2017 Key West Poker Run Part 4
With 160 boats currently pre-registered, the 2017 Florida Powerboat Clubs Key West Poker Run is going to be incredible. But, it has not been a smooth year by any means for Club President Stu Jones his wife Jackie and their team. This year Hurricane Irma did create a series of hurdles for Stu to overcome.
With little to no dockage available at Gilbert’s, the usual lunch stop, everything had to be moved to Marathon Key, which will have three separate lunch stops at some new locations that should prove to be outstanding.
The actual poker run course was also of great concern so Stu hired a sea plane and just last week flew the entire course from Miami to Key West low and slow checking every inch of the inter-coastal waterway to verify the course remained well marked and free of any submerged objects or debris. Stu told us he has also been promised a full waterways report from Florida Fish and Wildlife near the end of this month.
FPC 2017 Key West 25th Annual Poker Run TV Show Part 1 Stu Jones and the members of the Florida Powerboat Club make their way to Key West for the 25th Annual Key West Poker Run. See all the great sponsors, new High Performance Boats and the beautiful girls in bikini swim wear. November 20, 2017 It’s been a week since we got back from the 2017 Key West Poker Run, and can’t believe what we saw, but we were overwhelmed by what we heard! There’s nothing better than hearing the power from the engines on display. Stu Jones here on FPC TV features the 2016 Key West Poker Run (part 5), presented by Mercury Racing. See all the high performance boats on the biggest and be.
Stu said” The bottom line is that the Key West Poker Run is on in full form. Key West is fully recovered, all the marinas, hotels, and other venues are open and ready to accommodate everyone. There are about 10 to 15 boats still on the fence you have indicated they are coming but have not registered and while hotel accommodations remain available they will go fast as the date approaches.
This is the Florida Powerboat Clubs 25th year and the contributions the club has provided to marine industry especially in the high performance segment are clearly not measurable. The number of boaters inspired to buy a boat new or used, big or small has to be huge and a significant amount of credit goes to Stu and his team for continuing to provide safe and fun powerboating experiences throughout Florida and the world.
This years run is also dedicated to my great friend Larry Goldman. Larry was always at each and every FPC run since the beginning and was the host of the very first club Poker Run at Sunny Isles, Marina 25 years ago. The dedication of the 2017 Key west Poker Run to Larry’s memory is a great honor to Larry and his family and close friends who miss him so very very much.
Powerboat Nation will be all over Key West shooting video for out new episodes so be sure to be camera ready when we catch you in and around Key West!
COMMENTS
Born May 5, 1936 in Key West, Florida to Jane S. and John W. Carbonell Jr.
As a young boy John worked at the Strand Theater, where he developed a work ethic that followed him through the years.
John graduated Key West High School in 1955. He served in the US Army, returning to Key West to work as a foreman for Southern Enterprises. He then became owner and president of AC Rug. During this time, he was also a little league basketball coach. His mentoring ability paved the way for many individuals to advance their life goals. John always said “If you can work for me, you can work for anyone“.
These skills followed John when he began his offshore powerboat racing career in 1976. John purchased his first boat from Reggie Fountain, The Installer. He joined the ranks of race icons Betty Cook, Rocky Aoki and Don Aronow, just to name a few. Trusted by leaders of the offshore racing community in 1989, he was approached to become a race promoter by Al Copeland and Don Jonhson. John’s ingenuity and expertise gave birth to the most professional offshore powerboat racing in the country. He worked with numerous race teams in the US and was the liaison for international teams from Japan, Qatar, Italy, Australia, Canada, Trinidad, Argentina and more. Through these associations, John was privileged to meet the current president, Donald J. Trump.
2017 Key West Poker Run Part 46
John was the Iron Fist that kept the teams running. Race producers from all over the world respected his desire to continually enhance powerboat racing. In his vision as president of SBI, John created a new format to the race course that provided an up close and personal arena keeping spectators on the edge of their seat.
Producing over 600 national and international races and 38 years of Key West World Championships. His love and great devotion for Key West, John Carbonell’s events nationally and internationally were always prefaced by “To be the best you have to win in Key West” ®.
His name and legacy will live on forever and he will be sadly missed.
He was met in Heaven by his beloved grandson Mando and his brothers Norman and Harold.
2017 Key West Poker Run Part 47
John is survived by his loving, devoted wife, Deana. His daughters Janet Carbonell and Lori Ryan. His son John W Carbonell IV (Diane). Grandchildren Jase and Jade Carbonell; Chandler and Jordan Ryan; Rachel Nadaskay, Grace Shaw, Mark, Noah, Jacob, Stephen and Christian Carbonell; Three great-grandchildren;
Three sisters, Gloria (Joe) Medina, Brenda (Felix) Otero and Jane Cormack. As well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and his entire SBI staff family.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, October 14th, 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at Dean-Lopez Funeral Home, 418 Simonton St.
A celebration of life will be held Thursday, October 15th 3:00pm, at Glad Tidings Church, 1209 United St.
2017 Key West Poker Run Part 48
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the CTCnetwork.org memorial fund benefiting the “John Carbonell Key West Cemetery Beautification Fund”.