Desert Storm Expanding in 2012

Caught up with Jim Nichols of Lake Racer LLC, the outfit that puts on Desert Storm in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., for a few minutes before the event’s poker run on Friday, April 29. The run was an hour away, and Nichols—still buzzing from the success of the previous night’s Street Party event—was already talking about possible improvements for next year.

“We have some pretty good ideas like having a small-boat poker run earlier in the week, maybe adding a manufacturer’s poker run and maybe adding back the racing,” said Nichols. “We’ve talked about taking the Street Party to the golf course so everything is central in one place, but it’s also great to have it in town because it’s established there and because of the services, restaurants and stores, that are available there.”

While those potential changes are still in the planning stages, one thing is certain. Desert Storm will get longer in 2012.

“Next year, the Lake Havasu Boat Show will start the weekend before Desert Storm, and then Desert Storm will start Tuesday,” said Bob Teague of Teague Custom Marine, the event’s title sponsor. “That will make it a 10-day event.”