Poker Run III: Let me hear your thoughts!

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?

 

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!

 

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!

 

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.

 

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.

 

also, what are the tire and rim sizes on your 328? Looks great.

 

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.

 

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.