EVLN(Electric Motorcycle poker run)

[Bruce EVangel Parmenter <brucedp@yahoo.com>]

EVLN(Electric Motorcycle poker run)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV informational
 purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
 --- {EVangel}
Cars Dealing them in Motorcycle clubs draw a full house -- and profit
for charity -- with poker runs Jim Mueller Special to the Tribune
07/30/2001 Chicago Tribune North Sports Final ; N 1 (Copyright 2001 by
the Chicago Tribune)

Chicago is home to dozens of motorcycle clubs. Not outlaw
motorcyclists, mind you, but regular folk who gather to shoot the
breeze and then head out on six-hour Sunday rides through the country
for charity. The groups have names such as, American Gold Wing
Association, Villa Park HOG (Harley Owners Group) and City Heat
Motorcycle Club.

The poker run is an old favorite.  What's a poker run?
Analeah Archibald and husband, Ken, of Carol Stream were arranging the
American Gold Wing Association of Illinois/Chapter H's annual
Christmas in July Poker Run for July 22 and took a break to talk about
logistics.

There is no set way to hold a poker run; most clubs do it differently.
"This is our seventh year, and we expect 125 riders" as usual, said
Analeah, who takes the rear pillion of Ken's modified Gold Wing-
powered trike.

"Our poker run begins in a parking lot at County Farm Road and Army
Trail Road in Carol Stream. Riders pay $10 per single or $15 for
two-up. Each motorcyclist reaches into a bag and pulls out three
playing cards. This is your basic poker hand. The route runs 125 miles
west, through horse country, out past Elburn and around Sycamore, and
there are two stops. At each stop you have the option of buying
another card to improve your hand. At the end, we check poker hands
and find a winner.

"We hold a raffle and finish the day with a picnic.
"Half the fun is visiting other clubs' events or invading swap meets
to pass out our flyers. I'll walk up to some big burly Harley rider
and say, `Here, take this. You look like you could use a good meal.
Come to our poker run Christmas in July!'"

And the proceeds after expenses go to a pre-determined charity.  This
year, Chapter H is riding for Westbrook School and the Crohn's and
Colitis Foundation of America/Carol Fisher Chapter in Park Ridge. 
After the event they determine how to divvy up the money.

The average donation after a 125-rider poker run is about $4,000.
Mike Jettner of the City Heat Motorcycle Club says:"We all support
each other's rides. If there are 20 rides in a season that comes out
to $80,000 to $100,000 for charity, and we're proud to raise that
money for worthwhile organizations like Misericordia [homes for
developmentally disabled children and adults] and the Illinois Fire
Alliance Burn Camp." (The Illinois Fire Safety Alliance is a non-
profit organization supported by area fire departments, hospitals and
fundraisers. Its annual Burn Camp for children who've been severely
burned is held each year at the YMCA's Camp Duncan in Fox Lake for
about 95 kids.)

The Archibalds painstakingly plot their run. They'll ride the route
four or five times before taking a final test run, sometimes in the
dark with Analeah balancing a flashlight and map in her lap as she
calls out directions to Ken.

Do participants ever get lost?
"Hardly ever," she says. "You're out there with 100 other
motorcyclists; it's hard to get lost. Last year we had a tricky turn
onto Fabyan Road in West Chicago, a quick 90 degrees and it wasn't
marked very well. About 15 people got lost for a few minutes and
showed up late at the end, but not too late. You know how guys are. 
They won't stop and ask for directions. They just keep riding.

"We don't want people getting lost or hurt. Safety is our big thing in
the Gold Wing group. We strongly encourage riders to wear helmets.
That's our position, but this is a free country. We're happy to have
you riding with us--whether you're on a Gold Wing or not or wearing a
helmet or not."

The American Gold Wing Association of Illinois/Chapter H supports a
number of charities, including Lazarus House in St. Charles (a non-
profit organization that offers temporary shelter for the homeless,
food to the hungry and counseling and case management services for
those in need); Crohn's and Colitis Foundation (which supports
research into the two digestive illnesses); and the Westbrook School
in Mt. Propsect for troubled children.

Villa Park HOG/Chapter 1084 earmarks proceeds from its Annual Hot
Times Poker Run for the Illinois Fire Alliance Burn Camp. Chapter
director Allen Garner of Villa Park says about 350 riders participated
last year--85 percent of them Harley owners. Set for Aug. 26, the run
will leave from Wildfire Harley Davidson on North Avenue in Villa Park
and "meander out into the country," said Garner.

Riders choose five cards from decks laid out on a table. The entry
donation is $18 the day of the run and $15 in advance.

"At the last stop before the end, you have the option of improving
your hand," said Garner. "You can buy two additional cards. We end up
at a local restaurant. I can't tell you where because you'd have some
people skipping the run and just going there directly. We have food
and a raffle. This year we're also selling 1,500 tickets at $10
apiece, and the prize is a new Harley-Davidson 1200 Sportster.

"Later we'll take a club ride to the Illinois Fire Alliance Burn Camp
for their annual open house, where we present a check from the
proceeds and talk to the kids and show them our motorcycles. As a
chapter we wholeheartedly believe in the work of the burn camp. We're
just happy to help any way we can."

Garner said 85 percent of the participants in the HOG runs are members
and 15 percent are independents who want to spend a fun day supporting
a worthy cause.

Children's charities seem to be a favorite beneficiary of poker runs.
For example, The DuKane Chapter of A Brotherhood Aimed Toward
Education (ABATE) names the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants
wishes to seriously ill children, as the primary beneficiary of its
fundraising efforts. And the Chicago Heat Motorcycle Club supports
Misericordia/Heart of Mercy services.

Jettner, a retired Evanston police officer, is one of eight members
remaining from when the club was founded in 1979.

"City Heat is a group of 64 law-enforcement officers, judges and
attorneys who enjoy riding together," Jettner says. "Our annual Poker
Run and Pig Roast is scheduled for Aug. 19. We leave from the Niles
Inn at 7355 N. Harlem Ave. and head north toward Wisconsin and make a
loop through northern Lake County and part of McHenry and DuPage. We
try to change up the route and the stops every year. With our poker
run, you begin with one card, pick up three more at stops along the
way and receive the final card at the end. Then you can buy two
additional cards to improve your hand if you like."

Ever have any problems?
"You want to know the worst thing that'll happen?" Jettner asked.  "A
few guys'll get caught up in a game of horseshoes or shooting hoops at
one of the stops along the way and show up late at the end.  We don't
care. It's all for a good time and a good cause."

For an updated list of Chicago area poker runs and charity rides,
visit www.chicagobiker.com.
Upcoming poker runs
Here's a sampling of poker runs held by local motorcycle clubs:
[...]
Who: Electric Motorcycle Commuters Society
When: Oct. 14
Where: PendingWrite: 3950 N. Lake Shore Drive, 921D, Chicago Il,
60613
Call/fax: 773-525-0678
[...]
PHOTOS 3 GRAPHIC; Caption: PHOTO (color): On his Harley-Davidson
Softail Deuce, John Cook of Streamwood leads the American Gold Wing
Association of Illinois/ Chapter H on its Christmas in July poker
run.  PHOTO (color): Therese Murphy of Wheaton draws three cards to
start building her poker hand at the run, which began in Carol Stream
and covered 125 miles.  PHOTO: One rider has added some personal
touches to a Gold Wing on the Christmas in July Poker Run. Tribune
photos by Terrence Antonio James.  GRAPHIC (color): Showing their
hand - See microfilm for complete graphic
 ...
 http://www.chicago.tribune.com  bestes@tribune.com, ChiEd@aol.com
Copyright Chicago Tribune   1-800-TRIBUNE Tel# 312-222-3232 
Distributed by Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News.
 ---
                   ____
 RE for your EV  ~/__|o\__                      Nonprofit activities:
132V S-10 Blazer '@----- @'---(= Get Amp'd  Electric Vehicle List
Editor
'Electric cruis'n the Santa Clara Valley'      Renewable Energy Editor

=====
BruceDP@yahoo.com http://geocities.com/brucedp
EV List & Renewable Energy Editor http://geocities.com/ev_list/
hybrid & fcv newsitems http://egroups.com/group/hydrogenpower

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger
http://phonecard.yahoo.com/