With big casino names like Beau Rivage, Hard Rock, IP and the Grand Casino as a back drop, the Smokin the Sound Poker Run got off to a humble start in 2010, as a supporting event to the OSS Powerboat Race which has hosted its season opening offshore races in Biloxi for well over a decade. And like any other poker run event, organizers took baby steps to get the right elements in place, and the 2012 edition seems to have landed comfortably with a new format that poker run teams enjoyed with widespread consensus.
Perhaps it was the new event headquarters at the completely renovated and recently re-opened PALACE Casino, that takes much of the credit. One of the few casinos not located on the Gulf-facing shoreline of the Biloxi casino-row, the location actually boasts a full-service marina on the protected baywaters, complete with its own boat ramp, ample truck and trailer parking, and a full service marina that includes hundreds of feet of bulkhead and abundant supply of floating docks. For poker runners trailering in from out-of-town, it was the perfect set up, as it took only minutes to launch boats, park the trailers, and be ready for boating fun.
But it just kept getting better…..as participants checked into the elegant, boutique style lobby, and received modest accommodations for under $100 per sleeping room, and soon discovered that the entire resort, casino included, was a non-smoking property. One could actually wander through the casino, strike up a game of blackjack, attack the slots or just grab a cocktail at the expansive sports bar, without having to inhale a carton of Marlboro lights along the way. Even smokers agreed, it was a breath of fresh air. Of course there were plenty of outdoor patios and the waterfront Wahoo’s restaurant to sneak outside for a beverage and stogee.
The Poker Run course was also modified by organizers, who happen to be avid boaters. Paul Bertucci and Miles Holcomb, both locals, agreed that the previous course was a little long, and removed two of the the Gulf waters checkpoints, after crews experienced some choppy conditions in the previous year.
After a 9am captains meeting which paid tribute to Louisana’s Leon and David Ortemond, the father and son team who lost their lives just two weeks earlier in a tragic boating accident, the poker runners soon prepared for the 10:30 start, from the Palace Casino.
It was just a hop-skip-and-jump to the first checkpoint, and the new plan had the entire fleet hitting all of the Gulf side stops in the first part of the run, saving the backwater bayou for the afternoon. The helicopter joined in for the fun, with FPC on board to document all the action for the souvenir DVD and coverage on the Powerboating in Paradise TV Show. A fabulous lunch was served at a popular waterfront eatery called Shaggy’s, which rolled out a country boil of shrimp, potatos & corn, and BBQ beef that filled bellies and left nobody disappointed.
By early afternoon, the boats were eastbound for Biloxi Harbor, where the OSS race officials opened up the race course to the poker runners, and cards were gathered up at the Hard Rock and the Isle Casino, before turning into the protected backwaters for the ride to the Prop Stop. It was there that boaters were able to raft up and enjoy the rustic backwater vibe that was strangly similar to the original Prop Stop in Louisana.. with the only exception that the traditional drinks called “worm buckets” were replaced by a variety of frozen daiquiries.
The final stop at the DOCK, also gave participants a chance to raft-up, relax and enjoy live musical entertainment and a scenic view of Gulfport Lake, a popular hangout for many of the local boaters. The festivities continued Saturday evening at the Palace Casino, where the cards were played out, and both poker runners and offshore racers rubbed shoulders, enjoyed powerboat video from the day’s events on two dozen screens, and were entertained by a fabulous live rock band that played through the evening. Congratulations to all the winners of the poker run, and the Grand Prize was won by FPC members Matt & Gail Rohl from Chicago, who were on board with Paul Bertucci in his 43 Nor-tech, “Beer Money”.
Special thanks to Smokin the Sound promoter Woody Bailey and all his poker run team for putting on a great event, and to the entire crew at the PALACE CASINO for rolling out the red carpet and extending a gracious welcome to all of the participants, on the 3rd Annual Smokin the Sound Poker Run.
Stu Jones
Stay tuned! Extensive Photo galleries will be posted on the FPC website in the next few days!