4^th Annual NIRG Lake Geneva Poker Rally

By Ken Bounds

After several weeks of very nice late-summer weather, the forecast for the first three days of fall were not good; temperatures of about 10 degrees below normal and a high probability of rain.  The first half of the weekend was chilly and we dodged the rain.  The second half was quite damp, but the rain did not dampen the spirits of the participants who made our 4^th annual poker rally a big success.  We had a great time driving our Early V-8s, eating at some favorite restaurants and trying new ones, and even had a new addition to our weekend.

On Friday morning September 23, 14 V-8ers met at the Town & Country Mall in Arlington Heights to begin our tour.  Ken & Carolyn Bounds (’50 Crestliner), Joe & Nell Kozmic (’53 Mercury), Dan & Diane Pudelek (’53 Victoria) met Dick & Dotty Alfini, Joey Novak with Millie Olds, John & Barbara Slobodnik, and Larry & Jerry Webb in modern iron to begin our trip.  We started a few minutes late after changing the coil in our Crestliner on the side of the road.  (Does it count as a breakdown if you have to repair your V-8 on the way to the meeting point?)  We all put on our rally pins, provided by Joey Novak, and began a leisurely drive up secondary roads in beautiful sunshine to our lunch destination, Popeye’s on Geneva Lake.  There we met Tom & Judy Buscaglia (’51 Tudor).

At lunch we went over the rules for our poker rally and reflected back on the 30-year run of the Lake Geneva Classic Car Rally started by Wisconsin V-8er George Kreissl.  For over 20 years our Club participated in the Rally; when it ended after a 30-year run, we did not forget about the cause it supported: childhood cancer research.  With the very generous contributions of our participants, we were able to send a donation in the amount of $600 to the Corinne Kreissl Foundation of the American Cancer Society.

At Popeye’s we drew our first card and Joey was the winner of two prizes:  a six-pack assortment of New Glarus beer for being the first man to draw a King and a New Glarus glass filled with candy for the high spade.  Barb was the first lady to draw a Queen and won a boxed candle.  After lunch the ladies did some shopping while the guys discussed Flathead engine design at a local watering hole. We completed our drive to our hotel in Delavan over secondary roads.

After checking in to the hotel, most of us drove to a nearby parking lot to participate in a new addition to our poker rally: car games.  We brought four games with us: plumb bob, blind toll booth, reverse parking, and blindfolded driving.  Unfortunately, time was short and we only completed two rounds of plumb bob and one round each of blind toll booth and reverse parking.  Everyone got a kick out of the games and the laughs were endless.  Barb Slobodnik was a surprise ringer in plumb bob; Carolyn took blind toll booth with an incredible distance of 1/16 of an inch from the toll basket while Ken won reverse parking.  The most fun game of all, blindfolded driving, will have to wait until next year.  Carolyn and Ken tied for 1^st place, winning a $20 Sears gift card; Barb won a $10 Friday’s gift card for her effort.  You should have been there – it was a hoot.  Everyone thought that the games were a great addition to our rally.

Before dinner, we gathered at the hotel to draw our second card.  Nell won Wisconsin popcorn for drawing the highest diamond.  We drove a few miles to the Village Supper Club on Lake Delavan for our dinner – many had the tasty fish fry, served home-style.  At dinner we drew our third card; Diane was the lucky winner of Wisconsin beer mustard for the highest club.

Bright and early Saturday morning we met for breakfast.  Before beginning our driving tour, we drew card #4.  Carolyn won a package of beer cheese soup for the highest heart.  At 8:30 we took a relaxing 70-mile drive over secondary roads to the Toy Train Barn near Argyle.  There we were greeted by owner Jan Guthrie, her family, and dog Casey Jones.  Jan was a terrific guide giving us a non-stop narrative about the intricate, fully animated train layouts she and husband Buck have created.  The layouts are unique, show a lot of detail and imagination, and were great fun.  Her son even parked a nice 52 Ford panel truck near our Early V-8 display on the lawn.  Everyone had a super time.  Before leaving, we drew card #5 with Dotty winning New Glarus brewery soap for the highest spade.

From there it was on into Argyle where we were treated to some delicious home cooking and fresh pie at Irma’s Kitchen.  We drew card #6; Jerry won a package of New Glarus bread mix.  As the guys milled about near the cars, the ladies checked out a nearby craft shop.  Then it was back on the road under bright, partly-cloudy skies.  We took another tour over secondary roads and were nearly back to Delavan when the ominous black clouds gathered.  Just before town the rains came and basically stayed with us the rest of the weekend.  Sadly, the rest of the car games had to be cancelled.  As we arrived at the hotel, Bill and Marty Valters arrived in their ’40 Coupe to join us for the rest of the weekend.  With a little extra time on our hands, we visited in the lobby and began efforts to solve some of the world’s problems.

At 6:30 we gathered again for a short drive to a new restaurant for most of us, Joseph’s on Lake Delavan.  In addition to a fantastic meal, it was time for the culmination of our poker game.  We drew our final card and the writing was on the wall.  Not only did Dick win the prize of Wisconsin honey for the high club, but his Queen filled out a straight, making him the $100 grand prize winner for the second straight year.  Judy had an 8 high, giving her the low hand prize of $20.  Back at the hotel we made quick work of problem-solving with everyone turning in by 10:00.

With the weekend activities drawing to a close, we checked out of the hotel, made our reservations for next year, and drove to our traditional Sunday breakfast spot, Millie’s in Delavan.  There we were joined by Tom & Madeleine O’Donnell who had driven up in their ’40 Mercury.  The Merc was still dry, but not for long.  After a nice breakfast, the ladies went shopping in the adjacent shops while the guys kicked a few tires.  Everyone said their goodbyes and drove home after a fun weekend.  Carolyn and I want to thank all the participants for a super weekend and for your generosity in supporting a great cause.  We are already making plans our 5^th Annual Rally next year.