A collaborative effort between Alvin Heathman, the founder of the annual Super Cat Fest event at the Lake of the Ozarks in Central Missouri and Dave Johnson, the man behind River Dave’s Place—a popular online community in the performance-boating world—the second-year Super Cat Fest West in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., is in the books. Last weekend’s event, which attracted 100-plus registered boats, was the third—it followed the Lake Havasu Boat Show and the Desert Storm Poker Run—in as many weeks in the desert city.

There was no shortage of exotic hardware on hand for the second Super Cat Fest West event last weekend in Lake Havasu City, Ariz. Photos by Tom Leigh copyright Tommy Gun Images.

The three-day event, which included multiple fun/lunch runs, a high-performance powerboat display at the Super Cat Fest West Village in the expansive parking lot and docks at the new Havasu Riviera Marina, and multiple evening parties was presented by DCB Performance Boats and KICKER Marine Audio. Additional sponsors included Barrett Custom Marine, Eliminator Boats, Horizon Motorsports and Hamilton Marine Finance. Individual participants including DCB owners Mauricio and Angie Vivanco and Kenny Gonzales also backed the event.

“Minus being a little tired and burned out after three weeks mostly spent in Lake Havasu, it was a great event,” Jeff Johnston, the president of DCB in El Cajon, Calif., said then laughed. “The exhibit was like ‘DCB Nation.’ We had 19 boats on display and 21 boats registered.

“The Riviera is a phenomenal new venue and facility for us ‘Havasu-ites,’” he continued.  “The docks, the ramps, the fuel pumps, the store and the parking are all brand-new, all very nice and all A-plus.”

Live entertainment was once again part of the Super Cat Fest West program.

Added DCB’s vice-president Tony Chiaramonte, “Personally, I think I liked the parking lot venue at the Havasu Riviera Marina for an exhibit even a little more than the downtown Havasu City venue for the Desert Storm street party.”

Dave Johnson of RDP had set an initial fundraising target of $100,000 for last Saturday night’s closing party and charity auction at Horizon Motorsports. Thanks to the largess of those who donated auction items such as Lake Havasu City local Gary Smith, who recently set a new Desert Storm top-speed shootout record of 204.1 mph,  and the generosity of participants who paid handsomely for them, the River Dave’s Place impresario’s  early goal turned out to be less than half of the final total raised.

Enjoy more images from the second-year event.

“We brought in well over $200,000,” he said. “I don’t have the exact number yet, but I will. Next year, our goal will be $400,000.”

Said Johnston of DCB, “Alvin and Dave did a great job and everything went very smoothly from an organizational standpoint. The entire weekend had a nice, cohesive flow.”

The new Havasu Riviera Marina was a hit with Super Cat Fest West sponsors and participants.

As noted above, Kenny Gonzales, who owns a 48-foot MTI catamaran called Wave Adios, was among the participants who pulled double duty as an event sponsor. The longtime Southern California go-fast boat enthusiast was thrilled with his investment.

“Super Cat Fest West 2023 was exactly what Lake Havasu needed—something fresh—and it was a sight to see,” he said. “From the hospitality at the Rivera Marina to Alvin and Dave running event flawlessly, my team and I couldn’t have had a better time.

“Tom Leigh was up in the helicopter making us look good as always,” he continued. “We had three shoots with him in five days. And the auction at Horizon Motorsports raising more than $200,000 for local charities in the Lake Havasu area was a wonderful way to the weekend. Alvin and Dave deserved big standing ovation for pulling off this event.”

Related stories
Smith’s 204-MPH Shootout Record Leads Desert Storm Poker Run Highlight Reel
Personal Photo/Video Shoots Returning To Desert Storm And Super Cat Fest West
Super Cat Fest West Sets $100,000 Auction Goal To Support Local Children’s Charities
Super Cat Fest West Poker Run Taking Unique Pro-Local-Business Approach
Registration For 25th Annual Desert Storm Poker Run Closing Tomorrow
Gallery Of The Week: Leigh’s Perspective On MTI’s Florida Keys Takeover