Rumble around the bay: Car show axed, poker run goes on

In a few short weeks, you might catch the distinctive roar of engines as a group of cars make their way around Flathead Lake. While the 12th annual Rumble in the Bay Car Show was called off this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the poker run portion of the event is still a go. On Saturday, Sept. 5, automobiles and motorcycles of all classes and styles will be invited to circumnavigate the lake, stopping at designated eateries along the way to pick up cards — and perhaps a bite to eat. There will be a cash prize for the winning poker hand, along with a lesser award for the player who assembles the most dismal set of cards. Participants will depart the Bigfork VFW at 10 a.m., and they have until 4 p.m. to return to the starting point after swinging by The Raven, East Shore Smokehouse, The Shoe Lakeview Bar and Grille, Idle Spur Bar and Restaurant, Short Branch Saloon and Del’s Bar. Drivers can buy multiple hands for $10 a piece.

Once the drivers complete the loop, they’re invited for a barbecue party, complete with a DJ, raffle and awards ceremony, at the Bigfork VFW.

“There will be a lot of cars that stick around for that,” kind of like a mini car show, past organizer Jesse Gonzales said.

“It’s all for charity,” he added. “It goes to good causes, it really does. We make sure it does.”

The Bigfork VFW hosts the event and proceeds are funneled into scholarships for local high school students pursuing vocational careers and to veterans organizations in the area.

Normally, the car show generates between $4,000-5,000 for the VFW to distribute based on about 300 participants and 5,000 or more spectators. The poker run typically averages around 30 cars, but that number could fluctuate due to the pandemic. For now, the VFW is just happy to host even a portion of the original event and to give local auto enthusiasts something to look forward to at the end of summer.

The Rumble in the Bay Car Show was started by a group of community members in partnership with the Bigfork Area Chamber of Commerce in 2007. But eight years ago, Gonzales said the Bigfork VFW assumed the leadership of the event. The poker run is a relatively new addition — this summer’s cruise will be the fourth year of the event.

And it’s not just for classic cars, Gonzales noted — “Any car is welcome.” ■