The Garden Grove Elks recently held its 17th semi-annual “Do It In The Dirt” classic fun outing with an approximate 12 ½ mile long poker run that afforded families from young to old with a lot of fun and an opportunity to support the Elks' major project, the “Purple Pig” and at the same time win prizes for themselves.
This event was held at California City, located just north of Edwards Air Force Base.
The Garden Grove Elks recently held its 17th semi-annual “Do It In The Dirt” classic fun outing with an approximate 12 ½ mile long poker run that afforded families from young to old with a lot of fun and an opportunity to support the Elks' major project, the “Purple Pig” and at the same time win prizes for themselves.
This event was held at California City, located just north of Edwards Air Force Base.
The event started on March 13, for those who didn’t have to work. Many simply enjoyed the incredible high desert weather and many spent time enjoying riding and driving their different types of off-road toys. Each evening sported a large campfire used by all attending.
The event was recently re-named “The Nicole Hoffman Memorial Poker Run” after Nicole Hoffman, granddaughter of Garden Grove Elk Larry Hoffman, who was killed while driving her car to attend the November 2013 outing. Nicole had never missed this event in the past.
On March 15, Wagon Masters Mark Mahoney and Joe Spychaj held the riders meeting and at noon the Poker run began with 44 participant riders in and on Jeeps, 4-wheel drive cars, dune buggies, golf carts, motorcycles and quads. During the run, each participant drew a card at different check points and the last card at the finish.
For the very first time, there were identical winning hands for first place. The winning hand was four 6s and an ace. It was a high-low game and the winning low hand was 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, known as a wheel (there are no straights in low-ball). All in all, there were 26 RVs attending, some coming from as far away as Las Vegas and quite a few truck loads of toys and boys (girls too!) that came for the Saturday event only.
After the race was the awards presentation and Mahoney and Spyhcaj presented the prize awards following a toast to the memory of Nicole Hoffman who had won this event many times in the past.
The Garden Grove Elks invite all interested persons to attend our Do-it-in-the-Dirt fundraisers. For more information e-mail Mahoney at tprez1923@aol.com.
