Each weekend, there are sponsored motorcycle runs. Most are to help with some charity or person who needs help. Sunday, July 18 will see a run that is done in a person’s memory. That memory lives on among friends and family who knew him and those that only know of him from the stories told by those friends.
Formerly called the Charlie Burke Memory Run, the poker run has been renamed the Summer Poker Run in Memory of Charlie Burke. Burke was a member of the Wyoming Valley Motorcycle Club. Dave Hooper related that while he didn’t really know Charlie and Kay, he remembered that they had participated in many of the WVMC events and eventually joined the club. Charlie and his fianc�e Mary “Kay” Murphy, who were to be married the next summer, were both avid bikers and club members. Hooper related the story of how Kay wasn’t sure she wanted to ride on the back of Charlie’s bike but after the first ride she was hooked.
So since Burke’s death a few years ago from a snowmobile accident, there has been a poker run in his memory. The funds raised will go back to the club to promote its activities.
In September, there will be another run; the George Thompson Run will go to a charity. Last year, for example, the funds raised went to a soup kitchen. Usually these runs go to more common charities, however, this year the funds raised will be going to a living member of the WVMC. This year’s beneficiary will be Lenny Scarantino, who was critically hurt in a motorcycle accident last fall. Lenny is someone who has a heart of gold that’s bigger than Texas. Anyone that needs a hand or any cause that needs help, you’ll find Lenny in the crowd, usually selling 50/50 tickets.
A poker run is a little bit different than the rides you may see cruising around the back roads all summer long. Dave Hooper, who is the road captain for the club, said, “If you obey the rules of the road, a poker run is safer.” Last week’s ride for Stephanie Jallen was very well-organized. What helped to make it safe was the presence of the county sheriff’s officers, several local police forces and fire departments who blocked the intersections with lights flashing. This makes for a much safer ride when you have 200 bikes or more in a winding parade. Poker runs are safer because you have groups of only six or so that go out in a staggered fashion, not all at once. As Dave said, if you obey the rules of the road, this can be a much safer ride.
This year’s ride begins at 2 G’s restaurant on Route 115 across from the Turnpike entrance. The ride promises to be a good and scenic ride. A poker run consists of five stops where each biker selects a card from a deck and then marks the card value on a score sheet initialed by the person who is in charge of the deck. At the end of the ride you then have a five-card draw poker hand. Personally, I’ve never had a good hand in any of the runs I’ve been on. But there has always been winners. I guess I just don’t have good poker luck.
Hooper told me that there were several reasons that the ride starts out at 2 G’s. The first reason is that George, the owner of 2 G’s, was one of Burke’s best friends. George was known to go hunting and fishing with Burke, and Burke hung out at 2 G’s. It was one of his favorite hangouts. Another reason is that because of the new traffic light near the turnpike entrance, it is easier and safer to pull out in a group from the restaurant. In addition, there is ample parking for bikes.
The run then moves to the second stop at Murphy’s Loft on Route 115 near Blakeslee. Then riders will continue at their own pace to the third stop, which is the 903 Pub, almost in Jim Thorpe. This part of the ride is very beautiful in any season. The next stop is Capone’s in White Haven. Capone’s has really good wings. One thing that bikes like is good food, and Capone’s never disappoints. The fifth and last stop is at Outsiders on South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre. Here, riders will again find food and also be entertained by the band Bare Knuckle. At this point, the score sheets will be tallied and the winner, likely not I, will be announced.
Registration is from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., and you can hit the road as soon as you register and pull your first card. Pull a good one, and save the aces for me.
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