If you’re not familiar with the term, a motorcycle poker run is an organized charity event that can bring together hundreds or even thousands of bikers for one common cause. In addition to raising money for a good cause, it’s also a great way to meet new people and have some fun. Typically, the poker run will start with an early morning departure from a central location and end at a destination where participants will enjoy food, drinks, vendors and prizes.
To begin organizing a poker run, you must decide the purpose of your event. If it’s a charitable fundraiser, make that blatantly clear on any invitations and promotional materials. Use popular hashtags like #charitypokerrun to help your event get noticed online and by potential attendees.
Next, you’ll need to gather sponsors. These could be motorcycle dealers, auto dealerships, local businesses, restaurants or bars. You can also ask for donations from friends, family members or co-workers. The amount of money raised will determine how many prizes can be awarded at the end of the event. The more prizes you have, the more attendees you’ll attract.
Another key factor is to create the route for your poker run. This can be done by riding the roads a day or two before to ensure that no construction has started. Then you must ride it again to make sure there aren’t any roadblocks or other issues that could prevent participants from getting to the final destination.
Some poker runs may be simple, just a few miles on back country roads past homes, farms and fields. Others can take participants past tall mountains, swift rivers or around historical monuments. If your route has some sort of a sightseeing element, it will be even more memorable for your riders.
A straight out game of poker is gambling, but to keep the local gambling commission at bay, many poker runs insert a game of skill into the event that helps determine the winner. The most common is a dart toss at a board covered in playing cards. The closest person to the number wins the prize.
While most poker runs are not for charity, they can be. The Key West Poker Run is an annual event that benefits the Diabetes Research Institute and scholarships for high school students in the area. It is co-sponsored by Phil Peterson’s two Miami based Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealerships and the Rotary Club of Key West.
Online pre-registration is available months in advance for entrants who will be able to pick up their registration packages which include a t-shirt, pin and poker hand. Then, on the morning of the run, entrants can park their bikes on Duval Street and show their bike bands at the entrance to the event. They’ll then be able to participate in the event and hopefully win some of the prize money.