ATV riders meet at West End for annual poker ride

The West End ATV Association is an ATV club made up of locals primarily from DeBorgia, Haugan and Saltese. Hence their name, but the 120-plus membership also includes out of county and out of state ATV/UTV riders who want to ride new trails and roads, build new friendships and have fun knowing that they are helping this organization raise money for needed community projects.

“We help the Senior Center, buy food for those who are in need at Christmas and Thanksgiving, help the school kids, the food bank, we give $500 to the DAV (Disable American Veterans) for the van they transport our vets to doctors in and any tragedy that happens during the year that we know about that we can help out,” explains Frank ‘Super-Frank’ Crampton, who has been the president for five or six years. “They all run together,” he laughs.

But one can tell he’s devoted to the club and its membership. Safety and following BLM and USFS regulations are paramount to the organization and participants understand this policy. So, on Saturday when 269 riders took off on a 78-mile jaunt in the West End Annual ATV Poker Ride from DeBorgia, everyone knew a fun day was in store with like-minded people.

The day started at 0800 hours at the Hideout in DeBorgia, who happens to be a major sponsor, with breakfast burritos and bloody Mary’s. This is a family event and everyone understands the safety side of the day so libations were not taken advantage of.

Poker runs have checkpoints where participants must stop to check in and receive a playing card. At the end of the run, whoever has the best poker-hand is the winner.

“This year we’ve done well enough that we’ll award the eight best hands of the day,” shared Crampton.

Besides the winning hands awards, raffles were a big part at the end of the ride. A $20,000 2023 Polaris RZR Trail 1000 Premium was the grand prize but nobody would complain if they were to have won a brand-new Stihl chainsaw, BBQ, rafting trip or hunting rifle. Tickets were $10 each, and every single person who purchased them knew that this organization was raising money to pour back into their community. So, generosity was almost contagious.

Jerry Hatcher is a board member and echoed what Crampton said about having the community come out and enjoy one another.

“We get a lot of out of staters who come in for this,” Hatcher said. “And they know that all of the money they spend here is helping the businesses and community as we’re a 501C (3) giving back to the community, as Frank said. We try to find local needs to help and it’s just a good time for people to come and enjoy the outdoors. Riders are from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, a couple from Dakota, and a lot from Wyoming. They’re from PA,” he said pointing to a couple purchasing T-shirts.

“2005 was the first run. That was to save the railroad grade so it wouldn’t be just a bicycle trail. Over the years, we’ve donated to help with grading it and dust control with the Forest Service,” said Crampton.

It is interesting that the West End ATV Association and the Montana Nightriders Snowmobile Club are not the same members. Both have their non-profit status listed as Haugan but they are not the same people swapping machines for different seasons to be out in the woods.

“No, we help each other because we use the same trails and roads,” said Dan-the-Man Burgener. Burgener is another member of the board of directors. “I’m strictly a muscle,” he laughs. “My wife is more involved than I am. She’s the vice president.”

That would be Lori Burgener who was busy with other wives and girlfriends of members making sure raffle tickets were accounted for along with new membership applications.

As live music was being played in the parking lot and participants of the day were relaxing under a huge tent for shade, Crompton explained how the rest of the day would unfold.

“After the 50-50 around 6 o’clock, then everything up there will be given out,” as he points to a flatbed trailer loaded with prizes. “That’s all donated by distributors of the bar (the Hideout) so we’ll have fun with those. And a lot of the prizes were donated by board members of the club.”

One of the returning riders was Madison Gonzales from Coeur d’Alene on her fifth year of participating in the event.

“A lot more people this year,” she said. “It’s definitely getting a lot more popular. The very first one there was like only 20 people.”

She and her family were staying at the $50,000 Motel for the weekend and when asked how her poker hand was at the end of the run, she said,

“I could have done better. I guess luck wasn’t on my side as I used it all in Vegas last week.” They drove a Polaris Razer and a Can Am 4-wheeler. “If you don’t mind getting dirty, this is your kind of thing,” she grinned, swatting the dust off her dad’s back who was sitting next to her.