Disagree........ All it will take is an equipment failure or human error to send a 150-224 MPH boat into the line of anchored boats........It could even happen if the boat turns toward shore and wipes out a few spectators. Ever seen a rally car accident?

+1............Not discussing it will let history repeat itself.

I didn't know either guy but I guarantee if you told either one of them they were going to die at an upcoming poker run they would have made different decisions that day. You can't justify running those speeds on public waterways. Sadly these two guys died way too young but the news/forums would be all fired up if these two guys crashed into a pontoon boat with 4-5 kids aboard killing everyone.

Who is/was wrong on Lake Cumberland? The guy with the cruiser that cut off the 150 mph boats or the guys going 150 on a public waterway? There are no winners.......

Nascar has been going the same speeds since the 1980s...F1 is the same story. The theme in this thread (other than grieving the loss of two great guys, and please do not be offended by my post) has been if you want to go fast in a boat safely, go racing. Which I am a huge supporter of. That being said...lets take a step back and look at the racing side of our sport. In the 1990s Supercat (Alcone Motorsports, Drambuie, Big Thunder, etc) was running a highest speed of low 140s. The canopies help up, the competition was amazing and lets be honest, 140 will never be slow. Since then, Supercharged big blocks have become "mild" power in our sport, which makes me sick. 2 1300s not enough for ya? Throw two more in! Hell, put some turbines in it! I'm very proud to be apart of an organization that took the leap and capped the Extreme class to 135. Id lake to see the rest of the offshore racing world follow suit. Don't like bracket racing? Fine...spec class it. Just like Supercat used to be. Until this happens, the only reason offshore racing is safer is the chopper in the air and the closed course. Am I saying I think the current Poker Run format is ok? Hell no. But our sport as a whole needs to take a giant leap back. Wanna run 160 plus? Great! Do it at the shootout or in the fall when your body of water is empty. Not on a public place littered with spectator boats that cannot be controlled.

Sorry to ramble a bit.

May these two great guys rest in peace, condolences to all their friends and family.

TS

As a former promoter of both racing and poker runs i am telling you there is no way the authorities will impose special laws on an open course. Only on a closed course will it be patrolled and controlled

Excellent post!!

amen

1.) I think there is only afew ways to be safer and do a show and have fun,like i think i read, a friday shoot out for the big guns for a spectator show,extra day of income and great show
2.) Possible option, saturdays PR, send 2 boats at a time off of the fastest boats to first card stop, timed to determine bragging rights, wouldn't take long at current speeds,boats over 150mph must have capsules etc..Spectator show.
3.) PR day no boats over 120mph, after first group with timed runs leave.

Just my 2 cents worth, this has got to get safer and not be scared for ourself and others on a fun day of boating.

Someone mentioned that the big dog poker run guys have no interest in sanctioned racing and I believe that. There are drag strips all over the nation but you still have street racing. People are talking closed course, pace boats, timed runs to spots, etc but the big dogs want bragging rights and to show their stuff. The shootout is too short of a course for the big dogs to get up to top speed and have to run individually, poker runs are too "public", and sanctioned closed course racing is too controlled for them to want to participate. So...

How about the big dogs talk to each other (over the phone) and setup a once a year, end of season fun run. Inland lakes are too small so how about the Gulf or Lake Michigan to keep it centrally located. 30 mile run, $5k buy in, invite only (Just you and your crew with no public spectators), and winner take all. Don't advertise or promote it and just post up the results/video afterward.

I certainly don't want to point fingers at anyone, especially at this time, given this unfortunate accident, but I just came across this video on You Tube- also from the Lake Cumberland Poker Run.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AoHBQNqNSg

From what I can see, this Skater separated form the rest of the group and made a very close pass between that Checkmate and a few other boats.....

Why go all the way over there when you have more room in the main channel of the lake?

I swear I have seen that video before. I don't think it was from the 2013 Cumberland run... Maybe I am wrong, but I remember seeing this or a very similar video months ago....