BARSTOW POKER RUN MAY END THIS YEAR

[Macs_Dad]

Everyone, just received a letter from the organizers (Hight Desrt Charities) of the Barstow Poker Run that has been put on twice a year since approx. 1984 for charity. This years April 26th and 27th poker run may be the last one.

The BLM no longer co-sponsers it do to an off road accident that occured a few years back in Johnson Valley the killed and injured some.

From what I understand, the BLM Washington Office did a review of that incedent and now classifies the Barstow Poker Run as a Race for some reason and now there are BLM fees owed for this charity event. Along with the cost for insurance, porta pots, dumpster, and raffle gifts.

It actually is NOT a race at all. It's just a charity run on a couple trails for a couple of days with best poker hands winning. It's really a fun time and we have been particpating in it for a few years now with friends and we have a really great time at every one that we participated in.

Also they are saying they averaged approx 200 entries on the last 2 events which actually paid to make the runs and I know there where a hole lot more people on the trails than that on the trails. Some just don't feel it necessary to support the event and just take off on the run from another start location without paying.

In order for the poker run to continue they need a larger turn out, so if anyone is interested and can make this April 26th & 27th schedule Barstow Poker Run they could use the help supporting them.

The link to the event is below.

http://www.barstowpokerrun.com/

[Macs_Dad]

We just checked the weather and looks like there will be some pretty good wind this weekend so we may not even go now and wondering if they would evevn still have it with the wind that is forecasted. Temps look great though.

Thurs. - 18 MPH - 84/54 Degrees
Fri. - 28 MPH - 77/41 Degress - Partly cloudy
Sat. - 27 MPH - 64/44 Degrees - Partly cloudy
Sun. - 19 MPH - 73/49 Degrees

We'll be checking it again tomorrow and Friday AM

[woodsxr]

Wish I could get out there but not able this year. I hope there will be another one next year.
Let us know how it turns out
Thanks

[Macs_Dad]

Just a reminder to everyone that the people putting on the poker run need more people to attend so they can try to keep this going.

[Macs_Dad]

We'll be out there for this April 26th and 27th event and I will ask the organizers if they are aware of the grant. Maybe they can apply to try to keep in going.

Below is what they are dealing with. I don't believ the part about maybe refunding their money or even a portion of it if BLM doesn't use it. That just sounds like a bunch of BS to me.

Again, this is NOT A RACE !!!!! It's an off road FAMILY event. People don't stand next to the trail and watch people go riding or driving buy !! No chance of multiple deaths or injuries. I Can't belive they classified this this way.

" A retired CHP officer who lives adjacent to Stoddard Valley furnishes the course layout. He knows the desert like "The Back of His Hand". We are hard at work laying out two new courses for the upcoming April event. Please remember, we are confined to just a part of the Stoddard Valley Open Area. We are doing our best to come up with new areas or at least, land we haven't traveled in a number of years. Again, this isn't easy, as we must stay within BLM boundaries. Family and friends, who give their time for the love of the desert, make up the rest of the volunteers.

We are sorry to report that for the first time in our 29 year history, the local Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has been directed by Washington D. C. to charge fees for our event. In April of last year we were charged $5.00 per entry for our event. Thereafter, we were notified, starting last last October we would be charged $3475.00 for the event, which covers administrative and law enforcement costs that the BLM incur for our event.

BLM will no longer honor charity events, but will be handled like the off road races held in this area! We have been told that if all the event fee is not used by the BLM we might get a refund. As a result of the BLM fees, we have been forced to raise our event fee to $35 entry. We know folks are not made of money, but we do not have a choice in the matter. I do want to tell you the local office of the BLM did evertything possible to get this fee waived. Their efforts apparently fell on deaf ears! Our Federal Government at work once again! "

It's a really good family event and if anyone has the time they should come out and check it out. Maybe spread the word also if you can.

[nayther]

big buford wrote:
Sure is a shame a good portion of the proceeds for a charity has to go to the blm. Also puts the cost out of reach for a family that would like to attend.

I would ask for a grant from the green sticker money to cover costs.

Just a shame all the way around 😞

Green sticker grant would be a perfect idea. It is quite a process though. The grant process is underway right now for next year (I think it's a fiscal year starting in July but not 100%), too late to get one in now. There are various categories such as "maintenance" "education" and so on. All the work you see done around Jawbone and El Mirage is from grant money, like it or not.

[big_buford]

Sure is a shame a good portion of the proceeds for a charity has to go to the blm. Also puts the cost out of reach for a family that would like to attend.

I would ask for a grant from the green sticker money to cover costs.

Just a shame all the way around 😞

[Dirtclods]

That's why SCORE left the US because of all the legal C R A P!

[nayther]

What the BLM is requesting is an S.R.P. It's the same thing we do for every D37 desert race. As long as they do not go into cost recovery (more than 50 man hours total) they should only have to pay $5.00/participant.

The S.R.P. is very well spelled out with required timelines, etc. Have they sat down with Katrina in Barstow and discussed this? She's very "by the book" so if D.C. says this particular event requires an S.R.P. then she'll fall in lock step. However I would doubt the determination of a poker run was made above the local level.

There's a state level of BLM in Sac. We met with them when we were in Sac. two weeks ago.

[Y-Guy]

Welcome to America. Sadly the lawyers and lawsuits have changed the landscape of our country due to the frivolous and non-frivolous lawsuits. BLM and others are having budgets cut and priorities changed, they are in a no win situation with things like this. It doesn't benefit them directly but they are asked to take on the liability. We've all ridden with or seen the knuckle head riders out there, sadly those folks are hurting it for the rest of us.

[Dirtclods]

Awe man that's too bad. I like that Poker run and it's for a great cause! It's a shame those people died and other got hurt at that race. I know there's a lot of restrictions at our District # 37 races now because of the accident at Johnson Valley and it effects all of us!!

Settlement reached in Johnson Valley California 200 race that killed 8 people~ http://www.sbsun.com/general-news/20131218/settlement-reached-in-johnson-valley-california-200-race-...

A retired CHP officer who lives adjacent to Stoddard Valley furnishes the course layout. He knows the desert like "The Back of His Hand". We are hard at work laying out two new courses for the upcoming April event. Please remember, we are confined to just a part of the Stoddard Valley Open Area. We are doing our best to come up with new areas or at least, land we haven't traveled in a number of years. Again, this isn't easy, as we must stay within BLM boundaries. Family and friends, who give their time for the love of the desert, make up the rest of the volunteers. We are sorry to report that for the first time in our 29 year history, the local Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has been directed by Washington D. C. to charge fees for our event. In April of last year we were charged $5.00 per entry for our event. Thereafter, we were notified, starting last last October we would be charged $3475.00 for the event, which covers administrative and law enforcement costs that the BLM incur for our event. BLM will no longer honor charity events, but will be handled like the off road races held in this area! We have been told that if all the event fee is not used by the BLM we might get a refund. As a result of the BLM fees, we have been forced to raise our event fee to $35 entry. We know folks are not made of money, but we do not have a choice in the matter. I do want to tell you the local office of the BLM did everything possible to get this fee waived. Their efforts apparently fell on deaf ears! Our Federal Government at work once again!

This Poker Run Stages right behind the Slash X Great food and bar see photo's - http://www.panoramio.com/photo/25685846

[coolbreeze01]

Is the management at BLM getting guidance from Washington? Who pays the freight? What a shame.