Bird Key Yacht Club races potatoes for July 4

The 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.”