13th Annual Lake Geneva Poker Rally

By Ken Bounds

The year 2020 was one most of us would like to forget.  The pandemic altered people’s lives and plans.  In perspective, it is very minor, but the pandemic broke a string of 35 years of our group traveling to the Geneva Lakes area at the end of September - originally participating in the Lake Geneva Classic Car Rally and for the last 12 years the Annual Poker Rally.  This year our tradition made a comeback as 16 NIRG members and family enjoyed the 13th Annual Lake Geneva Poker Rally the weekend of September 24-26.

Meeting Friday morning in Arlington Heights were Ken & Carolyn Bounds - 1951 Mercury, Joey & Millie Novak - 1953 Mercury, Dan & Diane Pudelek - 1950 Ford Crestliner, Ron Steck - 1941 Ford Station Wagon along with Gary & Dawn Osborne, Este Scheve, and John Slobodnik & son John in modern vehicles.  Unfortunately, Dan’s Crestliner was exhibiting a worsening vibration and Dan did not feel confident in driving it the whole weekend; they would return home and joined us at lunch in a modern car.  Fortunately, due to a rule established for this rally in 2011, car trouble on the way to the initial meeting spot does not count as a breakdown.  So no Early V-8’s broke down.

After donning our weekend name tags and receiving our rally packets, we began our leisurely 65-mile drive up secondary roads into Wisconsin over a new route (again).  At our lunch stop, Harpoon Willie’s in Williams Bay, we were met by Ron Dopke & Bernice Short and Dick & Linda Livingston from Springfield, via their lake house on Geneva Lake.  There we drew our first poker card of the rally and enjoyed a delicious lunch.  This would not be our last meal of the weekend.  After lunch we continued on the remaining 7 miles to our destination, the Comfort Suites in Delavan.  This was our 15th time staying at this hotel and we appreciate the great room rate and service the hotel has given us.

After checking in, most of us gathered in the back parking lot for car games and people games, plus the drawing of our second poker card.  There were a lot of laughs as we played a timed event of driving a measured distance while throwing balls into buckets followed by a second game - blindfolded driving.  There were no serious injuries.  Gary Osborne probably would have won the ball toss if only he knew were the starter button was on a 1951 Mercury.  Ron Steck won both games, but there is an ongoing investigation as to how he came within 4” of the target in blindfolded driving while several others were measured in car-lengths.  We played two people games in the parking lot and two more in the hotel.  Dan brought his popular washer toss game and Este brought a new game to match up antique car part names with pictures.  Inside we played the    V-8 buzzer game and a Mercury puzzle.  Dick Livingston was the overall winner.

Friday evening took us to a fish fry at one of our favorite places, Greenie’s Clubhouse at Delbrook Golf Course.  Only this time there was a twist.  This weekend was also the occasion of the 4th National Meet of the National Woodie Club - coincidentally also in Delavan.  That group had arranged for their group of 100 or so to attend a fish fry at Greenie’s pavilion and graciously invited our group to join them.  In addition to a super meal, we had a great time chatting with the Meet attendees, many of whom we knew.  We thank the Woodie Club for their camaraderie.

After breakfast Saturday morning and the drawing of our third poker card, we were joined by Stan & JoAnne Stack who had driven up in their 1953 Ford Tudor.  Our Saturday driving tour took us over some obscure roads to Janesville.  Less than one mile from our first stop, the Rotary Botanical Gardens, we were surprised to see the road blocked by local police.  We had encountered a  cross-country running meet featuring over 3,000 student athletes and apparently about 100,000 fans.  A quick detour got us closer to the still-blocked entrance to the gardens, but we were able to (legally) drive around the barricades to the parking lot.

We spent the next hour wandering through the beautiful, well-maintained gardens before returning to the cars for the short trip to lunch.  Stan and JoAnne left us after the garden visit and returned home.  We were treated to a filling, delicious lunch at O'Riley & Conway's Irish Pub  in downtown Janesville.  Anticipation was building as we drew our fourth poker card - one remaining.  After lunch we took a different route back to Delavan and drove directly to Community Park on the shore of Delavan Lake to join our friends at the National Woodie Meet.

At the meet we were treated to an eye-opening display of over 40 Woodies of every make and description including a Bentley!  Quite a number of them were Fords, including the 1941 Ford Station Wagon of Ron Steck, who spent most of the weekend with us, and our own Scott Gilday who displayed his 1948 Ford Station Wagon.  Scott and Nicole handled registration for the meet; it was nice to see them there, along with their daughters Reese and Ciena.  We were also able to visit with Al & Carol Egelseer who were displaying their spectacular 1947 Ford Sportsman.  Al & Carol were the hosts at our last Poker Rally Saturday driving tour in 2019.  The Woodie Club put on a nice meet and it was a great addition to our Saturday tour.  After a couple of hours, everyone headed back to the hotel.

All good things must come to an end, and as dinnertime arrived, our 13th Annual Poker Rally concluded with dinner and presentations.  Before dinner, we drew our final poker card and everyone anticipated collecting the big prize.  Once again, we were fortunate to have Chef George from Greenie’s cater our dinner at the hotel.  And what a dinner it was - beef tenderloin, chicken breast topped with chunks of crab meat, George’s famous au gratin potatoes, green beans, pasta salad, garden salad, and cake for dessert.  No one went home hungry!

After dinner there were a few presentations and thanks were given to everyone who participated to make this traditional weekend memorable.  This included Greenie’s for two wonderful meals, the National Woodie Club for allowing us to crash their meet, the hotel for once again giving us a great rate and access to the meeting room for our dinner, and of course, to all the participants.  Ken said a few words about special people at this weekend event and others we miss from prior years.  He then presented gift cards to the winners and runners up in the car and people games: Ron Steck and John Slobodnik, Jr. for the car games and Dick Livingston and Carolyn Bounds in the people games.  Finally, it was time for the results of the poker rally.  John Slobodnik took the $20 second place award for the low hand of king high.  The big winner was Dawn Osborne with three queens.  Dawn took home the $100 grand prize along with the coveted Dick Alfini Memorial Winning Hand award.

That evening and Sunday morning, we all said our goodbyes and went our various ways back home.  Dick and Linda would travel the farthest. No, not back to Springfield, but on a five-week cross-country drive.  We wish them well.  All-in-all it was a great weekend and we look forward to the 14th Annual Poker Rally - just one year away.  Our hotel reservations have already been confirmed!