Valentine’s Day Poker Run – 2020.02.15
Queen of Hearts is Wild
Saturday, February 15th
What a great event! Mother nature backed us up with perfect weather, and the activities committee put together such a fun and well-organized event, that it just made for a really enjoyable Saturday morning.
We gathered at the Outback/Chuy’s lot where we were briefed on the day’s poker run rules, which were simple- the cards were sealed in individual envelopes, which we would draw randomly at each stop. Along with our sealed card, we also received directions to the next location, where we would draw another sealed card, and a new set of directions, until the route was complete and we all met at the final, yet unknown destination for lunch.
Because of the number of participants, we were divided into two teams, red and blue, which represented the color of the card deck we were drawing from. Luckily, we didn’t need to know the first thing about playing poker, it was just a fun way to keep score with the random draws.
We left Chuy’s armed with our first draw and set of directions, and learned that we were headed for the Odyssey Restaurant in the San Fernando Valley- the location of the second draw.
As each participant arrived at the Odyssey, we circled through the tree-lined drive, and took our turns drawing the second card and directions that would slingshot us out the 118 freeway to Simi Valley and the parking lot of the Junkyard Restaurant.
As promised, this stop allowed for another random card draw and more directions that took us out through Moorpark, and over the twisty, fun turns of Balcom Canyon. Staying on the prescribed route, we soon rolled into Santa Paula and Bunnin Chevrolet, our main prize sponsor for the day’s event. This stop not only provided us with our fourth draw, but allowed for a short break to stretch and enjoy some club-provided refreshments.
Back on the road with a new set of directions, we found ourselves en route to the little town of Piru, and the site of the historic Newhall Mansion. Here we picked our fifth and final card envelope, along with the last set of directions that pointed us back to Santa Clarita and the Route 66 Restaurant, where we would have lunch and find out how our luck played out.
As previously mentioned, we had been divided into two teams, Red and Blue. At the restaurant, each team came forward and our individual collection of sealed envelopes were opened to reveal the hand we were dealt- or drawn as the case may be.
When all the cards were on the table, the winner’s circle looked like this:
First Place Winners:
Blue Deck – Raul Bonilla. He also had the overall high hand, and won a free oil change from Bunnin Chevy!
Red Deck – Dennis & Leslie Monden
Second Place Winners:
Blue Deck – Sheila Percivalle
Red Deck – Brian & Kathy de Avila
Queen of Hearts Are Wild Winners:
Blue Queen – Dennis & Leslie Monden
Red Queen – Ken & Michelle Veasman
All of the winners received a bottle or wine, compliments of Jim and Donna Webster.
We also want to give a big, thunderous, round of applause to our activities committee, and a special thank you to Jimmy Webster for all of his help putting this event together!
Well played team, well played!
Once the squadron of Corvettes arrived, the pilots and their crews gathered in the officers’ lounge and briefing room where they were given their mission…defend Disneyland airspace!
With the sortie underway, it wasn’t long before they had bandits in their sights, and the dog fight commenced. Shortly after there was a roar and thunder that men have never heard, and it was the scream and the sound of a big war bird!
We initiated the run officially with a mass gathering at poolside with beverages and snacks to get us ready for our mass arrival for dinner at the nearby Tahoe Joe steak house.
Saturday had no official agenda, but there was no lack of things to do as we rolled to the winds in our faithful Corvettes. 
North and south, we found butterflies, elephant seals, cookies, farmers markets, apple farms, wineries, souvenirs, and cinnamon rolls.
There is likely even more, including rocking chairs. I must add that despite my excellent packing skills, my trunk was filled with reminders of the SLO weekend.
One more group dinner followed at the infamous Golden Gong, just south of our lodging. Service and cuisine were just as good as last year!
P.S. I felt compelled to make a stop at Bunnin Chevrolet of Santa Paula en-route home to see what’s up. I was met by many familiar staff members there who reported they are indeed open and that virtually all of the sales and service employees were retained under the new business ownership and they are eager to see us at their Grand Opening. I noted they have two Corvettes in stock as well, a Stingray convertible and a ZO6! (Christian says he is anxious to make a deal.) 
I was happy to see them up and running again.
Our Activities Team came up with a solution for all that with the Fillmore & Western Railway PumpkinLiner run on Saturday, October 19th.
Normally, the “you break it – you buy it” rule would apply, but that darn attack-table would not fit in the rear of the Webster Grand Sport. After the OSHA incident report was completed we were off at a snail pace with break-it rule forgiven.
h, not fully understanding how it would be loaded onto the train, how it would be moved to the Webster GS and how in the world it would be loaded into the rear of the car.
