Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Poker Runs

I've never been on one but am somewhat interested in how 'most' people run them. I get the general idea but as with most things in life the devils in the details.

So if some people could gimme a few ideas or what not about the "rules" etc. It would be greatly appreciated as I'm thinkin about putting something together...
Thanks in advance.
-K

You get to the start and pay the entrance fee and get a poker hand of cards. You then follow a set route turns normally marked by throwing bags of flour on the road.1 for left and 2 for right (this varies) Some runs have a few check points where you can trade in cards trying for a better hand some you just trade in the number you want at the end. A percentage of the total take of entrance fees is normally the pot and at the end of the run best hand takes the pot. Now not all "poker runs" are actual poker runs , some are just rides with no cards.

EDIT: There is usually food and drink included and sometimes a band all at the ending point. Been on a few with a swap meet at the end. Been on some with a bike show at the end and even a few with games and drags. Games like slow races, and the hot dog game, and the hot potato drags and such.

There's one going on here in June. There are 5 stops in total, one card per stop (they write them down for each person at each stop) and at the last stop you can buy a 6th card for $5 (ostensibly for charity).

Cool information! I've been on gimmick rallies, but I've yet to go on a poker run! There is one coming up in my area in a few weeks . . . now I'm ready!

Eeh! That's nothin', folks!!!

During the Southwest Triumph Fest in a few weeks, we'll all be ridin' through some "injun country"! And when we get to the Yavapai tribe's casino, I'll be handin' out 500 bucks to each and every attendee so they can REALLY play some good ol' Texas Hold'em OR whatever game they'd like to sit in on!!!


(YEP...and if you believe that, don't call my hand right now, 'cuz I'm "really" holdin' a royal flush at this moment...yep...I really am, alright!...sure!)

You can mail me the $500 in advance and I'll meet you guys there. Oh and I do take credit cards!

Old School Poker runs seem to always hit the bars.....hmmmm

twenty minutes in between stops times one beer a piece and three at the last one equals.....

A group of us went on a charity poker run from Libby's in
New Haven last year. Big Poppy's son Brett won something
but I can't remember what. They had a bbq at the end.

I was on the run where the shoot out took place in Hacketstown at the Moose lodge. They had slow races,live band, tractor trailer truck with taps out the side for birch beer or beer and a BBQ.It was cool until the shooting started.

The one and only poker run I ever went on was a disorganinzed freeforall, It start at this bar goto that bar then that bar,Once you left the start you where on your own on how ya got from point a to b. I just followed to bigest herd. Kinda fun realy. If you dont mind ridin with a bunch of Hardleys.

If you are the organizer make sure you take out an event insurance policy. Poker runs are nothing more than drinking events on two wheels.

If you don't do the stops where there is beer, many won't do the run. Also check with the local authorities. There are requirements for the charity and its filings for it to be legal in may jurisdictions.

You need to go on a few before you think on organizing one. I went on one last year after a many year vacation from them. I won't go again. I really don't have the heart to follow a group to the fatal accident.

Drunks and bikes, go figure.

They used to have a bachelor party poker run every May here. I don't know if they had an insurance policy, but they did have everyone sign waivers.

Typical attendance was 100-120 bikes, which is huge for Helena. One year they decided to arrange a police escort out of town. Yeah, that lasted five seconds. 90% of the riders scattered and went their own ways. This was before I had my bike and I was driving the chase truck.

Just one more thing...keep in mind you will be riding with a buch of people you never saw before. Depending on who organized and where it starts from. you could be with a bunch of dentists and stockbrokers out for their tiwce a year ride.Or you could be with that group of HD's with straight pipes and 5 ft tall ape hangers ya see park at the local gin mill 24hrs a day.

Point is ya got to be carful of the guy next to you. Friend of a friend was killed last year on a poker run, when he collided with another bike. Dont realy know the curcumstanes just the out come.

MAN!!! After readin' the last three postings here...THAT'S IT!!!

The Southwest Triumph Fest IS OFF!!!

(and you can also forget that there 500 bucks for gambling I was gonna give you folks TOO!!!)

Good points. You never know the riding experience of the guy or gal next to you. You can't get complacent. And when in doubt, hang back and let all the chuckleheads (and there WILL be chuckleheads in the group) take off and blaze the trail ahead. I think I had my bike for all of a month or so riding on my first poker run (after 2 years running the chase truck) and just about got run off the road by some hoodlums from a gang from Bozeman. And ask Fillo what can go wrong when riding in a group, even a small one...

Another thing to watch is impatient cagers. I was on the Kids Peace toy run a couple years ago. (good cause for sick kids, entrance fee is a kids toy) We had police escort and everything and some cager still actually cut in the line and almost ran a couple guys over because they couldn't wait to pull out until the line passed. We didn't even have that big a group, maybe 50 bikes. Doesn't happen much from my experience but it does happen so keep your eyes open and be alert even in the group, maybe even more so in the group.

thnx for all the input... will take all into consideration.

But I'm thinkin it'll be more of an informal thing between friends this go 'round at least till we get the details figured out...