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.
Showing their hand
Though all motorcycle clubs do things differently, here’s how the American Gold Wing Association of Illinois conducts its Christmas in July poker run.
1. Begins in a parking lot. Riders pay $10 per single or $15 for two-up.
2. Each cyclist reaches into a bag and pulls out three playing cards.
3. The route is 125 miles with two stops. At each stop the rider can buy another card to improve their hand.
4. At the end, poker hands are checked to find a winner.
Upcoming poker runs
Here’s a sampling of poker runs held by local motorcycle clubs:
Who: Chicago HOG, benefiting VietNow homeless committee
When: Registration at 9 a.m. Aug. 25
Cost: $15 in advance/$20 at the door
Where: Niles Inn, 7355 N. Harlem Ave., Niles
Contact: editor@chicagohog.or
What: 5th Annual Lambs Farm benefit pledge ride
Rally, bands, entertainment
Who: Lake Shore Harley Owners Group
When: Aug. 26
Cost: Minimum pledge of $25
Where: Lambs Farm, Libertyville (Tri-State Tollway at Ill. Hwy. 176)
Write: P.O. Box 621, 1424 W. Belvidere Rd., Wakegan, IL, 60079-0621
Call: 847-255-3189
What: La Rabida Children’s Hospital Pledge Run
When: Sept. 9
Who: Teamster Horsemen Motorcycle Association
Cost: $10 before Sept. 9, $15 day of run
Where: V.F.W. 400 E. Devon, Elk Grove Village
Write: P.O. Box 478, Sugar Grove, IL, 60554
Call: 630-466-1123
Who: Electric Motorcycle Commuters Society
When: Oct. 14
Where: PendingWrite: 3950 N. Lake Shore Drive, 921D, Chicago Il, 60613
Call/fax: 773-525-0678
Who: Shadow Riders Inc.
When: Oct. 28
Cost: Pending
Where: Midlothian Sports and Cycle (14723 S. Pulaski Rd. Midlothian)
Call: 708-765-3262
Visit: www.homestead.com/ShadowRidersInc/Main.html
What: Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade
When: Dec. 2, lineup at 8 a.m. parade starts at 9:30 a.m.
Cost: Bring a toy, preferably not a stuffed animal.
Where: Dan Ryan Woods (85th Street and Western Avenue, Chicago)
Write: P.O. Box 388260, Chicago, IL, 60638
Call: 773-866-TOYS
Visit: www.chicagolandtft.org
