by Irene Luck

Does the sound of an engine revving get your heart pumping? Do you like speed and sleek boats? Then Lake Anna’s Hot Boat “Beast of the East” event is for you.

What started out as a company picnic for employees of Jack Weller’s transmission shop in Maryland has turned into a gathering of unique watercraft.

“It was originally a summer shop picnic that I put on at the lake for my employees,” Weller said. “Some guys here at the lake I knew who had hot boats knew I was having the picnic, so they came with their boats too.”

The first time the event was officially recognized was June 2001 with about six boats or so in attendance. However, the boat enthusiasts’ group has been getting together for nearly a quarter century. The first few years, the event was not formally publicized but was generally an “invite-only” word-of-mouth gathering. The first one was held in the Pigeon Cove area near High Point Marina.

“We basically invited people we knew who had ‘cigarette boats’ or speed boats,” said Chester Wojcik, who is handling promotion for the event these days. “It was a chance for us to get together, show off our boats, and have some friendly competition.”

Over the next few years, Dale Jones invited the group to his place near the sandbar where the lake is shallow and straight. After that, Jack Weller offered his property on Lake Anna in the Bear Castle subdivision, which is located near the south end of the lake where it widens out. The area is somewhat protected by islands and is not directly in the main lake body, which Weller said is an advantage.

“While not a sanctioned race and no actual races are ever held, if the owners want to ‘show off’ a little, there is enough space right in front to the property for them to demonstrate the power of their boats,” he said. “We only go 500-600 feet when we do try out the boats.”

The draw of the event attracted the attention of several publications dedicated to speed boats, and for several years the magazines sent representatives and models for shoots during the event. “We did that for about eight years before it got to be too much,” Weller said. “We stopped it several years ago.”

Initially just a Friday and Saturday event, it has now grown into a weeklong celebration with boat owners coming from as far as Oklahoma, Texas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Florida, and New York. Weller said one attendee who works for General Motors in Canada even comes every other year.

“If they are coming from that far a distance, they make it a vacation and want to enjoy the lake and the area,” Wojcik said. “So, several of the main group [members] host events beginning on the Sunday before.”

After the first few years, word began to spread about the event among participants. Attendance grew rapidly.

“Jack wanted to see it succeed, and so we opened it up to boats as well as adding other events such as bands and car shows,” Wojcik explained. “And because it is such a large gathering, we wanted it to benefit the community, so we invited Lake Anna Rescue Squad to come serve food as a fundraiser.”

The food is donated and cooked by the core group while rescue squad personnel provide the paper products and serve the meal. The food typically includes a barbecue-themed spread with all the fixings. The meals are $6 per plate, and some attendees bring covered dishes to add to the offerings. Weller said his biggest joy is hearing how much the rescue squad raises each year, noting that last year was the largest with over $3,000 contributed.

Despite its many attendees, the event is free except for the meal. It is open to anyone who wants to come see the boats, enjoy the music, and have a fun day at the lake.

“My favorite part is the camaraderie among all of the boat owners and those who attend,” Weller said. “I just want everyone that wants to come to have a good time and enjoy themselves and the lake. Everyone is always so nice to each other, even if they were strangers at the beginning of the day. That’s what I want; for everyone to be nice to each other.”

Wojcik said the group also invited the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office, the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Management to attend as well.

“We want to make them aware of what is going on and invite them to come if they are able and interested,” Wojcik explained. “It’s not like we are racing up and down the lake all the time. Most of the time we are docked, and when we do race it’s only for short distances.”

There are also prescribed areas for parking vehicles and boat trailers so traffic is not impeded on the street Weller lives on.

“We want to be good neighbors and offer people a fun, unique experience, not cause problems or be a headache for anyone,” he said. “I think the deputies like the opportunity to see all the different boats.”

Most of the volunteers who work on the annual event live on or around the lake, Wojcik said.

“We have a fantastic group of volunteers who sponsor activities or get together the week before, opening up their homes and offering access to the lake so that those visiting us can enjoy Lake Anna too,” he explained.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the event was not held for several years as the group decided to err on the side of caution. However, it is back this June, with the main event scheduled for Friday, June 9 and Saturday, June 10. It has been downsized in recent years to keep the crowd controlled and manageable.

“The event really is more about the people, boats, and atmosphere and less about the competition of racing, although some of us do enjoy showing off our vessels and what they can do,” Wojcik emphasized.

He said most of the boats today are high performance 18-21’ jet boats, but when the event started, most were V-hulled with 100-200 horsepower engines. In past years, other types of boats have been included, but now they are back to primarily jet boats and V-hulls. However, some spectators come by pontoon or other boats to watch the events and participate in the activities.

Wojcik said some of the gatherings leading up to the weekend include a meal he prepares and serves at HighPoint Marina, which graciously allows the group to use their pavilion on the waterfront. Many of the out-of-town boats also stay at the facility during their time at Lake Anna. Last year, Wojcik prepared a seafood boil for 72 guests that night.

The average attendance is 75 on Fridays with approximately 125 people coming on Saturdays. An event T-shirt is available, and to help offset expenses, a 50/50 raffle is held.

“We really just want an excuse to enjoy each other’s company while sharing a unique hobby,” Wojcik said. “It’s truly about the fellowship and shared interests that draw so many people each year, and we want to keep it a family-friendly social gathering.”

Wojcik credits Weller for keeping the event going and continuing to serve as a mentor to so many in the sport.

“If something breaks, Jack will likely have a replacement part in his garage or will jump in to help troubleshoot the problem and offer solutions,” he said. “He sets a great example of how we all want to be, and we strive to continue his legacy as he starts to step back a little.”

Others who play a large role in making the event a success are Carol Wyatt of Lake Anna Photography, who for the last several years has served as the official photographer, and Andy Pettit of Dry Dock, who supports the event financially as a sponsor.

“I think the draw for the local community is to see these unique boats. We have very few of them around the lake, and we generally aren’t out on busy weekends,” Wojcik said. “They really aren’t the type of boat you use to sightsee or cruise around the lake in. They take a lot of fuel to operate.”

Wojcik also emphasized that the gathering supports local businesses around the lake. Attendees make use of lodging options around the lake, eat at various restaurants, buy fuel, and visit attractions in the lake area or nearby towns.

“We really want this to benefit the community, our businesses, and our volunteer organizations,” he said. “We never want it to put stress on our residents or local law enforcement.”