure. The "Oh So Orange" paint is really cool isn't it?

Just like Blane I will always have a love for Baja it is in our veins. Too many good times, too many nice people and like they say you dance with the one that brung you. If I could afford the Donzi it would be mine today. I would have had them to leave it in the water. It is one sweet package and something that I will consider in the future if the opportunity presents itself.

Or were you just saying that you would be scared of my driving!:evilb:

Thanks

It's always a good time listening to Blane lie and BS me.

Dock Congrats on the ride and driving experience. I told the wife I want that for Xmas. The richard petty driving. Teh 15 lapper or more at Daytona.
Did I miss somthing or is your boat just laid up for the time being. I thought you installed the 500's back in and were out playing??

You will enjoy the driving experience I promise.

Our boat is still down we are doing a few improvements and looking forward to being back on the water next year.

I don't know Blane but I am glad that he was able to get a good job after that mess at Baja. Nothing worse than good people getting tossed in a company dissolution.

Yep - the crew and I caught the run twice and were waving and giving the thumbs up. It looked like they were holding back when we saw them twice.

Great weather. Wish it was a little warmer for the swiming though!

Safety FIRST

PRA asked everyone that wanted to run 150 MPH to put them back on the trailer and head to Sarasota, Florida in two weeks for the run there. PRA asked that we handle this event as a cruise and enjoy the waterway, view the scenery and respect the others on the lake. I think everyone did a very good job of controlling themselves. Craig Barrie is a super guy and he throttled our boat around 90MPH all day and the wife saw 96 on the GPS once while we were moving by a slower boat for a safer position.

I received the following picture today from a good friend that was on the water watching.

Wow, cant ask for a better picture than that! Id definately consider having that blown up and framed. Is that Blane poking his head out behind you?

Smitty,

Blane is a really COOL guy that eats, sleeps and breathes boating and racing. You probably cannot tell but the race suit, helment, shoes and Hauns device he used at the speedway were is own. He has a truck race team and really gets into it.

Take care
Doc

Hey what are you doing awake so early?

Yes it is a great picture and yes that is Blane watching where we are going since I am watching the camera and holding the wheel!:eek:

My wife is behind Craig on the port side, Blane is in the middle and Linda (Craig's wife) in behind me on the starboard side.

Is Craig with Donzi now?

Yes he is with Donzi and seems to be enjoying it. The orange boat is his creation and has a lot of neat features that they have not put on the competition boats before.

Hey check this picture out of Blane's race suit!:eek:

Here is the only pic I took of that boat at Loto. Seems to me there was another similar orange one there?


I stared at the picture of Blane in his jumpsuit for like 10 minutes and cant come up with a smartass remark. :mad: However, I could picture his hair a little darker and some gold chains! :drink:

Hey Doc, he is not your hero anymore? (I don't see it in your signature now) :evilb:

2 more questions: Does Craig B still own Dragon?

Did Craig B say if he did or did not poke Farrah F.? :evilb:

Yes he is definitely my HERO. Just seemed a little corny so I changed it to what he wrote when he autographed the picture.

I asked him how many Dragon boats they produced but that is the only question I asked regarding Dragon. I don’t know how well you know Craig but he will answer almost any question but he does not volunteer any information. Also he does not forget a single thing you say either. I was caught in the trap a couple of times!

I have never heard this and it would have been totally inappropriate of me to ask especially with his lovely wife Linda present. However if he did before he was married then he really is my hero!

thanks, what a great time you had that's for sure :drink:

Shootout weekend ??.....was it this one ?

I got's to go buy some "Kool-Aid" for my good friend ,,, HHHHuuummmm ,,, Orange or Cherry ?????

I think I would like watermelon RED. Thank you:evilb:

P.S. That avitar looks funny by you name. Did I welcome you to the Baja family?

Id say thats the one! Who was driving?

It's hard to tell by that picture but Craig was at LOTO so I would bet that is Craig at the helm.

Nope,

Thats a regular ZR, not a ZRC, which the poker run boat is.

I was confused too at first.

The ZRC ( poker run boat) ran saturday at the shootout.

On Sunday, while waiting my turn in the milling area,
up rolls the boat in the picture, it's Grant, ( a guy we know
from down at LOTO) I ask him "what are you doing in that boat ?", he say's "it's mine", I said "isn't that the poker run
boat ?", that's when I realized it was a ZR....but it looks
just like the poker run boat....and I didn't know he
had gotten that boat...his last boat was a 38ZR w/525's

His best run was 106, which won his class

Here's a couple of pic's

You are right that is standard ZR with a cuddy. I should have noticed the wind screen all the way across.

Beautiful boat and very nice speed.

The factory boat was at LOTO.

Thanks

we will be on the islands this weekend if your around i'll buy some kool-aid:ernaehrung004: