Teague Custom Marine's press release of Big Cat as seen first on RiverDavesPlace.com

(Bob Nixon seen here in his Outerlimits)
Bob Nixon Outerrlimits_Naples Image.jpg


Teague Custom Marine presented the Big Cat Poker Run event, based out of the Northern California town of Discovery Bay, on August 12 and 13. Teague Custom Marine has been a co-title sponsor with Colledgewood Inc. since the events inception in the year 2000, and the beneficiary is the Discovery Bay Lion's Club. Volunteers from the local community and the Lion's Club take care of poker run registration duties and orchestrating many details of the event.

(Roy Resendes in his Eliminator Daytona)
Roy Resendes Elim 25_Naples Image.jpg


This unique poker run has become one of the largest performance boating events on the West Coast and takes participants on a boating adventure through the waters of the California Delta with stops in different cities. Fun to note, that although the event name includes the word "Cat", this is not to preclude V-bottoms from entering the poker run. The moniker "Big Cat" refers to the Lion head in the logo of the Discovery Bay Lions Club. All types and sizes of boats are welcome and with the addition of a "short course" option for the second year in a row, there was something for everybody. In addition to more than one course, the event received increased national media coverage. Shooting the event for the second time was Florida-based photographer Jay Nichols of Naples Image, who worked from a helicopter on both days of the event and helped with up-to- the-minute coverage on SpeedOnTheWater.com. Not to be outdone, Speedboat Magazine also covered the event for a future issue and had Southern California-based photographer Erick Bryner of Firedrill Productions on the scene.

(Mark Noack in his 29 DCB)
Mark Noack DCB F29_Naples Image.jpg


Friday's agenda included a lunch run to Tower Park Marina & Resort, located in Lodi, CA. This is approximately 40 miles by water from Discovery Bay, and a nice warm-up for the larger amount of miles to be covered during the poker run the next day. The lunch run traditionally began as a way for the locals to lead the way in order to give the newer participants and out-of- towners a tour of the Delta, which was no different from this year, when residents Bob and Cindy Patterson volunteered to host an optional tour after the lunch concluded.

(Ed Stewart in his MTI)
Ed Stewart MTI_Naples Image.jpg


Friday evening's welcome and registration party was held at the Discovery Bay Marina. Participants had the opportunity to register for the poker run if they had not done so in advance, socialize with other boaters at the tents set up on the marina lawn, grab a drink or appetizer, and enjoy live music by Crosstown 5. Teague Custom Marine had its apparel tent open during the party and enjoyed greeting customers and friends.

(The TCM DCB F-32)
TCM DCB F32_Naples Image.jpg



Saturday morning began with a drivers meeting held at the Discovery Bay Marina. A total of 90 boats were signed up and ready for the day's run. This marked the largest attendance in years. Each boat driver received a generous
goodie bag with Big Cat T-shirts and hats, and items provided by various sponsors including a full sized spray bottle of new detailing product Teague Shine, courtesy of Bio-Kleen Products. A large contingency of the fleet was Teague Custom Marine customers and/or TCM powered entries that came from all over California and Arizona.

(Sargis Neresyan in his 38 Scarab)
Sargis Nersesyan 38 Scarab_Naples Image.jpg


The boaters depart after the drivers meeting whenever they are ready to the first stop on the run, Pittsburg Yacht Club, where they stop and socialize for a while. Spectators walked out on the levee from the marina towards the Discovery Bay Lighthouse where many of the boats can be seen taking off from land. From Pittsburg, CA the poker runners made their way to the lunch stop at the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel in Stockton, CA by way of the Carquinez Strait and the San Joaquin River. University Plaza rolled out the red carpet for the event with ample docking, a catered lunch, swimming pool and live music by the band Mama Luke. Once the lunch gathering winds down, the group headed back to Discovery Bay and at this point have rounded out about 150 miles by water since the start of the day. The post-poker run party was held at the Discovery Bay Marina. Live music was provided by the Edwins Brothers, dinner by Boardwalk Grille, the prizes were awarded to the top 3 poker hands drawn and finally a live auction was held which raised $8,900 for Heart Of A Hero, a charity for pediatric cancer.

(Course Route for Big Cat Poker Run)
Route Map.JPG


Teague Custom Marine would especially like to recognize the hard work of the Discovery Bay Lions Club volunteers and current Lions President Glenn Hoffman and his family for stepping up and giving tremendous effort and heart to put on the event and continue its community legacy. Proceeds from the event, currently estimated at approximately $40,000, go though the Discovery Bay Lions Club to support programs for children with visual impairments, community schools, churches, and other worthy causes.

(Lawrence Coelho in his 28' DCB Extreme)
Lawrence Coelho DCB_Naples Image.jpg


Overall, the Big Cat didn't disappoint, with hot summer weather, fun boating, parties with live music, and friends new and old. Photographer Jay Nichols reported to Speed On The Water, "It's really different out here, but beautiful in its own way." We tend to agree. The community feel and thousands of miles of freshwater waterways are hard to beat. We can't wait for next year!

(Brian Banks in his Spectre)
Brian Banks Spectre_Naples Image.jpg



Words by: Cherilyn Noack
Photos provided by: Cherilyn Noack Jay Nichols, Naples Image


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