Cigarette Takes Balls to the Wall with Photo Print Gallery

Everyone knows Cigarette Racing has become synonymous with extreme powerboat performance, and Cigarette is clearly the most famous brand of offshore boat on the water. Since its inception under Don Aronow, the company has always had a rakish, sexy and notorious attitude--and no where has than been more in evidence than it's famous print ads.

With that in mind, and due to popular demand from fans and customers alike, the company has worked with professional printers to produce fine, high-quality art prints that are just the ticket for your home, office wall, garage or your boathouse. Each photograph in the series has been color-corrected, optimized for the professional printer, and printed on Kodak Professional Supra Endura VC paper. This archive-quality, fine art paper is rated for 100 years of home use and 200 years in dark storage.

PHOTO CREDITS: Cigarette Racing.

In addition to unframed prints, Cigarette is also offer framing, matting, glass, and a myriad of options that will put a ready-to-hang art print on your wall fast. Selected items are also offered as 1.5" standouts, a unique way to display. For more information on the Cigarette Print Gallery, head to the store HERE.

Formula Owners - Make Plans for Birds on The Bay 2011

Boats are in the water in New Jersey, and East Coast Formula owners may want to mark their calendars now for the 2nd Annual Birds on the Bay Formula Rendezvous, scheduled for Saturday, July 16th. The event is scheduled to kick off at 11:00AM, with the boats meeting up at Tices Shoal on the Barnegat Bay (Latitude: 39.8398415, Longitude: -74.1087476).

The event is strictly casual; participants are encouraged to bring their own supplies (beer, drinks, ice and food) and raft up with the other Formula boat owners in the area. Whether you're a Formula, Thunderbird, or even a Falcon owner, you are more the welcome to join us for what will truly be an epic day.

To RSVP, simply email FormulaOwnersOfNJ@gmail.com so organizers can can get an idea of the turnout expected. They will also be more than happy to provide any information about marinas, ramps, transient slips, or the area in general. Check it out!

How to Catch the Action at Havasu...Even if You're Not There

Desert Storm 2011 is in full swing at Lake Havasu, AZ -- as hundreds of high performance boats have descended on LHC for one of the country's biggest, baddest poker runs and high speed shoot-outs. We told you about the action earlier this month, but if you weren't able to make it to the lake (like us) you can still check out what's going on this weekend at a couple of great places on the Internet.

PHOTO CREDIT: OSO member Rivergirl.

First, I'd stop by Offshore Only forum...take a minute to register (it's free) and take a look at The Official 2011 Desert Storm Poker Run Picture Thread. There are lots of great photos from the lake, the street party and more...including some of the hottest boats around.

PHOTO CREDITS: River Dave's Place.

Alternatively, you can surf over to River Dave's Place, another popular West Coast forum, and watch their livestream, which will be available during the weekend. Be sure to take a look, and check out the forums, too; I'm sure plenty of boaters who are on site at Desert Storm will be posting. Crack a Corona and imagine you are there!

West Coasters and the Country's Big Guns Head Out to Havasu for Desert Storm 2011

It's that time again - Spring is here and so is Desert Storm. Once again, Lakeracer LLC and Teague Custom Marine have joined together to bring together a collection of many of the most significant performance boats across the nation to Lake Havasu, Arizona. The action takes place from April 27 -30...here's a brief run-down of the week's events:

Wednesday begins when the Arizona Chapter of Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Havasu For Youth Organization, LakeRacer and the Platinum Powerboat Club present the second annual Desert Storm “Putin on the Wish”! Owners will provide rides in high performance powerboats and help raise funds to help these charities continue their work! Wednesday night, there's an open house party at the newest Lake Havasu Boat dealership, Oregon Custom Marine.

PHOTO CREDITS: younewstv.com.

Thursday the excitement continues with a down town Street Party, opening at noon. All participants and Sponsors are invited to display their boats on McCulloch Boulevard; display and vendor booth areas will be open to the public. Last years Street Party was spectacular and over 14,000 people turned out , and registration / check in for the poker run and shootout will be available at the time.

PHOTO CREDITS: The Nautical Inn.

Friday morning the Poker Run takes off from The Nautical Resort, with registration, drivers meeting and a parade through the London Bridge Channel beginning the run. With 3 card stations in the morning, Lunch catered at the Nautical Inn, 2 card stations and a helicopter photo station in the afternoon, there is lots of fun boating action! There's also a huge Pool Party at The Nautical that night, where the cards will be opened and the winners recorded.

Saturday morning begins with registration and check in for the Desert Storm Shootout. The Shootout Course starts off in Thompson Bay and runs two miles south on the Arizona side. Set to run all day with a break for lunch, it's where the fastest boats in the west will make their mark. Spectators have a great view from Rotary Park Beach. Saturday night awards are handed out for top speeds in each class and the new King of the Desert will be crowned! Dinner will be served and loads of prizes given out including the winning hands of the Poker Run, at a huge outdoor party at the Nautical Resort. Here is a video covering some of the sights and sounds of Desert Storm 2010 - courtesy YouTube user havasupowerboats.

If you've never been to Desert Storm, this is an opportunity you won't want to miss. For more information on the event, head over to the official website HERE.

Zip Goes The MotorBoat: Japanese Artist's Creation Unzipping the Sea

If nothing else, Performance boaters surely have a sense of humor. Even though this creation by Japanese artist Suzuki Yasuhiro--who designed this boat as a slow-riding water taxi--is totally impractical, it's sure to put a smile on the face of those who can appreciate a good joke.

PHOTO CREDITS: asiajin.com.

This is especially evident when the boat is underway and viewed from above (see top photo) as it actually appears to "unzip" the water as it leaves its wake.

Still being tested before going into service as a water taxi - the boat's design may make it slightly more susceptible to rollover - it's nevertheless something to wonder at - and laugh at - for the rest of us. Via asiajin.com.

Piranha 3D Film Takes a Big Bite Out of Lake Havasu

Anyone familiar with the performance boating scene at Lake Havasu AZ knows that's it's truly one of the more unique locations in the USA. "Have-a-Zoo" - as many have come to call it, offers a wide array of outstanding go-fast performance boats, plenty of eye-candy, fun places to go and some truly memorable scenery.

No doubt that is why the producers of the current summer movie hit, Piranha 3D, selected Lake Havasu as their primary location for filming; I mean where else can you have this many obnoxious college students, clueless locals and dozens of tanned hotties fall victim to a roving pack of prehistoric, flesh-eating Piranhas? While the premise and the plot may have some holes, the fact remains that anyone familiar with this locale (renamed Lake Victoria, to protect the innocent) will probably get a kick out of this movie.

Early reviews say that for the horror genre, the movie's not bad - and it does have a good cast, featuring Adam Scott, Elisabeth Shue, Kelly Brook, Richard Dreyfuss, Jerry O'Connell, Christopher Lloyd, and Ving Rhames. If you're stuck with a rainy day and you can't go boating - be sure to check it out.

4th of July Hot Spot: The Torch Lake Sandbar

If you've ever listened to Kid Rock's All Summer Long, you've probably heard him reference to "splashing through the Sandbar." Well, here it is: the famous Torch Lake sandbar, that sits at the south end of this crystal clear lake, near the mouth of the Torch River. Beloved by northern Michigan vacationers everywhere, it's one of the best places you can be...surrounded by sand, sun and crystal-blue water unlike anything else in the Midwest. Here is an 2009 arial photo of the area, courtesy of DeWitt's Marina.

PHOTO CREDIT: DeWitt's Marina.

In past years, they even used to have floating stages and organized concerts, but it grew a little too rowdy and loud for the neighbors. The place is still rocking on the 4th, however, with hundreds of boats and people making their own music and taking in the scenery. Just a few miles north of Traverse City, Torch is a place you don't want to miss...and once you've been there for a 4th of July, you'll doubtless be back again.

Dock The Boats & Hit The Parties at Lake of The Ozarks

Every summer, Lake of The Ozarks continues to be one of the country's hottest "hot-boat" spots, and for good reason. Not only is this huge lake a great playground for high performance boating, there is an incredible variety of places to go and things to do throughout the region. The shores of the lake are filled with great scenery, beautiful homes and unforgettable night spots...and we want to highlight just a few. You'll not only find sports bars, tiki bars, relaxing lounge bars and hot dance clubs, you can even enjoy a comedy club or a down-home opry show.

Whether you're into live country, blues, jazz, rock-and-roll or karaoke, you'll find it. One of the most popular places is the Horny Toad at Toad Cove; originally a small Lakeside restaurant, the 30,000-square-foot waterfront entertainment complex now features the Horny Toad restaurant, Frisky Frog sports bar, and Jeremiah's nightclub not to mention an arcade, mini-mart store, gas dock and boutique shop. Peckers Dueling Piano Bar, which is owned by the Horny-Toad, is another popular nearby nightspot. With a new luxury resort and yacht club added close by, this place has it all.

The Bambooze Bar & Grill offers a tiki bar and entertainment on an outdoor stage, while the well-known Captain Ron’s offers weekly Beach Parties and Beach Volleyball, Martinis and a live Jazz Night. Like it's neighbor, the Horny Toad, The Topsider has grown into an impressive entertainment complex with six bars. Among these are a popular Tiki Bar, a fun place called The Poop Deck and a high energy dance club.

No matter what you're into, you can find it here. These are just a few of the many popular hangouts; there are many more bars, lounges, dance clubs and hot spots scattered throughout the LOTO region. Of course, during powerboat races and poker run season, these places are packed with people who are eager for a good time. One of the most popular events is the LOTO Shoot Out, the largest unsanctioned boat race in the United States, and which has been listed by Powerboat Magazine as one of the 8 “must see” boating events. It runs from August 25th through the 30th, and is hosted by Captain Ron's. You can find out all about the Shootout HERE.

PHOTO CREDITS: (top) The Horny Toad (middle) The Topsider (bottom) TLCUG.

For more information about Lake of the Ozarks' nightlife, lodging, dining and events, call 800-FUN-LAKE or visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau's web site at www.funlake.com.

Everybody Wants to be on a "Speedboat"

Just came across this on Twitter - more signs that the go-fast lifestyle is catching on everywhere. This is a new DJ Khaled song called Speedboat Music. Apparently, he can't quite get a Yacht yet -- like T-Pain or the fellas from The Lonely Island. This song also features Kasual & Tarik Nix; Khaled's new album, Victory won't be dropping until October or November.

In case you didn't already know, DJ Khaled is South Florida's hottest DJ, and paired up with K-Foxx, DJ Khaled currently has the No. 1 rated radio show in South Florida. It's truly a Miami Sound mix - and you can check out his MySpace page HERE.

VIDEO: Flyin' High in a Nor-Tech with Shaggy

Shaggy may not be at the top of my iPod playlist, but there are a few great tunes I enjoy - "It Wasn't Me" always brings a laugh...but this new song - Fly High which also features Gary "Nesta" Pine, is notable for the visuals, which include some very nice footage of the Shag man and his entourage on a sharp '07 diesel Nor-tech 43'. In this You-Tube video, they are also accompanied by the Playboy Cigarette 38' Top Gun.

The song is just OK (apparently it is quite a hit in Europe, however) but once you get past the first minute or so of package-grabbing and rice-rocket-riding, the fun starts, with some very nice arial shots of the boats on the open water. There's some other nice scenery too, which is something you won't fail to notice.

The growing attraction of urban culture to boats of any type is something we're watching with a lot of interest. Of course, it didn't start with The Lonely Island and T-Pain collaborating on "I'm On A Boat." - but that video just might have put the phenomenon into focus. The result? Well, 2009 might just be the Summer of Boats n' Hoes...if you don't know what I mean, just do a Twitter search and you'll start to get it.

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