- September 6, 2024
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Emma Bailey Gaddy, Walker Gaddy and Curt Nothstine building their potato car.
Photo by Petra RiveraFrancy and John Falk build their potato car.
Photo by Petra RiveraBuck and Peggy Fry
Photo by Petra RiveraScott Matthews, Payson Adams and Susan Ghezzi
Photo by Petra RiveraCommodore Michael Landis judging the potato car races.
Photo by Petra RiveraScott Matthews pulls the lever for the cars to go while JJ Johnson races his potato car.
Photo by Petra RiveraPhil Rosenbaum carefully angles his potato car.
Photo by Petra RiveraScott Matthews chats with Brad Camrud about his expert potato car.
Photo by Petra RiveraTK Kortendick, Scott Matthews, Bill Woodcock, Emma Bailey Gaddy and Walker Gaddy
Photo by Petra RiveraScott Matthews and Barrett Crook watch the close potato car race.
Photo by Petra RiveraCooper Rodgers, Ryan Rodgers, Karen Frumkin and Patrick Rodgers were the 2024 Bird Key Yacht Club Potato Race champions.
Courtesy image by Tony BrittThe Bird Key Yacht Club has a unique way to pass the time while waiting for the fireworks show on the Fourth of July.
Every year, BKYC members team up and build cars out of potatoes and carrots during their July 4 celebration. The racers look forward to this unique tradition to get creative with their car and bond with other members.
“I was on a cruise in the Caribbean and this was one of the activities on the ship,” said club member Buck Fry. “I thought it was so intriguing and different. It was a fun way to spend time with everyone bonding, so I took a photo of the ramp that they used and built it when I came back.”
Being an involved member of the club, Fry suggested the potato car races as a way to pass the time while waiting for the fireworks show. A decade later, these potato car races have become a time-honored tradition. Vice Commodore Tony Britt said it is nothing like he has ever seen before.
Adults and children participate either by themselves or in a team. The rules for the race are to build your potato car after dinner only using the materials given by the club, which include a potato, a carrot, wheels and sticks to hold it together.
This year, there were 28 teams. The races are performed in a bracket-style competition. Commodore Michael Landis judges each race, especially if it's a close race.
The Rodgers family won the races this year and received the potato car races trophy, which is in the shape of a “Mr. Potato Head” toy.
“It is amazing to see how not only the kids get involved but how the adults get into it,” said Peggy Fry. “The adults really take it more seriously than the kids do.”
