On 18 April 2009, the Red Knights International Motorcycle Club achieved a Guinness World Records™ record for organizing the largest motorcycle poker run taking place in multiple venues simultaneously.

A Poker run (also known as a Poker Derby), is an organized event using a motorcycle, boat, car or other form of transportation where participants travel over a predesignated route and, at designated stops on the route, draw playing card(s). The object is to have the best poker hand at the end of the run.

With the participation of 2,136 motorcycles across nine US states in 22 different venues, this event became the largest motorcycle poker run ever organized. Proceeds from the day were to benefit the Fallen Firefighter Survivors Foundation (FFSF).

Guinness World Records Adjudicator Carlos Martínez was present in Winter Haven, Florida, to present the organizers with their well-deserved Guinness World Records official certificate. The venue, represented by the Red Knights Florida Chapter 10, attracted the greatest number of bikers in the event, with 321 motorbikes, including the presence of the oldest participant in the event, Ouida "Mema" C. Hamilton.

Sherri Lang, representing the Fallen Firefighter Survivors Foundation, and Matt Nichols, representing the Red Knights International Motorcycle Club, received the certification, which extended to all participating venues.

The Red Knights is a club made up of firefighters and their families, alongside biking enthusiasists in general. They engage exclusively in social, charitable and educational activities.  There are more than 225 Red Knights chapters throughout the world, including some in the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Japan and Austria. 

The Fallen Firefighter Survivors Foundation was created in memory of the Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technician  Ben Lang. This foundation offers immediate assistance to the families of any firefighter – paid or volunteer – who dies in the line of duty within the United States.  As a result of this first event, the combined efforts of the Red Knights and FFSF raised more than $40,000.

The list of chapters, and the total number of motorbikes for each, is as follows:

 

Alabama 10: 105

Alabama 2: 32

Florida 10: 321

Florida 13:57

Florida 14: 129

Georgia 19: 111

Maryland 2: 107

Maryland 3: 247

Maryland 4: 26

Maryland 5+6: 72

Maryland 8: 224

Mississippi 4: 74

North Carolina 10: 95

North Carolina 15: 39

North Carolina 2: 26

North Carolina: 77

Pennsylvania: 115

South Carolina 3: 44

Virginia 12: 21

Virginia 14: 63

Virginia 2+6: 34

Virginia 9 and 13: 117

4 May 2009