PCA Chesapeake Poker Rally

PCA Chesapeake Poker Rally

PCA-CHS 2025 Tour & Rally Event No. 5 – Sunday, May 18th

PCA Chesapeake’s Tour & Rally Committee is pleased to offer a Poker Rally, on May 18th, Sunday. This rally was designed by our club’s Registrar, Marsha Buss. Our 36-mile scenic drive will start in Linthicum Heights and travel the historic roads of Elkridge, Ellicott City, and Catonsville. The rally will end at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery, in Halethorpe, MD,  where we will have an awards ceremony and lunch.

If you would prefer to follow a lead driver just let us know when you register. We will put you in a tour group if there is sufficient interest.

All of the proceeds of this event will benefit the Baltimore Animal Rescue & Care Shelter (BARCS), a 501(c) organization. BARCS is an open-admission shelter, meaning we accept and care for all animals in need regardless of health, history of abuse or neglect, age or temperament.

For more on BARCS or make a donation, see their website, https://www.barcs.org/.

While the winner will be based on who gets the best hand of cards, you do not need to know the rules of poker. Rather, you only need to know the best hands, which can be found here: https://www.cardplayer.com/rules-of-poker/hand-rankings.

Additional poker hands and additional poker cards may be purchased when you register. For those attending only the lunch at Guinness Open Gate Brewery, poker hands and additional poker cards may be purchased during registration to donate funds to the BARCS.

So, what is a poker run, exactly? Originating from the motorcycling world, a poker run is an organized event where participants, usually using motorcycles, cars, boats, or even on foot, visit five to seven checkpoints, drawing a playing card at each one. The objective? To have the best poker hand at the end of the run. As this concept grew in popularity, it was adopted by various other communities, evolving from a fun, competitive event to a means of fundraising for charities and non-profit organizations.

The poker run’s roots trace back to the 1970s when motorcycle enthusiasts looked for innovative ways to combine their passion for riding with their love for the game of poker. Love's a beautiful thing! Over time, the idea spread beyond motorcycling circles, capturing the interest of boating and car racing communities, and even walkers and runners.

While the traditional game of poker might involve a bit of bluffing and strategy, a poker run relies mostly on pure luck, as participants are at the mercy of the cards they draw. But that's part of the charm! It’s the unpredictability and excitement that makes the poker run an exhilarating experience for participants and spectators alike. And when you infuse it with a cause-driven purpose, it becomes not just a game, but a meaningful movement.

Rules of the Poker Run: An Overview

1. Kick-off & End Point: Every poker run has a defined starting point and a finish line. Participants gather at the kick-off location, get the lowdown on the route, and then embark on their adventurous quest.
2. Checkpoints: Along the predetermined route, there will be 3 checkpoints. At each stop, participants draw a card from a deck of playing cards. The drawn card is will be marked and handed to the participant.
3. The Best Hand Wins: After visiting all the checkpoints, participants head to the finish line (Guiness Brewery). The goal? To have the best poker hand out of all the cards they've collected. Traditional poker hand rankings (like "two pairs" or "straight flush") determine the winner.

WHEN and WHERE

When: Sunday, May 18th, 9:00 am  

Where: The Linthicum Heights, MD, address will be sent to confirmed registrants by May 16th.

Participant’s Meeting: 9:15 am

Departure: First cars off at 9:30 am

Distance and driving time: Approximately 36 miles/90 minutes

Destination: Guinness Open Gate Brewery, 5001 Washington Blvd, Halethorpe, MD 21227  

Lunch Only: 11:00 am

PARTICIPATION

By signing up for and joining any of our driving events, registrants acknowledge and assume all the risks in and full responsibility for their participation. PCA waiver forms must be completed and signed by all, online or on paper. Note that planned events are subject to change, for weather-related or other reasons.

REGISTRATION

• Registration will open on March 18th at 1:00 pm and end on May 14th at 1:00 pm.
• To register, log on to your account at Motorsport.reg:  http://msreg.com/PokerRally
• $25 registration fee for each adult. Each adult registration comes with one poker hand. Each adult participant must be registered.
• No fee for minors (17 and younger).
• MotorsportReg charges a $2 service fee per registration (not for every person).
• Drivers must be adult (18 and older) PCA members with a valid driver’s license.
• Each participant in the rally must complete a SpeedWaiver: https://pcachesapeake.speedwaiver.com/yiygm
• Route instructions, and other documents will be sent to confirmed registrants via email by 8:00 pm on May 16th.
• All PCA members and their guests are welcome. 
• All of the event proceeds will benefit the Baltimore Animal Rescue & Care Shelter (BARCS), a 501(c) organization.
• To obtain a refund, cancellations must be made before the closing of registration.
• If you have already registered and need help to cancel your registration, refer to this link for detailed instructions.

QUESTIONS: Please send questions to Rich Ehrlich, Tour & Rally Committee, at tour@pcachs.org.

To preview and register for upcoming Tours, visit the Tour and Rally page on PCACHS.org: https://pcachs.org/tour-and-rally/