Poker Run III: Let me hear your thoughts! | FerrariChat

Poker Run III: Let me hear your thoughts!

Discussion in 'Texas' started by Cicero, Nov 22, 2004.

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  1. Cicero

    Cicero Formula 3

    Jul 27, 2004
    1,645
    Sitting here in the dreary rain dreaming of sunny days in a caravan of 30 ferraris. Seeking suggestions and opinions. I'd like to make this Poker Run stand out and set a new benchmark. here are the problems I've heard of so far.

    Starts too early.
    Ends too late.
    Drive too long
    Too many stops
    Too few stops
    Too much city driving
    didn't get a door prize/gift/trophy
    maps stink, need exact milage markers and turns.
    Got hungry

    The trouble is we have to finish somewhere and I like food and drinks, but if we skip lunch then everyone gets hungy and can't make it til 3-5pm and if we shoot for noon that is a pretty quick run.

    Also, entry fees are eaten up by insurance. So this year we have 2 options...skip most gifts, door prizes and leave entry fee at $35 or raise it to $50 to give us some cushion.

    Do you think there should be 2 or 3 prizes like last year with trophies or everyone gets something small? Should I make shirts and sell at additional cost or add that in to fee? I just hate asking for more money after you've paid already.

    Would everyone like to meet in the country already or spend time driving from city to good roads?

    Would an overnight Poker Run be worth it like the Players Run, but scaled down? I just get tired of driving down beltline.

    Would you like to begin/end at a public place or someone's private residence?
     
  2. jakermc

    jakermc Formula 3
    Owner

    Jan 17, 2004
    1,804
    Palm Beach, FL
    Full Name:
    Rob
    I wouldn't change a thing. I thought the formula you followed this year was perfect.
     
  3. jimpo1

    jimpo1 Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jul 30, 2001
    24,905
    Dallas, TX
    Full Name:
    Jim E
    I'm w/ Rob, last years was great. If people were in it for a door prize, this is the wrong event for them. Length was good, prizes were good, t-shirts for more $$ were good.

    Now duplicate it! :)
     
  4. TigerAce

    TigerAce Formula 3

    May 29, 2003
    1,793
    Dallas, TX
    Full Name:
    Yoshi Ace
    You are trying very hard to satisfy everyone's want, and that's great.
    I didn't see any problem this year's. Oh one thing! It's better for people to round up in near proximity during lunch. I couldn't hear what was going on, so my cards weren't collected (I later gave them to Jim S.)
     
  5. Cicero

    Cicero Formula 3

    Jul 27, 2004
    1,645
    this year I might "pre deal" the hands so I know what hand each team has so no cheating. Only problem is then I have to make sure each team gets their alloted envelope.

    One complaint I personally have is that the group gets broken up with people not departing the stops in a big group. We get stragglers and those are the ones who seem to complain about the poor directions!
     
  6. GrigioGuy

    GrigioGuy Splenda Daddy
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 26, 2001
    33,146
    E ' ' '/ F
    Full Name:
    Snike Fingersmith

    Oh, bad idea, IMO! If you "pre deal" you decide who wins -- in other words, it's not a random contest anymore.

    Just announce up front that traded hands have no value, and rely on the honor system. I don't think anyone would cheat to get a $40 piece of acrylic.

    Those of us trading last year weren't notified that it was against the rules :D :D

    I'd give up on trying to keep the group together. We couldn't do that on the rural cruise, and it's going to be impossible wherever there's stoplights. Just get some buddies to prerun the route with your directions, and note where there are difficulties. Maybe a reroute in that area makes sense, maybe more explicit instructions, etc.
     
  7. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
    Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner Social Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2000
    63,978
    Southlake, TX
    Full Name:
    Rob Lay
    I thought I made it clear the past few years, but we need to make it VERY clear no card trading. Although trading itself is fun, kinda compromises the entire purpose of the Poker Run.

    Not sure what I think about leaving together, packs, or everyone on their own. Originally, my idea was leaving separate because part of the game was finding the next location in time to receive your card. It's also hard to keep 30 cars together. I think everything will pack into groups one way or another. We can't help if the lead car of the pack makes a wrong turn and 5 others follow because they're not watching the directions themselves.

    I would say leave everything the same. I also prefer the earlier start so we can have lunch at a reasonable time.
     
  8. GhostRider

    GhostRider Formula Junior

    Dec 20, 2002
    999
    Tulsa, OK
    Full Name:
    Matt
    You could number the hands, stick them in an envelope, and just have people grab a "random" numbered envelope. Record who picked what number, and your set.
     
  9. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
    Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner Social Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2000
    63,978
    Southlake, TX
    Full Name:
    Rob Lay
    That's B.S. Was spoken and obvious without saying. Cheaters are cheaters whether it's in the rules or just "shady". Still pisses me off thinking about it. :rolleyes:
     
  10. Cicero

    Cicero Formula 3

    Jul 27, 2004
    1,645
    I wasn't planning on deciding who wins as I dont know what cards go to what team til later, but it is easier to not do it so I won't. Honor system folks!

    I don't like driving the route more than the initial time as it takes all the fun out of the actual drive for me and it takes several hours to do it each time. I'll just make better notes, but the route kind of materializes as I drive it ya know.

    I personally like starting early.

    Would it make any sense to try to get sponsors? Not sure what we'd offer them or if the effort would be worth it, but might give the club some money and publicity.

    Would it make sense to have the final destination "promote" our arrival like an exotic car nights at Club XYZ. Maybe put us on their promotional calendar etc? I just think it is cool to roll in with fans waiting to see us!
     
  11. jimpo1

    jimpo1 Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jul 30, 2001
    24,905
    Dallas, TX
    Full Name:
    Jim E
    Ok Rob, time to move on. We were just having fun. And I'm with Tillman, I don't recall anything being said and nothing is "obvious without saying". We were summarily slapped for our efforts and we laughed it off, you should too. :p If you think our cheating was bad, you should attend one of the marine Poker Runs at Texoma. Those guys pay hundreds of $$ for a card to make their hand, and it's expected and accepted.
     
  12. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
    Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner Social Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2000
    63,978
    Southlake, TX
    Full Name:
    Rob Lay
    Certainly a good idea if you can get anyone involved. At minimum a restaurant might give us free appetizers or something small like that if we do our lunch there.

    I will be stepping down as FCA DFW prez next year and then I can sponsor club activities.
     
  13. Cicero

    Cicero Formula 3

    Jul 27, 2004
    1,645
    what about shirts with small corp logos on them like the telecom types used to do? Sprint, EDS, Nortel logos.....Maybe a small fee to cover the cost of shirts and we litter the back of the shirt?

    Not sure how to solicit sponsors or if worth it for such a small event.
     
  14. PWehmer

    PWehmer Formula 3

    Oct 15, 2002
    1,733
    Surrounded by Water
    Can you tell me how you organized this run?

    I've thought about doing one here in LA.

    P
     
  15. Cicero

    Cicero Formula 3

    Jul 27, 2004
    1,645
    picked a place to start and some interesting stops along the way and a final destination. Give a envelope at each stop with a poker card and directions to next stop. End of run each car has 5-7 cards and we determine high hand and winner gets a prize. Maybe do 2nd place or last place and try to give everyone a door prize like a ferrari sticker or something. entry fees have been $30, but that barely covers FCA insurance of $200+ so prob up the price this year to be able to afford gifts. One year we started at Ferrari of Dallas and last year started at Lambo of Dallas. Stops at Norwoods Performance, Motorsport Ranch, Horse Breeding Ranch, Firestation, Marina. Ended at a restaurant/bar type both times with patios for sitting outside or hanging out later. Most people leave shortly after and a few stick around to late into the night, but usually go to a new hotspot.

    Had 17 cars first year and 26 this year I think. Hardest part is picking interesting driving routes since we are in flat Texas.
     
  16. Cicero

    Cicero Formula 3

    Jul 27, 2004
    1,645
    also, what are the tire and rim sizes on your 328? Looks great.
     
  17. PWehmer

    PWehmer Formula 3

    Oct 15, 2002
    1,733
    Surrounded by Water
    Thanks for the info.

    Why buy insurance from FCA?
    It's flat as a pancake over here also.


    They are 17" Speedline modular rims. 235 front, 275 rear.
     
  18. Cicero

    Cicero Formula 3

    Jul 27, 2004
    1,645
    technically gotta get insurance as it is an FCA sponsored event and if someone crashes into something and a bystander gets hurt they'll figure out real quick it was an organized event and sue the sponsor...FCA.
     
  19. Free

    Free Karting

    Oct 26, 2004
    219
    Scurry, Texas
    Full Name:
    Duane Baker
    I have run the Poker runs in Texoma. We get what we are dealt. There has been no cheating that I know of. Of course the ones I enter are usually the big boy ones where best hand could win in the neighborhood of 20 grand.

    Now if your talking about buying an extra card from the sponsor for $ 100 bucks to better your hand that is not really cheating since everyone has the opportunity to do so and it is soley with the sponsor. You don't even know what cards you have till the sponsor opens all of your envelopes.

    Of course I can't say this for all poker runs at Texoma. Only the Nationally advertised ones. :p
     
  20. Cicero

    Cicero Formula 3

    Jul 27, 2004
    1,645
    for a $20K pot what is the entry fee? Wonder if a high stakes run here would help or hurt? Most just come for the fun so I think a $1K entry fee would scare most off.
     
  21. jimpo1

    jimpo1 Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jul 30, 2001
    24,905
    Dallas, TX
    Full Name:
    Jim E
    I think we have our solution. The envelopes aren't opened until it's over!

    I was at Texoma one Labor day when a poker run was going on. I rode in the van from the hotel to the marina with a bunch of racers. They were selling each other cards in the van.
     
  22. Free

    Free Karting

    Oct 26, 2004
    219
    Scurry, Texas
    Full Name:
    Duane Baker
    ^^ I would not doubt that.

    When you are talking really big money, the sponsors make sure that cheating is not allowed. They seal the envelopes mark them and mark the cards a certain way and then they are only opened by the sponsors at the last card stop. Works pretty well I think.

    I have been on motorcycle poker runs where it is really lax about preventing card swapping, but big money wins were never in these.
     
  23. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
    Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner Social Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2000
    63,978
    Southlake, TX
    Full Name:
    Rob Lay
    I don't know why we didn't think of that before. If anything, I wanted the excitement of watching your hand throughout the day and anticipating the next card.

    I think the solution about opening the end of day will work best overall though. Maybe even bring teams up one by one to open in front of everyone. I think that would get some excitement back in it.
     
  24. FarmerDave

    FarmerDave F1 World Champ
    Consultant

    Jul 26, 2004
    15,782
    Full Name:
    IgnoranteWest
    As a poker player, who has never been on any poker runs, it would totally ruin the idea of a poker run to seal the cards in an envelope. Just have the sponsor write the license plate # of the participant on the back of the card with a sharpie, in front of the participant. A hand is not valid unless all the participant's cards bear their own license plate number.
     
  25. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
    Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner Social Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2000
    63,978
    Southlake, TX
    Full Name:
    Rob Lay
    Possible best of both solution, but we're always hurried with some short stops and 30+ cars. Up to Jim, he's the boss.
     

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