5^th Annual NIRG Lake Geneva Poker Rally

By Ken Bounds

 The last weekend of September arrived with the promise of great weather, and Mother Nature did not disappoint.  On September 28, Ken & Carolyn Bounds (’50 Convertible), Joe & Nell Kozmic (’53 Mercury), and Dan & Diane Pudelek (’53 Victoria) met Joey Novak & Millie Olds, John & Este Scheve and Larry & Jerry Webb in modern vehicles to begin our weekend tour to Wisconsin.  Everyone donned their poker rally pins, provided by Joey, and began the trek over secondary roads to our lunch stop at Mad Dan’s in Twin Lakes, WI.  There we met Tom Buscaglia in his ’51 Tudor; unfortunately, Judy was not feeling well and did not make the trip but Tom played her hand in the poker game. 

At lunch we went over plans for the weekend, the procedure for our poker rally, and the charity we support, the Corinne Kreissl Memorial Foundation for childhood cancer research.  This year we had a very special treat.  Jan Kreissl had sent us a quantity of the tote bags they used to sell at the Classic Car Rally over the years.  Each participant donating at least $25 received a bag. 

Our poker rally consists of drawing 7 cards over the weekend and costs just $5 per person to play.  At each “stop” we draw a card with a prize being awarded to the person drawing the highest card in a selected suit.  There is also a prize for the first man to draw a king and the first woman to draw a queen.  After the last card is drawn at dinner Saturday night, the grand prize is awarded for the highest hand and a consolation prize goes to the low hand.  As we drew our first poker card of the weekend Carolyn won a package of pumpkin bread mix for being the first woman to draw a queen.  Even though she wasn’t yet present, Robin Emmering won a package of Wisconsin pumpkin seeds for drawing the highest spade.

After lunch we continued over a new, scenic, route to Delavan.  The early fall colors were spectacular and the drive was interesting.  After checking in to the Comfort Suites (for our 7^th straight year!) we gathered at a large nearby parking lot for car games.  Here we were joined by John & Barb Slobodnik who arrived in their ’54 Fordor.  John & Robin Emmering arrived in their ’51 Fordor just in time for participation in the last game.

The car games provided great entertainment for the participants and the spectators alike.  With sunny skies and the temperature near 70, we had time for four games his year: Plumb Bob, Blindfolded Driving, Blind Toll Booth, and Reverse Parking.  To borrow a phrase from ABCs Wide World of Sports, we experienced the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.  Some of the games even tested (strained?) partner relationships, but no one was hurt.  When the dust had settled, Carolyn was the winner with 1^st place in plumb bob and reverse parking and a 2^nd in blind toll booth.  John Scheve’s perfect score in blind toll booth and 1^st in blindfolded driving launched him into 2^nd place while Dan Pudelek wound up in 3^rd with two 2^nd place finishes.  Each of them received a Culver’s gift card and a John Deere souvenir.  Thanks to all who participated and contributed to a fun time.

After the car games we still had some time for tire kicking and relaxing in the hotel parking lot, enjoying the great weather.  Before dinner we drew our second card; Diane won a package of red twists for the highest diamond.  Then our parade of V-8s drove to the nearby Greenie’s Clubhouse for a delicious fish fry.  There we also drew our third card with Joe winning a jar of yummy raspberry salsa from the Apple Barn.  Ron Steck won a 6-pack of New Glarus brewery Spotted Cow beer for being the first man to draw a king.  Back at the hotel a group of us sat in the lobby and worked hard on world affairs.

After breakfast in the morning it was time to draw our fourth poker card.  Este won a package of Wisconsin beer cheese soup mix for the highest heart.  We were joined by Ron & Colleen Steck who had just driven up in their ’40 Pickup.  Also, Doug Leicht came over from Burlington in his ’39 Coupe to join us on our Saturday driving tour.  And what a nice tour it was!  The weather was even warmer than the previous day, the colors were more spectacular, and the driving route was hard to beat.  Thanks to Doug Leicht’s friend Tom Tess for providing part of the routing.

Our turning, twisting, route took us over low-speed roads about 60 miles through the Kettle Moraine Forest toward Hubertus, WI.  Our first stop was the Holy Hill National Shrine of Mary, a beautiful church set very high on a hill.  The views from the third-floor observation deck were incredible.  After everyone had time to see the church, the gift shop, and the views, we drew our fifth card.  Dan won a bottle of honey produced right there on the church property for drawing the high spade.

We then drove to the nearby Fox & Hounds restaurant for a great lunch with some super service and nice scenery.  Tom drew Judy’s sixth card and she promptly won a jar of hot fudge sauce which she had donated.  After lunch we drove back to Delavan over a different, but just as scenic, route.  On the way, most of us stopped by the Apple Barn orchard where Applefest was underway.  Back at the hotel we gathered in the parking lot, enjoying the sunshine and each other’s company.

At dinner it was time to start bringing our poker rally to an end.  Arriving after a short drive to the Village Supper Club, it was time to draw our final card and start assessing the hands.  Colleen won a jar of blackberry spread when she drew the highest club.  When all the hands were tallied, first-time player Robin Emmering was our grand prize winner with a full house, aces over 10s.  She edged out Este and Carolyn who also had full houses.  Robin took home the $100 first place prize.  Tom Buscaglia, who had left us earlier in the day to return home and cheer on the US Ryder Cup Team, won $20 in absentia for the low hand: 2-3-4-6-8.  We also passed out awards to the winners of the car games.

In addition to the prize money, Robin took home an award that is very meaningful to us – the 2012 Richard Alfini Memorial Winning Hand Award.  Dick is greatly missed by our group; he always enjoyed the poker rally and the former classic car rally and was our winner the previous two years.  We hope that Dotty can rejoin us in future years.

After enjoying a delicious meal (we never get enough to eat) we drove back to the hotel to solve a few more of the world’s problems.  In the morning everyone checked out, made their reservations for next year, and drove to Millie’s for our traditional farewell breakfast.  There we met Tom Barosso & Betty Klafta (’41 Coupe), Roger Hunz (’51 Tudor), Ron & Arlene Blum (’40 Fordor) and Tom & Madeleine O’Donnell (’40 Mercury) who had driven up to join us for breakfast.

After breakfast some went shopping and others just kicked a few tires in the parking lot and enjoyed our cars on a warm fall day.  While a few went on to the vintage boat show in Fontana, others headed home after a terrific weekend.  Not only did we have a great time enjoying our Early V-8s and true V-8 camaraderie, we also raised $700 for a very worthy cause.  Thanks to everyone for their generosity.  Thanks also to Tom & Judy for donating some of the prizes.  We all look forward to doing it again next year!