The Desert Storm Poker Run and Speed Shootout was another successful event this year. The event held in Lake Havasu, AZ continues to be a highlight for the city and the powerboat community year after year. This boat show and shootout has grown to be one of the largest high performance boat shows in the world, and all of us here at Teague Custom Marine were thrilled to take part in the week-long experience.
Bob and Andrea Teague pose with Tyren Edwards and his family, visiting from Australia, before taking them for a ride in their DCB F32 powered by twin TCM 1200 EFI engines. Photo by: www.tommygunimages.com
Krusin’ for Kids
The kick-off to Desert Storm was the 5th Annual Krusin’ for Kids event, hosted by Teague Custom Marine and Lake Racer LLC, which took place on Wednesday, April 27 at London Bridge Resort. On this day, volunteer boat drivers gave powerboat rides to over 150 special needs children and adults. This allowed children and adults who are normally left on the sidelines due to their disabilities, either mental or physical, the chance to interact and take part in the Desert Storm event. Some of these people have never been on a boat ride, let alone a high performance boat ride. The resort pool area was also open for all to enjoy. The turnout was amazing with about 2 dozen different boats in all sizes and varieties for our special guests to receive rides in! Thank you to the Desert Storm poker runners who stepped up and donated their time, gas, and use of their boat to change lives. A fun day was had by all and we cannot thank all the volunteers enough.
It was all smiles before a ride on board Win Farnsworth’s (R) DCB M41 “Silver Lining” powerboat. Photo by: www.tommygunimages.com
This year’s guests were invited from two different organizations in Lake Havasu, AZ which also served as our beneficiaries: the New Horizons Center and Milemarkers Therapy. New Horizons is a non-profit organization that provides service to people of all ages with developmental disabilities including Autism, Epilepsy and Cerebral Palsy in addition to cognitive disabilities. Milemarkers Therapy is a one stop home for Pediatric speech, occupational and physical therapy services. They also provide After School Care, Summer Camp and Adult Day Care with and employment services.
Between the private donations and live auctions held at the Desert Storm Welcome Party and Awards Banquet, the Krusin’ for Kids event raised approximately $60,000 for the New Horizons Center and Milemarkers Therapy organizations.
The crowd at the Desert Storm Street Party heats up as the sun goes down. Photo by Yvonne Aleman.
Desert Storm Street Party
One of the most notable events during this year’s Desert Storm Poker Run was the 10th Annual Desert Storm Street Party that took place Thursday, April 28. Boaters from all over the nation gathered together to display their finest high-powered speedboats. This boat show continues to amaze visitors every year with the faster boats, new technology, and unimaginable motors that are capable of speeds you wouldn’t think were possible. The Street Party was a free all-day event where visitors got a close up view of the high-powered speed racing boats and could interact with the boat owners and well-known industry icons alike. The event displayed custom boats, tow vehicles, a full range of marine electronics, and more. Teague Custom Marine was on the scene to enjoy the event, sell apparel and accessories, support clients and meet friends & fans.
The Teague Apparel Booth featured several new items and was a huge hit at the Desert Storm Street Party.
Shout Outs to the Drivers of the Desert Storm Speed Shootout
Total registered boats in this year’s poker run and shootout resulted in a combined total of 154 boats. It was wonderful to see a large ensemble of Teague Power out on Lake Havasu! We want to take a moment to congratulate all of our loyal customers with Teague Custom Marine engines who participated in the Desert Storm Shootout:
Brad (Bo) Gregory enjoying the poker run in his Eliminator 27 Speedster powered by a TCM 1050 EFI engine. Photo by: www.tommygunimages.com
- Brad (Bo) Gregory: Eliminator 27 Speedster with TCM 1050 EFI engine. Top speed: 137 mph – First in Class!
- Tony Lombardi: DCB F32 with twin Merc 700s upgraded to TCM’s Stage IV 875HP program. Top speed: 138 mph
- George Ogden: 29 E-Ticket with twin TCM 1025 EFI Top speed: 139 mph – First in Class!
George Ogden making a pass in the shootout in his E-Ticket 28 Deck Boat powered by twin TCM 1025 EFI engines. Photo by: www.tommygunimages.com
Congratulations to all the drivers of the Desert Storm Speed Shootout! We hope to see you back in the desert in 2017 and are looking forward to seeing more upgraded Teague engines, more Teague power, and more Teague muscle!
Teague Family group shot by Pete Boden, Shoot 2 Thrill Pix
Coming in 2017
With Desert Storm 2016 in the books, we want to thank all of the other sponsors who help make the event possible and all of the participants who attend the event. We are also very thankful for the volunteers who helped make Krusin’ for Kids an amazing day that was able to touch the lives of so many. It was wonderful to see all of our customers and friends at the street party and on the water, and several with Teague power running in the shootout. Plans are already being made for next year’s 19th Annual Desert Storm event, scheduled for the first weekend in May. Hope to see you there!
View of Lake Havasu’s Thompson Bay from the Nautical Beachfront Resort.
For more images from these events, check out our photo albums:
Desert Storm 2016 Photo Album
Krusin’ for Kids Photo Album
Teague Custom Marine was awarded “Most Enthusiastic Crew” at the Desert Storm 2016 Dinner and Awards Banquet.