3rd Annual Kansas City Poker Run

The first stop was in Leavenworth, Kansas, and the second in Tonganoxie. To avoid conflicting with the wedding, lunch was delayed until the third stop at Baker University in Baldwin City. The beautiful campus was a nice setting for a relaxing lunch break. Due to more rain during the poker run, some of the bikers decided to bail out rather than proceeding to the last stop. Those who did that really missed out on a treat.

The ride concluded at the New Century Air Center in Olathe, Kansas, where the Commemorative Air Force Ghost Squadron -Heart of America Wing was holding a World War II Expo. There were static displays and flyovers of various World War II vintage aircraft, and numerous ground vehicles from the period were also on display. Some of the airplanes on hand were a Boeing PT-17 Stearman, a Fairchild PT-19, a Ryan PT-22, a Consolidated Vultee Valiant BT-13, a North American AT-6, a North American T-28 Trojan, a Mitsubishi Zero replica from the movie “Tora Tora Tora,” and a C-47 “Spooky.” A CH-47 Chinook helicopter was also available for viewing. Rides were available in some of the aircraft for a donation. A very special guest at the event was Captain John Davis, one of the heroic “Tuskegee Airmen” who took to the sky during World War II, risking all to preserve our freedom.

When all of the bikes were parked, participants gathered around Pastor Troy to find out who would win the prizes. With assistance from KQRC 98.9 FM The Rock air personality “Moose” and a couple of youngsters who volunteered to draw tickets, the raffle prizes were awarded. Dennis Crab, lucky winner of the grand prize, had his choice of a new 2007 Harley-Davidson or Yamaha motorcycle, courtesy of Blue Springs Harley-Davidson, Worth Harley-Davidson North, and Reno’s Yamaha Aprilia. Dennis chose the Harley. Noel Tyler, Lori Saunders, Scott Wilson, and Fred Butler won rides in the open cockpit PT-19 trainer courtesy of the CAF. Doug Davidson, David Taylor and Randy Tull each won a NASCAR stock car ride courtesy of The Racing Experience. Having drawn the best poker hand, Shawn Craven won a full set of leathers.

In spite of the rain, the event was great fun and raised over $30,000 for a very worthy cause. The goal of the ride organizers is to fund an Urban Youth Strategies Youth Center and to raise awareness of the growing epidemic of youth crime and drug abuse. One current program is a ground school to teach inner city kids how to fly. There will be an activity center with basketball courts, concerts, rock climbing walls, and video arcades. The center will act as the community conduit in connecting kids to educational opportunities, helping them to establish grants, financing, college opportunism, as well as a tutoring center. It will also be helping kids with their high school and junior high experiences.

Special thanks go out to Pastor Troy, more than 100 volunteers, all of the participants, and the sponsors including Blue Springs Harley-Davidson, Worth North Harley-Davidson , Reno’s Yamaha & Aprilia , Full Throttle Midwest, Winslow’s, CAF, and Nationwide. Solomon's Porch Church is located at 3600 Walnut, Kansas City, Missouri, 64111 and for more information call (816) 531-7773 or check out their website .

Story and photos by Stripe