Oklahoma Biker - The Riders Ragazine Jul - Aug 2017 | Page 22

AAAA! Thunderbird Stars and
Stripes is BAAAACK!
By Amy Addams
Last year, we got in on the first annual
Thunderbird AAAA Stars and Stripes
Motorcycle Poker Run (Army Aviation
Association of America or ‘Quad A’;
their goal is to help Oklahoma families
of soldiers with education, ceremonies
and contribute to annual military balls so
all military can attend), and last year’s
Run was a BLAST. So much so, they
are ready to rumble for 2017 with a few
changes to streamline their processes,
but all the perks are still yours for the
taking. They even added a few surprises
to the trip, so missing this year’s Run
would be all kinds of wrong.
We spoke with organizer, Donnie
Eldridge (he read all of the suggestions
made last year and actually implemented
many of them), “We streamlined the
check-in for 2017; all participants will
have everything ready to go in one bag
when they check-in this year, including
the tee-shirt, so we hope that helps and
we’ve put the route on our Facebook
page.” Quad A has left all the best parts
22
of their run unchanged; $25 per rider,
$20 for a passenger (or an extra hand),
and you could win more than the pot.
You could win a ride in a Blackhawk
helicopter along with three of your closest
friends. If you prefer to bypass the whole
poker component, you could donate your
way into a ride in the Blackhawk while
doing something wonderful to help a
great cause because Quad A is giving
a ride to sponsors who pony up to their
cause. We bet the farm that it’s worth
it for a ride in a Blackhawk. You get a
tax break and a reward for helping your
military brethren all at once. Who else
does that?
What’s different in 2017? Well, for one,
they’ve pushed the date further back
into the month. This year’s Poker Run
is happening July 29. The route is on
Facebook, so there are no surprises,
as are all the forms you’ll need to
participate. New for 2017, you’ll have
more time to park your ride in front of
the Blackhawk and snap a photo (or
50) to commemorate two hot rides that
go together like peanut butter and jelly.
They’ve been allotted parking at OneOK
Field right in front for the game after the
Run so you get PRIMO parking after
OKLAHOMA BIKER - THE RIDERS RAGAZINE